Standard Lemma guide

conlang

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɒnlæŋ/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈkɑnˌlæŋ/
  • General-American: /ˈkɑnˌleɪŋ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Alternative form of constructed language (“a human language consciously devised by an individual or a small group, as opposed to having naturally evolved as a natural language”)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, colloquial

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • The Klingon language is a conlang created for use in the Star Trek franchise.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clong, cloŋ

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To create or work on a conlang (constructed language).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • I've been conlanging since I was nine years old.
  • Brithenig was conlanged with the purpose of looking how Welsh might have developed if it were a Romance language.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The noun is a syllabic abbreviation of constructed language, while the verb is derived from the noun. By surface analysis, con- (“constructed”) + lang or -lang (“language”).

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: tworzyć język sztuczny — to create a conlang
  • Polish: stworzyć język sztuczny — to create a conlang
  • Spanish: conlanguear — to create a conlang