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<center>{{Languages}}</center>
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Language]]
 
[[Category:DwarvenLanguage]]
Dwarvish
 
An Avlissian language by Orleron, KinX, Vergilius and Deider
 
{| align=right border="1" style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center; border-left:10px solid white;"  
{| align=right border="1" style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center; border-left:10px solid white;"  
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt;" colspan=2 | Nouns
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt;" colspan=2 | Nouns
|-
|-
! style="background:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwarvish
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwarvish
   |-
   |-
Line 34: Line 31:
     | anger/wrath  
     | anger/wrath  
     | woarg
     | woarg
  |-
    | ant
    | angan
   |-
   |-
     | anvil  
     | anvil  
Line 55: Line 55:
     | bandit  
     | bandit  
     | raubicht
     | raubicht
  |-
    | barn
    | sgobhal
   |-
   |-
     | bartender  
     | bartender  
Line 70: Line 73:
     | bellows  
     | bellows  
     | bualg
     | bualg
  |-
    | bird
    | eoin
   |-
   |-
     | boulder  
     | boulder  
Line 76: Line 82:
     | bow  
     | bow  
     | bevergung
     | bevergung
  |-
    | box
    | bogsch
   |-
   |-
     | boy  
     | boy  
Line 82: Line 91:
     | castle  
     | castle  
     | kargh
     | kargh
  |-
    | cat
    | coit
   |-
   |-
     | child  
     | child  
Line 94: Line 106:
     | Council  
     | Council  
     | raad
     | raad
  |-
    | cow 
    | ciobrothe
   |-
   |-
     | desire/want  
     | desire/want  
Line 100: Line 115:
     | dew  
     | dew  
     | daegh
     | daegh
  |-
    | dirt
    | salach
  |-
    | dog
    | treanfaoil
   |-
   |-
     | drum  
     | drum  
Line 145: Line 166:
     | fruit  
     | fruit  
     | frucht
     | frucht
  |-
    | gate
    | cachal
   |-
   |-
     | girl  
     | girl  
Line 196: Line 220:
     | here  
     | here  
     | heir
     | heir
  |-
    | hero
    | gaisgach
   |-
   |-
     | hole  
     | hole  
Line 226: Line 253:
     | leather  
     | leather  
     | ledar
     | ledar
  |-
    | lizard
    | lagha
   |-
   |-
     | magic  
     | magic  
Line 244: Line 274:
     | mother  
     | mother  
     | madeugh
     | madeugh
  |-
    | mouse
    | luch
   |-
   |-
     | night  
     | night  
Line 265: Line 298:
     | ore  
     | ore  
     | merz
     | merz
  |-
    | owl
    | oidla
   |-
   |-
     | passage  
     | passage  
Line 271: Line 307:
     | pickaxe  
     | pickaxe  
     | breakel
     | breakel
  |-
    | pixie
    | leachan
   |-
   |-
     | platinum  
     | platinum  
Line 296: Line 335:
     | gesraig
     | gesraig
   |-
   |-
     | Sea
     | rothe
    | rothe
  |-
    | sea
     | aibheis
     | aibheis
   |-
   |-
Line 304: Line 346:
     | shadow  
     | shadow  
     | schadeugh
     | schadeugh
  |-
    | shark
    | cearb
   |-
   |-
     | shield  
     | shield  
     | washelg
     | washelg
  |-
    | ship
    | bauta
   |-
   |-
     | silver  
     | silver  
     | airbel
     | airbel
  |-
    | sky
    | odhar
  |-
    | snake
    | natha
   |-
   |-
     | something  
     | something  
Line 325: Line 379:
     | store/merchant  
     | store/merchant  
     | tighmann
     | tighmann
  |-
    | storm
    | gailloirm
   |-
   |-
     | stranger  
     | stranger  
Line 349: Line 406:
     | thing  
     | thing  
     | ding
     | ding
  |-
    | thunder
    | tearnach
   |-
   |-
     | time  
     | time  
Line 367: Line 427:
     | tunnel  
     | tunnel  
     | garnel
     | garnel
  |-
    | turtle
    | pantslagha
   |-
   |-
     | undead  
     | undead  
     | versanae
     | versanae
  |-
    | water
    | usga
   |-
   |-
     | way  
     | way  
Line 379: Line 445:
     | Welcome  
     | Welcome  
     | velkom
     | velkom
  |-
    | wind
    | goth
   |-
   |-
     | Winter  
     | Winter  
     | vinter
     | vinter
  |-
    | wolf
    | faoil
   |-
   |-
     | wood  
     | wood  
Line 390: Line 462:
|}
|}


=A Dwarvish Grammar Primer=
Dwarvish


==Simple Sentences==
An Avlissian language by Orleron, KinX, Vergilius and Deider


=Simple Sentences=
{|
{|
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
Dwarvish follows the word order structure of English to determine the function of a word in the sentence. This is the subject-verb-object word order. For example:
Dwarvish follows the word order structure of English to determine the function of a word in the sentence. This is the subject-verb-object word order. For example:
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I buy a shield. || width=40% | Mich caufoch washelg. || &nbsp;
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% | Mich caufoch washelg.  
| width=40% | I buy a shield.  
| &nbsp;
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
Line 404: Line 480:
Dwarvish is a simple but robust language. The particles ?a? and ?the? do not exist in dwarvish. Dwarvish also has no verb tenses. This means that the following sentences?
Dwarvish is a simple but robust language. The particles ?a? and ?the? do not exist in dwarvish. Dwarvish also has no verb tenses. This means that the following sentences?
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I buy a shield. || rowspan=3 valign=top | Mich caufoch washelg
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% rowspan=3 valign=top | Mich caufoch washelg
| I buy a shield.
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought a shield.
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% | I bought a shield.
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I will buy a shield.
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% | I will buy a shield.
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
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Dwarves usually understand through the context of a sentence which tense is intended. When the meaning is ambiguous, dwarves use time words to clarify. For example:
Dwarves usually understand through the context of a sentence which tense is intended. When the meaning is ambiguous, dwarves use time words to clarify. For example:
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought a shield yesterday. || Mich caufoch washelg voromlag.
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% | Mich caufoch washelg voromlag.
| I bought a shield yesterday.  
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I will buy a shield tomorrow. || Mich caufoch washelg nairlag.
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% | Mich caufoch washelg nairlag.
| I will buy a shield tomorrow.  
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
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Dwarvish has no plural forms. So again the sentences?
Dwarvish has no plural forms. So again the sentences?
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought a shield. || rowspan=2 valign=top | Mich caufoch washelg.
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% rowspan=2 valign=top | Mich caufoch washelg.
| I bought a shield.  
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought shields.
| width=10% | &nbsp;  
| width=40% | I bought shields.
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
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Again, dwarves usually understand from the context of the conversation, but in ambiguous situations numbers or adjectives are used. For example:
Again, dwarves usually understand from the context of the conversation, but in ambiguous situations numbers or adjectives are used. For example:
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought two shields. || Mich caufoch dwei washelg.
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | Mich caufoch dwei washelg.
| I bought two shields.  
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought many shields. || Mich caufoch vieluth washelg.
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | Mich caufoch vieluth washelg.
| I bought many shields.  
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
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Speaking of adjectives, as in English adjectives are placed in front of the nouns they modify.
Speaking of adjectives, as in English adjectives are placed in front of the nouns they modify.
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought two old shields yesterday. || Mich caufoch dwei beddegh washelg voromlag.
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | Mich caufoch dwei beddegh washelg voromlag.
| I bought two old shields yesterday.  
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
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Negative sentences are also simple. To make a negative sentence, add the word for no, ?nae,? before the verb.
Negative sentences are also simple. To make a negative sentence, add the word for no, ?nae,? before the verb.
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I did not buy a shield yesterday. || Mich nae caufoch washelg voromlag.
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | Mich nae caufoch washelg voromlag.
| I did not buy a shield yesterday.  
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I will not buy a small shield tomorrow. I will buy a big shield.
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | Mich nae cauloch klein washelg nairlag. Mich cauloch grobbi washelg.
| Mich nae cauloch klein washelg nairlag. Mich cauloch grobbi washelg.
| I will not buy a small shield tomorrow. I will buy a big shield.
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
Line 453: Line 544:
Dwarves have a very tight-knit clan and guild-based culture. As such, they understand each other very well, to the point that they can often finish each others? sentences. So when it would be understood, the subject is sometimes omitted from a sentence. For example:
Dwarves have a very tight-knit clan and guild-based culture. As such, they understand each other very well, to the point that they can often finish each others? sentences. So when it would be understood, the subject is sometimes omitted from a sentence. For example:
|-
|-
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | I bought a shield || mich caufoch washelg,
| width=10% | &nbsp; || width=40% | Mich caufoch washelg,
| I bought a shield  
|-
|-
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=4 |
*But many dwarves would simply say ''caufoch washelg''.
*But many dwarves would simply say ''caufoch washelg''.
|}
|}
 
