Compleat

Aaron Bergman's Old Tongue Dictionary#

This dictionary was compiled by Aaron Bergman in 1998 and remains one of the best Old Tongue references. It is reproduced here in its entirety.

Aaron, since it disappeared from the UT website, we have been unable to find an official copy of The Compleat Old Tongue on the web to link and we do not have current contact information for you. If you happen to see this, please drop us a line and let us know if we have your permission to keep this copy on EWoT (in which case we will acknowledge the permission) or not (in which case we will remove it).

THE COMPLEAT OLD TONGUE 2.0#

A compilation of the documents of me, BAClubb, Mark, and Andrea Leistra. Also drawn upon is the long letter that Don Harlow was nice enough to send. I compiled, typed, and edited this document. I did not, however, find most of the words. Robert Jordan has written a letter on the subject. It is available here. Many people have also sent e-mails with words and other suggestions.

LINGUISTIC COMMENTARY#

In an attempt to provide a definition for the majority of cases, certain linguistic assumptions were made that seem to be characteristic of the majority, although not all, of the Old Tongue statements in the series. These are assumptions about word order. The first is the characteristic word order of the sentence: predicate-verb-subject. Many of the sentences follow this with the notable exception of "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin." In my opinion. For more information on this exception, see the corresponding entry. It has been suggested that I also assume that the adjective would precede the noun, but there are numerous examples that seem to contradict this, so I have elected not to do this. By looking at the cross-referenced phrase, one can draw one's own conclusions. Many assumptions have also been made based on the idea that "an", "in" and "en" all seem to indicate pluralization. One of the major problems with attempting to compile this list is that I do not believe that Mr. Jordan made an effort to provide a basis for the Old Tongue until after The Eye of the World. This is evidenced by the failure of phrases like "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin" to follow established word order. Jordan has said that this is not true, however.

EXCLUSIONS#

After thinking about it, I have decided to not include phrases from the Language of the Fourth Age, the Ogian Language and the Trolloc Language.

