diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2366e59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+node_modules/
+dist/
+build/
+.env
diff --git a/apps/api/package.json b/apps/api/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5a7cde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "name": "@glossa/api",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "type": "module",
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@glossa/shared": "workspace:*",
+    "@glossa/db": "workspace:*"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/web/package.json b/apps/web/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..635a20f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "name": "@glossa/web",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "type": "module",
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@glossa/shared": "workspace:*"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/documentation/roadmap.md b/documentation/roadmap.md
index 602121e..4493a02 100644
--- a/documentation/roadmap.md
+++ b/documentation/roadmap.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Each phase produces a working, deployable increment. Nothing is built speculativ
 **Goal**: Empty repo that builds, lints, and runs end-to-end.  
 **Done when**: `pnpm dev` starts both apps; `GET /api/health` returns 200; React renders a hello page.
 
-- [ ] Initialise pnpm workspace monorepo: `apps/web`, `apps/api`, `packages/shared`, `packages/db`
+- [x] Initialise pnpm workspace monorepo: `apps/web`, `apps/api`, `packages/shared`, `packages/db`
 - [ ] Configure TypeScript project references across packages
 - [ ] Set up ESLint + Prettier with shared configs in root
 - [ ] Set up Vitest in `api` and `web`
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da49943
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "name": "glossa",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "description": "a vocabulary trainer",
+  "private": true,
+  "scripts": {
+    "dev": "concurrently \"pnpm --filter @glossa/web run dev\" \"pnpm --filter @glossa/api run dev\"",
+    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
+  },
+  "packageManager": "pnpm@10.32.1",
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "concurrently": "^9.2.1"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/db/package.json b/packages/db/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e644b18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/db/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "@glossa/db",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "type": "module"
+}
diff --git a/packages/shared/package.json b/packages/shared/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b51dbbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/shared/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "@glossa/shared",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "type": "module"
+}
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46d710c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,225 @@
+lockfileVersion: '9.0'
+
+settings:
+  autoInstallPeers: true
+  excludeLinksFromLockfile: false
+
+importers:
+
+  .:
+    devDependencies:
+      concurrently:
+        specifier: ^9.2.1
+        version: 9.2.1
+
+  apps/api:
+    dependencies:
+      '@glossa/db':
+        specifier: workspace:*
+        version: link:../../packages/db
+      '@glossa/shared':
+        specifier: workspace:*