=Dwergan Grammar Primer=
===Example Sentences===
==Pronouns and ''to be''==
 
{|
{| width=100%
| colspan=2 |
| width=50% | We bought old armor. || Wair caufoch beddegh pantsung.
In English, the personal pronouns change when converted from subject to object (I versus me, for example). This is not the case in dwarvish.
|-
| width=50% | Wair caufoch beddegh pantsung.
| We bought old armor.  
|-
| Siad anspoch wair.
| They attacked us.  
|-
| Daibh mabtoch ee!
| You killed him!
|-
|-
| They attacked us. || Siad anspoch wair.
| Ie nae behnoch mich.
| She will not bless me.  
|-
|-
| You killed him! || Daibh mabtoch ee!
| colspan=2 |
----
In many languages the verb ''to be'' is irregular. Not in dwarvish. The dwergan verb ''aeoch'', to be, does not change.
|-
|-
| She will not bless me. || Ie nae behnoch mich.
| Mich aeoch dwerven.
|}
| I am a dwarf.  
 
In many languages the verb ?to be? is irregular. Not in dwarvish. The dwarvish verb ?aeoch?, to be, does not change.
 
{| width=100%
| width=50% | I am a dwarf. || Mich aeoch dwerven.
|-
|-
| She is not nice. || Ie nae aeoch gehagh.
| Ie nae aeoch gehagh.
| She is not nice.  
|-
|-
| Gorethar is a good deity. || Gorethar aeoch gude deigott.
| Gorethar aeoch gude deigott.
| Gorethar is a good deity.  
|}
|}


==Pronouns and ''to be''==
==Expressing Possession==
 
{|
In English, the personal pronouns change when converted from subject to object (I versus me, for example). This is not the case in dwarvish.
| colspan=2 |
 
There are two ways to show possession in dwarvish. The first uses the conjunction 'ov,' which means 'of.'
{| border=1
|-
! colspan=2 | Pronouns
| width=50% | Veld Ov Vurbren aeoch heir.
| The Fields of Fire are here.
|-
|-
| I/me || mich
| Verifoch mich ov haut.
| I sold my house.
|-
|-
| We/us || wair
| colspan=2 |
----
The second is even simpler. Just combine the words signifying the owner and the possession:
|-
|-
| He/him || ee
| width=50% | Verifoch michhaut.
| I sold my house.
|-
|-
| She/her || ie
| Michwashelg aeoch beddegh.
| My shield is old.
|-
|-
| It || edh
| Fifur mabtoch michvruend.
| Fifur killed my friend.
|}
==Imperatives==
{|
| colspan=2 |
Dwarvish verbs are not conjugated. The only exception is when it comes to giving commands. All dwarvish verbs end with -och. Dropping -och from a verb results in its imperative form.
|-
|-
| You || daibh
| Rauf! Rauf!!
| Run! Run!!
|-
|-
| They/them || siad
| Dlomm heir
| Come here.
|-
|-
| This || ses
| Nae versa!
| Don't die!
|-
|-
| That || din
| Mabt siad!
| Kill them!
|}
|}
 
==Expressing Desires==
==Expressing Possession==
{|
 
| colspan=2 | The verb ''wofeloch'' means ''to want''.
There are two ways to show possession in dwarvish. The first uses the conjunction 'ov,' which means 'of.'
|-
 
| Wofeloch washelg.
{| width=100%
| I want a shield.
| width=50% | The Fields of Fire are here. || Veld Ov Vurbren aeoch heir.
|-
| Ee wofeloch michhaut.
| He wants my house.  
|-
| Wofeloch ceudert gude dwergen!
| I want a hundred good dwarves!
|-
| colspan=2 |
''Wofel'' is a dwarvish noun meaning ''desire, want''. When wofel precedes a verb, the following expression can be made:
|-
|-
| I sold my house. || Verifoch mich ov haut.
| Mich wofel caufoch washelg.
|}
| I want to buy a shield.  
 
The second is even simpler. Just combine the words signifying the owner and the possession:
 
{| width=100%
| width=50% | I sold my house. || Verifoch michhaut.
|-
|-
| My shield is old. || Michwashelg aeoch beddegh.
| Ie wofel fascoch madeugh.
| She wants to see her mother.  
|-
|-
| Fifur killed my friend. || Fifur mabtoch michvruend.
| Mich nae wofel mabtoch daibh.
| I don't want to kill you.  
|}
|}
==Imperatives==
Dwarvish verbs are not conjugated. The only exception is when it comes to giving commands. All dwarvish verbs end with ?och. Dropping ?och from a verb results in its imperative form.
Rauf! Rauf!!
Run! Run!!
Dlomm heir
Come here.
Nae versa!
Don't die!
Mabt siad!
Kill them!
==Expressing Desires==
The verb 'wofeloch' means 'to want.'
Wofeloch washelg.
I want a shield.
Ee wofeloch michhaut.
He wants my house.
Wofeloch ceudert gude dwergen!
I want a hundred good dwarves!
'Wofel' is a dwarvish noun meaning 'desire, want.' When 'wofel' precedes a verb, the following expression can be made:
Mich wofel caufoch washelg.
I want to buy a shield.
Ie wofel fascoch madeugh.
She wants to see her mother.
Mich nae wofel mabtoch daibh.
I don?t want to kill you.
==Conjunctions, Conditionals, and Explaining Reasons==
==Conjunctions, Conditionals, and Explaining Reasons==
 
{|
| colspan=2 |
Conjunctions can be used to combine simple sentences into complex ones. Conjunctions are used in dwarvish exactly as they are in English. A list of common conjunctions follows:
Conjunctions can be used to combine simple sentences into complex ones. Conjunctions are used in dwarvish exactly as they are in English. A list of common conjunctions follows:
 
|-
 
| Famoch tighmann ind caufoch washelg voromlag.
And : ind
| I went to the store and I bought a shield.
 
|-
Because : wegoir
| Anspoch din muc bach ee nae versaoch.
 
| I attacked that orc but he didn?t die.
But, yet : bach
|-
 
| Verifoch michtuxt ov staidh wegoir edh aeoch flamh.
If : wem
| I sold my steel axe because it was dull.
 
|-
Or : nad
| Wair desufoch aalen nad leanr.
 
| We will drink ale or beer.
 
|-
Famoch tighmann ind caufoch washelg voromlag.
| colspan=2 |
 
----
I went to the store and I bought a shield.
The word ''wem'' can be used with the adverb ''mann'', which means ''then'', to form conditional sentences.
 
|-
 
| Wem famoch tighmann, mann caufoch nudh washelg.
Anspoch din muc bach ee nae versaoch.
| If I go to the store, then I will buy a new shield.
 
|-
I attacked that orc but he didn?t die.
| colspan=2 |
 
----
 
The conjunction ''wegoir'', which means ''because'', can be used to explain reasons.
Verifoch michtuxt ov staidh wegoir edh aeoch flamh.
|-
 
| Famoch tighmann voromlag wegoir wofel caufoch nudh washelg.
I sold my steel axe because it was dull.
| I went to the store yesterday because I wanted to buy a new shield.
 
|}
 
Wair desufoch aalen nad leanr.
 
