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Elder Speech

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Hen Llinge 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 Edit

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.[1]

The author invented the language for orcs and elves,[2] 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, 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.[3]


Dictionary Edit

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 Edit

Elder Speech English
a'baeth kiss, to kiss
ar of
ard mountain, mountainous, upper, top, or "the highest" (From Irish: High)
aark, aark phonetic presentation of the sound ravens/crows make
abb mouth (of a river)
addan, adan dance; dancer; dancing
adhart[4] forward
aé first person singular subject personal pronoun I (dryad dialect)
aecáemm[4] to follow
aedd shard, piece
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 ride on a sledge/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
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
arse arse (UK), ass (US), butt, rump

B Edit

Elder Speech English
ban peak, summit, place/village? (context dependent) (From Welsh: ban/fan)
beag[4] little (From Irish: beag)
beanna woman (From Irish: bean)
beann'shie banshee (From Irish: bean sí)
belean'graec[4] 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[4], breoga[5] frog (From Welsh: broga)
Brokiloéne of Brokilon, Brokiloni

C Edit

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[4] empire (of Nilfgaard)
ceann head, tip; end (as in end point) (Irish: ceann)
cerbin raven
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 Edit

Elder Speech English
daerienn[4] sorceress, sorceresses
darganfod[4] discover, discovery, discovered (From Welsh: darganfod)
darl'len[4] read (From Welsh: darllen)
dearg red (From Irish: dearg) (Ellylon)
dearme sleep; good night (phrase) (From Italian: dormire)
deien[4] to serve
deireádh end (noun), last, finish (From Irish: deireadh)
deith flame
deithwen white flame
dh'oine human (in The Witcher also in form dh'oinne)
dhu black (From Welsh: du, Irish: dubh)
dice to speak, to talk (From Spanish: dice)
dol dale, dell, vale, valley (Welsh: dôl)
d'yaebl devil (in The Witcher both a sword and a wolf bear this name) (From Spanish: diablo)

E Edit

Elder Speech English
easnadh sigh (Ellylon)
eate summer
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[4] ambassador

F Edit

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)

G Edit

Elder Speech English
gaeth gate, portal ?
gàidh (genitive: gaidth)[4] garden
gar'ean note; consider; be careful
geas curse; geis is a magical obligation/prohibition in Irish mythology. Also; geas, geasa
geehaet[4] hard
ghar[4] word
gláeddyv (plural: glaeddyvan) sword (From Welsh: cleddyf)
glean bottom, low (From Welsh: glan)
gleanna valley, possibly genitive: valley's, of valleys
gloir[4] glory (From French: gloire)
glosse to look, watch, stare
gvaern[4] mistress
gvalch'ca Falka / Falcon
gwen, gwyn white (also -wen) (From Welsh: gwyn)
gwent, gwynt[4] wind (From Welsh: gwynt)
gwennelen alabaster (in genitive?)
gwyd[6] sycamore maple
gwynbleidd White wolf
gynvael ice

H Edit

Elder Speech English
hael greeting (long life to...); health (From English: hail, hale)
haela medicine; drug?
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)
het[4] it, that
holl[4] all (From Welsh: holl)

I Edit

Elder Speech English
ichaer blood (From English: ichor)
inis island (From Irish: inis)
invaerne (in) winter (From Italian: inverno)

K Edit

Elder Speech English
kelpie kelpie

L Edit

Elder Speech English
laeke, loc lake
laith lady (Ellylon)
lara seagull
ledwedd[4] painting
lionors lioness (Skellige jargon)
llamas maturing
llinge language, tongue (from Italian: lingua)
loa'then[4] hate (From English: loathing)
loc'h lake (Ellylon)
Loc'hlaith Lady of the Lake (Ellylon)
luned daughter / young girl

M Edit

Elder Speech English
marw[4] 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)
modron mother (Skellige jargon)
morc book, tome
muire sea (From Italian: mare)

N Edit

Elder Speech English
na or (From Irish: ná)
naev'de nine of (From Italian: nove di)
neén no, not
nell'ea am i wrong? (interrogative, negative form of ell'ea)
ninnau[4] we, us; ourselves (From Welsh: nina/ninau)
n'te do not

