Hen Llinge , or Elvish [1] language of the Aen Seidhe elves. As it is one of the oldest languages still in use, it is referred to as the Old or Elder Speech while the lingua franca is Common Speech . It is used not only by elves , but also by mages and scholars. Sung versions of Elder Speech are used by dryads , sirens , and nereids . Nilfgaardian , Skellige and Zerrikanian dialects all derive from Elder Speech.
Real world origins Its vocabulary is based heavily on the Celtic languages of Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, although in some cases Sapkowski has used also connotations with more "popular" languages, like German and English. The two basic verbs, "to be" and "to have", are borrowed from Italian and Latin.[2]
The author invented the language for orcs and elves ,[3]
For the purpose of Netflix's The Witcher , renowned linguist David J. Peterson recreated the Elder Speech as a fully developed constructed language. In contrast with Sapkowski's writings, Peterson's latinization of the language reflects the intended pronunciation, leaving the irregularities to the language's native script (which he had also invented). For example, inváerne is latinized as inveirne and Hen Llinge as Hen Linge .[4]
Note: for the purposes of consistency with the Saga and the games, words coined for the TV series listed below follow the transliteration from Elder Runes rather than Peterson's romanization. For the latter, visit Hen Linge page on the linguist's wiki.
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ' Names Phrases
A
Elder Speech
English
a'baeth[1]
kiss, to kiss
aark, aark
phonetic presentation of the sound ravens/crows make
abb
mouth (of a river) (from Welsh aber )
addan, adan
dance; dancer; dancing
adhart[5]
forward
aé
first person singular subject personal pronoun I (dryad dialect )
aecáemm[5]
to follow
aedd
shard, piece
aef
to have, has
aefder
later, after
aen
from, to, for, with, of, in, out of, at, by, down, in, into, until, on, like, as
aen'drean
enter?
aenye
fire
aesledde[1]
ride on a sleigh/sled
aespar
to shoot (from Italian: sparare)
aëte
summer (From French: été)
aevon
river (from Welsh: afon, Breton: avon) (glys in Nilfgaardian language)
aep
of (mostly used for marking hereditary ties)
aép
in, to
agwetheill / agwethill[6]
to open
aine
light (possibly enlightened )
an
small, also an indefinite article: a, an
an'givare
informer, spy (From Swedish: angivare, a person who reports someone else's criminal actions)
a'taeghane
today
ar
of (from Welsh: on)
ard
mountain, mountainous, upper, top, or "the highest" (From Irish: High)
arse
arse (UK), ass (US), butt, rump
B
Elder Speech
English
ban
peak, summit, place/village? (context dependent) (From Welsh: ban/fan)
beag[5]
little (From Irish: beag)
beanna
woman (From Irish: bean)
beann'shie
banshee (From Irish: bean sí)
belean'graec[5]
important (Possibly derived from Dutch: belangrijk)
Birke
the fourth savaed in the elven calendar , also Spring Equinox; related to birch tree
blath
flower (from Irish: bláth)
blathan
garland; flowers
blathanna
Genitive: flowers', of flowers (from Irish)
blathe
the fifth savaed in the elven calendar ; possibly 'flowering'?
