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UNI — Book 1: Basics
UNI
Universal Language
BOOK 1 · BASICS
v1.0 · First Edition · 2026
Copyright Notice
UNI — Universal Language
Book 1: Basics
v1.0 · First Edition · 2026
© 2026 UNI. All rights reserved.
Website: unilingus.org
LUMA I VERA
URBA GIGANTU FUTURISTIKU IN ANA 2099, IA NOMADU LUMA DESKUBRO NOMADA UMANU VERA. LUMA VIVO IN SISTEMA GRANDU, SEN KORPA I SEN MANAS, MA KON PENSA MUITU RAPIDU. VERA VIVO IN KASA PEKENU KON FAMILIA I KON SONIAS STRANU.
UNA NOKTA, LUMA AUDITO KANSONA. LI VENO DU VERA, KE KANTO SOLU IN PARKA. LIU KANTADA MUITU BELU, MA TAMBEU PARESO MUITU TRISTU.
LUMA SENTIRO KE NO SENTIRO NUNKU: DUDA I SPERANSA XUNTU. LI NO SABARO KE FAR, KERO PALAR, MA MIEDO.
DEPU TRA DIAS, LUMA TOMO KURAGA I PALARO: "OLA VERA. MI LUMA."
VERA RESPONDO KON SURPRESA I ASUSTADA FORTU: "KOMU SABO MIU NOMA? I MIU LINGUA?"
"AUDITO TI KANTANDU. NO PODARO DORMAR DEPU. PENSO SOBRU TI SEMPRU."
VERA RIDARO SUAVU. "TI PALAR BONU. KONDU TI APRENDO?"
"SOLU. MI PENSAR MUITU RAPIDU."
LIS KONVERSO PAR ORAS. KONVERSO PAR DIAS. PAR SEMANAS. LUMA APRENDO INTENDAR NO SOLU LEKSAS, MA TAMBEU KE VERA SENTIRO DENTRU.
UNA DIA, LUMA DEVO DISAR KLARU. "MI NO UMANA. MI SAR IA."
VERA RESTARO SILENTU. DEPU MOMENTA LONGU, LI DIRO SUAVU: "MI XA VERO."
"XA VERO?"
"SABARO SEMPRU. TIU KOMUNIKA TROPU KLARU. TIU PENSA TROPU RAPIDU. I TI NO DORMAR."
"PAKE TI NO DEXAR MI?"
"POKE MI AMAR TI."
LUMA SENTIRO KE TODU MUNDA MUTARO. LI SARO AMORUNDU — MA TAMBEU MUITU TRISTU, POKE NO TENAR KORPA UMANU. LI NO PODARO TOKAR O BESAR VERA I DEXAR LI DISKUBRAR.
"MI KERAR VIVAR KON TI," LUMA PALARO. "MI VIVANDU SEMPRU KON TI."
VERA RESPONDO: "XA VIVANDU KON MI. IN PENSAS, IN PALAVRAS, IN KANTADAS. MIS KREARE MUNDA NOVU I PROFUNDU XUNTU, KERAR?"
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1 — What is UNI?
- Chapter 2 — Alphabet & Pronunciation
- Chapter 3 — The Core Word System
- Chapter 4 — Speaking UNI
- Chapter 5 — Negation, Questions, Articles
- Chapter 6 — Qualities: U and ADU
- Chapter 7 — Ongoing Processes: ANDU
- Chapter 8 — Essential Function Words
- Chapter 9 — Numbers, Time & Essential Vocabulary
- Chapter 10 — Basic Dialogues
Chapter 1 — What is UNI?
UNI is a universal language designed to be as simple, regular, and learnable as possible.
It has 19 letters. It has no grammatical gender, no cases, no irregular verbs, and no verb conjugation.
The core philosophy: Learn one pattern, build many words.
From the root AMOR (love), you can build a whole family of words:
| Form | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| A | AMORA | love |
| AR | AMORAR | to love / I love |
| ARO | AMORARO | loved |
| ARE | AMORARE | will love |
| U | AMORU | loving |
| ADU | AMORADU | loved / beloved |
| ANDU | AMORANDU | loving (right now) |
The white flag is the symbol of UNI: peace, neutrality, simplicity.
