Common Drow words used

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nwnolan
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Common Drow words used

Unread post by nwnolan »

Usstan- I
Ussa- Me
Ussta- My
Udos- We
Udossa- Us
Tlun- Am
Phuul- Are
Dos- You
Dosst – Your
Dosstan- Yourself
Xas- Yes
Nau- No
Naut- Not
The- Lil or l’ (if used with a noun)
Sorry- Taudl
Bel’la- Thank
Thanks- G’rftte (thanks is NOT bel’la, bel’la is thank)
Vendui’- Greetings
Vendui- Hello
Aluve- Farewell
Mal’ai- Idiot
Vlos- Blood
Qu’ellar- House
Valg’lam- Assassin
Sargtlin- Warrior
Jaluk- Male
Jalil- Female
Malla- Honored
Rivvil- Human
Jabbress- Mistress
Ilharess- Matron
Valsharess- Queen
Faern- Wizard
Ilbith- Filth/Non-Drow
__________________________________
Fahliel = Warlock
Yath'abban = Priestess in training
Yathrin = Priestess
Yath'tallar = High priestess
Tlu = To
Darthiiri = Elf
Illythiiri = Drow
Kivvil = Surfacer (I think)
V'dre = Rest
Dossta = Yours
Quarth = Command
__________________________________
Of course = Del'heen
(general curse) = Vith
Male in charge of something = Jabbuk
sister = dalninil
Brother = Dalninuk
Daughter = Dalharil
Son = Dalharuk
Child = Dalhar
__________________________________
Quarval-Sharess : The Most Glorious Goddess Lolth
Orbb : Spider
Olath : Dark/Darkness
Ultrin : Victorious
Ultrinnan : Victory
V'dre : Reverie/Rest
A'dos'quarth : As You Command/Will/Wish
__________________________________
Inorum lo’athi, uvrastes. : In darkness, there is opportunity.
Su lidos verith. : Only the strong survive.
Resilsh nielquosthos nilt resilsh. : Help freely offered is not free.
Alrenas Lolthu, nilos dulhar. : Before Lolth, all are weak (essentially means "nobody is perfect")
Nilodi orhastho shiorell e farul. : Weakness is the spawn of contentment and affection. (essentially means don't become happy with your position, always vie for greater power)
If you have any more please post them here and I'll add them to the list. Big thanks to the Jabbress Lil'ith Baen'ana, BMD, C_aribou and others for the words!
Last edited by nwnolan on Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:23 pm, edited 7 times in total.
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DM Sword
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by DM Sword »

Fahliel = Warlock
Yath'abban = Priestess in training
Yathrin = Priestess
Yath'tallar = High priestess
Tlu = To
Darthiiri = Elf
Illythiiri = Drow
Kivvil = Surfacer (I think)
V'dre = Rest
Dossta = Yours
Quarth = Command
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Blackman D
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Blackman D »

here is a list i got from eviloth when i started to play my drow again :)
Eviloth wrote:Yes = Xas

No = Nau

Not = Naut

Thank you = Bel'la Dos (apostrophe positioning optional)

Matron = Ilharess (other valid spellings include Illharess and Il'lharess)

Queen/supreme ruler (not really used here) = Valsharess

Lolth bless you = Lolth kyorl dos

Lolth be praised = Lolth tlu malla

Surfacer = Kivvil

Human = Rivvil

Surfacer Elf = Darthiir

I (myself/this one) = usstan

me = Ussa

mine = Usst

My = Ussta

you = dos

your = Dossta

yours = dosst

Yourself = Dosstan

I/we Greet You = Vendui'

I/we Leave You = Aluve'

Of course = Del'heen

(general curse) = Vith

Male (Gender) = jaluk

Male in charge of something = Jabbuk

Female (Gender) = jalil

Mistress (Respectful way to address an unknown female) = Jabress

sister = dalninil

Brother = Dalninuk

Daughter = Dalharil

Son = Dalharuk

Child = Dalhar

honoured = malla

acololyte = Yath'abban

priestess = Yathrin

head priestess = Yath'tallar

Arch Priestess = Ulath'tallar


Now here are some common phrases, you don't have to convert them but they are good to know :)