We will drink ale or beer.
 
The word 'wem' can be used with the adverb ?mann?, which means ?then,? to form conditional sentences.
 
 
Wem famoch tighmann, mann caufoch nudh washelg.
 
If I go to the store, then I will buy a new shield.
 
The conjunction 'wegoir,' which means 'because,' can be used to explain reasons.
 
 
Famoch tighmann voromlag wegoir wofel caufoch nudh washelg.
 
I went to the store yesterday because I wanted to buy a new shield.
 
==Prepositions==
==Prepositions==
 
{|
| colspan=2 |
Prepositions come before the words they modify, as in English. Below is a list of common dwarvish prepositions:
Prepositions come before the words they modify, as in English. Below is a list of common dwarvish prepositions:
 
|-
 
| The moon is above Galdos, but I never see it.
Above : ciob
| Moan aeoch ciob Galdos, bach nae faschoch.
 
|-
After : nair
| Michbreakel aeoch ain haut, hintacht miedlach.
 
| My pickaxe is in the house, behind the forge.
Before : vorom
|-
 
| Muc dlommoch bhon fon garnel.
Behind : hintacht
| The orcs came from below the tunnel.
 
|-
Below : fon
| Grib daibhwaffen oin stragenaan!
 
| Drop your weapon on the road!
By : de
|-
 
| Caufoch ses washelg cal daibh.
For : cal
| I bought this shield for you.
 
|}
From : bhon
 
In front of : coivern
 
In, inside : ain
 
Of : ov
 
On : oin
 
To : chau
 
With : meit
 
 
Examples:
 
Moan aeoch ciob Galdos, bach nae faschoch.
 
The moon is above Galdos, but I never see it.
 
 
Michbreakel aeoch ain haut, hintacht miedlach.
 
My pickaxe is in the house, behind the forge.
 
Muc dlommoch bhon fon garnel.
 
The orcs came from below the tunnel.
 
Drop your weapon on the road!
 
Grib daibhwaffen oin stragenaan!
 
I bought this shield for you.
 
Caufoch ses washelg cal daibh.
 
==Asking Questions==
==Asking Questions==
 
{|
| colspan=2 |
In written dwarvish, interrogative questions start with a question word and end with a rune that denotes that the question is a sentence. This rune is analogous to the English question mark. Also similar is the fact that when dwarves speak a question they end the sentence with a rise in tone. In other words, asking a question in dwarvish is the same as asking one in English. Below is a list of dwarvish question words:
In written dwarvish, interrogative questions start with a question word and end with a rune that denotes that the question is a sentence. This rune is analogous to the English question mark. Also similar is the fact that when dwarves speak a question they end the sentence with a rise in tone. In other words, asking a question in dwarvish is the same as asking one in English. Below is a list of dwarvish question words:
 
|-
 
| Cor aeoch din lelbfing?
Who : cor
| Who was that half-elf?
 
|-
What : cas
| Cas aeoch ses waffen, ind co aeoch dlommoch bhon?
 
| What is this weapon, and where did it come from?
When : cuan
|-
 
| Cashalb daibh anspoch mich?
Where : co
| Why did you attack me?
 
|-
Why : cashalb
| Celch washelg daibh wofeloch, rodh nad blorm?
 
| Which shield do you like, the red or the blue one?
How : cie
|}
 
How much, how many : cieliol
 
Which : celch
 
 
Cor aeoch din lelbfing?
 
Who was that half-elf?
 
 
Cas aeoch ses waffen, ind co aeoch dlommoch bhon?
 
What is this weapon, and where did it come from?
 
Why did you attack me?
 
Cashalb daibh anspoch mich?
 
 
Which shield do you like, the red or the blue one?
 
Celch washelg daibh wofeloch, rodh nad blorm?
 
 
==Relative Clauses==
==Relative Clauses==
{|
| colspan=2 |
Relative clauses use the appropriate question word to best describe the noun they modify. In English, where ''that'' is used the word for ''what'', ''cas'', is used instead. For example:
|-
| Fing cor mabtoch michvadeugh
| The elf who killed my father
|-
| Merz cas mich leagoch voromlag.
| The ore that I smelted yesterday
|-
| Hochbol co siad neutoch shlegh
| The stronghold where they fought the battle
|-
| Cuan mich aeoch laddie, wofeloch buang feubart.
| When I was a boy, I wanted a long beard.
|}
==Time Expressions==
{|
|
Compound nouns are used to modify the words for week, month, and year. Thus ''voromjahdna'' means ''last year'' and ''nairmionat'' means ''next month''.


Relative clauses use the appropriate question word to best describe the noun they modify. In English, where ?that? is used the word for ?what,? ?cas,? is used instead. For example:
More time expressions can be used by combining time words, numbers, and certain prepositions. For example
 
|-
 
{| width=100%
The elf who killed my father
| Two seconds ago  
 
| Two second before
Fing cor mabtoch michvadeugh
| Dwei dakun vorom
 
|-
 
| Five years from now
The ore that I smelted yesterday
| Five year after
 
| Conf jahdna nair
Merz cas mich leagoch voromlag.
|-
 
| In twenty-four hours
 
| Twenty-four hour inside
The stronghold where they fought the battle
| Dweideihn-veith stuair ain
 
|}
Hochbol co siad neutoch shlegh
|-
 
{| width=100%
 
| Dlomm Deglos dwei lag ain.
When I was a boy, I wanted a long beard.
| Come to Deglos in two days.
 
|-
Cuan mich aeoch laddie, wofeloch buang feubart.
| Leornoch finglen deihn jahdna nair.
 
| I learned Elvish ten years ago.
==Time expressions==
|}
 
|-
A list of common dwarvish time words is detailed below:
'''Culture note:''' ''mionat'' is translated as ''month'', but many dwarves live their entire lives underground and hence never seen the moon. Mionat does not describe an actual lunar cycle, but rather the length of time of the birth and death cycle of a type of glowing fungus that grows in the Underdark. The life cycle of this fungus roughly corresponds to one month.
 
|}
 
==Saying ''I Can''==
Second : dakun
{|
 
| In dwarvish the word ''urkit'' means ''ability''. When urkit precedes a verb it forms the grammatical expression "I can" (verb form). For example:
Minute : pairgen
|-
 
{| width=100%
Hour : stuair
| I can see you.
 
| I have the ability to see you.
Day : lag
| Mich urkit fascoch daibh.
 
|-
Week : woach
| We cannot lose!
 
| We do not have the ability to lose!
Month : mionat
| Wair nae urkit vercaloch!
 
|}
Year : jahdna
|}
 
 
Today = this + day = ses + lag = seslag
 
Yesterday = before + day = vorom + lag = voromlag
 
Tomorrow = after + day = nair + lag = nairlag
 
 
Similar compound nouns are used to modify the words for week, month, and year. Thus ?voromjahdna? means 'last year' and 'nairmionat' means 'next month.'
 
 
More time expressions can be used by combining time words, numbers, and certain prepositions. For example:
 
 
Two seconds ago = two second before = dwei dakun vorom
 
Five years from now = five year after = conf jahdna nair
 
In twenty-four hours = twenty-four hour inside = dweideihn-veith stuair ain
 
 
Come to Deglos in two days.
 
Dlomm Deglos dwei lag ain.
 
 
I learned Elvish ten years ago.
 
Leornoch finglen deihn jahdna nair.
 
