Dragon Language
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Dragon Language
Provided by the Skyrim Game Guide and in game dialogue translations by Alduin, Paarthurnax, Odahviing, and Durnehviir.
Some can also be found in the book Dragon Language: Myth no More.
Pronunciation
Some people may find the pronunciation of the Dragon Alphabet digraphs "aa", "ah", "ei", "ey", "ii", "ir", "uu", "ur", and "oo" to be confusing.
"aa" is pronounced as /æ/, like in "that", "pat", "relax". "ah" as /ɔ/, like in "tall", "enthrall" and "pause".
"oo" is used in a similar way like English, /uː/, like in "food", "too" and "kangaroo". "uu" is prounounced in the same way.
"ii" is prounounced /ɪ/, like in "pink", "link" and "wiki".
"ir" and "ur" are prounounced /ɜː(r)/, like in "bird", "admiral", "mourn" and "gourd". Both the vowel ("i" or "u") and "r" represent one letter in the dragon alphabet.
"ei" and "ey" are both pronounced /iː/, as in "ceiling" ,"key" and "alley".
However, assuming that the initial syllables heard in the musical pieces for the game are the standard form, then the language takes on a more Scandinavian sound:
"aa" and "ah" are both a long, open "a" /aː/, the latter, however, being formed more gutturally (sometimes becoming /ɔː/).
"oo" is used in the instances where the normal "o" sound /o/ (English "port") needs to become long (/oː/), as in the English "door". Only "uu" takes on the sound of an English double-"o" (see the above examples). "ii" would tend to be longer (/ɪː/).
"ir" and "ur" equate to /ɪr/ and /ur/, respectively.
Finally, there is a difference between "ei" and "ey" in that "ei" is pronounced as in German, producing a vowel as in "high". "Ey", on the other hand, sounds as in "way".
These discrepancies in pronunciation most likely result from the fact that many of these phonemes are not native to (or not the standard in) the English language, as well as the fact that most Dovah only periodically speak in their native language, so that it wasn't deemed important by Bethesda to properly instruct the voice actors in the pronunciation of the language. This is particularly evident in the fact that most dragons, in the game, do not roll their "r"s; both the Main Theme and the Following (Sovngarde Theme Song), however, feature them exclusively.
Grammar
The language has basically the same grammar as English, with the exceptions that it doesn't have an equivalent to English's apostrophes, it tends to place prepositional phrases earlier in sentences than English does, and it doesn't have tense.[1] To make a word plural, two letters are added to the end of the word, the first being the last letter in the singular form, and the second being an "e".
Common words
| Dragon | English |
| Aak | Guide |
| Aal | May (as in "May his soul") |
| Aam | Hmm? (expression of disbelief) |
| Aan | A/An |
| Aar | Servant |
| Aav | Join |
| Aaz | Mercy |
| Ag | Burn |
| Ah | Hunter |
| Ahmik | Service |
| Ahmul | Husband |
| Ahkrin | Courage |
| Ahraan | Wound (noun) |
| Ahrk | And |
| Ahst | At |
| Ahzid | Bitter |
| Al | Destroyer |
| Alok | Arise |
| Alok-Dilon | Necromancy (Arise-Dead)[2] |
| Alun | Ever |
| Askk | Love |
| Aus | Suffer |
| Bah | Wrath |
| Bahlok | Hunger |
| Banaar | Humble |
| Bein | Foul |
| Beyn | Scorn |
| Bex | Open [3] |
| Bodiis | Borrow |
| Bormah | Father |
| Bovul | Flee / Fled [4] |
| Boziik | Bold / Boldly |
| Brendon | Specter |
| Brii | Beauty |
| Briinah | Sister |
| Brit | Beautiful |
| Brod | Clan |
| Brom | North |
| Bron |
Nord |
| Bruniik | Savage |
| Du'ul | Crown [5] |
| Daanik | Doomed [4] |
| Dah | Push |
| Dahmaan | Remember |
