View source for Gnoll language

{{Language
| image      = 
| caption    = 
| name       = Gnoll
| family     = 
| group      = 
| subgroup   = 
| dialects   = 
| influences = [[Abyssal language|Abyssal]]
| script     = 
| regions    = 
| speakers   = [[Gnoll]]s
| based      = 
}}
The '''Gnoll language''', also referred to as '''Gnollish''',<ref name="DotRW-p54" /> was the language of [[gnoll]]s<ref name="MMv.3.5-p130">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|130}}</ref><ref name="UE-p11">{{Cite book/Unapproachable East|11}}</ref> and [[flind]]s.<ref name="MMIII3e-p62">{{Cite book/Monster Manual III|62}}</ref>

==Description==
The language was not a complete one, only able to communicate basic concepts. It consisted of cackling, howling, and whining sounds and often relied on gestures and facial expressions. Such words were mixed with a broken version of the [[Abyssal language]], allowing the leaders among them to communicate more complex thoughts.<ref name="VGtM-pp35-36">{{Cite book/Volo's Guide to Monsters|35-36}}</ref>

==Speakers==
Beyond gnolls themselves, Gnoll was sometimes spoken as a second language by [[bugbear]]s,<ref name="MMv.3.5-p29">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|29}}</ref> [[elves]]<ref name="MMv.3.5-p102">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|102}}</ref> (of the [[Chondalwood]], the [[Forest of Lethyr]], and the [[High Forest]]<ref name="PGtF-p22">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|22}}</ref>), [[fey'ri]],<ref>{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|119}}</ref> [[forest gnome]]s,<ref>{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|55}}</ref> [[goblin]]s,<ref name="MMv.3.5-p134">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|134}}</ref> [[lizardfolk]],<ref name="MMv.3.5-p169">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|169}}</ref> [[orc]]s,<ref name="MMv.3.5-p204">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|204}}</ref> [[half-orc]]s,<ref name="MMv.3.5-p204" /><ref>{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|68}}</ref> and [[zebranaur]]s.<ref>{{Cite polyhedron/95/Four Legs Are Better Than Two|20}}</ref> Among elves it was typically learned by [[moon elves]] and [[wild elves]].<ref>{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|39,45,47}}</ref>

When it came to regions, Gnoll was somewhat common as a language in [[Anauroch]], [[Dambrath]], [[Lapaliiya]],<ref name="PGtF-pp11-16" /> [[Rashemen]],<ref>{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|102}}</ref> the [[Shaar]], [[Thay]], [[Thesk]],<ref name="PGtF-pp11-16">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|11-16}}</ref> and among [[warrior]]s in [[Thar]].<ref>{{Cite book/Warriors and Priests of the Realms|43}}</ref> [[Gnome]]s of the [[Great Dale]]<ref name="PGtF-p24">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|24}}</ref> and [[halfling]]s of [[Channath]], the Chondalwood, and [[Luiren]] also occasionally spoke it.<ref name="PGtF-p26">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|26}}</ref>

==Script==
Gnoll had no true script or written form, but some gnolls were shrewd enough to write in Abyssal.<ref name="VGtM-pp35-36" />

==History==
Gnolls believed that their language was a gift to them from [[Yeenoghu]].<ref name="VGtM-pp35-36" /> Some scholars found the many connections in Gnoll with the Abyssal language to lend evidence to the theory that gnolls had [[demon]]ic bloodlines.<ref name="Dragon-367-p50">{{Cite dragon/367/Playing Gnolls|50}}</ref>

==Names==
The following were common names for males in the Gnoll tongue: Brask, Dagnyr, Dhyrn, Doryc, Durrash, Faush, Ghyrryn, Gnasc, Gnoryc, Gnyrn, Hyrn, Lask, Lhoryn, Lhyr, Mognyr, Sorgnyn, Thovarr, Thyrn, Toryc, Wesk, Yrgnyn, and Yrych. Females might be named Amal, Dagnyra, Gnara, Gnora, Gnyrl, Hett, Hyra, Hyrgna, Ishtish, Lhyra, Lhyrl, Malgna, Myrl, Sargna, Senga, Shyrla, Tarnyra, or Yrgna.<ref name="UE-p11" /><ref name="Dragon-367-p53">{{Cite dragon/367/Playing Gnolls|53}}</ref> Translations of common Gnoll surnames included Blood-fang, Ear-taker, Face-ripper, and Spear-breaker.<ref name="UE-p11" /> Sometimes, Yeenoghu would bless a follower with a special name. A few such names were Aargab, Alark, Andak, Ethak, Eyeth, Ignar, Immor, Oduk, Orrom, Otal, Ulthak, and Ustar.<ref name="VGtM-pp35-36" />

==Notable Speakers==
* [[Macon|Macon the Monkey Mage]], a [[human]] [[wizard]] in [[the Vast]] who made a living off of [[cursed item]]s in the 14{{th}} century [[DR]].<ref>{{Cite polyhedron/62/The Jade Monkey|14}}</ref>
* ''[[Shazzelurt]]'', a [[sentient item|sentient]] magical [[dagger]].<ref name="DotRW-p54">{{Cite book/Dreams of the Red Wizards|54}}</ref>

==Appendix==
===See Also===
* [[Gnoll dictionary]]
===Appearances===
{{Appearances
| novels = ''[[The Black Bouquet]]''
| organized play = ''[[A Small Problem]]'';''[[Dangerous Alliances]]''
}}

===References===
{{Refs}}
===Connections===
{{Nonhuman racial languages}}
[[Category:Languages]]