 
Culture note: 'mionat' is translated as 'month,' but many dwarves live their entire lives underground and hence never seen the moon. 'Mionat' does not describe an actual lunar cycle, but rather the length of time of the birth and death cycle of a type of glowing fungus that grows in the Underdark. The life cycle of this fungus roughly corresponds to one month.
 
==Saying 'I Can'==
 
In dwarvish the word 'urkit' means 'ability.' When urkit precedes a verb it forms the grammatical expression 'I can (verb).' For example:
 
 
Mich urkit fascoch daibh.
 
I have the ability to see you.
 
I can see you.
 
 
Wair nae urkit vercaloch!
 
We cannot lose!
 
==Gerunds==
==Gerunds==
 
{|
Perhaps the hardest thing for foreigners to understand about dwarvish is gerunds. Just as dwarvish verbs do not distinguish between tenses, they also do not distinguish the gerund form. So 'see', 'to see,' and 'seeing' are all expressed by the word 'fascoch.' This sometimes creates sentences that are hard for non-dwarves to understand, such as:
| Perhaps the hardest thing for foreigners to understand about dwarvish is gerunds. Just as dwarvish verbs do not distinguish between tenses, they also do not distinguish the gerund form. So 'see', 'to see,' and 'seeing' are all expressed by the word 'fascoch.' This sometimes creates sentences that are hard for non-dwarves to understand, such as:
 
|-
 
{| width=100%
Desufoch aalen aeoch gude.
| Desufoch aalen aeoch gude.
 
| Drinking ale is good.
Drinking ale is good.
|-
 
| Vercaloth aeoch versaoch.
 
| To lose is to die.
Vercaloth aeoch versaoch.
|}
 
|}
To lose is to die.
 
==Expressing Likes and Dislikes==
==Expressing Likes and Dislikes==
 
{|
The verb meaning 'to like' is 'mesikoth.' The verb meaning 'to hate' is 'fuasoch.'
| colspan=2 |
 
The verb meaning ''to like'' is ''mesikoth''. The verb meaning ''to hate'' is ''fuasoch''.
 
|-
I like winter, and I hate summer.
| Mich mesikoth vinter, ind mich fuasoch zommer.
 
| I like winter, and I hate summer.
Mich mesikoth vinter, ind mich fuasoch zommer.
|-
 
| colspan=2 |
 
----
The imperative forms of the above verbs are also nouns meaning ?preference? and ?dislike.? When they precede a verb the following grammatical construction is formed:
The imperative forms of the above verbs are also nouns meaning ''preference'' and ''dislike''. When they precede a verb the following grammatical construction is formed:
 
|-
 
| Mich mesik leagoch merz.
Mich mesik leagoch merz.
| I like to smelt ore.
 
|-
I like to smelt ore.
| Mich fuas faichoch hochbol.
 
| I hate guarding the stronghold.
 
|}
Mich fuas faichoch hochbol.
 
I hate guarding the stronghold.
 
 
==Expressing Past Experiences==
==Expressing Past Experiences==
 
{|
The noun 'iarfah' mean 'experience.' When it precedes a verb it forms the following grammatical construction:
| colspan=3 |
 
The noun ''iarfah'' mean ''experience''. When it precedes a verb it forms the following grammatical construction:
 
|-
Mich iarfah famoch Le'Or T'Nanshi.
| Mich iarfah famoch Le'Or T'Nanshi.
 
| I have the experience of going to Le'Or T'Nanshi.
I have the experience of going to Le'Or T'Nanshi.
| I have been to Le'Or T'Nanshi before.
 
|-
I have been to Le'Or T'Nanshi before.
| Ee iarfah fascoch nudh gebuid michpantsung?
 
| colspan=2 | Has he seen my new yellow armor before?
 
|-
Ee iarfah fascoch nudh gebuid michpantsung?
| Cor iarfah famoch Mikona dri jahdna ain?
 
| colspan=2 |  Who's been to Mikona in the past three years?
Has he seen my new yellow armor before?
|}
 
 
Cor iarfah famoch Mikona dri jahdna ain?
 
Who's been to Mikona in the past three years?
 
==Similes and Metaphors==
==Similes and Metaphors==
 
{|
| colspan=2 |
The adjective 'cealich' means 'similar to.' It can be used to form similes, such as:
The adjective 'cealich' means 'similar to.' It can be used to form similes, such as:
 
|-
 
| Michmadeugh ov feubart aeoch wabh cealich iarsen.
My mother's beard is black like iron.
| My mother's beard is black like iron.
 
|-
Michmadeugh ov feubart aeoch wabh cealich iarsen.
| Din muine anspoch chart cealich ababel!
 
| That human fights as hard as adamantium!
 
|-
That human fights as hard as adamantium!
| colspan=2 |
 
Din muine anspoch chart cealich ababel!
 
 
Though dwarves do like a good drinking song, dirge, battle ballad, or limerick, they are not fond of metaphor. In fact, they do not use metaphor in their language.
Though dwarves do like a good drinking song, dirge, battle ballad, or limerick, they are not fond of metaphor. In fact, they do not use metaphor in their language.
 
|}
==Adverbs==
==Adverbs==
 
{|
| colspan=2 |
Adverbs always precede the verb they modify. Here is a list of common dwarvish adverbs:
Adverbs always precede the verb they modify. Here is a list of common dwarvish adverbs:
Also : auscht
|-
 
| Aozeit desufoch aalen vorom shlegh.
Always : aozeit
| I always drink ale before a battle.
 
|-
Never : noer
| Ansp trit herzode!
 
| Attack the heart only!
Often : trit
|-
 
| Noer nae smenoch muc cor mich mabtoch.
Only : unzig
| I never think about the orcs I have killed.
 
|-
Seldom : senamh
| colspan=2 |
 
Sometimes : uairmal
 
Then : mann
 
I always drink ale before a battle.
 
Aozeit desufoch aalen vorom shlegh.
 
 
Attack the heart only!
 
Ansp trit herzode!
 
I never think about the orcs I have killed.
 
Noer nae smenoch muc cor mich mabtoch.
 
 
Adjectives can be made into adverbs by adding ?-in? at the end of the word. Again, adverbs always precede the verb they modify.
Adjectives can be made into adverbs by adding ?-in? at the end of the word. Again, adverbs always precede the verb they modify.
 
|-
 
| Ie lunellin sprucoch.
She spoke quickly.
| She spoke quickly.
 
|-
Ie lunellin sprucoch.
| Cuan ee rabhoch mich, toimin fothloch altach.
 
| When he saved me, I felt deep gratitude.
 
|}
When he saved me, I felt deep gratitude.
 
Cuan ee rabhoch mich, toimin fothloch altach.
 
==Passive Voice==
==Passive Voice==
Dwarves are a people who believe in actions. This attitude is expressed in their language. In dwarvish there is no passive voice. To quote a famous dwarf linguist, ''Passive voice is for wussies''.