Key: ? indicates uncertainty

Words and fragments#

a
preposition or article
a'dam
the leash, see "dam"
a'vron
watcher, see "vron"
aan
one
aan'allein
one man. See "aan" and "allein"
aethan
shelds. See phrase "aethan dor"
aiel
dedicated
ailen
??? See "ta'maral'ailen"
ain
is. See note 1
al
"the" or "of the"
al'cair'rahienallen
the golden dawn hill. See "cair", "rahien" and "allen"
alcair
the golden. See "cair"
algai'd'siswai
the fighters of spear. See "gai" and "siswai"
alantin
brother
aldazar
the eagle. See "dazar"
aldieb
westwind
algode
cotton
allein
man
allen
hill
allende
??? See phrase "Muad'drin..."
aman
dragon
an
Pluralization. See note 2
angreal
tool of the power
aridhol
a city of the second covenant
asa
you
asmodean
Contraction of real name?
aso
it
atha
person
atha'an
peoples. See "atha" and "an"
aven
call
avende
tree
avendesora
the Tree of Life
avendoraldera
Cutting/Sapling of Tree of Life
ayende
release/freedom
baha
??? See "nar'baha"
balthamel
??? a Forsaken
bajad
??? See phrase "bajad drovja"
be'lal
??? a Forsaken
bekkar
blood
ca
??? See "ca'lyet"
ca'lyet
do come. Conjugation of "to come"
cab
free See note 3
caba
horse
caba'donde
a horse to ride. See "caba", "donde"
caba'drin
cavalry/horsemen
caballein
free man. See "cab" and "allein" and note 3
cadin
clothes. See "cadin'sor"
cadin'sor
working clothes
cair
gold
cal
red
caldazar
red eagle. See "cal" and "dazar"
calhar
red hand. See "cal" and "har"
calichniye
welcome
car
chief
car'a'carn
Chief of Chiefs
carai
"for the honor" or "honor"
carn
chiefs
chalinda
sweet girl
choss
???
con
banner
concion
summons
conje
a type of needle
cour
trap. See "cour'souvra"
cour'souvra
mindtrap
cor
night
corenne
return
cova
owner. See "mia'cova"
covale
owned one. See "da'covale"
cuanda
???
cue
heart
cueran
???
cuebiyar
heart
cuebiyari
hearts. See "cue" and phrase "valdar cuebiyari"
cuendillar
heartstone
d
of
da
superlative. See phrase "da'es daemar" and "da'shain"
da'covale
person who is owned
da'es
great. See phrase "da'es daemar"
da'shain
true peace. See note 4 and phrase "da'shain aiel"
da'tsang
despised one
dadaranell
???. See phrase "mafal dadaranell"
daemar
game. See phrase "da'es daemar"
daghain
fear. See phrase "Mordero..."
dai
battle. See note 4
daishar
glory. Perhaps literally "battle blood"
dal
bowl
dam
leash
damane
leashed one. See "dam" and "aan"
dar
??? .See phrase "Muad'drin..."
dar
sister
darei
spears
dareis
spear
dazar
eagle
demandred
???. A forsaken
deveniye
majesty
din
brother
diynen
sounder. See "diynen'd'ma'purvene"
diynen'd'ma'purvene
Sounder of the Horn. See phrase "Nosane..."
do
over. A preposition
doon
???. See phrase "seia doon"
domashita
warms. See phrase "Ninte..."
domorakoshi
language. See phrase "Nosane..."
don
???. See "gai'don"
donde
to ride. See "caba'donde"
dor
red. See phrase "aethan dor"
dornat
some sort of hunting creature