* "To betray, you must first belong."
* "The best revenge is revenge."
* "Revenge is the sweetest flesh."
* "The only real difference between an ally and an enemy is that one
* deserves a quick death."
* "No woman should marry before she has slain her tenth man."
* "Never lie when the truth is more profitable."
* "Never befriend the oppressed unless you mean to murder the oppressor."
* "Never let your inferiors do you a favor -- it will be extremely costly."
* "Killing orcs is like washing a pig. Turn your back for a second, and the filth is back."
* "No witnesses" is a hallmark.
* "Your friends blade is your enemies blade"
* "All trust is foolish."
* "Do as you are ordered, and live."
* "Lolth be praised; all victory is her doing."
* "Matron Mothers know best."
* "The best knife is the unseen one."
* "The foolish and unwary find waiting death."
* "Darkness is both friend and enemy."
* "What have I told you so many times about attacking people.......... finish the job."
* "Hope is the denial of reality"
* "The best goblin is a dead goblin"
* "The best magic item is a female (male) lover"
* "The traditional is best"
* "The destiny of the Drow is to conquer all"
* "Strength at arms and wariness are survival"
* "Any food may be poison"
* "Trust in your wealth"
* "The best trusted friend is yourself"
* "Hate is a dagger--best when hidden and deadliest when precise."
* "To Walk Apart From House And Queen Is To Walk Into The Grave"
* "Trust No One More Than Yourself"
* "Watch All About, Warily, And The Goddess May Give You The Gift Of Continued Life"
* "Who Knows Better Than The Goddess?"
* "Knowledge From deceit" [Motto]
* "From Victory To An Inn" [Battle Cry]
* "Lust And Profit" [Motto]
* "Light Upon You!" [Curse To Drow]
* "Darkness Take You!" [Curse To Non-Drow]
* "Lloth Guard You"
* "The only way of solving life is death"
* "The quickest way to a man's heart is through his back".
* "Friendship is the mother of betrayal, darkness is the father"
* "He who watches his back meets death from the front"
* "Honor is that which kills one, and flatters another, and neither are wise to do unless prepared to deal with each quickly and quietly."
* "He who does not walk quietly, does not walk for long."
* "Treachery. Deceit. Death. This is the Drow way."
* "More danger, more glory...."
* "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't there"
* "don't fear the dark...fear what's in it."
* "When you're right, paranoia is just good thinking."
* "Your closest friend is your most dangerous enemy"
* "Fear is the motivation for all, without it nothing would get done"
* "(House name) supreme!!" [Battle Cry]
* "Tired but never weak"
* "Fear the darkness, Yet shun the light"
* "Light leads to hatred, dark to delight. The best of all things, are done in the night."
* "Those who trust often find a blade in their back."
* "Deceit is often only a footfall away"
* "Stupidity should be rewarded with death"
* "Regret is the beclouding of the mind"
* "Only a fool has trust in his friend's blade"
* "The best hidden doors are the most obvious traps..."
* "To the darkness!!" [Battlecry]
* "Those who trust their lives in a drow's hands often find it gone the second you turn your back."
* "Those who Live by the Blade, get killed by those who Live by the Knife."
* "Death is not the end, but the means."
* "Live by your wits, Die by another's...
* "A weak Drow is better off dead."
* "Spill your own blood to honor, spill another's blood to live, spill a Woman's blood to die."
* "If You Ever See A Drow Smile, You Are Already Dead"
* " Pain is a crude way of obtaining obedience, but it is cheap and plentiful."
* "Trust is the key to love... unless betrayal gets in the way"
* "Trust is for the foolish, and the Dead!"
* "If you can see a trap I would recommend you look twice"
* "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies within knife reach."
* "Exploit the trusting and the stupid!"
* "To trust is to seal your fate."
* "Dishonor lasts a lifetime, but death is instant"
* "Never underestimate your enemies, never overestimate your friends."
* "Ambition-if used correctly-will lead to ascension."
* Through destiny and might we shall rule supreme
* I have but one enemy: myself
* The lives of subordinates are coin in your hand: spend them wisely.
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Lascivar
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Lascivar »

Just a few more to add from past experience about titles in Houses and cities:

Ilharn - (Male) Patron of a House, the Ilharess' mate. - No woman can give this male an order in that House except for the Ilharess herself.

Quel'saruk - (Male) House Weapons Master. - Trainer and most prominent fighter of a House, consults with the Ul'saruk (see below) about organizing a House's troops for raids and attacks/events.

Ul'saruk - (Male) Melee'Magthere leader and trainer, the city's weapon master (Doesn't mean the class, just what it actually means) and most prominent fighter. - This position is usually obtained after a tournament between each Quel'saruk.

You may still be the Quel'saruk of a house and also the Ul'saruk of the city, neither are exclusive to each other.

(These titles would unlikely be used here though unless a decent couple of Drow houses were formed, but I don't truthfully see that happening.)
Lascivar Di'Veldran
"Fear is as strong as steel, while love and respect are soft, useless feelings that none can lean on." - Excerpt of Lolth's Dogma
DM Sword
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by DM Sword »

I like the quotes blackman, nice work!
Immovablepotts
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Immovablepotts »

I havent learned all of these but just out of curiosity why not just use the button to speak in drow instead of just using these words?
( I admit it adds some thing uniqe to the UD but alot of the times I just dont understand the person, But I am learning it because it seems needed).
Kevril Dar'Shiro
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Eldebryn »

Immovablepotts wrote:I havent learned all of these but just out of curiosity why not just use the button to speak in drow instead of just using these words?
( I admit it adds some thing uniqe to the UD but alot of the times I just dont understand the person, But I am learning it because it seems needed).
It is not and never will be needed, as stated in the past, to comprehend the above. It's just a thing some people seem to like and you can at any time ask OOC for a translation. I have never been denied that request and it would be quite bad should it ever happen for anyone as no one is requested to learn a fictional language just to play in the UD.