Dwarves are a people who believe in actions. This attitude is expressed in their language. In dwarvish there is no passive voice. To quote a famous dwarf linguist, 'Passive voice is for wussies.'
==Using the Verb ''Ferdoch''==
 
{|
==Using the verb 'ferdoch'==
| colspan=2 |
 
''Ferdoch'' means simply ''to make''. But dwarves rarely use the verb in its naked form. Being a race of smiths, dwarves almost always combine the verb 'ferdoch' with the noun for the material used in whatever was made. For example:
'Ferdoch' means simply 'to make.' But dwarves rarely use the verb in its naked form. Being a race of smiths, dwarves almost always combine the verb 'ferdoch' with the noun for the material used in whatever was made. For example:
|-
 
| Mich staidhferdoch washelg.
 
| I made a shield (out of steel).
Mich staidhferdoch washelg.
|-
 
| Mich mitbelferdoch faircham nairlag.
I made a shield (out of steel).
| I will make a mithril hammer tomorrow.
 
|-
 
| Cor iarsenferdoch nudh ambnean?
Mich mitbelferdoch faircham nairlag.
| Who made the new (iron) anvil?
 
|}
I will make a mithril hammer tomorrow.
==Honorifics==
 
Dwarf society is highly structured and places an emphasis on one’s rank and occupation.  Dwarves tend to call people by their title, rank, or occupation, followed by their name.  In cases where such information about another dwarf is not known, the gender-neutral “Dwergen” (“dwarf”) is used (e.g., "Dwergen Hargas").  In recent centuries some Deglosian dwarves shorten this to “Dwerg.”  It is meant as a sign of respect.  Dwarves speaking in Dwergan to non-dwarves will adopt the same practice, calling them by their race, followed by their name (e.g. “Muine Thom,” “Fing Lomir,” etc.).  Some dwarves – usually those who learned Common in Galdos or Deglos but had few to no opportunities to speak it to non-dwarves – will use the same practice in Common or other non-dwarf languages: “Human Rodrick,” “Elf Lomir,” etc.
 
Cor iarsenferdoch nudh ambnean?
 
Who made the new (iron) anvil?
 
==Common Expressions==
==Common Expressions==
Last but not least, a list of common expressions in dwarvish for general use.
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! style="ckground:#efefef;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf;" | Dwergan
! style="ckground:#efefef;" | Notes
|-
| Hello
| Gorr!
| Abbreviation of a phrase that means ''Gorethar bless you!''
|-
| Goodbye
| Gudein rois
| Literally ''Journey well''
|-
| How are you?
| Chart faircham?
| Literally ''Is your hammer hard''
|-
| I am well
| Lichaba!
| Abbreviation of ''Cealich ababel'' which is literally ''Like adamantium!''
|-
| Thank you || Altach || &nbsp;
|-
| You're welcome
| Kleinmerz
| Literally ''It's just a small ore?''
|-
| Holy smokes/<br> Great scott!
| Ach!
| &nbsp;
|-
| Damn!
| Verlooghlag!
| Literally ''Forsaken day''
|-
| Excuse me
| Vercalwoarg
| Literally ''Lose your anger''
|}


Last but not least, a list of common expressions in dwarvish for general use:
=Dwergan Vocabulary=
{|
| valign=top |
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Verbs
|-
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
  |-
    | to attack
    | anspoch
  |-
    | to be
    | aeoch
  |-
    | to bless
    | behnoch
  |-
    | to blow
    | seidoch
  |-
    | to buy
    | caufoch
  |-
    | to come
    | dlommoch
  |-
    | to die
    | versaoch
  |-
    | to dig/<br> to mine
    | ruamhoch
  |-
    | to do
    | neutoch
  |-
    | to drink
    | desufoch
  |-
    | to eat
    | esithoch
  |-
    | to farm
    | tuathoch
  |-
    | to feel
    | fothloch
  |-
    | to fly
    | ilieoch
  |-
    | to go/<br> to walk
    | famoch
  |-
    | to hate
    | fuasoch
  |-
    | to have
    | teuwoch
  |-
    | to hide
    | falaoch
  |-
    | to hope
    | horboch
  |-
    | to journey
    | roisoch
  |-
    | to kill
    | mabtoch
  |-
    | to know
    | kaithnoch
  |-
    | to learn
    | leornoch
  |-
    | to like/<br> to enjoy
    | mesikoch
  |-
    | to lose
    | vercaloch
  |-
    | to love
    | griboch
  |-
    | to make
    | ferdoch
  |-
    | to open
    | fosoffoch
  |-
    | to play
    | cluioch
  |-
    | to recommend
    | moyempoch
  |-
    | to run
    | raufoch
  |-
    | to save
    | rabhoch
  |-
    | to say
    | sairoch
  |-
    | to see
    | fascoch
  |-
    | to sell
    | verifoch
  |-
    | to show
    | sealloch
  |-
    | to sing
    | cronnoch
  |-
    | to sleep
    | cadaloch
  |-
    | to smelt
    | leagoch
  |-
    | to snow
    | sneaoch
  |-
    | to speak
    | sprucoch
  |-
    | to stand
    | stehoch
  |-
    | to think
    | smenoch
  |-
    | to train
    | treannoch
  |-
    | to want/<br> to need
    | wofeloch
  |-
    | to watch/to guard
    | faichoch
  |-
    | to win
    | gebuihoch
  |-
    | to work
    | saothoch
|}
| width=20px | &nbsp;
| valign=top |
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Adjectives
|-
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
  |-
    | acceptable
    | annedeagh
  |-
    | agile
    | aglich
  |-
    | all
    | allegh
  |-
    | any
    | irgnig
  |-
    | armed
    | bewapnend
  |-
    | bad
    | shlect
  |-
    | big
    | grobbi
  |-
    | black
    | wabh
  |-
    | blue
    | blorm
  |-
    | brown
    | dhaun
  |-
    | cold
    | fuor
  |-
    | deep
    | toim
  |-
    | dull
    | flamh
  |-
    | enduring
    | karagh
  |-
    | fast
    | lunell
  |-
    | few
    | beparr
  |-
    | forsaken
    | verloogh
  |-
    | full
    | vollen
  |-
    | good
    | gude
  |-
    | green
    | grurn
  |-
    | hard
    | chart
  |-
    | hot
    | teoth
  |-
    | long
    | buang
  |-
    | many
    | vieluth
  |-
    | new
    | nudh
  |-
    | old
    | beddegh
  |-
    | pleasant/nice
    | gehagh
  |-
    | purple
    | purcur
  |-
    | red
    | rodh
  |-
    | shallow
    | seilach
  |-
    | sharp
    | biorarf
  |-
    | sharp
    | leannach
  |-
    | short
    | gorurz
  |-
    | similar to
    | cealich
  |-
    | slow
    | songsam
  |-
    | small
    | klein
  |-
    | soft
    | weoth
  |-
    | tall
    | slataul
  |-
    | white
    | weel
  |-
    | yellow
    | gebuid
  |-
    | young
    | juch
|}
|-
| valign=top |
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Adverbs
|-
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
  |-
    | also
    | auscht
  |-
    | always
    | aozeit
  |-
    | maybe
    | foddecht
  |-
    | never
    | noer
  |-
    | often
    | trit
  |-
    | only
    | unzig
  |-
    | seldom
    | senamh
  |-
    | sometimes
    | uairmal
  |-
    | then
    | mann
|}
| width=20px | &nbsp;
| valign=top |
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Numbers
|-
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
  |-
    | one
    | eaon
  |-
    | two
    | dwei
  |-
    | three
    | dri
  |-
    | four
    | veith
  |-
    | five
    | conf
  |-
    | six
    | se
  |-
    | seven
    | siechd
  |-
    | eight
    | oht
  |-
    | nine
    | naun
  |-
    | ten
    | deihn
  |-
    | hundred
    | ceudert
  |-
    | thousand
    | taumil
|}
|-
| valign=top |
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Conjunctions
|-
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
  |-
    | although
    | obged
  |-
    | and
    | ind
  |-
    | because
    | wegoir
  |-
    | but/yet
    | bach
  |-
    | if
    | wem
  |-
    | or
    | nad
|}
| width=20px | &nbsp;
| valign=top |
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Time Indicators
|-
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan


 
  |-
Hello ' Gorr!! (this is an abbreviation of a phrase that means ?Gorethar bless you?)
    | second
 
    | dakun
Goodbye : gudein rois (lit. trans. : 'journey well')
  |-
 
    | minute
How are you? : chart faircham? (lit. trans. : 'is your hammer hard')
    | pairgen
 
  |-
I am well : lichaba! (abbr. of 'cealich ababel', 'like adamantium!')
    | hour
 