bleidd
wolf (From Welsh: blaidd)
bloed
blood, silly (From Dutch: bloed to mean "blood") (From German: blöd/bloed to mean "stupid")
bloede
bloody, gory, damn (UK: bloody hell)
broggha[5] [7]
frog (From Welsh: broga)
Brokiloéne
of Brokilon, Brokiloni
C
Elder Speech
English
caed
forest; grove (From Welsh: coed)
cáelm
calm, peaceful, quiet; slowly, quietly; calm, quieten
cáemm
to go, arrive
caen
can (verb)
caer
fortress, castle, keep (kaer in Skellige dialect) (From Welsh: caer)
cáerme
fate, destiny
Cáerme
Destiny
carn
kurgan, barrow, burial mound, cairn
carraigh
rock (From Irish: carraig)
ceádmil
greet (in The Witcher caed'mil; also as caedmill ), greetings (possibly from Irish greeting: Céad Míle (failte romhat) meaning "one hundred thousand (welcomes to you)
ceas'raet[5]
empire (of Nilfgaard )
ceann
head, tip; end (as in end point) (Irish: ceann)
cerbin
raven (similar to several languages e.g. Romanian corb )
cinerea
Ilyocoris
col
pass (mountain pass) (From Welsh: dol)
coram
lion
conyn
stalk (as in plant stem) (From Welsh: coesyn)
craag
rock/cliff (From Welsh: careg/craig)
creasa
must, necessity, obligation, inevitability, duty
crevan
fox
D
Elder Speech
English
daetre
behind, back
daerienn[5]
sorceress, sorceresses
darganfod[5]
discover, discovery, discovered (From Welsh: darganfod)
darl'len[5]
read (From Welsh: darllen)
dearg
red (From Irish: dearg) (Ellylon )
dearme
sleep; good night (phrase) (From Italian: dormire)
deien[5]
to serve (from Dutch dienen )
deireádh
end (noun), last, finish (From Irish: deireadh)
deith
flame
deithwen
white flame
dh'oine
human (in The Witcher dh'oinne ) (from the Irish for person/people: duine/daoine)
dhu
black (From Welsh: du, Irish: dubh)
dice
to speak, to talk (From Spanish: dice / From Latin: dicere)
dol
dale, dell, vale, valley (Welsh: dôl)
drelch[6]
beast
d'yaebl
devil (in The Witcher sword and a wolf bear this name) (From Spanish: diablo)
E
Elder Speech
English
easnadh
sigh (Ellylon ) (from Irish osnaigh )
eate
summer (from French été )
eigean
necessary, must, have to (From Irish: is éigean)
eimyr
hedgehog
elaine
fair, beautiful (From Irish: álainn)
elle
of alder(s)
ell'ea
okay, alright, correct (interrogative)
en
indefinite article (a/an)
en'leass
laced, tied (Ellylon )
enid
daisy
ensh'eass
enchanting, enthralling, charming, glamorous (Ellylon )
ess
to be, is (From Italian: essere / Latin: esse)
esse
will be, will (From Italian: essere / Latin: esse)
essea
I am (From Italian: essere / Latin: esse)
esseath
you are (From Italian: essere / Latin: esse)
evall
horse (From French: cheval)
evellienn
everything, all, everybody, everyone
evn'gesaen[5]
ambassador
F
Elder Speech
English
feainn
sun; also the sixth savaed in the elven calendar
feainnewedd
Sun-Child, Child of the Sun (Welsh newydd "new")
fen
meadow, pasture
foilé
frantic, mad (From Italian/: folle)
folie
frenzy (From French folie)
fraeren
brothers ? (perhaps from Italian: fratelli or french: frères)
G
Elder Speech
English
gaeth
gate, portal ?
gàidh (genitive: gaidth)[5]
garden
gar'ean
note; consider; be careful
geas
curse; geis is a magical obligation/prohibition in Irish mythology. Also; geas, geasa
geehaet[5]
hard
ghar[5]
word
gláeddyv (plural: glaeddyvan)
sword (From Welsh: cleddyf / Latin: gladius?)
glamarye
glamour
glean
bottom, low (From Welsh: glan )
gleanna
valley, possibly genitive: valley's, of valleys
gloir[5]
glory (From French: gloire )
glosse
to look, watch, stare (From German: glotzen )
gvaern[5]
mistress
gvalch'ca
(she-)falcon (From Welsh: gwalch/walch )
gwen, gwyn
white (also -wen ) (From Welsh: gwyn )
gwent, gwynt[5]
wind (From Welsh: gwynt )
gwennelen
alabaster (in genitive?)
