éénsylabische

Éínsylabische is a term used in linguistic typology and constructed-language studies to denote a hypothetical class of languages in which every word is monosyllabic. The name fuses elements meaning “one” with a suffix implying a syllabic character, reflecting the central property: single-syllable units form the basic building blocks of meaning-based segments. In a prototypical éínsylabische system, the basic syllable structure is simple, commonly CV or CVC, with limited consonant clusters and a modest vowel inventory. Morphology tends toward minimal, isolating patterns; many grammars rely on word order, particles, and function words rather than extensive affixation to express grammatical relations.

Phonology in such systems often emphasizes a compact inventory to keep each morpheme monosyllabic, and may employ tone or pitch accent to distinguish meanings or grammatical functions. The syntax is typically flexible but tends toward analytic constructions, with the use of pre- or post-verbal particles to signal tense, aspect, or mood.

Orthography and literacy proposals for éínsylabische range from syllabaries to alphabets, with orthographic units aligning with the monosyllabic morphemes for ease of representation. Because every word is a single syllable, pedagogical and information-theoretic analyses often consider information density, entropy, and processing load.

The term is primarily used in theoretical discussions and conlang circles as a thought experiment about syllable economy. There are no confirmed natural-language attestations of éínsylabische, and it remains a tool for exploring typology, phonology, and linguistic design.