Lore:Dark Elvish

The UESPWiki – Your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995
A Dres overseer yelling in Dark Elvish

Dark Elvish[1] (also known as the Dark Elf language,[2] Dunmeri,[3] Dunmeris,[UOL 1] or Chimeric tongue)[UOL 2] is the language spoken by the Dunmer of Morrowind. The language is derived from Ald Chimeris, which was spoken by their Chimer ancestors from the early First Era. Ald Chimeris is similar to Ayleidoon and descended from Ehlnofex.[UOL 3] The Ashlanders speak in a dialect called Ashland.[4]

The language is usually written in the Daedric alphabet, but also possesses its own Dark Elf script. See other Elvish languages for possible cognates.

Dunmeri Dictionary[edit]

A[edit]

Ald
Old[5]
Alrathith
Garment tailored to support the breasts[6]
Amur[7]
Andasreth[8]
Anuvanna'si
"Tamriel Final"[9] (Likely a reference to Anu and Sotha Sil, the "si" of "Almsivi", as well as the real-world concept of Nirvanna)
Arata
"True and noble" (from Aratagnithir)
Aratagnithir
"True and noble change"[9]
Armun-An[10]
Arnith
Underbelt[6]
Aruhn[11]
Astula[12]

B[edit]

Bal
Stone[13]
Bal Fell
City of Stone[14]
Bal Isra
Row of Stones[15]
Bal Molagmer
Stone Fire Men[16]
Balmora
Stonewood[17] or Stoneforest[18]
Beran[19]
Berandas[20]
Bet
Beast[21]
Betmer
Beastmen[21]
Bosriel
Beauty of the Forest[22]
Branora[23]
Brohad[24]
B'vek[25]

C[edit]

Camonna[26]
Card
"Undeparted kin-wardens"[27]
Cardruhn
Ancestral tomb[27]
Chap'thil[28][29] or Chap'thiil[30]
Chuzei[10]
Corprus
Skin blight [31]

D[edit]

Daedra
Great Ancestor
Daesul[24]
Daesul Brohad
He who consumes my brother's soul[24]
Devahrokad[32]
Dreni'urolan
Deputy Curate of Triune Permissions[33]
Drenlyn
People who train nix-oxen[34]
Duleso
"Crimson wool stole"[6]
Dun-
Dark, Cursed, "ill-favored by fate"
Dunmer
Dark Folk, Dark-Elves
Dwe-
Deep (connoted as "deep-delving, profound and close-counseled")
Dwemer
Deep Folk, Deep-Elves, Dwarves

E[edit]

Echar[35]

F[edit]

Fabri'siraynosim
"Merged-ones"[9]
Felassani
Ordinator's pants[6]
Fetch/Fetcher/Fetching
A swear word
F'lah
a patronizing term, sometimes used as a mark of endearement, often as an insult

G[edit]

Gah
Great [36]
Gah-Julan
"great-benefit"[10][36]
Gan[37]
Gnaar[38][39]
Gnithir
Change (same as in High Elvish)
Guar[UOL 2]

H[edit]

Hla[40]
Hluurn[35]
Huulen
Halls[41]

I[edit]

Indoril
Probably "Blessed folk"
Indoranyon
"Blessed Greenland"[42]
-[i]il
Suffix indicating population (cf. Resdayniil)
-is
A common suffix in names like Gnisis, Othrenis, Velothis Haven and Alavelis
Isra
Row[15]

J[edit]

Jtawelft[43]
Julan
Benefit[36]
Ju'rohn
Form of friendly greeting[44]

K[edit]

Kema[45][46]
Likely means "Teacher"
Kena
Scholar[45]
Khebeit[32]
Klat
Tribe[UOL 4]
Kogo-
Unbreakable[42]

L[edit]

Lchah[43]
Llananor
"Second garment"[6]
Llanathro'lani
"First vesting"[6]

M[edit]

Maar[37]
Maliad[32]
Mar[47]
Mehra[48][49]
Likely means "Priest"
Molad[32]
Molag
Fire
Mora
Forest[17]/Wood[18] (in the toponyms Balmora, Sadrith Mora, and Tel Mora)
Morag
Foresters[50] (in Morag Tong, "Foresters Guild")
Muthsera
Honorable Sir/Madam

N[edit]