| Daal | Return |
| Daar | This / These |
| Denek | Soil |
| Dein | Keep |
| Dez | Fate |
| Diin | Freeze |
| Diivon | Swallow |
| Dir | Die |
| Dinok | Death |
| Dilon | Dead |
| Do | Of / About |
| Dok | Hound |
| Dov | Dragonkind (referring to the race of dragons) |
| Dovah | Dragon |
| Dovahgolz | Dragonstone |
| Dovahkiin | Dragonborn |
| Draal | Pray |
| Dreh | Do / Does |
| Drem |
Peace / Patience |
| Drem Yol Lok | Greetings (literally 'peace fire sky') |
| Drey | Did [4] |
| Drog | Lord |
| Drun | Bring/Brought |
| Du | Devour |
| Dur | Curse |
| Dukaan | Dishonour |
| Dun | Grace |
| Dwiin | Steel |
| Dwiirok | Carve |
| Ek | Her |
| Enook | Each |
| Ensosin | Bewitch |
| Evenaar | Extinguish |
| Evgir | Season |
| Faad | Warmth |
| Faal | The (formal, preceeding a proper noun, "Faal Krein" for "The Sun") |
| Faas | Fear |
| Faasnu | Fearless |
| Fah | For |
| Fahdon | Friend |
| Fahliil | Elf |
| Feim | Fade |
| Fel | Feral |
| Fen | Will |
| Fent | Shall |
| Feykro | Forest |
| Feyn | Bane |
| Fiik | Mirror |
| Filok | Escape |
| Fin | The (rarely used) |
| Fo | Frost |
| Fod | When |
| Fodiiz | Hoar |
| Folaas | Wrong |
| Folook | Haunt |
| Fonaar | Charge |
| Frin | Hot |
| Frod | Field |
| Fron | Kin / Related |
| Frul | Ephemeral / Temporary |
| Ful | So |
| Fun | Told |
| Fundein | Unfurl / Unfurled |
| Funt | Fail |
| Fus | Force |
| Gaaf | Ghost |
| Gaan | Stamina |
| Gahrot | Steal [4] |
| Geh | Yes |
| Gein | One (to a single person or thing) |
| Geinmaar | Oneself |
| Gogil | Goblin |
| Gol | Earth |
| Golt | Ground |
| Golz | Stone |
| Govey | Remove |
| Graan | Rout (verb) |
| Grah | Battle |
| Grahmindol | Stratagem |
| Grah-Zeymahzin | Ally (Battle-Brother-Honor) [2] |
| Gravuun | Autumn [4] |
| Grik | Such |
| Grind | Meet |
| Grohiik | Wolf |
| Gron | Bind |
| Gut | Far |
| Haal | Hand |
| Haas | Health |
| Haalvut | Touch (noun or verb) |
| Hadrim, Hahdrim | Mind (noun) |
| Hahkun | Axe |
| Hahnu | Dream |
| Haas | Health |
| Heim | Forge |
| Het | Here |
| Hevno | Brutal |
| Heyv | Duty |
| Him | Your (rarely used)) |
| Hind | Wish, Hope |
| Hin | Your (Formal) |
| Hofkah | Steading |
| Hokoron | Enemy / Enemies |
| Horvut | Lure |
| Horvutah | Caught |
| Hon | Hear ("Nust hon" - They hear) |
| Hun | Hero |
| Huzrah | Hearken |
| Iiz | Ice |
| In | Master |
| Jer | East |
| Joor(re) | Mortal(s) |
| Jot | Maw |
| Jul | Man / Mankind / Humans (see also "Muz") |
| Jun | King, Light |
| Junnesejer | Kings of the East |
| Kaal | Champion |
| Kaan | Kyne |
| Kaaz | Cat / Khajiit |
| Kah | Pride |
| Kein | War |
| Keizaal | Skyrim |
| Kel(le) | Scroll(s) as in "Elder Scroll(s)" |
| Kendov | Warrior |
| Kest | Tempest |
| Key | Horse |
| Keyn | Anvil |
| Kiin | Born |
| Kiir | Child |
| Kinbok | Leader |
| Kinzon | Sharp [4] |
| Klo | Sand |
| Klov | Head |
| Ko | In |
| Kod | Wield |
| Kodaav | Bear |
| Kogaan | Blessing |
| Kos | Be/Are ("Fen Kos" - "Will Be") |
| Kol | Crag |
| Komeyt | Issue / Issued / Let loose (verb) |
| Konahrik | Warlord |
| Koor | Summer |
| Kopraan | Body |
| Kotin | Into |
| Krah | Cold |
| Krasaar | Sickness |
| Kreh | Bend |
| Kren | Break |
| Krent | Broken |
| Krein | Sun (see also "Shul") |
| Krif | Fight |
| Krii | Kill |
| Kriid | Slayer |
| Kril | Brave |
| Krilot | Valiant |
| Krin | Courageous |
| Kro | Sorceror |
| Kron | Conquer |
| Krongrah | Victory |
| Kroniid | Conqueror |
| Krosis | Sorrow or Alas (often used as an apology) |
| Kruziik | Ancient |
| Kul | Son(s) |
| Kulaan | Prince |
| Kulaas | Princess |
| Kun | Light(Opposite of "Vokun" Shadow) |
| Laan | Slowly(Opposite of "Volaan" Quickly) |
| Laas | Life |
