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A list of words in the Drow language.

A[]

abban
'ally',[1] 'not-enemy'[2]
abbil
'trusted friend' or 'trusted comrade'.[3] Largely an oxymoron based in cynicism since there were no real concepts of 'trust' or 'friend' in drow society even among family members.[4] Also a term used by Jarlaxle towards his traveling companion Artemis Entreri, and Dinin Do'Urden, older brother of Drizzt Do'Urden, possibly meant as a legitimate term of endearment.[5]
akh
'group'[3]
alur
'superior'[2]
alurlssrin
'love', specifically, an unselfish deep love; this term was known to Eilistraee and her faith.[6][note 1]
alust
'in front'[2]
aluve
'I/we leave you', a farewell.[7] (pronounced: /ɑːˈlvɛah-LOO-veh[7] about this audio file listen)
alva
'silver hue'.[8]
alvassun
moon, literally 'silver-light' (from alva and ssussun).[8]
Angardh xorr feleal
These appear to be the words to a charm spell. [9]
araj
'vengeance'[10]
asanque
ambiguous word that meant either 'likewise' or 'of course'.[11] It could also mean 'as you wish'.[3]
ava'til natha pasaison zhah ques po finnud ebries herm
'history is a poem where all lines rhyme', an old drow saying referring to the cyclical nature of life.[12]
avinsin
'doomed'[3]

B[]

bae'qeshel
a rare type of drow bardic magic.[13]
bauth
'about' or 'around'[2]
bautha
'to dodge'[2]
belaern
'wealth',[3] 'coinage' or 'treasure'[2]
belbau
'to give'[2]
belbol
'gift'[3][2]
bol
term to describe ,'something mysterious or intriguing'.[14] It indicated an 'unidentified item'.[3]
brorn
'surprise' (plbrorna)[3]

C[]

caballin
'food'[3]
colbauth
'path' or 'known way'[2]
colnbluth
'non-drow'[15]
crinti
'high ones'[16]
crintishik
a calamari-based meal[17]

D[]

dal
'from'[2]
darthiir
'surface elves', 'traitors'.[3][2]
del
'of'[3][2]
dobluth
'outcast'[18][2]
dos
'you'[3][2]
dosst
'your', 'yours'[3][2]
dosstan
'yourself'[3][2]
draa
'two'[3]
draada
'second'[2]
draghazar
deep bat.[19]
draugah
spider[20]
dro
'life', 'to be alive'[3][2]
drojal zhah obdoluth dorb'd streeak, lueth dro zhah zhaunau dorb'd ogglin.
'existence is empty without chaos, and life is boring without enemies.'[21] An aphorism of Lolth herself, explaining why she might offer aid to her own foes.
duk-tak
'unholy executioner'[22]
duvall
'secret advisor'[23]

E[]

elamshin
'destiny', the will of Lolth.[3]
elend
'usual' or 'traditional'[2]
elendar
'continue', 'continued', 'continuing',or 'enduring'[2]
elg'caress
derogatory term directed at a female[24]
elgg
'death',[3] 'destroy', 'kill', or 'slay'[2]
elgghinn
'death'[2]
elgg-hor
'the destroyer'[25]

F[]

faer
'magic'.[3][2]
faerbol
'magical item'.[2]
Faerie
translation of a term used to refer to a surface elf.[26]
faerl
'magical'.[2]
faern
'magic worker'[2] or 'wizard'.[3]

G[]

gol
'goblin' (plgoln).[3][2]
golhyrr
'ruse', 'trap', or 'trick'.[2]
golhyrrl' fhaazht
'The Dream Trap', strange nightmare dreams given out by the giant fungus Araumycos (post-Spellplague) involving the comfort of the mass and the hopeless chaos of individuality.[27]

H[]

harl
'down'[2], 'under', or 'below'.[3]
harl'il'cik
'kneel'.[28]
haszak
illithid (plhaszakkin).[3][2]
honglath
'bravery', 'calm', 'clear thinking', or 'good behavior'.[2]