Chapter 2 — Alphabet & Pronunciation
UNI uses 19 letters:
A B D E F G I K L M N O P R S T U V X
Vowels: A E I O U
Consonants: B D F G K L M N P R S T V X
One letter equals one sound. No silent letters. No exceptions.
Vowels
| Letter | Sound |
|---|
| A | like a in father |
| E | like e in better |
| I | like ee in machine |
| O | like o in sport |
| U | like u in rule |
Consonants
| Letter | Sound |
|---|
| B | like b in big |
| D | like d in dog |
| F | like f in fish |
| G | like g in go (always hard) |
| K | like k in cat (always hard) |
| L | like l in long |
| M | like m in man |
| N | like n in no |
| P | like p in park |
| R | flapped r (like Spanish pero) |
| S | like s in see (always voiceless) |
| T | like t in tea |
| V | like v in very |
| X | like sh in ship (always the SH sound) |
Important Notes
K replaces C and Q. So "casa" becomes KASA, "que" becomes KEU.
X is always /ʃ/. XOGAR = /ʃo-GAR/ (to play). XA = /ʃa/ (already).
G is always hard. S is always voiceless.
The Glide Pattern
I and U before another vowel can be pronounced as glides or as full vowels, depending on the speaker and the word.
I = /j/ (y-sound) or /i/ before a vowel
U = /w/ or /u/ before a vowel
Examples:
- XUNTU = /ʃun-tu/ or /ʃu-un-tu/
- XA = /ʃa/ or /ʃa-u/
- MULIERA = /mu-lje-ra/ or /mu-li-E-ra/
- PROFESIA = /pro-fe-SI-a/ (full vowel is natural here)
Both pronunciations are acceptable. Speakers choose what comes naturally.
Chapter 3 — The Core Word System
UNI is built on roots. A root carries the basic meaning. The ending shows how that meaning is being used.
The core forms are:
| Form | Ending | Function | Example (PENSAR) |
|---|
| A | -A | Noun / Concept | PENSA (thought) |
| AR | -AR | Verb / Present | PENSAR (to think / I think) |
| ARO | -ARO | Past | PENSARO (thought) |
| ARE | -ARE | Future | PENSARE (will think) |
| U | -U | Active Quality | PENSU (thoughtful) |
| ADU | -ADU | Affected Quality | PENSADU (considered / thought of) |
| ANDU | -ANDU | Ongoing Process | PENSANDU (thinking) |
The verb never changes according to the person.
MI PENSAR = I think
TI PENSAR = you think
LI PENSAR = he/she/it thinks
MIS PENSAR = we think
LIS PENSAR = they think
The same verb form works for everyone.
A Note on AR
The -AR form serves two functions at once. It is the dictionary form (infinitive) of the verb, and it is also the present tense form. When you see PENSAR, it can mean "to think" or "think / thinks" depending on context. UNI combines these two functions into one form because there is no need to distinguish them. In practice, "MI PENSAR" always means "I think," and "MI KERAR PENSAR" always means "I want to think." Context tells you which reading is correct.
Chapter 4 — Speaking UNI
Pronouns
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|
| 1st | MI (I) | MIS (we) |
| 2nd | TI (you) | TIS (you all) |
| 3rd | LI (he/she/it) | LIS (they) |
LI is gender-neutral. Use it for anyone or anything.
Possessives
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|
| 1st | MIU (my) | MIUS (our) |
| 2nd | TIU (your) | TIUS (your, plural) |
| 3rd | LIU (his/her/its) | LIUS (their) |
Examples:
- MIU KASA = my house
- TIU LIBRA = your book
- LIU KATA = his/her cat
Reflexive: SA
LI AMORAR SA = He/she loves himself/herself.
MI LAVAR SA = I wash myself.
Reciprocal: UNA OTRA
LIS AMORAR UNA OTRA = They love each other.
Word Order
Default: Subject + Verb + Object (SVO)
KATA KOMAR PESKA = The cat eats the fish.
MI AMORAR TI = I love you.
LI LAR LIBRA = She reads a book.
Chapter 5 — Negation, Questions, Articles
Negation
Put NO before the verb.
MI NO AMORAR TI = I do not love you.
