Most players in our world simply use Common as a direct translation from whatever language they speak. However, certain words are different, as demonstrated by the following list.
A
Edit
Alae (pronounced: /ɑːˈleɪ/ ah-LAY[1]): "Fortunate Meeting". A contraction of an elven phrase. It was a greeting and reassurance of peaceful intentions between travelers in the southern and eastern coastlands around the Sea of Fallen Stars.[1] It became a common greeting across all Faerûn during the 15th century DR.[2]
Alavairthae (pronounced: /ɑːlɑːˈvɛərθeɪ/ al-ah-VARE-thay[3]): "May your skill prevail". A common farewell among the Red Wizards of Thay.[3]
Alehouse: Tavern.[4]
Amarast (pronounced: /ɑːmɑːˈrɑːst/ ah-mah-RAST[3]) "Fare well until next we meet!". A common farewell among the sailors of the South.[3]
Anyhail: Anyhow, anyway.[5]
Art or The Art: Arcane magic and its mastery.[6]
BEdit
Badaulder (BAH-doll-durr): - Hogwash, nonsense, etc. It originated in the Western Heartlands, but in the late 14th century DR its usage creep into Cormyr, the Dalelands, the Moonsea, and Sembia.[5]
Bluefin: - Tuna[7]
Blusterwing: - Grouse
Brighstar: Could mean either great, exciting, pleasing, marvelous, or superb.[5]
Browncap: - a wild mushroom.
Burslake (or simply slake): - Trout
Bustard: - Turkey
CEdit
Candle-cup: A bed paired with a table and an oil lamp.[8]
Chamberjack or chambermaid, informally jack or maid: An employee of an small inn.[9]
Clevershanks or clevertongue: A know-it-all. The first word refers to men, the second to women.[5]
Codloose winker: Lecher
Croft: An steading or an isolated farm.[10]
Crofter: The owner of a croft, or a worker of said croft (usually, kin to the owner). Can also be used as substitute for farmer.[10]
DEdit
Darburl (pronounced: /ˈdɑːrbɜːrl/ DAR-burl[5]): Angry.[5]
Darchains: Suites of linked rooms in a house, usually three.[10]
Darkblade: A mercenary with dubious morals and/or loyalty.[11]
Darkhall: Any rundown house.[8]
Deepnight: Midnight.[12]
Doorguard: A guard that guards a doorway of a building.[13]
Durgos (pronounced: /ˈdɜːrgoʊsz/ DUR-ghosz[1]): "Peace". A corrupted form of the orcish greeting "Durgreos". Used by mongrelmen and human slavers.[1] In the 15th century DR, it as also a popular greeting among dragonborn, and traders and sailors of all races.[2]
EEdit
Elsun: Late morning.[12]
Evenfeast: Dinner.[5]
Eventide: Gloaming.[12]
FEdit
Fieldings: Vegetables
Fireseared: Grilled
Flamed: Seared
GEdit
Galad: Heartlands word meaning something akin to "I'm astonished!"[14]
Garderobe: Bathroom. Another term for a bathroom was jake. Outdoor bathrooms were called privies, thunderthrones, or gloryhouses.[8]
Glim/Glimmer: Something beautiful or flashy.[5]
Goldenpanned: Sautéed.
Godswake: Predawn.[12]
Goodsir and goodwoman, or sometimes fairlady: A polite greeting, usually used with strangers.[2]
Gulletfire: Bad beer or wine.[6]
HEdit
Harbright: Full morning.[12]
Hardjaws: Garrulous regulars of a tavern.[5]
Haularake (pronounced: /ˈhɑːrɑːkɛ/ HAH-rake[15]): God-damnit. It was an all-faith polite insult.[15]
Hawksnarl: A man who always yelled or was nastier or more aggressive than prudent or necessary.[6]
Hay-nose: A hick. Bumpkin is also used for this term.[5]
Highborn or high-nose: A noble. The second word was a pejorative.[5]
Highsun: Noon.[5]
Highsunfeast: Lunch.[5]
Hiresword: A mercenary.
Holy-nose: A priest. It was a mild-offensive word.[5]
Hrast (pronounced: /hɜːrˈrɑːst/ hur-RAST[15] or hrammar (pronounced: /hɜːrˈrɑːmə/ hur-RAM-uh[15]) in the south: A non-deity-specific "damn".[15]
Hrasting (pronounced: /hɜːrˈrɑːstɪŋ/ hur-RAST-ing[15]: a mild form of stlarning; not related to hrast.[15]
Hykyath (pronounced: /ˈhɪkɑːˈjɑːθ/ Hik-ah-YATH[1]): Prance. It is used by satyrs as a parting word. It is frequently used by elven or half-elven poets. Orcs are known to use the term in battle.[1]
KEdit
Keghand: A waiter.[4]
Kell: To try. It was a derisive, cynical or disbelieving word, used only when the thing you were trying to do seemed to be impossible. Kell never changed due to tense.[6]
Knuckle or thumbknuckle: Brussels sprout.
LEdit
Lalandath: - Agile, sleek or lithe, often used to describe female dancers whose beauty was accentuated by their movements.[14]
Lammath Drios (pronounced: /lhɑːmmɑːθˈdrioʊs/ lham-math-DREE-ohs[1]): "Fortune find you." Parting used in Essembra and the surrounding lands (except Sembia, as they see it as a word only used by bumpkins).[2]
MEdit
Morningfeast: Breakfast.[5]
Murdath: A standath without cellars.[8]
My hearth: My house. A term usually used to refer to a cottage.[8][note 2]
NEdit
Naeth (pronounced: /neɪθh/ naythh[15], drawn-out "th") or naed (pronounced: /neɪd/ nayd[15]) in the south: Dung (exclamation).[15]
Nandra: Something mediocre. Usually used to bicker over prices.[11]
Navalar: Catfish.