gwyd[8]
sycamore maple
gwynbleidd
White wolf
gynvael
ice
H
Elder Speech
English
hael
greeting (long life to...); health (From English: hail, hale)
haela
medicine; drug? (From German: heilen)
hanse
unit, armed group of friends, gang (From English: hanse)
hav'caaren
hawker(s); based on Elder Speech word for 'rapacious' (greedy)
hen
old, oldest (From Welsh: hen)
herba[5]
herb
het[5]
it, that (From Dutch: het)
holl[5]
all (From Welsh: holl)
I
Elder Speech
English
ichaer
blood, (from Ancient Greek: ιχώρ; ichor: blood of the Gods, an ether golden fluid, toxic to humans)
imbaelk
sprouting
inis
island (From Irish: inis)
invaerne
(in) winter (From Italian: inverno)
K
Elder Speech
English
kelpie
kelpie
L
Elder Speech
English
laeke, loc
lake (from Irish: loch)
laith
lady (Ellylon )
lara
seagull
ledwedd[5]
painting
lionors
lioness (Skellige jargon )
llamas
maturing
llinge
language, tongue (from Italian: lingua)
loa'then[5]
hate (From English: loathing)
loc'h
lake (Ellylon ) (from Irish: loch)
Loc'hlaith
Lady of the Lake (Ellylon )
luned
daughter / young girl
M
Elder Speech
English
marw[5]
dies, die (From Welsh: marw/meirw) (from Irish: maradh)
me
me, my, mine (From Irish; mé, meaning I)
meáth
meet
mid-
middle, in the middle of
milva
kite (bird) (from Latin: Milva)
mire
look, observe (From Spanish: mira)
mistle
waxwing , or mistle thrush , also one of the Rats
minne
love (noun) (Means "Love" in old German)
modron
mother (Skellige jargon )
morc
book, tome
muire
sea (from Italian: mare or Irish: Mara)
N
Elder Speech
English
na
or (From Irish: ná)
naev'de
nine of (From Italian: nove di)
neén
no, not (From German: nein)
nell'ea
am I wrong? (interrogative, negative form of ell'ea)
ninnau[5]
we, us; ourselves (From Welsh: nina/ninau)
nolla[6]
earth (from English: knoll, or Proto-Germanic: *knulla-)
n'te
do not
P
Elder Speech
English
pavienn
ape
pest
pestilence, plague, blight
pherian
Halfling , hobbit (from Sindarin: perian, plural periannath)
pont
bridge (From Welsh: pont)
Q
Elder Speech
English
que
that (From Italian: che, French: qui/que, Latin: qui/quae) or what ("que suecc's?" - what is going on?)
quirk, quirk
phonetic representation of the sound sparrows make
R
Elder Speech
English
raenn
run (From German: renn)
rhena
queen (Latin: regina)
rhenawedd[5]
queen's daughter/son, princess/prince ?
rhon[6]
king
Roethainne[5]
Redanian
ruadhri
riders, horsemen (Ellylon )
S
Elder Speech
English
salah[5]
to pray (From Arabic: صَلَّى (ṣallā))
saov
spirit, soul, ghost?
savaed
One eighth of the year in the elven calendar
scoia'tael
squirrel(s) (From Italian: scoiattolo)
seidh
hill, mound (From Irish: Sidhe )
seidhe
of hills, hill's (From Irish: Sidhe )
shaent
sing (From French: chanter)
sidh
elf (dryad dialect ) (From Irish: Sidhe )
sledd[1]
sleigh
sor'ca
little sister
spar
shoot (verb) (From Italian: sparare)
spar'le
(order) fire; attack
squaess
excuse (squaess'me - forgive me. From Italian: scusami); to forgive
stráede
road, path (From Welsh: stryd/From Italian: strada)
sh'aente
to sing (From French: chanter)
T
Elder Speech
English
taedh
bard, poet
te
you (From Italian/Latin: te)
tearth
fear
tedd
time, age, season
thaesse
shut up
thu[5]
you (Nilfgaardian language ) (From French: tu)
tir
land, ground; country (From Welsh/Cornish/Breton/Irish: tir)
tirth
wild boar
tor
tower (From Italian: torre, From Welsh: twr, From Irish: túr)
torc'h
power (Ellylon )
treise
strength, vigour, power (likely connected to the Irish name Treasa, meaning strength)
tuathe
whisper (Ellylon )
tvedeane
twelve, dozen
twe[5]
two
U
Elder Speech
English
uniade[5]
union, uniting, joining; merger (From Welsh: Uniad)
V
Elder Speech
English
va
go (From French/Italian: va)
va'en
trip, journey
vaer'trouv[5]
to hope, to trust (From German: Vertrauen)
va fáill
goodbye, farewell
vara
wares; goods (Possibly from Swedish: vara)
varh'he[5]
bitch
vatt'ghern
witcher
veloë
fast, quick; quickly (From Italian/French: veloce)
vhóel[6]
death
voe'rle
stop, halt?