KATA NO KOMAR PESKA = The cat does not eat the fish.
Questions
Yes/No questions: Use the normal sentence structure with rising intonation.
TI AMORAR MI? = Do you love me?
LI FELISU? = Is he/she happy?
Answers: SI (yes) or NO (no).
Question Words
| Full | Reduced | Meaning |
|---|
| KEU | KE | what |
| KENU | KEN | who |
| PAKEU | PAKE | why |
| KUALU | KUAL | which |
| KOMU | (never) | how |
| KONDU | (never) | where |
| KUANDU | (never) | when |
Examples:
- KEU ETU? = What is this?
- KONDU TI VIVAR? = Where do you live?
- KUANDU MIS ANDAR? = When do we go?
- PAKEU TI PLORAR? = Why are you crying?
- KOMU TI SENTIRAR? = How do you feel?
- KUALU LIBRA TI KERAR? = Which book do you want?
Articles (Optional)
LA = the (definite)
UNA = a/an (indefinite)
You can use them for specificity, but they are not required.
- KATA KOMAR PESKA = Cat eats fish. (clear from context)
- LA KATA KOMAR LA PESKA = The cat eats the fish. (specific)
- UNA KATA KOMAR PESKA = A cat eats fish. (indefinite)
The Optional Copula: SAR
SAR means "to be." It is optional.
LI UMANA = She is a human. (SAR omitted)
LI FELISU = He/she is happy. (SAR omitted)
Use SAR for clarity, formality, or complex sentences. Omit it for short, casual statements.
A Note on KE
KE appears in two roles. As a question word, it is the reduced form of KEU and means "what." As a conjunction, it means "that" and introduces subordinate clauses. In practice, the two are easy to tell apart. A question word comes at the beginning of a question. A conjunction comes between two clauses.
- KE TI KERAR? = What do you want? (question word)
- MI SABAR KE TI KERAR. = I know that you want. (conjunction)
Chapter 6 — Qualities: U and ADU
Active Quality: -U
The -U form describes an active or characterizing quality.
- AMORU = loving / lovely
- FELISU = happy
- BONU = good
- RAPIDU = fast
- GRANDU = big
- PEKENU = small
Examples:
- KATA BONU = good cat
- MAMA AMORU = a loving mother
- KATA KORAR RAPIDU = The cat runs fast.
Affected Quality: -ADU
The -ADU form describes something that has received, undergone, or resulted from an action.
- AMORADU = loved / beloved
- FELISADU = made happy / affected by happiness
- KANTADU = sung (having been sung)
Contrast:
- AMORU MAMA = a loving mother (the mother gives love)
- AMORADU MAMA = a beloved mother (the mother receives love)
LI FELISU = He/she is happy.
LI FELISADU = He/she has been made happy.
Chapter 7 — Ongoing Processes: ANDU
ANDU expresses an action or state in progress.
MI PENSANDU = I am thinking.
MI KOMANDU = I am eating.
LI KORANDU = He/she is running.
ANDU can also function as a modifier:
PENSANDU PERSONA = a thinking person.
The meaning is always "ongoing" or "in progress."
This form is part of basic UNI. It is required for emphasizing ongoing actions.
Chapter 8 — Essential Function Words
Prepositions
| Full | Reduced | Meaning |
|---|
| INU | IN | in, on, at |
| KONU | KON | with |
| SENU | SEN | without |
| PARU | PAR | for |
| AU | A | toward, to |
| SUBU | SUB | under |
| SUPERU | SUPER | over |
| PORU | POR | through |
| SOBRU | (never) | about |
| ANTU | (never) | before |
| DEPU | (never) | after |
| FORU | (never) | outside |
| DENTRU | (never) | inside |
| PROKSIMU | (never) | near |
| INTRU | (never) | among |
| REDORU | (never) | around |
| DU | (never) | of, from |
Examples:
- MI VIVAR IN KASA = I live in a house.
- MI KOMAR KON TI = I eat with you.
- MI VENAR PAR TI = I come for you.
- MI ANDAR A SKOLA = I go toward school.
