Omniglot News (28/12/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Yonggom (Yongkom), a Lowland Ok language spoken in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
  • Enlhet, a Mascoian language spoken in the Presidente Hayes Department of Paraguay.
  • Indi (Mag-Indi), a Sambalic language spoken in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines.

New adapted script: Diné Arabíłígíí (دینهْٓ ارابیَڷیٓگیّٓ), a way to write Navajo with the Perso-Arabic script devised by Yusuf Abdullah al-Qasri.

بیٓلاعاشدلاعیّ￿￿￿￿￿￿ۆح يِنیٓکعهحگۆ بیدیژچیٍح دۆّٓ احهّڷتعهّگۆ یٓلیٍّٓگۆ بهّ باّحۆٓچیٍع. هیّٓ حآنیٓع دۆّٓ عآنیٓتشاکهّس حویّحداّسيِع هیٌٓ بناحجیٍٓع احیدینیٓڷنآحگۆ آلیٓلەّکعەحگۆ کعهٓ بهّ احیڷ نیّدلیٍٓ.

On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled Beware your shoes! about some signs I spotted recently that have been translated in interesting ways.

There’s a new Adventure in Etymology entitled Absurdity, which investigates the nonsensical origins of the word absurd.

There’s a new post entitled Splitting Up on the Celtiadur blog about words for split, slit, cleft and related things in Celtic languages.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

Omniglot News (21/12/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Yambeta (Yambɛta), a West Mbam language spoken in the Centre Region in southwestern Cameroon.
  • Bunu (Buod Nuox), a West Hmongic language spoken mainly in Guangxi Province in southern China.
  • Kim Mun, a Mienic language spoken in southern China, and northern Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
  • Phuthi (Síphùthì), a Bantu language spoken in southern Lesotho and in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
  • Ngwe (Ŋwɛh), a Bamileke language spoken in Labialem Department in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.

New numbers page:

  • Ngwe (Ŋwɛh), a Bamileke language spoken in Labialem Department in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.

On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled Godfathering about trying to explain the concept of a godfather in Chinese.

There’s a new Adventure in Etymology entitled Absurdity, which investigates the nonsensical origins of the word absurd.

There’s a new post entitled Shields on the Celtiadur blog about words for shield and related things in Celtic languages.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com




Omniglot News (14/12/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Neo-Brittonic (Brettica), a reconstructed version of Common Brittonic, a Celtic language once spoken in southern England.
  • Ngomba (cú mbɔ́ndaa), a Bamileke language spoken mainly in the Bamboutos Department in the West Region of Cameroon.
  • Ngombale (Ngeombale), a Bamileke language spoken in the Bamboutos Department in the West Region of Cameroon.
  • Hachijō (島言葉 / shima-kotoba), a Japonic language spoken mainly in the Izu Islands, part of Tokyo Prefecture in Japan.
  • Tày (Tiểng Tày), a Central Tai language spoken mainly in northeastern Vietnam, and also in northern Laos.

New constructed script: Hedhgadē, a script for Proto-Indo-Euopean created by Hebrejinia.

Sample text in English in the Hedhgadē

New phrases page: Föhr North Frisian, a West Germanic language spoken in North Frisia in northern Germany.

New numbers page: Jamaican (Jimiekn / Patwah), an English-based creole spoken mainly in Jamaica.

On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled Oceanic Lutes about some words for Chinese and Western instruments, and related things.

There’s a new post entitled Shady Shadows on the Celtiadur blog about words for shadow, shade and related things in Celtic languages.

The gateway to the road up Jiangjun Mountain
The gateway to the road up Jiangjun Mountain

In other news, this week I explored part of Jiangjun Mountain (将军山 – jiāngjūnshān) and got some great views of Zhaoqing from up high. There is a temple on the mountain that is lit up at night, and since coming here, we’ve been planning to visit it. We found a way up yesterday. The electric scooters had a hard time climbing up the steeper parts of the road, but we got there eventually, and it was well worth the effort. The temple itself is impressive, and the views from it are spectacular. Unfortunately, it was rather wet, cold and windy up there, so we didn’t stay long.

The temple on Jiangjun Mountain
The temple on Jiangjun Mountain

A view of Zhaoqing from Jiangjun Mountain
A view of Zhaoqing from Jiangjun Mountain

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

Omniglot News (30/11/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Ndemli, a Grassfields language spoken in the Littoral Region in the southwest of Cameroon.
  • Johor Malay, a Malayic language spoken in the state of Johor in the south of the Malay Peninsula.

New constructed script: Avo, an alternative way to write English invented by Toonmaker.

Sample text in Meadow Mari (олыкмарла)

New constructed script: Faciagram, an alternative script for English invented by Toonmaker and based on facial expressions.

Sample text in Faciagram

This week is travelled to China to visit friends. I’m staying in Zhaoqing (肇庆) in Guangdong Province in the south of the country, and plan to stay here until January next year. You can find out more about my experiences in China Adventures on the Omniglot blog. This is why there isn’t as much new material as usual due to the Great Firewall of China.