    | stuair
Thank you : altach
  |-
 
    | day  
You?re welcome : kleinmerz ('it's just a small ore?)
    | lag
 
  |-
Holy smokes, great scott! : ach!
    | week
 
    | woach
Damn! : verlooghlag! ('forsaken day')
  |-
 
    | month
Excuse me : vercalwoarg (lit. trans. : 'lose your anger')
    | mionat
 
  |-
 
    | year
=Dictionary=
    | jahdna
===Verbs:===
  |-
English/Common Dwarvish
    | today
 
    | seslag
to attack anspoch
  |-
 
    | yesterday
to be aeoch
    | voromlag
 
  |-
to bless behnoch
    | tomorrow
 
    | nairlag
to buy caufoch
|}
 
|-
to come dlommoch
| valign=top |
 
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
to die versaoch
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Question Words
 
|-
to dig, mine ruamhoch
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
 
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
to do neutoch
  |-
 
    | who
to drink desufoch
    | cor
 
  |-
to eat esithoch
    | what  
 
    | cas
to feel fothloch
  |-
 
    | when  
to fly ilieoch
    | cuan
 
  |-
to go, to walk famoch
    | where  
 
    | co
to hate fuasoch
  |-
 
    | why  
to have teuwoch
    | cashalb
 
  |-
to hope horboch
    | how  
 
    | cie
to journey roisoch
  |-
 
    | how much/how many  
to kill mabtoch
    | cieliol
 
  |-
to know kaithnoch
    | which  
 
    | celch
to learn leornoch
|}
 
| width=20px | &nbsp;
to like, enjoy mesikoch
| valign=top |
 
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
to lose vercaloch
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Pronouns
 
|-
to love griboch
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
 
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
to make ferdoch
  |-
 
    | I/me  
to open fosoffoch
    | mich
 
  |-
to recommend moyempoch
    | we/us  
 
    | wair
to run raufoch
  |-
 
    | he/him  
to save rabhoch
    | ee
 
  |-
to say sairoch
    | she/her  
 
    | ie
to see fascoch
  |-
 
    | it  
to sell verifoch
    | edh
 
  |-
to sing cronnoch
    | you  
 
    | daibh
to smelt leagoch
  |-
 
    | they/them  
to speak sprucoch
    | siad
 
  |-
to stand stehoch
    | this  
 
    | ses
to think smenoch
  |-
 
    | that  
to want, to need wofeloch
    | din
 
|}
to watch, to guard faichoch
|-
 
| valign=top |
to win gebuihoch
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
 
! style="background:#afdeab; font-size:10pt; border:1px solid black;" colspan=2 | Prepositions
===Adjectives:===
|-
English/Common Dwarvish
! style="ckground:#efefef; width:90px;" | Common
 
! style="background:#cfcfcf; width:90px;" | Dwergan
acceptable annedeagh
  |-
 
    | above  
agile aglich
    | ciob
 
  |-
all allegh
    | after  
 
    | nair
any irgnig
  |-
 
    | before  
armed bewapnend
    | vorom
 
  |-
bad shlect
    | behind  
 
    | hintacht
big grobbi
  |-
 
    | below  
black wabh
    | fon
 
  |-
blue blorm
    | by  
 
    | de
brown dhaun
  |-
 
    | despite  
deep toim
    | tratz
 
  |-
dull flamh
    | during  
 
    | wroid
enduring karagh
  |-
 
    | for  
fast lunell
    | cal
 
  |-
few beparr
    | from  
 
    | bhon
forsaken verloogh
  |-
 
    | in front of  
full vollen
    | coivern
 
  |-
good gude
    | in/inside  
 
    | ain
green grurn
  |-
 
    | of  
hard chart
    | ov
 
  |-
long buang
    | on  
 
    | oin
many vieluth
  |-
 
    | out/outside
new nudh
    | amuig
 
  |-
old beddegh
    | to  
 
    | chau
pleasant, nice gehagh
  |-
 
    | with  
purple purcur
    | meit
 
|}
red rodh
| &nbsp;
 
| &nbsp;
shallow seilach
|}
 
sharp biorarf
 
short gorurz
 
similar to cealich
 
slow songsam
 
small klein
 
soft weoth
 
white weel
 
yellow gebuid
 
young juch
 
===Adverbs:===
English/Common Dwarvish
 
also auscht
 
always aozeit
 
maybe foddecht
 
never noer
 
often trit
 
only unzig
 
seldom senamh
 
sometimes uairmal
 
then mann
 
===Numbers:===
English/Common Dwarvish
 
one eaon
 
two dwei
 
three dri
 
four veith
 
five conf
 
six se
 
seven siechd
 
eight oht
 
nine naun
 
ten deihn
 
hundred ceudert
 
thousand taumil
 
===Conjunctions:===
English/Common Dwarvish
 
although obged
 
and ind
 
because wegoir
 
but, yet bach
 
if wem
 
or nad
 
===Time Indicators:===
English/Common Dwarvish
 
second dakun
 
minute pairgen
 
hour stuair
 
day lag
 
week woach
 
month mionat
 
year jahdna
 
today seslag
 
yesterday voromlag
 
tomorrow nairlag
 
===Question Words:===
English/Common Dwarvish
 
who cor
 
what cas
 
when cuan
 
where co
 
why cashalb
 
how cie
 
how much, how many cieliol
 
which celch
 
===Pronouns:===
English/Common Dwarvish
 
I/me mich
 
we/us wair
 
he/him ee
 
she/her ie
 
it edh
 
you daibh
 
they/them siad
 
this ses
 
that din
 
===Prepositions:===
English/Common Dwarvish
 
above ciob
 
after nair
 
before vorom
 
behind hintacht
 
below fon
 
by de
 
despite tratz
 
during wroid
 
for cal
 
from bhon
 
in front of coivern
 
in, inside ain
 
of ov
 
on oin
 
to chau
 
with meit

Latest revision as of 20:09, 8 April 2019

Avlissian (OOC Terms) | Dwergan | Drangonari | Ganoom | Nanshilae | Orcish | Romini
Nouns
Common Dwarvish
ability urkit
adamantium ababel
adult Volwach
ale aalen
alloy mearung
ally Verbond
altar clagta
anger/wrath woarg
ant angan
anvil ambnean
armor pantsung
arrow pieil
axe tuxt
back (of torso) hintug
balance eveich
bandit raubicht
barn sgobhal
bartender buftander
battle shlegh
beard feubart
beer leanr
bellows bualg
bird eoin
boulder grobbiges
bow bevergung
box bogsch
boy laddie
castle kargh
cat coit
child kindligh
coal guhle
copper cupbel
Council raad
cow ciobrothe
desire/want wofel
dew daegh
dirt salach
dog treanfaoil
drum trollan
dwarf/dwarven dwergen
Elf (singular), Elven fing
elven (language) finglen
experience iarfah
Fall/autumn stherz
father vadeugh
field veld
fire vurbren
fish vish
forest bosfich
forge miedlach
friend vruend
friendly fruendlich
fruit frucht
gate cachal
girl lassie
gnome gnom
god/deity deigott
gold gald
goodbye gudein rois
gratitude/thanks altach
grove hain
guard grimnigh
guild/clan treun
hair haar
half lelb
half-elf lelbfing
halfling berrynkind
hammer faircham
haven/safe place zehebben
heart herzode
here heir
hero gaisgach
hole lowl
house haut
human muine
ingot caagen
inn gestagh
iron iarsen
journey reisegh
keep/small castle reikost
leaf bleagh
leather ledar
lizard lagha
magic zatagh
metal meghe
mine gruan
mithril mitbel
moon moan
mother madeugh
mouse luch
night naght
No nae
nose naus
now jenugh
obligation verpiach
orc muc
ore merz
owl oidla
passage durrak
pickaxe breakel
pixie leachan
platinum plabel
potion trankplaagh
pound pfent
purpose zwos
raven rabgang
recommendation moyemb
road stragenaan
rock/stone gesraig
rothe rothe
sea aibheis
season jahrozen
shadow schadeugh
shark cearb
shield washelg
ship bauta
silver airbel
sky odhar
snake natha
something ietwas
spice beschuld
Spring lentuzt
steel staidh
store/merchant tighmann
storm gailloirm
stranger vreud
stronghold hochbol
Summer zommer
sun szonne
tavern schanke
thank you altach
there doer
thing ding
thunder tearnach
time zijd
tourist touregh
trade handel
traveler reisgander
tree beum
tunnel garnel
turtle pantslagha
undead versanae
water usga
way weg
weapon waffen
Welcome velkom
wind goth
Winter vinter
wolf faoil
wood fiolz
Yes aye

Dwarvish

An Avlissian language by Orleron, KinX, Vergilius and Deider

Simple Sentences

Dwarvish follows the word order structure of English to determine the function of a word in the sentence. This is the subject-verb-object word order. For example:

  Mich caufoch washelg. I buy a shield.  