dore
dancer. See "n'dore"
dovie
Related to luck. See "dovie'andi" and "dovienya"
dovie'andi
dice. See phrase "Dovie'andi..."
dovienya
luck
drelle
river of
drin
soldiers
drovja
???. See phrase "bajad drovja"
duadhe
water
duente
holds. See phrase "Mordero..."
dyo
by
e
and
en
Pluralization. See "jeade'en", "shae'en" and note 2
es
???. See phrase "da'es daemar"
ellisande
rose of the sun
faile
falcon
far
of
ga
is. See phrase "Kodome..."
gai
battle. See note 4
gai'don
???. See phrase "tarmon gai'don"
gai'shain
pledged to peace in battle. See note 4
gaidin
battle brother. Warder. See "gai" and "din"
govane
what. See phrase "Nosane..."
graendal
???.A forsaken
hael
???. See "m'hael"
hailene
forerunners
hame
mountain. See phrase "Hama N'dore"
har
hand
haran
hand of. See phrase "Shaidar Haran"
hei
always
in
/pluralization/. See note 2
inde
no or not. General negation
iro
we. See phrase "Nosane..."
isain
is. See note 1
isainde
isn't. Contraction. See "isain" and "inde"
isha
betrayer. Possibly no 'a'
ishamael
betrayer of hope. A Forsaken. See "isha" and "mael"
jeade
Contraction of "jenn" and something? See "jeade'en"
jeade'en
true finder
jegal
scaled animal
jenn
truly or true
jhin
???. See "so'jhin"
ji
honor
kardon
green skinned fruit from a leafless spiny plant
kiserai
glory
kjasic
expletive
kodome
here. See phrase "Kodome..."
lanfear
daughter of the night. A forsaken
logoth
waiting. See phrase "shadar logoth"
los
forward
lyet
???. See "ca'lyet"
m
???. Prefix? See "m'hael" and "m'taal"
m'hael
leader
m'taal
dogs. See phrase "shae'en m'taal"
ma
the. See "diynen'd'ma'purvene"
ma'vron
watchers over the sea. Contraction. See "miere" and "vron"
machin
???. See phrase "machin shin"
mad
???. See "sha'mad"
mael
hope
mafal
???. See phrase "mafal dadaranell"
mahdi
seeker
mahdi'in
seeker(s) .Suffix is pluralization?
mai
maiden(s)
man
Related to sword or blade. See "mandarb", "manshima"
mandarb<
blade
manetheren
mountain home
manetherendrelle
waters of mountain home. See "manetheren" and "drelle"
manshima
sword. See "man", phrase "Suravye..."
maral
???. See "ta'maral'ailen"
marath
those who must. See "marath'damane"
marath'damane
those who must be leashed. See "damane"
mashadar
the creature in Shadar Logoth. See "shadar"
mashiara
beloved of heart or a love lost
mera
nothing
mera'din
brotherless
mesaana
A forsaken
mi
my
mia
my
mia'cova
my owner
miere
ocean/waves
misain
am. See note 1
moghedien
spider. A forsaken.
mordero
death. See phrase "Mordero..."
Moridin
the grave, as in death
moridin
grave or tomb
muad
foot
muad'drin
??? See "muad" and "drin"
muaghde
meat
n'dore
dancers. See phrase "hama n'dore"
nar
??? See "nar'baha"
nar'baha
fool box
nei
knife. See phrase "sovin nei"
ni
??? See phrase "Kodome..."
niende
lost. See phrase "Sa souvraya..."
ninte
your
ninto
your
no
me. First person singular pre-verb direct object pronoun