| Laat | Last |
| Lah | Magicka |
| Lahney | Live |
| Lahvraan | Mustered |
| Lahvu | Army |
| Leh | Lest |
| Lein | World (Mundus - the universe, everything) |
| Liiv | Wither |
| Liivrah | Diminish |
| Lingrah | Long ("Lingrah vod" = "long ago") |
| Lo | Deceive |
| Loan | Question |
| Lok | Sky |
| Loost | Hath |
| Los | Is (Combine with other verbs for present tense: "is helping", "is sworn", etc) |
| Lost | Have / Was |
| Lot | Great |
| Lovaas | Music / Song |
| Luft | Face |
| Lun | Leech |
| Luv | Tear / Tears |
| Maar | Terror (may also be 'self' as the word Geinmaar' translates to 'oneself" and 'Gein' alone translates to 'one') |
| Mah | Fall / Fell |
| Mahfaeraak | Forever |
| Mal | Little |
| Med | Like / Similar to |
| Mey | Fool (noun or verb) |
| Meyz | Come (become) (i.e. "Meyz fundein" = "come unfurled") |
| Miin | Eye / Eyes |
| Mindok | Know,Known,Knowable |
| Mir | Allegiance |
| Miraad | Doorway |
| Monah | Mother |
| Monahven | Throat of the world |
| Moro | Glory |
| Morokei | Glorious |
| Motaad | Shudder / Shuddered |
| Morah | Focus |
| Motmah | Slip |
| Motmahus | Slippery,Elusive |
| Mu | We |
| Mul | Strong |
| Mulaag | Strength |
| Mun | Man |
| Munax | Cruel |
| Muz | Men (Plural of "Man", see also "Jul") |
| Naak | Eat |
| Naako | Eaten |
| Naal | By |
| Naan | Any |
| Nah | Fury |
| Nahgahdinok | Necromancer |
| Nahkip | Feed |
| Nahkriin | Vengeance |
| Nahl | Living (as in "alive") |
| Nahlaas | Alive |
| Nahlot | Silenced |
| Nau | On |
| Nax | Cruelty |
| Neh | Never |
| Ney | Both |
| Ni | Not |
| Nii | It |
| Nid or Niid | No |
| Nivahriin | Cowardly |
| Nimaar | Itself |
| Nin | Sting |
| Nir | Hunt |
| Nis | Cannot |
| Nok | Lie(s), used as both a verb ("Here lies...") and noun (He told a lie") |
| Nol | From |
| Nonvul | Noble |
| Norok | Fierce / Fiercest |
| Nu | Now |
| Nus | Statue |
| Nust | They |
| Nuz | But |
| Oblaan | End |
| Od | Snow |
| Ofan | Give |
| Ogiim | Orc |
| Ok | His (used equally with the "ii" form of the possessive) |
| Okaaz | Sea |
| Ol | As |
| Om | Hair |
| Ond | Lo |
| Onik | Old |
| Onikaan | Wisdom |
| Ont | Once |
| Orin | Even (adverb, meaning "Fully" or "Quite") |
| Osos | Same |
| Ov | Trust |
| Paal | Foe / Enemy |
| Paar | Ambition |
| Paaz | Fair |
| Pah | All |
| Pahlok | Arrogance |
| Peyt | Rose |
| Pindaar | Plain(s) |
| Pogaan | Many |
| Pogaas | Much |
| Pook | Stink |
| Praan | Rest |
| Prem | Patience |
| Prodah | Foretell / Foretold |
| Pruzah | Good |
| Pruzaan |
Best |
| Qahnaar/iin | Vanquish/er |
| Qeth | Bone |
| Qethsegol | Stone (literally "bone of the Earth") |
| Qo | Lightning |
| Qolaas | Herald |
| Qostiid | Prophecy |
| Raan | Animal |
| Rahgol | Rage |
| Rein | Roar |
| Rek | She (used equally with the "ii" form of possessive). |
| Revak | Sacred |
|
Reyliik | Race / Races (Heritage) |
| Rii | Essence |
| Riik | Gale |
| Rinik | Very |
| Ro | Balance |
| Rok | He |
| Ronax | Regiment |
| Ronaan | Archer |
| Ronaaz | Arrow |
| Ronit | Rival (verb) |
| Rotmulaag | Words of Power (Dragon Shouts) |
| Rovaan | Wander |
| Ru | Run |
| Rul | When |
| Ruvaak | Raven |
| Ruz | Then ("ahrk ruz" = "and then") |
| Sadon | Gray |
| Saraan | Waited |
| Sah | Phantom |
| Sahlo | Weak |
| Sahqo | Red |
| Sahqon | Crimson |
| Sahrot | Mighty |
| Sahsunaar | Villager(s) |
| Saviik | Savior |
| Se | Of (Of the) |
| Shul | Sun (Word of Power: see also "Krein") |
| Siiv | Find / Found |
| Sil | Soul |
| Sinak | Finger / Fingers |
| Sinon | Instead |
| Sivaas | Beast |
| Sizaan | Lost |
| Slen | Flesh |
| Smoliin | Passion |
| Sonaan | Bard |
| Sos | Blood |
| Sot | White |
| Spaan | Shield |