Nchow
Used in a similar way to the english "shit"[51][52]
Ndeh[43]
Ne
Not[53]
Neleviso
"Triangular golden reliquary clasp"[6]
Nemer
Not-mer[53]
Nix[54]
Noiché-el[30]
Nor[55]
Nosa
"Blue, rope-like belt"[6]
N'wah
Foreigner, slave[56]

O[edit]

Oad[40]
Ouada
River[57]

R[edit]

Rah
Staff[58]
Rathith
Triangular linen small clothes[6]
Retheles
"Blue prayer stole"[6]
Rima[34]
Rtuh[43]
Ruhn
Home or hearth-hall[27]

S[edit]

Sadrith
Mushroom (in the toponym Sadrith Mora)[17]
Sar-shemand[59]
Saraathu[60]
Sarmissonays'um
"Ghoul-thing"[9]
Sedura
Sera
Sir/Madam
Serjo
Friend
Serkamora
Seyda Neen
Sharmat
The Devil[UOL 5]
Sint[32]
Sunna
Blessed[58]
Sunna'rah
Blessed Staff
Sunna Guradan
"Blessed Grazeland", Alternate name for the Grazelands[61]
Sunnar
Blessing[62]
S'wit
An insult

T[edit]

Tadras[19]
Tehir[32]
Tel
Tower
Tenmorvuk[63]
T'lonya
Birthing swaddle[64]
Tong
Guild[50]
Tovo[34]

V[edit]

Valenvaryon[65]
Varanis[66]
Vos[67]
Vverm[35]

Ald Chimeris Dictionary[edit]

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

A[edit]

Ada
God(s) (from "Ehlnada-dra", same as in Ayleidoon)
Anya
Life (from "Malatanya", same as in Ayleidoon and Falmer)
Arcta
[to] Face (probably also [to] acknowledge as in Ayleidoon)[UOL 3]

D[edit]

Dra
Ancestors (from "Ehlnada-dra", same as in other Elvish languages)

E[edit]

Ehln[o?]
Mortal (from "Ehlnada-dra", same as in Ayleidoon)
Ehlnada
Mortal gods (from "Ehlnada-dra", same as in Ayleidoon)
Ehlnada-dra
[mortal] God-ancestors (probably referring to ancestor worship rather than Daedric Princes)[UOL 3]

F[edit]

Fevel
Weakness[UOL 3]

G[edit]

Ghardoon
Invader (singular of "Ghardooni")
Ghardooni
Invaders[UOL 3]
Greljanirrl[UOL 6]

H[edit]

Hrelranirrl[UOL 6]

K[edit]

Kan
Dare[UOL 3]

M[edit]

Malat[u?]
Truth (it's unclear whether the non-compound word would have the "-u" as in Ayleidoon or if Ald Chimeris simply has it as "Malat")
Malatanya
Truth of life[UOL 3]
Metana
[to] Choose (from "Metanane", also present in Ayleidoon)
Metanane
Chose (past tense of [to] Choose with the suffix "-ne")[UOL 3]

N[edit]

Nu
We, us[UOL 3]

R[edit]

Resdayn
Ancient name for the land of Morrowind
Resdayniil
Resdayn folk[UOL 3]

T[edit]

Tarcel
Resist[UOL 3]

U[edit]

Ur[68][69]

V[edit]

Vane
For (similar to Ayleidoon and Falmer "Va", meaning in)[UOL 3]
Vengha
[to] Venerate[UOL 3]

Y[edit]

Ye
And[UOL 3] (same as in Ayleidoon and Falmer)

Ashland Dictionary[edit]