nosane
speak. See phrase "Nosane..."
oosquai
whiskey, or some other alchoholic beverage
ordeith
wormwood
pas
none. See phrase "Mordero..."
purvene
horn. See "diynen'd'ma'purvene"
rahien
dawn
rahvin
??? A forsaken
rhadiem
???. See phrase "Muad'drin..."
rhyagelle
those who come home
sa
Superlative prefix
sa
in. See phrase "Sa souvraya..."
sa'angreal
very strong Power channel. See "sa" and "angreal"
sa'sara
"superlative" dance. See "sa" and "sara"
sag
time. See "sagain"
sagain
it's time. See "sag", "ain" and phrase "Dovie'andi..."
sai
Related to power
saidar
female half of power. See "sai" and "dar"
saidin
male half of power. See "sai" and "din"
sam
destroyer
sammael
destroyer of hope. A forsaken. See "sam" and "mael"
sar
she
sara
dance. See "sa'sara"
se
themselves. Reflexive pre-verb pronoun
segade
cactus
seia
??? See phrase "seia doon"
semirhage
??? A forsaken.
sene
as/like. See phrase "Sene..."
serenla
stubborn daughter
sha
???. See "sha'mad"
shaidar
dark. See phrase "Shaidar Haran"
sha'mad
???. See phrase "sha'mad conde"
shadar
shadow. See phrase "shadar logoth", "mashadar"
shae
dog. See "shae'en"
shae'en
dogs. See phrase "shae'en m'taal"
shaiel
she who is dedicated. See aiel
shain
peace. See note 4
shambayan
chamberlain
shan
lord
shar
blood. See "tai'shar" and "daishar"
shari
bloods. Plural of "shar"
shatayan
chatelaine
shen
band
shoufa
dustveil
sin
he
siswai
spear
siswai'aman
spear of the dragon
so
???. See "so'jhin"
sofar
???
so'jhin
Hereditary upper servants of the blood
sor
working. See "cadin'sor"
sorda
rat
sorei
runner(s)
sovin
hands. See phrase "sovin nei"
souvra
mind. See "cour'souvra"
souvraya
my own mind. See phrase "Sa souvraya..."
sovya
another. See phrase "Sene..."
staera
copper scraping stick
sul
holder. See "sul'dam"
sul'dam
leash holder. See "dam"
suravye
???. See phrase "Suravye..."
sursa
chopsticks
t'mat
tomato
ta
Related to pattern
ta'maral'ailen
web of destiny. Around ta'veren. See "ta"
ta'veren
focal point of pattern. See "ta"
taal
??? See "m'taal"
tai
true. See "tai'shar"
tai'shar
true blood
tain
Plural of "tai"
taishite
??? See phrase "Suravye..."
tarmon
last. See phrase "tarmon gai'don"
tcheran
a strategy game
tel'aran'rhiod
world of dreams or unseen world
ter
??? See "ter'angreal"
ter'angreal
object that directs or uses one power. See "angreal"
ti
to
tia
to
toh
obligation/duty
tovya
roll. Probably third person plural reflexive form
tsag
expletive
tsang
hated one. See "da'tsang"
tuatha
/contraction involving "atha"./
tuatha'an
Traveling People. See "tuatha" and "atha'an"
vadin
bar/barrier
val
guard. See "valdar" and "valon"
valdar
Related to "guard". See "val" and phrase "valdar cuebiyari"
valdon
that guards. See "val" and phrase "tar valon"
vron
watcher(s)
wansho
builder(s)
ya
my own (suffix). See "souvraya"
ye
I
zemai
maize or corn

