Hen Llinge, or Elvish,[1] is the 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] but so far only the latter have appeared in the official continuity.
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 in the show, 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 | floe[5] |
aark, aark | phonetic presentation of the sound ravens/crows make |
abb | mouth (of a river) (from Welsh aber) |
addan, adan | dance; dancer; dancing |
adhart[6] | forward |
aé | first person singular subject personal pronoun I (dryad dialect) |
aecáemm[6] | 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 (From the Welsh patronymic ap)(mostly used for marking hereditary ties) |
aép | in, to |
agwetheill / agwethill[7] | to open |
aine | light (possibly enlightened) |
an | small, also an indefinite article: a, an |
an'givare[8] | informer, spy (From Swedish: angivare, a person who reports someone else's criminal actions) |
a'taeghane | today |
ar | of (from Welsh/Irish: 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, Irish: ben) |
beag[6] | little (From Irish: beag) |
beanna | woman (From Irish: bean) |
beann'shie | banshee (From Irish: bean sí) |
belean'graec[6] | 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,[6] breoga[9] | 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 appears as caed'mil; also as caedmill), greetings (possibly from Irish greeting: Céad Míle (failte romhat) meaning "one hundred thousand (welcomes to you) |
ceas'raet[6] | 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 | mountain/hill valley? (appears in the name of Col Serrai, a valley or ravine in Brokilon; in a number of languages including Irish and English col refers to a dip between two peaks, ultimately deriving from Latin collum, which means "neck") |
coram | lion |
conyn | stalk (as in plant stem) (From Welsh: conyn) |
craag | rock/cliff (From Welsh: careg/craig) |
creasa | must, necessity, obligation, inevitability, duty |
crevan | fox |
D[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
daetre | behind, back |
daerienn[6] | sorceress, sorceresses |
darganfod[6] | discover, discovery, discovered (From Welsh: darganfod) |
darl'len[6] | read (From Welsh: darllen) |
dearg | red (From Irish: dearg) (Ellylon) |
dearme | sleep; good night (phrase) (From Italian: dormire) |
deien[6] | to serve (from Dutch dienen) |
deireádh | end (noun), last, finish (From Irish: deireadh) |
deith | flame |
deithwen | white flame |
dh'oine | human (in The Witcher also in form 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) |
drád[7] | face |
drelch[7] | beast |
d'yaebl | devil (in The Witcher both a 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) |
eveigh | immortal |
evellienn | everything, all, everybody, everyone |
evn'gesaen[6] | ambassador |
F[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
feainn | sun; also the sixth savaed in the elven calendar |
feainnewedd | Sun-Child, Child of the Sun |
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)[6] | garden |
gar'ean | note; consider; be careful |
geas | curse; geis is a magical obligation/prohibition in Irish mythology. Also; geas, geasa |
geehaet[6] | hard |
ghar[6] | word |
gláeddyv (plural: glaeddyvan) | sword (From Welsh: cleddyf / Latin: gladius?) |
glamarye | glamour |
glean | bottom, low (From Welsh: glan) |
gleanna | valleys (in genitive?) |
gloir[6] | glory (From French: gloire) |
glosse | to look, watch, stare (From German: glotzen) |
glys | small river, stream |
gvaern[6] | mistress |
gvalch'ca | (she-)falcon (From Welsh: gwalch/walch) |
gwen, gwyn | white (also -wen) (From Welsh: gwyn) |
gwent, gwynt[6] | wind (From Welsh: gwynt) |
gwennelen | alabaster (in genitive?) |
gwyd[10] | 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, elder (From Welsh: hen) |
herba[6] | herb |
het[6] | it, that (From Dutch: het) |
holl[6] | 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[6] | painting |