+        version: link:../../packages/shared
+
+  apps/web:
+    dependencies:
+      '@glossa/shared':
+        specifier: workspace:*
+        version: link:../../packages/shared
+
+  packages/db: {}
+
+  packages/shared: {}
+
+packages:
+
+  ansi-regex@5.0.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-quJQXlTSUGL2LH9SUXo8VwsY4soanhgo6LNSm84E1LBcE8s3O0wpdiRzyR9z/ZZJMlMWv37qOOb9pdJlMUEKFQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+
+  ansi-styles@4.3.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-zbB9rCJAT1rbjiVDb2hqKFHNYLxgtk8NURxZ3IZwD3F6NtxbXZQCnnSi1Lkx+IDohdPlFp222wVALIheZJQSEg==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+
+  chalk@4.1.2:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-oKnbhFyRIXpUuez8iBMmyEa4nbj4IOQyuhc/wy9kY7/WVPcwIO9VA668Pu8RkO7+0G76SLROeyw9CpQ061i4mA==}
+    engines: {node: '>=10'}
+
+  cliui@8.0.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-BSeNnyus75C4//NQ9gQt1/csTXyo/8Sb+afLAkzAptFuMsod9HFokGNudZpi/oQV73hnVK+sR+5PVRMd+Dr7YQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=12'}
+
+  color-convert@2.0.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-RRECPsj7iu/xb5oKYcsFHSppFNnsj/52OVTRKb4zP5onXwVF3zVmmToNcOfGC+CRDpfK/U584fMg38ZHCaElKQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=7.0.0'}
+
+  color-name@1.1.4:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-dOy+3AuW3a2wNbZHIuMZpTcgjGuLU/uBL/ubcZF9OXbDo8ff4O8yVp5Bf0efS8uEoYo5q4Fx7dY9OgQGXgAsQA==}
+
+  concurrently@9.2.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-fsfrO0MxV64Znoy8/l1vVIjjHa29SZyyqPgQBwhiDcaW8wJc2W3XWVOGx4M3oJBnv/zdUZIIp1gDeS98GzP8Ng==}
+    engines: {node: '>=18'}
+    hasBin: true
+
+  emoji-regex@8.0.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-MSjYzcWNOA0ewAHpz0MxpYFvwg6yjy1NG3xteoqz644VCo/RPgnr1/GGt+ic3iJTzQ8Eu3TdM14SawnVUmGE6A==}
+
+  escalade@3.2.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-WUj2qlxaQtO4g6Pq5c29GTcWGDyd8itL8zTlipgECz3JesAiiOKotd8JU6otB3PACgG6xkJUyVhboMS+bje/jA==}
+    engines: {node: '>=6'}
+
+  get-caller-file@2.0.5:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-DyFP3BM/3YHTQOCUL/w0OZHR0lpKeGrxotcHWcqNEdnltqFwXVfhEBQ94eIo34AfQpo0rGki4cyIiftY06h2Fg==}
+    engines: {node: 6.* || 8.* || >= 10.*}
+
+  has-flag@4.0.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-EykJT/Q1KjTWctppgIAgfSO0tKVuZUjhgMr17kqTumMl6Afv3EISleU7qZUzoXDFTAHTDC4NOoG/ZxU3EvlMPQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+
+  is-fullwidth-code-point@3.0.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-zymm5+u+sCsSWyD9qNaejV3DFvhCKclKdizYaJUuHA83RLjb7nSuGnddCHGv0hk+KY7BMAlsWeK4Ueg6EV6XQg==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+
+  require-directory@2.1.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-fGxEI7+wsG9xrvdjsrlmL22OMTTiHRwAMroiEeMgq8gzoLC/PQr7RsRDSTLUg/bZAZtF+TVIkHc6/4RIKrui+Q==}
+    engines: {node: '>=0.10.0'}
+
+  rxjs@7.8.2:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-dhKf903U/PQZY6boNNtAGdWbG85WAbjT/1xYoZIC7FAY0yWapOBQVsVrDl58W86//e1VpMNBtRV4MaXfdMySFA==}
+
+  shell-quote@1.8.3:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-ObmnIF4hXNg1BqhnHmgbDETF8dLPCggZWBjkQfhZpbszZnYur5DUljTcCHii5LC3J5E0yeO/1LIMyH+UvHQgyw==}
+    engines: {node: '>= 0.4'}
+
+  string-width@4.2.3:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-wKyQRQpjJ0sIp62ErSZdGsjMJWsap5oRNihHhu6G7JVO/9jIB6UyevL+tXuOqrng8j/cxKTWyWUwvSTriiZz/g==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+