Dwarvish is a simple but robust language. The particles ?a? and ?the? do not exist in dwarvish. Dwarvish also has no verb tenses. This means that the following sentences?

  Mich caufoch washelg I buy a shield.
  I bought a shield.
  I will buy a shield.

Dwarves usually understand through the context of a sentence which tense is intended. When the meaning is ambiguous, dwarves use time words to clarify. For example:

  Mich caufoch washelg voromlag. I bought a shield yesterday.
  Mich caufoch washelg nairlag. I will buy a shield tomorrow.

Dwarvish has no plural forms. So again the sentences?

  Mich caufoch washelg. I bought a shield.
  I bought shields.

Again, dwarves usually understand from the context of the conversation, but in ambiguous situations numbers or adjectives are used. For example:

  Mich caufoch dwei washelg. I bought two shields.
  Mich caufoch vieluth washelg. I bought many shields.

Speaking of adjectives, as in English adjectives are placed in front of the nouns they modify.

  Mich caufoch dwei beddegh washelg voromlag. I bought two old shields yesterday.

Negative sentences are also simple. To make a negative sentence, add the word for no, ?nae,? before the verb.

  Mich nae caufoch washelg voromlag. I did not buy a shield yesterday.
  Mich nae cauloch klein washelg nairlag. Mich cauloch grobbi washelg. I will not buy a small shield tomorrow. I will buy a big shield.

Dwarves have a very tight-knit clan and guild-based culture. As such, they understand each other very well, to the point that they can often finish each others? sentences. So when it would be understood, the subject is sometimes omitted from a sentence. For example:

  Mich caufoch washelg, I bought a shield
  • But many dwarves would simply say caufoch washelg.

Dwergan Grammar Primer

Pronouns and to be

In English, the personal pronouns change when converted from subject to object (I versus me, for example). This is not the case in dwarvish.

Wair caufoch beddegh pantsung. We bought old armor.
Siad anspoch wair. They attacked us.
Daibh mabtoch ee! You killed him!
Ie nae behnoch mich. She will not bless me.

In many languages the verb to be is irregular. Not in dwarvish. The dwergan verb aeoch, to be, does not change.

Mich aeoch dwerven. I am a dwarf.
Ie nae aeoch gehagh. She is not nice.
Gorethar aeoch gude deigott. Gorethar is a good deity.

Expressing Possession

There are two ways to show possession in dwarvish. The first uses the conjunction 'ov,' which means 'of.'

Veld Ov Vurbren aeoch heir. The Fields of Fire are here.
Verifoch mich ov haut. I sold my house.

The second is even simpler. Just combine the words signifying the owner and the possession:

Verifoch michhaut. I sold my house.
Michwashelg aeoch beddegh. My shield is old.
Fifur mabtoch michvruend. Fifur killed my friend.

Imperatives

Dwarvish verbs are not conjugated. The only exception is when it comes to giving commands. All dwarvish verbs end with -och. Dropping -och from a verb results in its imperative form.

Rauf! Rauf!! Run! Run!!
Dlomm heir Come here.
Nae versa! Don't die!
Mabt siad! Kill them!

Expressing Desires

The verb wofeloch means to want.
Wofeloch washelg. I want a shield.
Ee wofeloch michhaut. He wants my house.
Wofeloch ceudert gude dwergen! I want a hundred good dwarves!

Wofel is a dwarvish noun meaning desire, want. When wofel precedes a verb, the following expression can be made:

Mich wofel caufoch washelg. I want to buy a shield.
Ie wofel fascoch madeugh. She wants to see her mother.
Mich nae wofel mabtoch daibh. I don't want to kill you.

Conjunctions, Conditionals, and Explaining Reasons

Conjunctions can be used to combine simple sentences into complex ones. Conjunctions are used in dwarvish exactly as they are in English. A list of common conjunctions follows:

Famoch tighmann ind caufoch washelg voromlag. I went to the store and I bought a shield.
Anspoch din muc bach ee nae versaoch. I attacked that orc but he didn?t die.
Verifoch michtuxt ov staidh wegoir edh aeoch flamh. I sold my steel axe because it was dull.
Wair desufoch aalen nad leanr. We will drink ale or beer.

The word wem can be used with the adverb mann, which means then, to form conditional sentences.

Wem famoch tighmann, mann caufoch nudh washelg. If I go to the store, then I will buy a new shield.

The conjunction wegoir, which means because, can be used to explain reasons.

Famoch tighmann voromlag wegoir wofel caufoch nudh washelg. I went to the store yesterday because I wanted to buy a new shield.

Prepositions

Prepositions come before the words they modify, as in English. Below is a list of common dwarvish prepositions:

The moon is above Galdos, but I never see it. Moan aeoch ciob Galdos, bach nae faschoch.
Michbreakel aeoch ain haut, hintacht miedlach. My pickaxe is in the house, behind the forge.
Muc dlommoch bhon fon garnel. The orcs came from below the tunnel.
Grib daibhwaffen oin stragenaan! Drop your weapon on the road!
Caufoch ses washelg cal daibh. I bought this shield for you.

Asking Questions

In written dwarvish, interrogative questions start with a question word and end with a rune that denotes that the question is a sentence. This rune is analogous to the English question mark. Also similar is the fact that when dwarves speak a question they end the sentence with a rise in tone. In other words, asking a question in dwarvish is the same as asking one in English. Below is a list of dwarvish question words:

Cor aeoch din lelbfing? Who was that half-elf?
Cas aeoch ses waffen, ind co aeoch dlommoch bhon? What is this weapon, and where did it come from?
Cashalb daibh anspoch mich? Why did you attack me?
Celch washelg daibh wofeloch, rodh nad blorm? Which shield do you like, the red or the blue one?

Relative Clauses

Relative clauses use the appropriate question word to best describe the noun they modify. In English, where that is used the word for what, cas, is used instead. For example:

Fing cor mabtoch michvadeugh The elf who killed my father
Merz cas mich leagoch voromlag. The ore that I smelted yesterday
Hochbol co siad neutoch shlegh The stronghold where they fought the battle
Cuan mich aeoch laddie, wofeloch buang feubart. When I was a boy, I wanted a long beard.

Time Expressions

Compound nouns are used to modify the words for week, month, and year. Thus voromjahdna means last year and nairmionat means next month.

More time expressions can be used by combining time words, numbers, and certain prepositions. For example

Two seconds ago Two second before Dwei dakun vorom
Five years from now Five year after Conf jahdna nair
In twenty-four hours Twenty-four hour inside Dweideihn-veith stuair ain
Dlomm Deglos dwei lag ain. Come to Deglos in two days.
Leornoch finglen deihn jahdna nair. I learned Elvish ten years ago.