lionors | lioness (Skellige jargon) |
llamas | maturing |
llinge | language, tongue (from Italian: lingua) |
loa'then[6] | hate (From English: loathing) |
loc'h | lake (Ellylon) (from Irish: loch, Breton: loc'h) |
Loc'hlaith | Lady of the Lake (Ellylon) |
luned | daughter / young girl |
M[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
marw[6] | 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) |
moigh[7] | water (perhaps from English: moist or Proto-Semitic: *māy) |
morc | book, tome |
morvud | enemy[5] |
muire | sea (from Irish: muir) |
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[6] | we, us; ourselves (From Welsh: nina/ninau) |
nolla[7] | earth (from English: knoll, or Proto-Germanic: *knulla-) |
n'og | young |
n'te | do not |
O[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
oiach[7] | you all |
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[6] | queen's daughter/son, princess/prince ? |
rhon[7][10]/rhoun[7] | king |
Roethainne[6] | Redanian |
ruadhri | riders, horsemen (Ellylon) |
S[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
salah[6] | 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); elf[5] |
shaent | sing (From French: chanter) |
sidh | elf (dryad dialect) (From Irish: Sidhe) |
sledd[1] | sleigh |
sor'ca | sister, little sister (from Polish: siostra / siorka) |
spar | shoot (verb) (From Italian: sparare) |
spar'le | (order) shoot him |
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) |
tearde | later |
tearth | fear |
tedd | time, age, season |
thaesse | shut up |
thevynn[7] | heather (plant) |
thu[6] | 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 (From Irish: treise) |
tuathe | whisper (Ellylon) |
tvedeane | twelve, dozen |
twe[6] | two |
U[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
ui[7] | and |
uniade[6] | union, uniting, joining; merger (From Welsh: Uniad) |
V[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
va | go (From French/Italian: va) |
va'en | trip, journey |
vaer'trouv[6] | to hope, to trust (From German: Vertrauen) |
va fáill | goodbye, farewell |
vaine | vain |
vara | wares; goods (Possibly from Swedish: vara) |
varh'he[6] | bitch |
vatt'ghern | witcher |
veloë | fast, quick; quickly (From Italian/French: veloce) |
vhóel[7] | death |
voe'rle | stop, halt? |
vond[7] | door |
vort | further, away (from oneself), still (from German fort "away") |
vyverne[11] | wyvern |
W[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
wedd | child |
weddin | diminutive form of 'wedd', child; kiddo |
wen | white (From Welsh: Wen/wyn) |
woechin[7] | glyph |
woechina[7] | glyphs |
woed, woéd, woedd | wood; forest (From Welsh: Coed/Coedwig, also English: wood) |
Y[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
y | of |
yeá | yes, so |
yghern[6] | Giant centipede |
ymladda[6] | combat, fight (From Welsh: Ymladd) |
yn | on, over, upon, one |
ys | downward, from below |
ysgarthiad[6] | shit, excretion (From Welsh: ysgarthiad) |
Z[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
zael[7] | to rise |
zireael | swallow (bird) |
zuirseime[7] | Chaos |
zvaere | swear (to take an oath) |
'[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
'ere | here (Dryad dialect) |
Names[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
Aedd Gynvael | Shard of Ice |
Aen Elle | Alder Folk, People of the Alders |
Aen N'og Mab Taedh'morc | "Practices for a Young Bard" |
Aen Saevherne | Sage |
Aen Seidhe | Hill Folk, People of the Hill |
Aen Woedbeanna[8] | Woman of the Woods/Forest |
Aenyell'hael[8] | Baptism of fire, also the name of a novel |
Aenyeweddien[11] | Child of the Fire |
Aevon y Pont ar Gwennelen | River of Alabaster Bridges, Pontar |
Ard Gwyd | Sycamore Mountain |
Ard Carraigh | High Rock |
Aymm Rhoin[6] | 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, UK); 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 |