Ashkhan
Clan chief
Foyada
"Fire River"[70]
Gulakhan
War chief
Mabrigash
Witch-warrior[71]
Nammu
No-Name[72]
Tarra-Suj
"Powerful hunter"[73]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Interpreter's greeting dialogue in Arena
  2. ^ A Feast Among the DeadSeveria Quasitto, renowned traveler
  3. ^ Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel section: Myths and Legends of the HistCirantille
  4. ^ Yakum Hairshashishi's dialogue in Morrowind
  5. ^ Before the Ages of ManAicantar of Shimerene
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j A Guide to Liturgical VestmentsHigh Ordinator Vermethys
  7. ^ Molag Amur location name in Morrowind
  8. ^ Andasreth location name in Morrowind
  9. ^ a b c d The Truth in SequenceDeldrise Morvayn, Fourth Tourbillon to the Mainspring Ever-Wound
  10. ^ a b c Bonemold armor variants in Morrowind
  11. ^ Tel Aruhn location name in Morrowind
  12. ^ Shad Astula location name in ESO
  13. ^ Gentleman Jim Stacey's dialogue in Morrowind
  14. ^ Guide to Vvardenfell
  15. ^ a b Aryon's dialogue in Morrowind
  16. ^ Gentleman Jim Stacey's dialogue regarding the Bal Molagmer in Morrowind
  17. ^ a b c Sul-Matuul's dialogue in Morrowind
  18. ^ a b Interview With Three BooksellersJobasha, Codus Callonus, and Dorisa Darvel
  19. ^ a b The Battle of Molag Beran
  20. ^ Berandas location name in Morrowind
  21. ^ a b Betmeri topic in Morrowind
  22. ^ 2920, The Last Year of the First EraCarlovac Townway
  23. ^ Tel Branora location name in Morrowind
  24. ^ a b c Mel Adrys' dialogue in ESO
  25. ^ The Horror of Castle XyrBaloth-Kul
  26. ^ Camonna Tong in Morrowind
  27. ^ a b c Hall of the Dead topic in Morrowind
  28. ^ Five Songs of King Wulfharth
  29. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: MorrowindImperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  30. ^ a b People of Morrowind — Various
  31. ^ Skin Blights By Any Other NameRavosa Ildram, House Healer
  32. ^ a b c d e f Divayth Fyr's dialogue in ESO: Clockwork City
  33. ^ Ordinator Edict: Mandate Twenty-OneInquisitor Nivos Uveran
  34. ^ a b c Dark Elves, Dark HeartsBakozog gro-Shakh
  35. ^ a b c Lord of SoulsGreg Keyes
  36. ^ a b c Elderscrolls.com Archive/Codex
  37. ^ a b Maar Gan in Morrowind
  38. ^ Gnaar Mok in Morrowind
  39. ^ Muth Gnaar in ESO
  40. ^ a b Hla Oad location name in Morrowind
  41. ^ Meln the Mouthless' dialogue in ESO: Necrom
  42. ^ a b The Morrowind Prophecies — Peter Olafson
  43. ^ a b c d Dram's dialogue in Redguard
  44. ^ Arven Dalas' dialogue in Blades
  45. ^ a b The Horror of Castle XyrBaloth-Kul
  46. ^ A Game at Dinner — An Anonymous Spy
  47. ^ Molag Mar in Morrowind
  48. ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: Stonefalls and Deshaan
  49. ^ Opening Performance Notes in ESO
  50. ^ a b Varieties of Faith...Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  51. ^ The Scent's the Thing
  52. ^ Midiri Berathi's dialogue in ESO
  53. ^ a b Note to HlevalaOrvas Dren
  54. ^ Armiger Rilasi's dialogue in ESO: Necrom
  55. ^ Mistress Dratha's dialogue in ESO: Morrowind
  56. ^ Hassour Zainsubani's dialogue in Morrowind
  57. ^ Ouada Samsi topic in Morrowind
  58. ^ a b Barilzar's dialogue in ESO: Morrowind
  59. ^ Selveni Andalor's dialogue in ESO: The Deadlands
  60. ^ Saraathu Tong faction name in ESO: The Deadlands
  61. ^ Savants' dialogue from Morrowind
  62. ^ Saresea's dialogue in ESO: Scribes of Fate
  63. ^ Ten-Maur-Wolk loading screen in ESO
  64. ^ Lymdrenn Tenvanni's JournalLymdrenn Tenvanni
  65. ^ Valenvaryon location name in Morrowind
  66. ^ Varanis subzone name in ESO
  67. ^ Tel Vos location name in Morrowind
  68. ^ Dagoth Ur in Morrowind
  69. ^ Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet antiquity codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  70. ^ Foyada topic in Morrowind
  71. ^ Mabrigash topic in Morrowind
  72. ^ Ring in Darkness quest in Morrowind
  73. ^ Huntmaster Sorim-Nakar's dialogue in ESO: Morrowind

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ Douglas Goodall's Posts
  2. ^ a b Michael Kirkbride's Posts
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Lyrics of A Land of War and Poetry whose translation was provided by Brad Derrick
  4. ^ Cut Content of ESO 1.6.3
  5. ^ Michael Kirkbride's Posts
  6. ^ a b Ted Peterson's posts in Playing Houses