Lore:Idiomas Ehlnofex
Ehlnofex is the ancient language of Nirn, spoken by the Ehlnofey and passed down to most of the younger races.
Speculative Origin Chart
The exact origins of all the languages are unknown precisely. The chart below is merely speculative, as there is not enough information to confirm or refute this information, and there are differing opinions as to how these languages developed (if some even existed), but it likely breaks down in the following manner:
Ehlnofex* | Aldmeris* | Ald Chimeris* | Dunmeris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pyandonean | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old Orcish | Orcish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dwemeris† | Falmer† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Altmeris (Tamrielic) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bosmeris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ayleidoon† | Cyrodilic (Tamrielic) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nedic* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kothringi† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nordic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draconic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Akaviri | Tsaesci | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ta'agra | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yoku | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sload | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Umbrielic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hist | Jel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend
† – denotes that the language is dead or out of general use, either due to the extinction of native speaking race or due to assimilation of the culture into another community.
* – denotes that the language has evolved into one or more of its successors, but is otherwise not in general use.
Common Words
Word | Meaning | Examples | ALD | AKA | BOS | DUN | DWE | EHL | JEL | NOR | TA'A | TAM | YOK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acharyai | The original ancestors, first people on Nirn | ||||||||||||
Aedra | Ancestor | Yes | |||||||||||
Aetherius | Magic Plane, Realm of the Aedra | ||||||||||||
Ajcea | "A Spiral Down" | Yes | |||||||||||
Aka | Dragon | Akatosh Akavir |
Yes | ||||||||||
Ald | Old, Elder | Aldmeris Ald'ruhn |
Yes | Yes | |||||||||
Alt | High, Elder | Altmer | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
Altadoon | Weapon | Yes | |||||||||||
Ansei | "Saints of the Sword" | Amulet of the Ansei Hel Anseilak |
Yes | ||||||||||
Aruhn | Probable full form of 'ruhn "Home, Hearth-Hall" | Tel Aruhn | Yes | ||||||||||
At | Old, Elder, probably related to Ald | Atmora | |||||||||||
Aurbis | "Penumbra", the "Gray Center" | ||||||||||||
Bal | Stone | Bal Fell Bal Isra Bal Molagmer Molag Bal Balmora |
Yes | ||||||||||
Balac-thurm | The Staff of Chaos | ||||||||||||
Baranth Do | "Goodbye to the Beast of Last Year" | Yes | |||||||||||
beratu | half | Yes | |||||||||||
Bet- | Beast | Betmeri | Yes | ||||||||||
Bos- | Green, Forest, or Tree Sap | Bosmer | Yes | ||||||||||
budi | A style of shirt worn by the Khajiit, particularly the Ohmes | budiit | Yes | ||||||||||
budiit | tailor | Yes | |||||||||||
B'vek | An exclamation of surprise | Yes | |||||||||||
Card- | "Undeparted Kin-Wardens" | Cardruhn | Yes | ||||||||||
chap'thil | warriors of some kind, chap'thiil possibly being the singlular, either a House retainer or a border guard |
Yes | |||||||||||
Chi- | Changed, North | Chimer | Yes | ||||||||||
Chim | Royalty, Starlight, High Splendor | Yes | |||||||||||
Daedra | Our stronger, better ancestors DUN Not our ancestors ALD |
Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
Dalk | knife | Yes | |||||||||||
Dar | Clever, rarely also thief, possibly also "to kill" | Bann Dar' Seidar "Fusozay Var Dar" |
Yes | ||||||||||
Daril | a name for a drug, literally "seeing everything in ecstasy" | Yes | |||||||||||
Do | Warrior, Brave | Do'Shurh'do | Yes | ||||||||||
Dro | Grandfather | Dro'Zel | Yes | ||||||||||
dro-m'Athra | "Dark Spirits [of Elsweyr]" | Yes | |||||||||||
Dun- | dark-skinned, gloomy or ill-favored by fate; Dark or Cursed | Dunmer | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
Dwe- | Deep, Smart, or Short | Dwemer | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