As for why it's used over the DMFI tool, that is because the tool only allows for certain rather small length of characters per message and can be cumbersome to use. Moreover when using the above phrases people RP talking in Undercommon, while using some Drowish language words, out of habit, which is valid in the world we play in.

Hope that helped.
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nwnolan
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by nwnolan »

Because the language thing is complete crap. Drow and Elven are the same in it. And this add to the immersion and fun of the UD.
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Immovablepotts »

No one has denied me either and I wasnt saying doing this is a bad thig I was just wondering why the translator is never used, if its the same as elven that sucks and fully understandable why its not used, and like I said I agree that it adds some thing uniqe to rp and the UD. (not agenst it just wondered the above and it was anwsered thanks).
Kevril Dar'Shiro
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Eldebryn »

Drowish is but a dialect of elven for the most part, elves have some trouble understanding drowish but drow can understand elvish quite easily. I guess the reason they are identical in the DMFI is because the tool in itself doesn't support partial translation of text, which would be nice and more appropriate for Lore checks on language as someone else mentioned at some point.
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Eldebryn Rilynghym Let the past crumble to dust. I have the Art... I, Magus...
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Gaerdred Dawnfire Paladin of Torm, born and raised in Baldur's Gate
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Blackman D
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Blackman D »

Immovablepotts wrote:No one has denied me either and I wasnt saying doing this is a bad thig I was just wondering why the translator is never used, if its the same as elven that sucks and fully understandable why its not used, and like I said I agree that it adds some thing uniqe to rp and the UD. (not agenst it just wondered the above and it was anwsered thanks).
think of speaking common with using of a few of the drow words as their version of undercommon (because drow dont actually get "undercommon" as a language) but for it to be "common" it would have to be something everyone knows, so just think of it that way i guess

and the DMFI is used from time to time and usually it will be a situation where two drow are talking and dont want you to know what they are saying so then they switch to their "traditional" illythiiri tongue
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Ithilan »

nwnolan wrote:Because the language thing is complete crap. Drow and Elven are the same in it. And this add to the immersion and fun of the UD.
Maybe this is because they are largely the same? There are drow diffrences, much like there are diffrences in Noldorin and Sindarin.. but elves are elves and there would be a lot of similiarities in the languages.

Id be shocked if a surface elf didnt understand the majority of the drow language, like id be shocked if he didnt frown upon it also. Dialects and pronounciation diffrences that form a language into something uique are common in our world too you know?

You might all be english speaking, but is Scottish and Irish the same? Is american and british the same? Where does the Aussies belong in the equation? And why cant Danes understand swedish, when swedes understand a majority we say?
Because languages like people evolve over time and differ slightly.. but still have their roots.

Anyways very nice topic this, makes me miss my drow.
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nwnolan
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by nwnolan »

Ithilan wrote:
nwnolan wrote:Because the language thing is complete crap. Drow and Elven are the same in it. And this add to the immersion and fun of the UD.
Maybe this is because they are largely the same? There are drow diffrences, much like there are diffrences in Noldorin and Sindarin.. but elves are elves and there would be a lot of similiarities in the languages.

Id be shocked if a surface elf didnt understand the majority of the drow language, like id be shocked if he didnt frown upon it also. Dialects and pronounciation diffrences that form a language into something uique are common in our world too you know?

You might all be english speaking, but is Scottish and Irish the same? Is american and british the same? Where does the Aussies belong in the equation? And why cant Danes understand swedish, when swedes understand a majority we say?
Because languages like people evolve over time and differ slightly.. but still have their roots.

Anyways very nice topic this, makes me miss my drow.
Sorry, I didn't realize that the languageas were similiar. I still prefer to not use it though, even though my Imaskarian picked the language. But I really enjoy using the words in substitute of normal words, even though I don't exactly get why I'm using it. Like.... Am I speaking Drow when using those words? Or is it a Drow/Undercommon slang sorta-language? Either way, I like it. Any chance this thread could get stickied? I'd hate to keep on saying bump over and over again, and this is pretty valuable information for anyone playing in the UD.
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Rainbow Prism
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Rainbow Prism »

I really do not want to bum you guys and gals out, but here goes:

http://www.eilistraee.com/chosen/language.php

This is translator from common to drow and other way around. There is also dictionary and grammar. It maybe perhaps one of the best resources.
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Mastermind
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Re: Common Drow words used

Unread post by Mastermind »

I am not a native speaker and I have to say that the substitute words mentioned above confuse me. Especially, forms of "to be" verb associated with them.

For instance, should I treat "Usstan" exactly as "I" when forming a sentence?

"Usstan am" sounds so incredibly wrong...

Same goes for "dos are" and all that. It just bothers me so much ! >_<
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