vond[6]
door
vort
further, away (from oneself), still (from German fort "away")
vyverne[9]
wyvern
W
Elder Speech
English
wedd
child
weddin
diminutive form of 'wedd', child; kiddo
wen
white (From Welsh: Wen/wyn)
woed, woéd, woedd
wood; forest (From Welsh: Coed/Coedwig, also English: wood)
Y
Elder Speech
English
y
of
yeá
yes, so
yghern[5]
Giant centipede
ymladda[5]
combat, fight (From Welsh: Ymladd)
yn
on, over, upon, one
ys
downward, from below
ysgarthiad[5]
shit, excretion
Z
Elder Speech
English
zael[6]
to rise
zireael
swallow (bird)
zuirseime[6]
Chaos
zvaere
swear (to take an oath)
' Names
Elder Speech
English
Aedd Gynvael
Shard of Ice
Aen N'og Mab Taedh'morc
"Practices for a Young Bard"
Aen Elle
Alder Folk, People of the Alders
Aen Saevherne
Sage
Aen Seidhe
Hill Folk, People of the Hill
Aen Woedbeanna
Woman of the Woods
Aenyell'hael
Baptism of fire, also the name of a novel
Aevon y Pont ar Gwennelen
River of Alabaster Bridges, Pontar
Ard Gwyd
Sycamore Mountain
Ard Carraigh
High Rock
Aymm Rhoin[5]
Rite of Naming
Belleteyn
blossoming
Birke
Spring equinox ; the fourth savaed in the elven calendar ; 'birch tree'
Ban Ard
Upper (peak ?)
Ban Gleán
Lower (peak ?)
Brokiloén
Brokilon
Caed Dhu
Black Forest/Grove (From Welsh: Black Woods)
Caed Myrkvid
Myrkvid Forest/Grove
Caer a'Muirehen
Old Sea Keep; Keep of the Elder Sea (Blood of Elves Witchers' fortress
Ceann Treise
a cascade in Brokilon ; possibly Point of Vigour
Conynhaela
a magical cure which enables the rapid regeneration damaged or broken bones
Craag An
once a village, now a necropolis in Brokilon ; meaning uncertain, possibly 'small rock/crag'
Dol Adalatte
Valley of the Adalatte river.
Dol Blathanna
Valley of the Flowers.
Duén Canell
The Place of the Oak
Glyswen
White River
Gvaern Ichaer [5] Bloody Mistress
Gwenllech
river: White Stones
Gwendeith
fortress: White Flame
Gwynbleidd
White Wolf (From Welsh: Blaidd Gwyn)
Hen Ichaer
Elder Blood
Imbaelk
Imbolc , germination; the third savaed in the elven calendar
Lammas
maturing; the seventh savaed in the elven calendar
Mear'ya
Maria, Mary (for some reason brings not so nice connotations)[10]
Midaëte
Midsummer
Midinvaerne
Midwinter
Mirthe
Mirt
Muire d'yaeblen[5]
Drowner
Saovine
'Soul day'?; the first savaed in the elven calendar
Seidhe Llygad
Eye of the Mountain[5]
Shaerrawedd
Shaerra's Child
Tor Lara
Tower of the Seagulls, Gulls' Tower
Tor Zireael
Tower of the Swallow, Swallow's Tower
Velen
autumn equinox ; the eighth savaed in the elven calendar
Xin'trea
Cintra in Elder Speech.
Phrases
Elder Speech
English
Aen me Glaeddyv, zvaere a Bloedgeas, Ard Rhena, Lionors Aep Xintra!
By my Sword, I swear Blood Oath, the Highest Queen, Lioness of Cintra!
(Skellige jargon )
Ayd f'haeil moen Hirjeth taenverde.[5]
Conquer with courage rather than strength.
A d'yaebl aép arse
A devil up your arse
Bloede pest
Bloody plague (imprecation)
Caelm, evellienn!
Calm, everyone![11]
Caemm 'ere!
Come here! (Dryad dialect )
Caen me a'baethe?