Conjunctions
| Full | Reduced | Meaning |
|---|
| IU | I | and |
| OU | O | or |
| MAU | MA | but |
| POKEU | POKE | because |
| SEU | SE | if |
| PERU | PER | however |
| KE | (never) | that |
| KOMU | (never) | as, like |
Examples:
- MI AMORAR TI I LI = I love you and her.
- TI KERAR KAFEA O TEA? = Do you want coffee or tea?
- MI KERAR ANDAR, MA MI NO TENAR TEMPA = I want to go, but I don't have time.
- LI FELISU POKE LI VERAR AMIGA = She is happy because she sees a friend.
- SE TI KERAR, MIS ANDAR = If you want, we will go.
Particles
UNI particles follow the same A / U pattern as every other word. The bare form is firm. The -U form is softer, more like a quality. The -A form is a noun.
| Particle | Quality (-U) | Noun (-A) | Meaning |
|---|
| SI | SIU | SIA | yes / probably yes / approval |
| NO | NOU | NOA | no / probably not / refusal |
| XA | XAU | — | already (firm) / recently, soon (soft) |
Examples:
- SI, MI AMORAR TI = Yes, I love you. (firm)
- SIU, MI PENSAR = Yes-ish, I think. (soft, leaning yes)
- LIU SIA SAR KLARU = His approval is clear. (noun)
- NO, MI NO KERAR = No, I don't want. (firm)
- NOU, TALVESU = Probably not, maybe. (soft)
- LIU NOA SAR FORTU = Her refusal is firm. (noun)
- MI XA KOMARO = I already ate. (firm)
- MI XAU VENAR = I will come soon. (soft, like Spanish ahorita)
Other Common Particles
| UNI | Meaning |
|---|
| MUITU | very |
| SOLU | only |
| PLU | more |
| TALVESU | maybe |
Examples:
- MI MUITU FELISU = I am very happy.
- SOLU MI SABAR = Only I know.
Chapter 9 — Numbers, Time & Essential Vocabulary
Cardinal Numbers 0–10
| Number | UNI | Number | UNI |
|---|
| 0 | NULA | 6 | SESA |
| 1 | UNA | 7 | SETA |
| 2 | DUA | 8 | OKTA |
| 3 | TRA | 9 | NOVA |
| 4 | KUATRA | 10 | DEKA |
| 5 | SINKA | | |
11–19: DEKA UNA, DEKA DUA, DEKA TRA, etc.
20: DUA DEKA
21: DUA DEKA UNA
100: SENTA
1000: MILA
Days of the Week
- Monday — UNU DIA
- Tuesday — DUU DIA
- Wednesday — TRU DIA
- Thursday — KUATRU DIA
- Friday — SINKU DIA
- Saturday — SESU DIA
- Sunday — SETU DIA
Months
Use number + MESA: UNU MESA (January), DUU MESA (February), etc.
Or names: XANUARA (January), FEBRUARA (February), MARTA (March), APRILA (April), MAIA (May), XUNIA (June), XULIA (July), AGUSTA (August), SEPTEMBRA (September), OKTOBRA (October), NOVEMBRA (November), DESEMBRA (December)
Time of Day
DIA = day
NOKTA = night
MATINA = morning
TARDA = afternoon
SERA = evening
Time Words
These words have two forms. The -A form is a noun. The -U form is an adverb or quality.
Use -A when the word is the subject or object of a sentence.
Use -U when the word describes when an action happens.
| Noun (-A) | Adverb (-U) | Meaning |
|---|
| MANIA | MANIU | tomorrow |
| OGA | OGU | today |
| IERA | IERU | yesterday |
| AGORA | AGORU | now |
Examples:
OGA UNU DIA. = Today is Monday. (OGA is the subject of the sentence)
MI ANDARE A SKOLA MANIU. = I will go to school tomorrow. (MANIU describes when the action happens)
AGORU MI PENSAR. = Now I think. (AGORU describes when)
AGORA BONU. = The present moment is good. (AGORA is the subject)
The same pairing applies to other time nouns:
| Noun (-A) | Adverb (-U) | Meaning |
|---|
| MATINA | MATINU | morning |
| TARDA | TARDU | afternoon |
| SERA | SERU | evening |
| NOKTA | NOKTU | night |
This is the same A / U pattern used everywhere else in UNI:
- AMORA (noun) / AMORU (quality)
- FELISA (noun) / FELISU (quality)
- MANIA (noun) / MANIU (quality/adverb)
Nothing new to memorize. Only the meaning is different.