P Edit

Elder Speech English
pavienn ape
pest pestilence, plague, blight
pherian Halfling, hobbit (from Sindarin: perian, plural periannath)
pont bridge (From Welsh: pont)

Q Edit

Elder Speech English
que that (From Italian: che, French: qui/que)
quirk, quirk phonetic representation of the sound sparrows make

R Edit

Elder Speech English
raenn run
rhena queen
rhenawedd[4] queen's daughter/son, princess/prince ?
Roethainne[4] Redanian
ruadhri riders, horsemen (Ellylon)

S Edit

Elder Speech English
salah[4] 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 sled
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 Edit

Elder Speech English
taedh bard, poet
te you
tearth fear
tedd time, age, season
thaesse shut up
thu[4] 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
tuathe whisper (Ellylon)
tvedeane twelve, dozen
twe[4] two

U Edit

Elder Speech English
uniade[4] union, uniting, joining; merger (From Welsh: Uniad)

V Edit

Elder Speech English
va go (From French/Italian: va)
va'en trip, journey
vaer'trouv[4] to hope, to trust
va fáill goodbye, farewell
vara wares; goods
varh'he[4] bitch
vatt'ghern witcher
veloë fast, quick; quickly (From Italian/French: veloce)
voe'rle stop, halt?
vort further, away (from oneself), still

W Edit

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 Edit

Elder Speech English
y of
yeá yes, so
yghern Giant centipede
ymladda[4] combat, fight (From Welsh: Ymladd)
yn on, over, upon, one
ys downward, from below
ysgarthiad[4] shit, excretion

Z Edit

Elder Speech English
zireael swallow (bird)
zvaere swear (to take an oath)

'Edit

Elder Speech English
'ere here (Dryad dialect)

Names Edit

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 Carraigh High Rock
Aymm Rhoin[4] 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
Glyswen White River
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)[7]
Midaëte Midsummer
Midinvaerne Midwinter
Muire d'yaeblen[4] Drowner
Saovine 'Soul day'?; the first savaed in the elven calendar
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 Edit

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.[4] 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![8]
Caemm 'ere! Come here! (Dryad dialect)
Caen me a'baethe? Give me a kiss?[8]
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[8] Lovely weather we're having. Literally: a nice time today
En'ca minne Little love (a term of endearment/pet name, akin to 'darling')
Ess've vort shaente aen...[8] Sing me a song about...
Gar'ean! N'te va![8] Watch out! Don't go in there!
Glaeddyv vort, beanna Drop the sword, woman
Glaeddyvan vort! Drop the swords!
Ire lokke, ire tedd Another place, another time
Ledwedd varlledu cyall, no ghar[4] Paintings should convey emotions, not words (Ellylon)
Lambert caen me a'baeth aep arse Lambert can kiss me in the ass
N'aen aespar a me[8] Don't shoot me
Nell'ea. T'en pavienn, Aen Seidhe. No way. You're an ape, elf.
Ni'l ceim siaar[4] Don't let them escape (Ellylon)
N'te dice'en[8] Don't say anything
N'te va Do not go / stop / halt
M'aespar que va'en, ell'ea?[8] Are you going to shoot me or what?
Mir' me vara[8] Show me your goods
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?[8] We'll go for a sleigh ride, alright?
Va'esse deireádh aep eigean, va'esse eigh faidh'ar Something ends, something begins

Writings Edit

Elder Speech English
Darl'len, Aen Seidhe![4]

Neen evelienn Scoia'tael marw. Cáemm aep woedd, holl Aen Seidhe. Darganfod an uniade ninnau. Ymladda dh'oine. Ess'tedd, esse creasa.[4]

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[4] 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.[4]

Thomas Moreau, Professor

Salvation lies not in Dol Naev'de [Valley of the Nine] but in our hearts. Glory be to Aelirenn.

References Edit

  1. ↑ "Nie bądź, kurwa, taki Geralt" - community interview
  2. ↑ Historia i Fantastyka interview
  3. ↑ David J. Peterson on Twitter
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 CD Projekt's The Witcher franchise
  5. ↑ Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
  6. ↑ The Witcher Role-Playing Game – Polish edition
  7. ↑ The Baptism of Fire, chapter one
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 A Fractured Land: Tales of the Northern Realms by Marcus T. K. Hodgson

Sources Edit

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