Volapük

[ voh-luh-pyk ]

noun

1. one of the earliest of the artificially constructed international auxiliary languages, invented about 1879.

Volapuk

/ ˈvɒləˌpʊk /

noun

1. an artificial language based on English, French, German, Latin, etc, invented by Johann Schleyer (1831–1912) in 1880

Other Words From

• Vola·pukist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Volapük¹

1880–85; vol, representing world + -a- connecting vowel + pük, representing speak

Word History and Origins

Origin of Volapük¹

C19: from vol, based on world + euphonic -a- + pük speech, based on speak

Example Sentences

Though “conlangs” are not a new phenomenon—Esperanto and Volapük were 19th-century examples—they have exploded since 1990.

From Slate

A German Catholic priest tried to make “Volapük” catch on seven years earlier, but it died out because, “he didn’t want anyone else to make decisions about it,” says Arika Okrent, linguist and author of In the Land of Invented Languages.

From Time

The late 19th century was the heyday of the artificial language, and before Esperanto, an artificial language called Volapük was all the rage, with almost a million speakers across Europe.

From The Verge

After two days came a message couched in Volapuk or some other hybrid combination, which led him to believe that his property had been started for London.

From Project Gutenberg

“A kind of animal Volapuk,” said the Colonel laughing.

From Project Gutenberg