diff --git a/apps/api/package.json b/apps/api/package.json
index a5a7cde..586004e 100644
--- a/apps/api/package.json
+++ b/apps/api/package.json
@@ -3,8 +3,18 @@
   "version": "1.0.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
+  "scripts": {
+    "dev": "tsx watch src/server.ts",
+    "build": "tsc",
+    "start": "node dist/server.js"
+  },
   "dependencies": {
+    "@glossa/db": "workspace:*",
     "@glossa/shared": "workspace:*",
-    "@glossa/db": "workspace:*"
+    "express": "^5.2.1"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@types/express": "^5.0.6",
+    "tsx": "^4.21.0"
   }
 }
diff --git a/apps/api/src/app.ts b/apps/api/src/app.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f901cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/src/app.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import express from "express";
+import type { Express } from "express";
+
+export function createApp() {
+  const app: Express = express();
+
+  app.get("/api/health", (_req, res) => {
+    res.json({ status: "ok" });
+  });
+
+  return app;
+}
diff --git a/apps/api/src/server.ts b/apps/api/src/server.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86d05ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/src/server.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import { createApp } from "./app.js";
+
+const PORT = Number(process.env["PORT"] ?? 3000);
+
+const app = createApp();
+
+app.listen(PORT, () => {
+  console.log(`Server listening on port ${PORT}`);
+});
diff --git a/apps/api/tsconfig.json b/apps/api/tsconfig.json
index a25326f..3b77034 100644
--- a/apps/api/tsconfig.json
+++ b/apps/api/tsconfig.json
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
   "compilerOptions": {
     "module": "NodeNext",
     "moduleResolution": "NodeNext",
+    "outDir": "./dist",
+    "rootDir": "./src",
     "types": ["vitest/globals"],
   },
   "include": ["src"],