Nightfall: Dusk.[12]
Nightjack or nightmaid, informally potjack and potmaid: An employee of a large inn.[9]
OEdit
Olore' (pronounced: /oʊˈlɔːreɪ/ oh-LOR-ay[3]) "Well met" or "Good day". A common greeting in the lands surrounding the Sea of Fallen Stars.[3]
On the morrow: Tomorrow.[5]
Orbal (pronounced: /ˈɔːrbɑːl/ OR-ball[15]): The Shining South equivalent of naeth.[15]
Outlander: A foreigner.[5][note 3]
PEdit
Plounce: - Squab
Parharding: - A swear word used as an adjective ("Parharding wizard!")[16]
Power: Divine magic.[14]
REdit
Rhambukkya (pronounced: /rɑːmˈbuːxjɑː/ ram-BOO-kh-yah[1]): "Ride High". Greeting used by Shaaryan nomads[1] and the inhabitants of Elfharrow.[2]
Rivvim: Smitten, in love, lusty. As in "I'm rivvim for her".[14]
Roofwrack: A dilapidated house.[8]
SEdit
Sabbas (pronounced: /sɑːbˈbɑːs/ sab-BAS[1]): "Run free." A parting used by centaurs, and by many nomads and riders of many races.[2]
Sabruin (pronounced: /sɑːˈbruːɪn/ sah-BROO-in[15]): Get lost or harsher similar words.[15]
Scorchkettle: - A woman who always yelled or was nastier or more aggressive than prudent or necessary.[6] Sometimes, it was used to refer to both genders.[14]
Saer: See, goodsir.[17]
Sark (pronounced: /sɑːrk/ ssark[15], drawn-out "s"): A more offensive form of Haularake.[15]
Sellsword: A well-established or veteran mercenary.[6]
Shaeling: Minnow
Sheelie: Bass
Shield: Pastry crust
Silverfin: Whitefish
Skaether: Restaurant
Sorn: Salmon
Spear, also known as greenneedles: Asparagus.[18]
Spurnarmor: A good-looking man or woman with a spectacular figure.[6]
Standath: A rectangular stone building with cellars. Common across the Dragon Reach and Moonsea.[8]
Stettar voh (stet-tar VOH): "Gods-power keep you well." A formal, peaceful greeting and parting among merchants in southern Faerûn[1] and in Laerakond.[2]
Stlarn (pronounced: /stəˈlɑːrn/ stuh-LARN[15]): Polite equivalent of F-word. About as blasphemous as "darn" used where we might say "screw" or "screwing" (stlarning).[15]
Straek (pronounced: /strrɑːkɛ/ strrake[15], drawn-out "r"): Something akin "go kill yourself, right now and painfully."[15]
TEdit
Tallhouse: A tall, narrow, tenement-like building sharing side walls with adjacent buildings. Tallhouses were common in Waterdeep, Athkatla, and the cities of Sembia in the 14th and 15th centuries DR.[10]
Tantam (pronounced: /ˈtɑːntɑːm/ TAN-tam[1]): A common greeting in the North.[2]
Tavernmaster or tankard-tender: An innkeeper or the owner of a tavern.[5][4][4][note 4]
Thael: Glad, pleasant or heart-lifting.[14]
Tharsun: Late afternoon.[12]
Throatslake: See, gulletfire. Also, a healthy and thirst-quenching drink that wasn't particularly pleasant.[14]
This night: Tonight.[5]
Thulsun: Early afternoon.[12]
Tluin (pronounced: /təˈluːɪn/ tuh-LOO-in[15]: A stronger form of sabruin.[15]
Turnshield: - Polite cormyrean term for bastard.
UEdit
Uluvathae (pronounced: /ˈuːluːˈvɔːθeɪ/ Oo-loo-VAW-thay[1]): "Fortune bring you joy" or "May your fortune bring you joy". Used by elves and half-elves as an informal greeting or parting.[1]
VEdit
Vasark: Horsemeat.
Vlandranna (pronounced: /vlɑːnˈdrɑːnɑː/ vlan-DRANNA[1]): "Gods grant". Used in conjunction with with whatever you wanted the gods to grant you. A corrupted Dwarven word used by those living on and around the Sea of Fallen Stars.[2]
WEdit
Waelo: Equivalent to "hey, there!".[11]
Watchwolf: - A guard.[19]
Wench: A barmaid or a waitress.[4][note 5]
ZEdit
Zzar: - Ice wine.
AppendixEdit
NotesEdit
- ↑ The word "perhaps" was also used in the Realms, but only by bards, minstrels, nobles, and many middle-class merchants. However, it was only used in conversation with people close to the speaker; it was never used in public or while talking with strangers.
- ↑ In the Realms, the word "cabin" didn't exist and "cottage" is rarely used.
- ↑ In the Realms, this term is not considered pejorative.
- ↑ In the Realms, the words barkeep, barkeeper or bartender doesn't exist.
- ↑ In the Realms, this term is not considered pejorative.
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Ed Greenwood (August 1992). “The Everwinking Eye: Words To The Wise”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #74 (TSR, Inc.), p. 14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Karen S. Martin (1987). Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (Cyclopedia of the Realms). (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 0-8803-8472-7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 79. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 46. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 80. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 78. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 80. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2004). Silverfall. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-3572-3.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 15.19 15.20 15.21 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 17. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (December 1993). “Elminster's Notebook: Lord Kuldak Maurancz”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #200 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 144–145, 166.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2004). Silverfall. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 103. ISBN 0-7869-3572-3.