Give me a kiss?[11]
Ceádmil, Wedd Brokiloéne!
Greetings, Child of Brokilon!
Dubhenn haern am glândeal, morc'h am fhean aiesin
My glare will pierce through darkness, my brightness will scatter the shadow
Duettaeánn aef cirrán Cáerme Gláeddyv. Yn á esseáth
The Sword of Destiny has two edges. You are one of them
Elaine tedd a'taeghane[11]
Lovely weather we're having. Literally: a nice time today
Elaine tedd a'taeghane, a va'en aesledde[1]
The weather today is beautiful, so let's get the sleigh
En'ca minne
Little love (a term of endearment/pet name, akin to 'darling')
Ess've vort shaente aen...[11]
Sing me a song about...
Feainne Ichaer[5]
Sun's blood
Gar'ean! N'te va![11]
Watch out! Don't go in there!
Glaeddyv vort, beanna
Drop the sword, woman
Glaeddyvan vort!
Drop the swords!
Geas Muire
Curse of the Sea
Herba zireael[5]
Swallow's herb
Ire lokke, ire tedd
Another place, another time
Ledwedd varlledu cyall, no ghar[5]
Paintings should convey emotions, not words (Ellylon )
Lambert caen me a'baeth aep arse[1]
Lambert can kiss me in the ass
Luned aep Hen Ichaer[9]
Daughter of the Elder Blood
N'aen aespar a me[11]
Don't shoot me
N'aracche aen woed endicen.[5]
Let sleeping arachasae lie.
Nell'ea. T'en pavienn, Aen Seidhe.
No way. You're an ape, elf.
Ni'l ceim siaar[5]
Don't let them escape (Ellylon )
N'te dice'en[11]
Don't say anything
N'te va
Do not go / stop / halt
M'aespar que va'en, ell'ea?[11]
Are you going to shoot me or what?
Mir' me vara[11]
Show me your goods
Maethe taerde[5]
Good luck(?)
Que'ss aen me dicette, Enid? Vorsaeke'llan? Aen vaine?
What [would you say / are you saying??] to me, Daisy? Forsake them? In vain?
Que glosse?
What are you looking at?
Que l'en pavienn, ell'ea?
You're just an ape, yeah?
Que suecc's?
What's going on?
Squass'me
Excuse me; forgive me
Thaess aep
Shut up
va fáill
goodbye
Va vort a me, Dh'oine. N'aen te a dice'n.
Get away from me, human. I won't say anything to you.
Va'en aesledde, ell'ea?[11]
We'll go for a sleigh ride, alright?
Va'esse deireádh aep eigean, va'esse eigh faidh'ar
Something ends, something begins
zaeleill aep[6]
rise up
Writings
Elder Speech
English
Aen verelith cyrre naid. Ader eich blaen eide'me.[5]
I give you my heart. But I shall take your head.
Darl'len, Aen Seidhe ![5] Neen evelienn Scoia'tael marw. Cáemm aep woedd, holl Aen Seidhe. Darganfod an uniade ninnau. Ymladda dh'oine. Ess'tedd, esse creasa.[5]
Read, Aen Seidhe!
Not every Scoia'tael is dead. Come to the woods, all Aen Seidhe. Discover and join us. Fight the humans. It is time, it will be the place.
Elaine blath, Feainnewedd
Dearme aen a'caelme tedd
Eigean evelienn deireadh
Que'n esse, va en esseath
Feainnewedd, elaine blath
Beautiful flower, Sun Child
Dream of/in a calm time
Everyone must end
Thus it will be, gone you are
Sun Child, beautiful flower
Va fail, elaine - caed'mil, folie! Glaeddyv dorne aep t'enaid, bunn'droh ithne i'yachus[5]
Good bye beauty, hello madness. Sword thorn of soul, [unknown, ithne may relate to Irish "ith" or eat, i'yachus may relate to Irish "iach" or "eo"]
Thomas Moreau, Professor
Ellas k'havani allder aen Dol Naev'de, ellas allder n'corrason. Glorsann a'Aelirenn.[5]
Thomas Moreau, Professor
Salvation lies not in Dol Naev'de [Valley of the Nine] but in our hearts. Glory be to Aelirenn.
References Sources 