There’s no language quiz this week as it seems difficult to find suitable recordings here due to internet restrictions. The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Tuparí, a Tupian language spoken mainly in the state of Rondônia in the North Region of Brazil.

Improved page: Shanghainese phrases page

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

Omniglot News (23/11/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Kwaʼ (Bakwa’), a Bamileke language spoken in the southwest of Cameroon.
  • Ndau (ChiNdau), a Bantu language spoken mainly in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
  • Ndonga (OshiNdonga), a Bantu language spoken mainly in the north of Namibia, and also in southern Angola.
  • Arammba (Aramba), a Tonda language spoken in the Morehead area in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

New numbers pages:

  • Ndonga (OshiNdonga), a Bantu language spoken in northern Namibia and southern Angola.
  • Arammba (Aramba), a Tonda language spoken in the Morehead area in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

New Tower of Babel translation: Ndau (ChiNdau)

New constructed script: Enjay, an alternative way to write English invented by Toonmaker.

Sample text in English in the Enjay

New adapted script: Thaana-Wayuu (ތާނަ ޥަޔޫ), was devised by Pablo Villa Uhia as a way to write Wayuu, an Arawakan language spoken in Venezuela and Colombia, with the Thaana script, as used for the Maldivian language.

ނާ ޥަޔޫކަނަ ޖެމެއިށި ސްޚޕްޚލަ ޓާށި ސްޚމަ ޥަނަޥަ ސްޚލޫ ނަކުއައިޕަ، އަކަ މްޚިން ޔާ އެޕިޖައިންޖަނަ ސްޚނައިން އަނަޖިރަނަޥާ އައިން ނަމަ ނަޕްޚށި.

On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled A Complete Canard!, which looks at the various meanings of the word canard in French and English, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in the northwest of Brazil.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Goral (Górolski), a West Slavic language (or dialect) spoken in southern Poland, northern Slovakia and northeastern Czechia.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, Burning Focus, we focus on what links the words focus, fuel, focaccia and curfew.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Nettles about words for nettle and related things in Celtic languages.

In other news, I’m going to China in a few days after recording this news. I’ll be staying with friends in Zhaoqing / Shiuhing (肇庆), a city in Guangdong Province in the south of China for nearly two months. In preparation for this trip, I’ve been brushing up my Mandarin and Cantonese, and I’m sure I’ll have plenty of opportunities to use both languages while I’m there. I may visit other parts of China, and maybe nearby countries. I haven’t been to Zhaoqing before, but did spend a few months travelling in southern China back in 1991. It’s probably changed a little since then. I’ll try to keep Omniglot ticking over while I’m away, but may not have as much time as usual for that.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

Omniglot News (16/11/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Kgalagadi (SheKgalagadi), a Southern Bantu language spoken mainly in the Kgalagadi and Gantsi districts in southern Botswana.
  • Saluan (Bahasa Saluan), a Celebic language spoken in the east of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
  • Humburi Senni (humburi ciini / هُمْبُرِ ٺِينِ‎), a Southern Songhay language spoken mainly in southern Mali, and also in Burkina Faso.

New constructed script: Azkarthelian (Azkarthe’elith), an abjad created by Murray Callahan for his conlang of the same name.

Sample text in Saturnian (cursive)

New numbers pages:

  • Saluan (Bahasa Saluan), a Celebic language spoken in the east of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
  • Wintu (winthu:h), a Wintuan language that was spoken in northern California in the USA, and which is being revived.
  • Emilian-Romagnol (emiliân-rumagnol), a Romance language spoken mainly in northern Italy, and also in San Marino.
  • Föhr (Fering), a variety of North Frisian spoken on the island of Föhr in the German region of North Frisia.

New family words page: Föhr (Fering), a variety of North Frisian spoken on the island of Föhr in the German region of North Frisia.

On the Omniglot blog this week we look into idioms that mean Better Safe Than Sorry and similar things in various languages, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in Poland, Slovakia and Czechia.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Bouyei (Haausqyaix), a northern Tai-Kaidai language spoken mainly in southern China, and also in northern Vietnam.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, we investigate the origins of the word Cardinal, and find out what it has to do with hinges and a Roman goddess.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled What? about words for what? which? who? where? and related things in Celtic languages.

I also made improvements to the North Frisian language page.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Omniglot News (09/11/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Jarawa, a Southern Bantoid language spoken in Bauchi State in northeastern Nigeria.
  • Cypriot Greek (κυπριακά), a variety of Greek spoken in Cyprus and by the Greek Cypriot diaspora.
  • Dendi, a Southern Songhay language spoken mainly in northern Benin, and also in Niger and Nigeria.

New numbers pages:

  • Nez Perce (Nimipuutímt), a Plateau Penutian language spoken in Idaho, Washington and Oregon in the USA.
  • Yakama (Ichishkíin), a Plateau Penutian language spoken on the Yakima Reservation in southern Washington State in the USA.
  • Eastern Pomo (Ba·csal), a Pomoan language spoken around Clear Lake in Lake County, California in the USA

New constructed script: iAlphabet, an alternative way to write English, Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Croatian and Greek created by Azam Banoo Torabi.