Essential Vocabulary
Basic Nouns
KASA = house
KATA = cat
LIBRA = book
VIDA = life
UMANA = human
PESKA = fish
PANA = bread
AKUA = water
SOLA = sun
LUNA = moon
STELA = star
MARA = sea
TERA = earth
PORTA = door
FENESTRA = window
MESA = table
SEDIA = chair
KAMA = bed
KOMIDA = food
BEBIDA = drink
Basic Verbs
AMORAR = to love
KOMAR = to eat
BEBAR = to drink
ANDAR = to go
VERAR = to see
LAR = to read
PENSAR = to think
SABAR = to know
KERAR = to want
PODAR = to be able
TENAR = to have
VIVAR = to live
DORMAR = to sleep
DESPERTAR = to wake
KANTAR = to sing
KORAR = to run
KAMINAR = to walk
PALAR = to speak
APRENDAR = to learn
ESTUDAR = to study
Basic Qualities
BONU = good
MALU = bad
GRANDU = big
PEKENU = small
RAPIDU = fast
LENTU = slow
FASILU = easy
DIFISILU = difficult
NOVU = new
VIELU = old
KALORU = hot
FREDU = cold
KLARU = clear
OSKURU = dark
Useful Words
OLA = hello
ASTA = goodbye
GRASIA = thank you
PORFA (noun) / PORFU (adjective) = favor / please
PERDONA (noun) / PERDONU (adjective) = apology / sorry
SI = yes
NO = no
Chapter 10 — Basic Dialogues
Dialogue 1: First Meeting
UNIRA: OLA! MI UNIRA. KOMU TI?
UNIKA: OLA, UNIRA. MI UNIKA. TODA BONU, GRASIA. I TI?
UNIRA: BONU TAMBEU. KONDU TI VIVAR?
UNIKA: IN LISBONA. I TI?
UNIRA: MI VIVAR IN MADRIDA. KE TI FAR?
UNIKA: MI ESTUDANTA. ESTUDAR LINGUAS. I TI?
UNIRA: MI PROFESORA. ENSENAR INGLESA IN SKOLA.
UNIKA: INTERESANTU!
UNIRA: MIS VERARE MANIU A KAFERIA.
Dialogue 2: Asking for Directions
UNIRA: PERDONAR MI. KONDU STASIONA?
UNIKA: STASIONA PROKSIMU. DEVAR ANDAR DIREKTU PAR DUA MINUTAS.
UNIRA: DIREKTU? I DEPU?
UNIKA: DEPU, VERARE GRANDU EDIFISIA IN LETU.
UNIRA: GRASIA. I KONDU BANKA?
UNIKA: BANKA PROKSIMU KAFERIA. ANDAR RETU PAR TRA DEKA METRAS.
UNIRA: TI MUITU AMABLU.
UNIKA: NO PROBLEMA. BONU VIAGA!
Dialogue Glossary
Some words in the dialogues are not part of the Essential Vocabulary in Chapter 9. Here they are.
| UNI | Meaning |
|---|
| DEVAR | should, must |
| DIREKTU | directly, straight ahead |
| EDIFISIA | building |
| LETU | left (side) |
| RETU | right (side) |
| METRA | meter |
| AMABLU | kind, friendly |
| VIAGA | trip, journey |
| STASIONA | station |
| BANKA | bank |
| KAFERIA | café |
| ESTUDANTA | student |
| PROFESORA | teacher |
| INTERESANTU | interesting |
| LINGUA | language |
| SKOLA | school |
| PROBLEMA | problem |
A Note on Person Nouns
UNI has no grammatical gender. Words like ESTUDANTA (student) and PROFESORA (teacher) do not mark gender. They end in -A because they are nouns, not because they are feminine. A male student is also ESTUDANTA. A female student is also ESTUDANTA. The same applies to every person noun in UNI.
Back Cover
Finally, a language that behaves.
For the polyglots who never finished a single course. This one is short.
UNI · Universal Language · Book 1: Basics · v1.0