+  strip-ansi@6.0.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-Y38VPSHcqkFrCpFnQ9vuSXmquuv5oXOKpGeT6aGrr3o3Gc9AlVa6JBfUSOCnbxGGZF+/0ooI7KrPuUSztUdU5A==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+
+  supports-color@7.2.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-qpCAvRl9stuOHveKsn7HncJRvv501qIacKzQlO/+Lwxc9+0q2wLyv4Dfvt80/DPn2pqOBsJdDiogXGR9+OvwRw==}
+    engines: {node: '>=8'}
+
+  supports-color@8.1.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-MpUEN2OodtUzxvKQl72cUF7RQ5EiHsGvSsVG0ia9c5RbWGL2CI4C7EpPS8UTBIplnlzZiNuV56w+FuNxy3ty2Q==}
+    engines: {node: '>=10'}
+
+  tree-kill@1.2.2:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-L0Orpi8qGpRG//Nd+H90vFB+3iHnue1zSSGmNOOCh1GLJ7rUKVwV2HvijphGQS2UmhUZewS9VgvxYIdgr+fG1A==}
+    hasBin: true
+
+  tslib@2.8.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-oJFu94HQb+KVduSUQL7wnpmqnfmLsOA/nAh6b6EH0wCEoK0/mPeXU6c3wKDV83MkOuHPRHtSXKKU99IBazS/2w==}
+
+  wrap-ansi@7.0.0:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-YVGIj2kamLSTxw6NsZjoBxfSwsn0ycdesmc4p+Q21c5zPuZ1pl+NfxVdxPtdHvmNVOQ6XSYG4AUtyt/Fi7D16Q==}
+    engines: {node: '>=10'}
+
+  y18n@5.0.8:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-0pfFzegeDWJHJIAmTLRP2DwHjdF5s7jo9tuztdQxAhINCdvS+3nGINqPd00AphqJR/0LhANUS6/+7SCb98YOfA==}
+    engines: {node: '>=10'}
+
+  yargs-parser@21.1.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-tVpsJW7DdjecAiFpbIB1e3qxIQsE6NoPc5/eTdrbbIC4h0LVsWhnoa3g+m2HclBIujHzsxZ4VJVA+GUuc2/LBw==}
+    engines: {node: '>=12'}
+
+  yargs@17.7.2:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-7dSzzRQ++CKnNI/krKnYRV7JKKPUXMEh61soaHKg9mrWEhzFWhFnxPxGl+69cD1Ou63C13NUPCnmIcrvqCuM6w==}
+    engines: {node: '>=12'}
+
+snapshots:
+
+  ansi-regex@5.0.1: {}
+
+  ansi-styles@4.3.0:
+    dependencies:
+      color-convert: 2.0.1
+
+  chalk@4.1.2:
+    dependencies:
+      ansi-styles: 4.3.0
+      supports-color: 7.2.0
+
+  cliui@8.0.1:
+    dependencies:
+      string-width: 4.2.3
+      strip-ansi: 6.0.1
+      wrap-ansi: 7.0.0
+
+  color-convert@2.0.1:
+    dependencies:
+      color-name: 1.1.4
+
+  color-name@1.1.4: {}
+
+  concurrently@9.2.1:
+    dependencies:
+      chalk: 4.1.2
+      rxjs: 7.8.2
+      shell-quote: 1.8.3
+      supports-color: 8.1.1
+      tree-kill: 1.2.2
+      yargs: 17.7.2
+
+  emoji-regex@8.0.0: {}
+
+  escalade@3.2.0: {}
+
+  get-caller-file@2.0.5: {}
+
+  has-flag@4.0.0: {}
+
+  is-fullwidth-code-point@3.0.0: {}
+
+  require-directory@2.1.1: {}
+
+  rxjs@7.8.2:
+    dependencies:
+      tslib: 2.8.1
+
+  shell-quote@1.8.3: {}
+
+  string-width@4.2.3:
+    dependencies:
+      emoji-regex: 8.0.0
+      is-fullwidth-code-point: 3.0.0
+      strip-ansi: 6.0.1
+
+  strip-ansi@6.0.1:
+    dependencies:
+      ansi-regex: 5.0.1
+
+  supports-color@7.2.0:
+    dependencies:
+      has-flag: 4.0.0
+
+  supports-color@8.1.1:
+    dependencies:
+      has-flag: 4.0.0
+
+  tree-kill@1.2.2: {}
+
+  tslib@2.8.1: {}
+
+  wrap-ansi@7.0.0:
+    dependencies:
+      ansi-styles: 4.3.0
+      string-width: 4.2.3
+      strip-ansi: 6.0.1
+
+  y18n@5.0.8: {}
+
+  yargs-parser@21.1.1: {}
+
+  yargs@17.7.2:
+    dependencies:
+      cliui: 8.0.1
+      escalade: 3.2.0
+      get-caller-file: 2.0.5
+      require-directory: 2.1.1
+      string-width: 4.2.3
+      y18n: 5.0.8
+      yargs-parser: 21.1.1
diff --git a/pnpm-workspace.yaml b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..286cf7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+packages:
+  - apps/*
+  - packages/*