Culture note: mionat is translated as month, but many dwarves live their entire lives underground and hence never seen the moon. Mionat does not describe an actual lunar cycle, but rather the length of time of the birth and death cycle of a type of glowing fungus that grows in the Underdark. The life cycle of this fungus roughly corresponds to one month.

Saying I Can

In dwarvish the word urkit means ability. When urkit precedes a verb it forms the grammatical expression "I can" (verb form). For example:
I can see you. I have the ability to see you. Mich urkit fascoch daibh.
We cannot lose! We do not have the ability to lose! Wair nae urkit vercaloch!

Gerunds

Perhaps the hardest thing for foreigners to understand about dwarvish is gerunds. Just as dwarvish verbs do not distinguish between tenses, they also do not distinguish the gerund form. So 'see', 'to see,' and 'seeing' are all expressed by the word 'fascoch.' This sometimes creates sentences that are hard for non-dwarves to understand, such as:
Desufoch aalen aeoch gude. Drinking ale is good.
Vercaloth aeoch versaoch. To lose is to die.

Expressing Likes and Dislikes

The verb meaning to like is mesikoth. The verb meaning to hate is fuasoch.

Mich mesikoth vinter, ind mich fuasoch zommer. I like winter, and I hate summer.

The imperative forms of the above verbs are also nouns meaning preference and dislike. When they precede a verb the following grammatical construction is formed:

Mich mesik leagoch merz. I like to smelt ore.
Mich fuas faichoch hochbol. I hate guarding the stronghold.

Expressing Past Experiences

The noun iarfah mean experience. When it precedes a verb it forms the following grammatical construction:

Mich iarfah famoch Le'Or T'Nanshi. I have the experience of going to Le'Or T'Nanshi. I have been to Le'Or T'Nanshi before.
Ee iarfah fascoch nudh gebuid michpantsung? Has he seen my new yellow armor before?
Cor iarfah famoch Mikona dri jahdna ain? Who's been to Mikona in the past three years?

Similes and Metaphors

The adjective 'cealich' means 'similar to.' It can be used to form similes, such as:

Michmadeugh ov feubart aeoch wabh cealich iarsen. My mother's beard is black like iron.
Din muine anspoch chart cealich ababel! That human fights as hard as adamantium!

Though dwarves do like a good drinking song, dirge, battle ballad, or limerick, they are not fond of metaphor. In fact, they do not use metaphor in their language.

Adverbs

Adverbs always precede the verb they modify. Here is a list of common dwarvish adverbs:

Aozeit desufoch aalen vorom shlegh. I always drink ale before a battle.
Ansp trit herzode! Attack the heart only!
Noer nae smenoch muc cor mich mabtoch. I never think about the orcs I have killed.

Adjectives can be made into adverbs by adding ?-in? at the end of the word. Again, adverbs always precede the verb they modify.

Ie lunellin sprucoch. She spoke quickly.
Cuan ee rabhoch mich, toimin fothloch altach. When he saved me, I felt deep gratitude.

Passive Voice

Dwarves are a people who believe in actions. This attitude is expressed in their language. In dwarvish there is no passive voice. To quote a famous dwarf linguist, Passive voice is for wussies.

Using the Verb Ferdoch

Ferdoch means simply to make. But dwarves rarely use the verb in its naked form. Being a race of smiths, dwarves almost always combine the verb 'ferdoch' with the noun for the material used in whatever was made. For example:

Mich staidhferdoch washelg. I made a shield (out of steel).
Mich mitbelferdoch faircham nairlag. I will make a mithril hammer tomorrow.
Cor iarsenferdoch nudh ambnean? Who made the new (iron) anvil?

Honorifics

Dwarf society is highly structured and places an emphasis on one’s rank and occupation. Dwarves tend to call people by their title, rank, or occupation, followed by their name. In cases where such information about another dwarf is not known, the gender-neutral “Dwergen” (“dwarf”) is used (e.g., "Dwergen Hargas"). In recent centuries some Deglosian dwarves shorten this to “Dwerg.” It is meant as a sign of respect. Dwarves speaking in Dwergan to non-dwarves will adopt the same practice, calling them by their race, followed by their name (e.g. “Muine Thom,” “Fing Lomir,” etc.). Some dwarves – usually those who learned Common in Galdos or Deglos but had few to no opportunities to speak it to non-dwarves – will use the same practice in Common or other non-dwarf languages: “Human Rodrick,” “Elf Lomir,” etc.

Common Expressions

Last but not least, a list of common expressions in dwarvish for general use.

Common Dwergan Notes
Hello Gorr! Abbreviation of a phrase that means Gorethar bless you!
Goodbye Gudein rois Literally Journey well
How are you? Chart faircham? Literally Is your hammer hard
I am well Lichaba! Abbreviation of Cealich ababel which is literally Like adamantium!
Thank you Altach  
You're welcome Kleinmerz Literally It's just a small ore?
Holy smokes/
Great scott!
Ach!  
Damn! Verlooghlag! Literally Forsaken day
Excuse me Vercalwoarg Literally Lose your anger

Dwergan Vocabulary

Verbs
Common Dwergan
to attack anspoch
to be aeoch
to bless behnoch
to blow seidoch
to buy caufoch
to come dlommoch
to die versaoch
to dig/
to mine
ruamhoch
to do neutoch
to drink desufoch
to eat esithoch
to farm tuathoch
to feel fothloch
to fly ilieoch
to go/
to walk
famoch
to hate fuasoch
to have teuwoch
to hide falaoch
to hope horboch
to journey roisoch
to kill mabtoch
to know kaithnoch
to learn leornoch
to like/
to enjoy
mesikoch
to lose vercaloch
to love griboch
to make ferdoch
to open fosoffoch
to play cluioch
to recommend moyempoch
to run raufoch
to save rabhoch
to say sairoch
to see fascoch
to sell verifoch
to show sealloch
to sing cronnoch
to sleep cadaloch
to smelt leagoch
to snow sneaoch
to speak sprucoch
to stand stehoch
to think smenoch
to train treannoch
to want/
to need
wofeloch
to watch/to guard faichoch
to win gebuihoch
to work saothoch
 
Adjectives
Common Dwergan
acceptable annedeagh
agile aglich
all allegh
any irgnig
armed bewapnend
bad shlect
big grobbi
black wabh
blue blorm
brown dhaun
cold fuor
deep toim
dull flamh
enduring karagh
fast lunell
few beparr
forsaken verloogh
full vollen
good gude
green grurn
hard chart
hot teoth
long buang
many vieluth
new nudh
old beddegh
pleasant/nice gehagh
purple purcur
red rodh
shallow seilach
sharp biorarf
sharp leannach
short gorurz
similar to cealich
slow songsam
small klein
soft weoth
tall slataul
white weel
yellow gebuid
young juch
Adverbs
Common Dwergan
also auscht
always aozeit
maybe foddecht
never noer
often trit
only unzig
seldom senamh
sometimes uairmal
then mann
 
Numbers
Common Dwergan
one eaon
two dwei
three dri
four veith
five conf
six se
seven siechd
eight oht
nine naun
ten deihn
hundred ceudert
thousand taumil
Conjunctions
Common Dwergan
although obged
and ind
because wegoir
but/yet bach
if wem
or nad
 
Time Indicators
Common Dwergan
second dakun
minute pairgen
hour stuair
day lag
week woach
month mionat
year jahdna
today seslag
yesterday voromlag
tomorrow nairlag
Question Words
Common Dwergan
who cor
what cas
when cuan
where co
why cashalb
how cie
how much/how many cieliol
which celch
 
Pronouns
Common Dwergan
I/me mich
we/us wair
he/him ee
she/her ie
it edh
you daibh
they/them siad
this ses
that din
Prepositions
Common Dwergan
above ciob
after nair
before vorom
behind hintacht
below fon
by de
despite tratz
during wroid
for cal
from bhon
in front of coivern
in/inside ain
of ov
on oin
out/outside amuig
to chau
with meit