I[]

iblith
'offal',[2] 'excrement'.[29] Often used when referring to humans as well as other non-drow races. Can be used as an insult.[30]
ilhar
'mother'.[2]
ilharess
'matron' (plilharressen).[3][2]
ilharn
'patron'.[3][2]
ilindith
'aim', 'goal', or 'hoped for event'.[2]
illiyitrii
a formal dance sometimes involving costumes.[31]
inth
'plan', 'scheme', or 'stratagem'.[2]
inthigg
'agreement' or 'treaty'.[2]
izil
'as'.[2]

J[]

jabbuk
'master'.[3][2]
jal
'all'.[2]
jaluk
a derogatory term for a male drow.[32]
jivvin
'to play'; to play a game or have other amusement or fun.[33][2]
jivvin quui'elghinn
'torture until death', apparently a cynical distortion of the term for fun.[34]

K[]

kaezlen
term for disrespect or insult.[35]
khal'abbil
'my trusted comrade'.[3]
khaless
meaning trust or a drow game called Khaless.[36] Because trust was so lacking in drow society, it was often used in an ironic sense to mean 'misplaced trust'.[3]
khaless nau uss mzild taga dosstan
'trust no one more than yourself'.[37]
khazid'hea
'to cut'; Catti-brie's sword Khazid'hea.[38]
kolsen'shea orbb
'to pull the legs off a spider', an arcane phrase[11] and idiom.[3]
kulg
'blockage', 'hitch', or 'snag'.[39]
kulggen
'deliberate rampart' or 'shield'.[39]
kyone
'alert/alertly', 'careful/carefully', 'wary/warily'.[39]
kyorl
'to watch'.[3]
kyorlin
'guarding', 'waiting', 'watching'.[39]

L[]

lhorb
term used when referring to a spider that the speaker considers to be dangerous (pllhorbbyth).[40]
lil
'the'.[3][39]
llar
'three'.[3][39]
llarnbuss
'third'.[3][39]
lueth
'and'.[3][39]
lurraggath
'love', specifically an act of love involving a sacrificial or noble deed.[6][note 1]
luth
'cast', 'hurl', or 'throw'.[39]

M[]

maglust
'alone',[3] 'apart'.[39]
malla
'honored'[39] or 'honored one'.[3]
mrimm
'guide', 'key', or 'inspiration'.[39]
mzild
'more'.[3][39]

N[]

natha
'a'/'an'.[3][39]
nau
'no'.[41][39]
neideirra
a frenzied dance competition favored in Menzoberranzan.[42]
neirt
'whip' or 'lash'[43]
neirtarr
'whipping' or 'lashing'.[43]
nind
'they', 'them', 'their', 'theirs'.[3][39]
nindyn
'those'.[39]
noamuth
'lost',[3] 'unknown', or 'wanderer'.[39]

O[]

obsul
'opening',[39] 'door'.[44]
ogglin
'enemy'.[3]
olist
'stealth'.[3]
oloth
'darkness'.[3]
orb
'spider'[45][40] plorbb).[40]
orbbcress
'spiderweb'.[46]
orthae
'sacred'.[3]

P[]

parzdiamo
male playmate who is not the house patron.[47]
pasaison
'history', or 'yesteryear'[48]
pera'dene
'scapegoat'.[49]
phalar
'battle-marker' or 'grave'.[39]
phindar
'non-intelligent monster'.[3][39]
phlar Lolth ssinssrickla
a blasphemous jest meaning 'when Lolth giggles'.[50]
pholar
'on', 'upon'.[3][39]
phuul
'are'.[3][39]
plynn
'take'[39] or 'to seize'.[3]
pyrimo
a small, fierce fish with sharp teeth and powerful jaws; a treasured delicacy in Menzoberranzan.[51]

Q[]

'qilovestualt'
a type of drow wine made from fermented mushrooms.[52]
qual'laelay
'argument'[39] or 'disagreement'.[3]
quarth
'to command', used as part of an order.[28]
quarthen
'commanded' or 'ordered'.[39]
Quarvalsharess
'the Goddess' (Lolth).[3][39]
qu'ellar
'house'.[3][39]
qu'lith
'blood'.[3]
qu'uente
'guts'.[53]