Sample text in English in the iAlphabet

This week on the Omniglot blog we look into idioms meaning something that happens rarely in various languages in a post called Once in a Blue Moon, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken mainly in southern China.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Tuamotuan (Reʻo Paʻumotu), a Polynesian language spoken mainly in Tuamotu in French Polynesia.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, A Little Loitering, we find out what links the words loiter, little, lout and Luxembourg.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Tenacious Toughness about words for tough, tenacious, stiff and related things in Celtic languages.

I also made improvements to the Lips, Mouths & Throats Celtiadur post.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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Omniglot News (02/11/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Ha (Igiha), a Bantu language spoken in the Kigoma Region in the northwest of Tanzania.
  • Fut (Bɨfɨɨ̀), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
  • Maasina Fulfulde (مَاسِنَ ڢُلْڢُلْدٜ‎), a West Central Fula language spoken in Mali, Ivory Coast and Ghana.
  • Tadaksahak (Tadáksahak‎), a Northern Songhay language spoken in southern Mali and western Niger.

New numbers pages:

  • Fut (Bɨfɨɨ̀), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
  • Bambalang (Chrambo), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in Cameroon.
  • Tadaksahak (Tadáksahak‎), a Northern Songhay language spoken in southern Mali and western Niger.

New constructed script: Sleep Token Alphabet, a cypher for English that appears on album artwork and merch for the band Sleep Token.

Sample text in English in the Sleep Token Alphabet

This week on the Omniglot blog we find out whether the words (ham)burger, burgher and burglar are related in a post called Burgling Burg(h)ers, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in French Polynesia.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Makaa (mǝ́kaá), a Bantu language spoken in the East Region of Cameroon.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we investigate the origins of the word Nemesis.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Sighing Groans about words for sigh, groan and related things in Celtic languages.

In other news, I started using the Ling App [affiliate link] to learn some more Cantonese this week. I’ve studied Cantonese before, and have forgotten a lot, but it’s now coming back to me. Ling is similar to Duolingo in the style of lessons, and offers courses in 60+ languages. You can get a free trial on the 1-year subscription, after which you have to pay. I may review it when I’ve spent more time on it, but so far I’m finding it useful and well-put together.

Language skills in just 10 minutes a day with Ling

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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Omniglot News (26/10/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Bangolan (Bǎŋgulaŋ), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Province of Cameroon.
  • Chopi (Cicopi), a Southern Bantu language spoken mainly in Inhambane Province in southern Mozambique.
  • Palembang (Baso Pelémbang / باسو ڤليمباڠ‎), a Malayic language spoken in Palembang in South Sumatra Province in Indonesia.

New constructed script: Neo Alfabet, a phonetic script created by François Toulot to write almost any language.

Sample texts in Neo Alfabet

New numbers pages:

  • Bangolan (Bǎŋgulaŋ), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Province of Cameroon.
  • Arta, a Northern Luzon language spoken in northern Luzon in the Philippines.

New family words pages:

  • Gothic (𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌹𐍃𐌺𐌰), an East Germanic language spoken in parts of Crimea until the 17th century.
  • Alsatian (Ëlsässisch), a West Germanic language spoken mainly in Alsace in northeastern France.

This week on the Omniglot blog we find out when a forest is not a forest in a post called Sylvan Forests, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in southern Cameroon.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Yerakula (ஏறுகள), a Dravidian language spoken in Andhra Pradesh, in the southeast of India.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we search the ether for the elemental origins of the word Quintessence.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Pithy Marrow about words for (bone) marrow, pith and related things in Celtic languages.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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Omniglot News (12/10/25)

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Baba (Supapyag), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon.
  • Bamukumbit (Maŋkɔŋ), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon.
  • Sawai, a South Halmahera language spoken on Halmahera island in North Maluku Province in Indonesia.

New numbers pages:

  • Khowar (کھووار), a Dardic language spoken mainly in northern Pakistan, and also in India.
  • Baba (Supapyag), a Bantu language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon.
  • Sawai), a South Halmahera language spoken on Halmahera island in North Maluku Province in Indonesia.

New idiom: When the Cat’s Away (the mice will play)

New constructed script: Atʼákaz bee yádeiiltiʼí, an alternative script for Navajo invented by Nicholas Fox.

Sample text in Navajo in the Atʼákaz bee yádeiiltiʼí script

On the Omniglot blog there’s a new post entitled Gluten Glue in which we find links between the words glue, gluten and clay, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in British Colombia in Canada.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Dhao, a Sumba-Flores language spoken on Ndao, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands in East Nusa Tenggara Province in Indonesia.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find any words of Celtic origin in non-Celtic languages for this week’s Celtic Pathways podcast, so after 94 episodes, I’ve decided to take a break. I’ll be back with more Adventures in Etymology next week.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post about words for Awls & Bodkins in Celtic languages.

Improved pages: Phoenician numbers and Khowar language pages

In other news, my Duolingo streak reached 3,000 days this week (3,004 at the time of writing). Or in other words, for the past 8 years or so, I’ve studied languages every single day. At the moment I’m learning Swahili, and maintaining my other languages, particularly Japanese, Spanish and Italian.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Unlimited Web Hosting - Kualo