The Languages of Orana

A glossary and pronunciation guide

The words in other languages in the Orana Chronicles novels have all been created by me, the author, but some of them have a connection to a specific language or language family. For example, a lot of the Elvish* words are related to Celtic/Gaelic languages whereas Qatuanari has its base in Hindu. This is not to say that I have created entire, full languages – I’m no Tolkien. I want my readers to know how I heard these words in my head while I’m writing, and to give an idea of how to pronounce them if you get stuck.

*Elvish here means the dialects spoken by the wood elves of Aynamaede and the high elves of Alynatalos. My Ikdedrians/dark elves speak a different language than their above-ground dwelling cousins. The Strekah speak a pidgin dialect of Elvish and Eldyr, the language of the dragons, called Sa’pai. They are the descendants of the Elves that struck out after the end of the Forest War and landed on the island of Gudaveh (translates to the hidden island in Elvish), off of Strektu D’veeryr

Elvish

Me’urr – storm, thunder/lightning

D’Leesh – Ikedrians/dark elves

D’Leesh – [dee leesh] dark language or dark speech

m’hru toir’neach – [moo-roo TOR-nee-ack]thunder killer (name of a weapon)

M’hru – [moo-roo] refers to the general’s guards

D’ – [dee] in front of a name denotes nobility

Ikedria [Ih-ked-ree-ah] is the underground citadel in the Great Forest, means Heart of Ikara

Sa’maa – [sah-mah’a] honored mother/aunt

Pry’ah – [pray-ah] darling

Lak’dee Jeev – [lock-dee jee-vuh] wood elf, pejorative

N’phret – [nuh-fret] Daughter of Hate, Ikara’s daughter Eh’soi. Formal title

G’mandee – [gee-man-dee] High elves, literally translated means haughty, pejorative

A’chrya – [a-kee-rah] Teacher or Master, in an apprenticed relationship

J’lagoi – [ja-lah-glowee] same as Eldyr, pronunciation of jalagloi in Qatunari

Eldyr – dragons and dragonkind

Eldyr – [ehl-deer] first

Haal’pryn – [hah-all-pray-uhn] the touch of death

W’ystr – [wee-stir] Western Tower

B’lsyea – [buh-ell-see] Bellesea Palace

B’lsyea B’ndarag – [buh-ell-see buhn-dah-rahg] Bellesea Harbor

D’urch Syea – [dee-urk] Dark Sea

Strektu – [stray-kuh-too]wood elf dragon hybrid dragonkind, royal guards/Bellesea

M’aanyr – [muh-ahn-ear] Mother

M’nyr ka M’aanyr – [muh-ear kah muh-ahn-ear] Temple to the Mother

Rajyk – [ray-jeek] Princess

J’lagoi – [jah-lah-glowee] dragon glass, similar to Qatunari jalagoi

Synpy -[sin-pie] small

D’veeyr – [duh-vay-er] slave/servant

Dwarvish

Itar uta Thror Mydin – [ee-tar ootah tor mih-deen] Itar’s Fortress at Thror Mydin

Delka – [dehl-kah]term of endearment, male to female

Telka – [tehl-kah] term of endearment, female to male

Roika – [roy-kah] sweet friend

Maika – [my-kah] precious little one

Gnomish

(more gnomish coming soon!)

Qatunari

Sahi Kalah – [sah-hee kah-lah] Royal Guards

Sahi Pahl – [sah-hee paul] First Wife’s Guard, all female

M’aakindi – [mah-kindee] evil female, witch

Rajah – [rah-zha] ruler of Qatu’anari

Na’hina – [nah-hina] Dammit!

M’vehsha – [mah-vay-zhah] Prostitute 

Rajahk’mare – [rah-zhak-may-ree] Crown Prince/eldest male/heir to the throne of Qatu’anari

Rajahk’mere – [rah-zhak-meh-ree] Princess Royal/eldest female/not in line for throne

Rajahk’ata – [rah-zhak-atah] Prince/Princess Regent/not heir to the throne, counsels until the Rajahk’mare comes of age

Pahat’nee – [pah-aht-nee] First Wife

Kargha Panta’jeh – [Kahr-gah Pantah-jey] Surname of the House of Clawsharp/ruling house of Qatu’anari

Mashuk – [mah-shook] Sweetheart

Ra’yk – [rah-yeek] Princess

Sheesha – [shee-zha] female infant/baby, nickname

Jalagloi – [jah-lah-glowee] dragon glass, burned glass (the material that the palace of the Qatu is made of, from Eldyr j’lagoi)

Do’or kahrahna, m’aakindi! – [doh-ohr kah-rah-nah, mah-kindee] begone, witch/evil spirit

Doosh’adame – [doo-sh-ada-may] race of small humanoid creatures, descendants of the gnomes found only on Qatu’anari, literally means tiny evil men, referred to as the Doosha [doo-shah].

Maha – [mah-ha] prefix added to a name that indicates respect, eg Maha’Daiya [mah-ha day-yah]

Surak rahe, ta’rah rahe – [soo-rack rah-hay tah-rah ray-hay] Literally “Be safe and hunt well,” a traditional goodbye.

na’hin – [nah-heen] conjugation of na’hina, meaning damned. Ex: this na’hin collar

Common Tongue – Humans, basically English