Ehlnofex | Language spoken by the Ehlnofey | Yes | |||||||||||
Ehlnofey | The place and people of early Mundus, and their current descendants | Yes | |||||||||||
Fal- | Snow or ice | Falmer | Yes | ||||||||||
Fell | City | Bal Fell Vvardenfell Volenfell |
Yes | ||||||||||
Fetcher | An insult - probably "thief" | Yes | |||||||||||
fjyron | Loosely translated as the "will to peace" | ||||||||||||
F'lah | Informal form of address, possibly insulting | Yes | |||||||||||
Foyada | "Fire River" | Yes* | |||||||||||
Fusozay | "Just kidding", enjoy, without qualm | Yes | |||||||||||
gah-julan | "great benefit" | Yes | |||||||||||
Ghartok | Hand or Hands | Ghartok Padhome | Yes | ||||||||||
Ghraewaj | "The Crows Who Punish/Were Punished" | Yes | |||||||||||
G'ye | Fabricator | Yes | |||||||||||
gzalzi | absurdity | Yes | |||||||||||
Haj-Ei | "Hides His Eyes" | Yes | |||||||||||
hejtsetha thtithik | wispmother, literally "vaporous, floating egg hatcher" | Yes | |||||||||||
hejtsetha thtitleel | wisp, literally "vaporous floating sphere" | Yes | |||||||||||
Hej xajhuthi kroni | Literally "vaporous, dangerous crones", translated less directly as "beware of witchlights" | Yes | |||||||||||
Hel Ansei | Sword Sainthood | Yes | |||||||||||
Hel Anseilak | "Communion with the Saints of the Sword" - a Redguard holiday | Yes | |||||||||||
Iit | job, occupation, place of origin | Khajiit budiit Senchal'iitay |
Yes | ||||||||||
Irgola | Master in goblin language | ||||||||||||
Isra | Row | Bal Isra | Yes | ||||||||||
J, Ja, Ji | Bachelor, Young Adult | J'zidzo Ja'Khajiit |
Yes | ||||||||||
Jagga | Drink made from fermented pig's milk | Yes | |||||||||||
ja-Kha'jay | The Lunar Lattice | Yes | |||||||||||
Ja'khajiit | Kitten - also used to refer to Mehrunes Dagon | Yes | |||||||||||
Jaqspur | Long distance shooter | Yes | |||||||||||
Je'm'ath | Moon sugar, "to offer Je'm'ath" could refer to striking a deal | Yes | |||||||||||
jihatt | warrior for hire, mercenary - has negative connotations | Yes | |||||||||||
Jo | Wizard or Scholar | Jobasha | Yes | ||||||||||
Ka | Dragon | Ka Po' Tun | Yes | ||||||||||
kaj | "ample", also translated as "giant" | kaj-jeke thota kajthux |
Yes | ||||||||||
kaj-jeke thota | "Ample stinging insect", referring to a Giant Wasp | Yes | |||||||||||
kajthux | "Ample serpent", referring to a Giant Snake | Yes | |||||||||||
Kaoc' | A vulgar interjection | Yes | |||||||||||
Kamal | "Snow Hell" | Yes | |||||||||||
Kena | An honorific, usually associated with wizards, scholars and tutors | Yes | |||||||||||
Khaj- | Sand or Desert | Khajiit Rawlith Khaj |
Yes | ||||||||||
-khan | Leader or Councilor, both among the Ashlanders and civilized Dunmer | Ashkhan Gulakhan |
Yes | ||||||||||
Krin | smile, grin, laughter | Yes | |||||||||||
Kogo- | Unbreakable | Kogoruhn | Yes | ||||||||||
Koomu Alezer'i | "We Acknowledge" - a Redguard holiday | Yes | |||||||||||
Lhaj | running | Lhajiito | Yes | ||||||||||
Lukiul | "Assimilated", meaning an Argonian living under Imperial ways | Yes | |||||||||||
M, Ma | child, apprentice, virgin | M'aiq | Yes | ||||||||||
maaszi | necessary, necessity | Yes | |||||||||||
magicka | Magic | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
Maor- | Tropical | Maormer | Yes | ||||||||||
Mer | People, Folk, Ones | Aldmer Bal Molagmer More examples |
Yes | ||||||||||
Mluo | Cheese | Yes | |||||||||||
Molag | Fire | Bal Molagmer Molag Amur Molag Bal Molag Mar |
Yes | ||||||||||
Mora | Forest or wood | Balmora Sadrith Mora Morahame Atmora |
Yes | Yes | |||||||||
Morag | Forester | Morag Tong | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
Mundus | "Gray Maybe", the mortal plane of existence | Yes | |||||||||||
Muthsera | A term of respect, mostly male-oriented, also used in legal documents |
Yes | |||||||||||
Na-Totambu | Kings and Ruling Bodies | Yes | |||||||||||
Nammu | "no-name" | Yes* | |||||||||||
Nchow | A vulgar interjection | Yes | |||||||||||
Ne- | Not | Nemer | Yes | ||||||||||
Nirn | "Arena" | Yes | |||||||||||
Nirni | Ta'agra word for Nirn | Yes | |||||||||||
-nium | Town | Orsinium | Yes | ||||||||||
No Lo'igra | Deceiver | Yes | |||||||||||
No Shira | Noble person | Yes | |||||||||||
N'wah | Foreigner/slave - an insult | Yes | |||||||||||
Oegnithr | "Bad Change" | ||||||||||||
Orsi- | Pariah | Orsimer Orsinium |
Yes | ||||||||||
Ouada | River | Yes | |||||||||||
Pakseech | clan chair, the seat of the clan patriarch | Yes | |||||||||||
