ENGLISH  ROMÁNIÇO GRAMMAR  DICTIONARIES AND WORD LISTS  USEFUL PHRASES  FAQ

Compound Words

Compound words are those composed of two or more existing words, as in bookshelf and lightsaber. In Romániço, there are three sorts of compound words:
  1. First element is a noun — the word is read last element to first:

ferovialo   [vialo ec fero]   a railroad
pistolbater   [bater per pistolo]   to pistol-whip
modelbela   [bela cuale modelo]-a   model-hot
cervócula   [óculos di cervo]-a   doe-eyed

  • Last element is a verb — the word is read last element to first:

  • nanojacter   [jacter nano]   to dwarf-toss
    envader   [vader en]   to enter

  • All other cases — the word is read first element to last:

  • internationa   [inter nationos]-a   international
    duadeç-anua   [duadeç anuos]-a   twenty-year-old
    omnadia   [omna dio]-a   everyday
    Since compound nouns can sometimes be indistinguishable from separate ones in speech (un-óculo “a one-eyed person”, un óculo “one eye”), it’s usually best to precede such words with on: on un-óculo “a one-eyed person”.

    Previous Section Next Section