R[]

ragar
'discover', 'find', or 'uncover'.[39]
raggath
'love', specifically, the act of love or lovemaking.[6]
rath
'back'.[39]
ratha
'backs'.[39]
rathrae
'behind'.[3][39]
rivvil
'human' (plrivvin).[54][3][39]

S[]

sargh
'skill at arms'.[3][39]
sargtlin
'drow warrior'.[3][39]
sarn
'beware'[3] or 'warning'.[39]
sava
a game popular among drow.[55]
shavrak
'final', 'last'.[3]
shebali
'lower ones'.[16]
sreen
'danger'.[3][39]
ssinssrigg
'passion',[39][6][3] 'lust' (physical),[39][6][56] 'greed' (selfish),[39][6][56] 'longing',[39][6][3] 'love'.[39][6][note 1]
ssussun
'brightness'[39][8] or 'light'.[3][44][8]
straj
'damn'.[32]
streea
'to die in the service of Lolth'.[3] or 'suicide'.[39]
streeaka
'fearless(ness)' or 'reckless(ness)'.[39]
streeaka droc'uh
phrase meaning 'mad dragon'.[25]

T[]

taga
'than'.[39]
talinth
'consider[39] or to think'.[3]
talthalra
'council[39] or meeting'.[3]
thalack
'war'.[3][39]
thalackz'hind
'attack from afar[39] or raid'.[3]
thalra
'encounter[3] or meet'.[39]
tinguin lal'o shrome'cak
'promise of a fungal pie'. It referred to something used to "sweeten the deal"; fungal pie was a delicious delicacy.[57]
tlu
'to be'.[3][39]
tuth
'both'.[3][39]

U[]

ul-Ilindith
'destiny'.[3][58]
uln'hyrr
'liar'.[59]
ultrin
'conqueror, highest or supreme'.[58]
ultrin sargtlin
phrase meaning supreme warrior'.[60]
ultrine
'supreme goddess (Lolth).[3][58]
ultrinnan
'conquering, victory, to win or prevail'.[3][58]
ulu
'to'.[3][58]
uss
'one'.[3][58]
ust
'first'.[54][3]
usstan
'I, me, or anything referring to oneself.[3][58]
usstan'sargh wael
'you arrogant fool'.[61]

V[]

valsharess
'queen'. Used as a title to refer to Lolth or the most powerful matron mothers.[45][58]
veldrin
'concealment or shadows'.[3] This is also a common, androgynous name.[54][58]
vel'uss
'who'.[3][58]
velkyn
'hidden[58] or invisible'.[3]
velve
'blade'.[3][58]
vidrinath
'lullaby (songs priestesses sang to young students at the Academy as they went into Reverie).[62]

W[]

wael
'fool'.[61][58]
waela
'foolish[3] or unaware/unwary'.[58]
wun
'in'.[3][58]
wund
'among, into or within'.[58]

X[]

xal
'may, might, perhaps'.[3][58]
xittalsh
contest of arms to prove (or win) innocence.[63]
xun
'to accomplish[58] or to work'.[3]
xund
'effort, striving or work'.[58]
xundus
'acheivement or work completed'.[58]

Y[]

yath
'temple'.[3][58]
yathrin
'drow priestess'.[3][58]
yathtallar
'high priestess'.[3][58]
yorn
'power/servant/will of Lolth'.[3][58]
Yor'thae
'chosen one (High Drow).[64] The word comes from yorn, meaning servant of the goddess, and orthae, meaning sacred'.[65]

Z[]

Zedriniset
A Chosen of Lolth. This was considered a sacred word.[66]
zhah
'is'.[3][58]
zhaun
'to learn, to know'.[3][58]
zhaunil
'learning, wisdom[3] or knowledge'.[58]
zheel
'word'.[3]
z'har
'to ride'.[3][58]
z'hin
'to walk'.[3][58]
z'hind
'expedition[58], to journey'.[3]
z'orr
'climb'.[58]
z'ress
'power or strength[29]; to dominate by force of will'.[3][58]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 At the start of Part Two of The Legacy, Drizzt stated there was no word in the drow language for love of a true and selfless kind. Most likely, this word to specific to Eilistraeens.

References[]

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