Par | fist or grip | ||||||||||||
Po | Tiger | Ka Po' Tun | Yes | ||||||||||
Pyandonea | "The Veil of Mist" | ||||||||||||
Ra, Ri | Used in names to show status, with Ri being highest, most honored, denoting city and tribe leaders. | Ra'kheran Ri'sallidad |
Yes | ||||||||||
Ra Gada | Warrior Class | Yes | |||||||||||
rabi | denotes ownership | Yes | |||||||||||
rawlith | Rain | Rawlith Khaj | Yes | ||||||||||
Renrij | mercenary, landless, scum - a derogatory term | Yes | |||||||||||
Riglametha | "grateful-offering" (Banthan dialect), also name of a holiday | Yes | |||||||||||
Ri'sallidad | martyrs, possibly literally meaning "honored dead" | Yes | |||||||||||
rormasu | Literally "big-mouthed reptile that blinks above the water", referring to a crocodile | Yes | |||||||||||
Rotmeth | A Bosmeri beverage made from fermented meat juices and spices. | Yes | |||||||||||
-ruhn | Home, Hearth-Hall (probably an abbreviation of Aruhn) | Ald'Ruhn Cardruhn Kogoruhn |
Yes | ||||||||||
S | Adult, used in names | S'rathra | Yes | ||||||||||
Sadrith | Mushroom | Sadrith Mora | Yes | ||||||||||
sallidad | the dead | Ri'sallidad | Yes | ||||||||||
Satak | serpent | Satakal Satakalaam |
Yes | ||||||||||
Saxhleel | "People of the Root", referring to the Argonians | Yes | |||||||||||
Sedura | A term of high respect (possibly associated with wealth) | Yes | |||||||||||
Sei'dar | An act of selflessness | Yes | |||||||||||
Seliffrnsae | To provide grave and faithful counsel | ||||||||||||
Ser | A term of respect (possibly the shortened form of Sera or Serjo) | Yes | |||||||||||
Sera | A term of respect, mostly female-oriented | Yes | |||||||||||
Serjo | A term of high respect, used when addressing nobility | Yes | |||||||||||
Shehai | "Way of the spirit sword" | Yes | |||||||||||
S'wit | An insult | Yes | |||||||||||
Syffim | soldiers - a Tsaesci word | Yes | |||||||||||
ta'agra'iss | "Words of the people" | Yes | |||||||||||
Talos | Stormcrown - used to refer to Tiber Septim | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
Tamriel | "Dawn's Beauty" | Yes | |||||||||||
Tang Mo | "Thousand Monkey Isles" | Yes | |||||||||||
Tel | Tower | Tel Aruhn Tel Branora |
Yes | ||||||||||
theilul | imperative verb, meaning "go" or "leave" | Yes | |||||||||||
thjizzrini | rules, literally "foolish concepts" | Yes | |||||||||||
thoghatt | charcoal warriors | Yes | |||||||||||
Thtachalxan | non-Argonian guards, literally "drykillers" | Yes | |||||||||||
thu'um | Shout or Storm Voice | Yes | |||||||||||
t'lonya | birthing swaddle | Yes | |||||||||||
tobr'a | Useless | Yes | |||||||||||
Tong | Guild | Camonna Tong Morag Tong |
Yes | ||||||||||
Tsaesci | "Snake Place" | Yes | |||||||||||
Tsonashap | literally "Swimming Frog" | Yes | |||||||||||
Tukta-mab'ro | Storyteller | Yes | |||||||||||
Tun | Empire | Ka Po' Tun | Yes | ||||||||||
Ubula | Asking for passage in goblin language | ||||||||||||
Udhendra | "Father of the" | Udhendra Nibenu | Yes | ||||||||||
Unthrappa | A meal made from human or elven flesh, translating roughly as "atonement." | Yes | |||||||||||
uxith | nest | Yes | |||||||||||
va | to be | Yes | |||||||||||
vaba | it is | Yes | |||||||||||
vabazeri | becoming | Yes | |||||||||||
vaberzarita | has become | Yes | |||||||||||
Var | life, to live | "Var Var Var" "Fusozay Var Var" "Fusozay Var Dar" |
Yes | ||||||||||
-vir | Land | Akavir | Yes | ||||||||||
Volen | Hammer | Volenfell Volendrung |
Yes | ||||||||||
Vvarden | Strong Shield | Vvardenfell | Yes | ||||||||||
wamasu | Roughly translated as "big-mouthed reptile of blood lightning" | Yes | |||||||||||
Waxhuthi | A vulgar interjection | Yes | |||||||||||
xanmeer | a term for one of the stepped pyramids found in Black Marsh | Yes | |||||||||||
Xhu | yes | Yes | |||||||||||
Xhuth | A vulgar interjection, possibly a shortened form of Waxhuthi | Yes | |||||||||||
zwinthodurrarr | a yellow quill, literally "yellow writing stick" | Yes |
Notes
* – names marked with this symbol are actually Ashlander Dunmer words, not civilized Great House Dunmer words like the rest.
See Also
- Ayleidoon – A thorough guide on the language of the ancient Ayleids.
- Dragon Language – A thorough guide on the language of the Dragons.
- Names – Articles on the names of individuals in different cultures in Tamriel and beyond.
- Old Orcish - A guide on the ancient language of the Orcs.