Enid an Gleanna | Daisy of the Valleys |
Glyswen | White River |
Gvaern Ichaer[6] | 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)[8] |
Midaëte | Midsummer |
Midinvaerne | Midwinter |
Mirthe | Mirt |
Muire d'yaeblen[6] | Drowner |
Saovine | 'Soul day'?; the first savaed in the elven calendar |
Seidhe Llygad | Eye of the Mountain[6] |
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'drean va, eveigh Aine![11] | Come, immortal light! I summon you! |
Aen me Glaeddyv, zvaere a Bloedgeas, Ard Rhena, Lionors Aep Xintra! | By my Sword, I swear Blood Oath, the Highest Queen, Lioness of Cintra! |
Ayd f'haeil moen Hirjeth taenverde.[6] | 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![12] |
Caemm 'ere! | Come here! (Dryad dialect) |
Caen me a'baethe? | Give me a kiss?[12] |
Ceádmil, Wedd Brokiloéne! | Greetings, Child of Brokilon! |
Dubhenn haern am glândeal, morc'h am fhean aiesin | My gleam penetrates the darkness, my brightness disperses the gloom |
Duettaeánn aef cirrán Cáerme Gláeddyv. Yn á esseáth | The Sword of Destiny has two edges. You are one of them |
Elaine tedd a'taeghane[12] | 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'creasa, sor'ca[8] | We have no choice, little sister |
Ess've vort shaente aen...[12] | Sing me a song about... |
Feainne Ichaer[6] | Sun's blood |
Gar'ean! N'te va![12] | 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[6] | Swallow's herb |
Ire lokke, ire tedd | Another place, another time |
Ledwedd varlledu cyall, no ghar[6] | 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[11] | Daughter of the Elder Blood |
N'aen aespar a me[12] | Don't shoot me |
N'aracche aen woed endicen.[6] | Let sleeping arachasae lie. |
Nell'ea. T'en pavienn, Aen Seidhe. | No way. You're an ape, elf. |
Ni'l ceim siaar[6] | Don't let them escape (Ellylon) |
N'te dice'en[12] | Don't say anything |
N'te va | Do not go / stop / halt |
M'aespar que va'en, ell'ea?[12] | Are you going to shoot me or what? |
Mir' me vara[12] | Show me your goods |
Maethe taerde[6] | 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?[12] | We'll go for a sleigh ride, alright? |
Va'esse deireádh aep eigean, va'esse eigh faidh'ar | Something ends, something begins |
zaeleill aep[7] | rise up |
Writings[]
Elder Speech | English |
---|---|
Aen verelith cyrre naid. Ader eich blaen eide'me.[6] | I give you my heart. But I shall take your head. |
Darl'len, Aen Seidhe![6]
Neen evelienn Scoia'tael marw. Cáemm aep woedd, holl Aen Seidhe. Darganfod an uniade ninnau. Ymladda dh'oine. Ess'tedd, esse creasa.[6] |
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[6] | 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" or "iachus" in Welsh (healthy)] |
Thomas Moreau, Professor
Ellas k'havani allder aen Dol Naev'de, ellas allder n'corrason. Glorsann a'Aelirenn.[6] |
Thomas Moreau, Professor
Salvation lies not in Dol Naev'de [Valley of the Nine] but in our hearts. Glory be to Aelirenn. |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Blood of Elves
- ↑ "Nie bądź, kurwa, taki Geralt" - community interview
- ↑ Historia i Fantastyka interview
- ↑ David J. Peterson on Twitter
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Elder Speech Pocket Dictionary
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 6.33 6.34 6.35 6.36 6.37 6.38 6.39 6.40 6.41 6.42 6.43 6.44 6.45 6.46 6.47 6.48 6.49 6.50 CD PROJEKT RED's The Witcher franchise
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 Netflix's The Witcher
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Baptism of Fire
- ↑ Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Witcher Thursdays
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Time of Contempt
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 A Fractured Land: Tales of the Northern Realms, Elder Speech Phrasebook
Sources[]
- Polish Witcher Wikia
- Elder Speech Glossary (Elder Speech to Polish)