| Staadnau | Unbound |
| Stin | Free (adjective) |
| Strun | Storm |
| Strunmah | Mountain |
| Su | Air |
| Sul | Day |
| Suleyk | Power |
| Sunvaar | Beast / Beasts |
| Su'um | Breath |
| Tah | Pack |
| Taazokaan | Tamriel (the physical land / continent) |
| Tafiir | Thief |
| Tahrodiis | Treacherous |
| Tey | Tale |
| Thur | Tyranny (listed as Overlord in Skyrim Game Guide) |
| Thu'um | Shout ("Storm Voice") |
| Tiid | Time |
| Togaat | Attempt |
| Tol | That |
| Toor | Inferno |
| Tu | Hammer |
| Tuz | Blade |
| Ufiik | Troll |
| Ul | Eternity |
| Unahzaal | Unending / Ceaseless / Eternal (less common than Unslaad) |
| Unslaad | Unending / Ceaseless / Eternal |
| Unt | Try |
| Uznahgaar | Unbridled |
| Vaal | Bay ("ahst vaal" = "At Bay") |
| Vaat | Swear / Swore |
| Vaaz | Tear |
| Vah | Spring |
| Vahdin | Maiden |
| Vahlok | Guardian |
| Vahriin | Sworn |
| Vahrukt | Memory |
| Vahrukiv | Commemorate |
| Vahzah | True |
| Vanmindoraan | Incomprehensible |
| Ved | Black |
| Ven | Wind |
| Vey | Cut |
| Veysun | Ship |
| Viik | Defeat |
| Viir | Dying |
| Viintaas | Shining |
| Viing | Wing |
| Vith | Serpent |
| Vo-- | Un- prefix. (opposite of. e.g. unkind, unlikeable) |
| Vod | Ago ("Lingrah vod" - long ago) |
| Vodahmin | Unremembered / Forgotten |
| Vokul | Evil (Literally "ungood") |
| Vokun | Shadow |
| Vol | Horror |
| Volaan | Quickly (A taunt used by Draugr, "Dir Volaan!") |
| Voth | With |
| Voth Ahkrin | Bravely (Literally "With Courage") |
| Vukein | Combat |
| Vul | Dark |
| Vulom | Darkness |
| Vulon | Night |
| Wah | To |
| Wahl | Build / Create |
| Wahlaan | Past-tense: Built / Created / Raised[4] |
| Wen | Whose |
| Werid | Praise |
| Win | Wage |
| Wo | Who [4] |
| Wuld | Whirlwind |
| Wuth | Wise |
| Yah | Seek |
| Yol | Fire |
| Yoriik | March |
| Yuvon | Gold / Golden (adjective) |
| Zaan | Shout (noun; meaning "Yell", not use of Voice Power) |
| Zah | Finite |
| Zahkrii | Sword |
| Zahrahmiik | Sacrifice |
| Zeim | Through |
| Zeymah | Brother / Brothers |
| Zii | Spirit |
| Zin | Honor |
| Zind | Triumph |
| Zindro | Triumph's |
| Zofaas | Fearful |
| Zohungaar | Heroically |
| Zok | Most (as in degree, i.e. "greatest") |
| Zol | Zombie |
| Zoor | Legend |
| Zu (Zu'u) | I (I am) |
| Zul | Voice (the actual mortal voice, not the power of shouting) |
| Zun | Weapon |
Trivia
- The Dragon language's script is similar in appearance to cuneiform, the written language of ancient Mesopotamia.
- A possible hidden reference to Looking Glass Studio's "Thief" series exists in the form of the draconic word for thief -- "tafiir." [6]
- When speaking to you, both Alduin and Paarthurnax will speak in both common and Dragon language, often repeating a word in common after it is said in Dragon in order for the player to understand.
- Hostile dragons that the player may encounter in the wild will sometimes taunt you in Dragon language.
- "Dovahsebrom" translates to "Dragon of the North"
References
- ↑ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx?PostPageIndex=2
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dialogue with Durnehviir
- ↑ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Greybeards use this to teach Whirlwind Sprint
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 fled is the translation given in Dragon Language: Myth no More
- ↑ Dialogue with Arngeir in The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller
- ↑ Taffer in the Thief series
- Game Informer - Translating The Cover
- Game Informer - Skyrim’s Dragon Shouts
- Game Informer - Skyrim’s Dragon Shouts
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