Notes#

Phrases#

aes sedai
servant to/of all
My guess is that this phrase should probably be translated "to all servant". Thus "aes" would probably be a contraction of "a" and the word meaning "all". "Sedai" would then mean servant.
aethan dor
red shields
An aiel warrior society. Possibly the "-n" ending indicates that "aethan" means shields, and thus "dor" would be another word for "red" in addition to "cal".
al caldazar
the red eagle
The sign of Manetheren. "Cal" means "red", and "dazar" means "eagle".
al ellisande
the rose of the sun
The sign for Aemon's wife, Eldrene. "Ellisande" can probably be divided into two words, but I have no idea how.
alcair dal
the golden bowl
An aiel meeting place. "Cair" means "gold" and "dal" means bowl.
atha'an miere
the sea folk
Probably literally "people sea" as "miere" means "sea", "atha'an" is the pluralization of "atha" meaning "person"
bajad drovja
???
An expletive of some sort.
Caballein misain ye
I am a free man
Probably literally "Free man am I". "Cab". means "free", "allein" means "man", "misain" means "am", and "ye" means "I". See also note 3 above.
Carai an caldazar
For the honor of the red eagle. "Carai" means "honor", "an" is a preposition in this case, probably "of", "cal" means "red" and "dazar" means "eagle".
Carai an ellisande
for the honor of the rose of the sun
"Carai" means "honor", "an" is a preposition meaning "of" and "ellisande" means "the rose of the sun".
cor darei
night spears
An Aiel warrior society. "Cor" means "night" and "darei" means "spears".
da'es daemar
the great game or the game of the houses.
I have no idea what any of the two to three words in this phrase mean.
da'shain aiel
true peace dedicated
"Da'shain" might mean "true peace" or something greater than piece if "da" is a superlative to "shain"'s "peace." "Aiel" means dedicated. Also see note 1 above for interpretation of da'shain.
dai shan
battle lord
"Dai" means "battle", "shan" means lord. See also note 1 above.
Deveniye, dyo ninte concion ca'lyet ye
Majesty, by your summons do I come
"Deveniye" means "majesty", "dyo" mean "by", "ninte" means "your", "concion" means "summons", "ca'lyet" means "do come" and "ye" means "I".
do miere a'vron
the watchers over the sea
Probably literally "over ocean, watchers". "Do" means "over", "miere" means "ocean" and "vron" means "watchers".
Dovie'andi se tovya sagain
It's time to roll the dice
"Dovie" seems to be related to "dovienya", which means "luck". Following the normal sentence order, this probably means "Dice themselves roll time it is." Thus, "Dovie'andi" means "dice", "se" is a relexive pronoun "themselves", "tovya" is a conjugation of "to roll", "sag". means "time" and "ain" means "is". The only two that cross-reference, however, are "ain" and "Dovie'andi".
duadhe mahdi'in
water seekers
An Aiel warrior society. "Duadhe" means "water" and "mahdi'in" is the pluralistaion of "mahdi" which means "seeker".
far aldazar din
brothers of the eagle
Probably literally "for the eagle, brother". An Aiel warrior society. "Far" means "for", "dazar" means "eagle" and "din" means "brother".
far dareis mai
maidens of the spear
Probably literally "for spear, maiden". The Aiel female warrior society. "Far" means "for", "darei" means "spear", and "mai" means "maiden".
hama n'dore
mountain dancers
An Aiel warrior society. I am guessing that the "n" on the second word indicates some form of pluralization. Thus, "n'dore" means "dancers" and "hama" means "mountain".
Inde muaghde Aes Sedai misain ye
I am no Aes Sedai meat.
Probably literally "not meat Aes Sedai am I" with the Aes Sedai modifying the preceding noun. "Inde" means negation, "muaghde" means "meat", "misain" means "am" and "ye" means "I".
jenn aiel
the "true" aiel
Probably literally "truly dedicated". The name for the "tribe" of Aiel who built Rhuidean. "Jenn" means "true" or "truly", and "aiel" means "dedicated".
Kiserai ti wansho
glory to the builders
"Kiserai" means "glory", "ti" means "to" and "wansho" means "builders".
Kodome calichniye ga ni Aes Sedai hei
Here is always a welcome for Aes Sedai
Probably literally "Here welcome is for Aes Sedai always". "Kodome" probably means "here", "calichniye". means "welcome", "ga" probably means "is", "ni" probably means "for" and "hei" means "always". This is a phrase from The Eye of the World, so neither the word order, nor the words seem to be standard, ie "ga" is not related to the "ain" family of "to be" verbs.
Los caba'drin
horsemen/cavalry forward
"Los" means "forward", "caba" means "horse" and "drin" means "soldier"
Los valdar cuebiyari
Heart-guard foward
"Los" means "forward" and "valdar cuebiyari" means "the heart guard".
machin shin
the black wind. The wind in the ways. No idea on word order.
mafal dadaranell
old name for Fal Dara. No idea on any word.
Mia ayende, Aes Sedai
release me, Aes Sedai. Probably literally "my release/freedom, Aes Sedai". "Mia" means "my" and "ayende" means "release/freedom".
Mia dovienya nesodhin soende
??? Probably literally "My luck ??? ???". If the normal word order holds, "nesodhin" is the verb and "soende" is the subject. Mat says that this sounded like a "fervent wish".
Mordero daghain pas duente cuebiyar
Death fear none holds my heart. Translation is word for word.
Muad'drin tia dar allende caba'drin rhadiem
Footmen prepare to pass cavalry. Probably literally "Foot soldiers to ??? ??? horse soldiers ???". "Muad" means "foot", "drin" means "soldier", "tia" means "to" and "caba" means "horse"
Ninte calichniye no domashitsa
Your welcome warms me
Probably literally "Your welcome me warms" with the direct object coming before the verb. "Ninte" means "your", "calichniye" means "welcome", "no". means "me" and "domashita" means "warms". Again, this is a phrase from The Eye of the World', so it does not follow the standard word order.
Nosane iro gavane domorakoshi, diynen'd'ma'purvene
Speak we what language, Sounder of the Horn
Word for word translation.
rahien sorei
dawn runners
An Aiel warrior society. "Rahien" means "dawn" and "sorei" means "runners".
Sa souvraya niende misain ye
I am lost in my own mind.
Probably literally "In my own mind lost am I". "Sa" probably means "in", "souvraya" probably means "my own mind", "niende" probably means "lost", "misain" means "am" and "ye" means "I".
seia doon
black eyes
An Aiel warrior society. No idea on word order.
Sene sovya caba'donde ain dovienya
Luck is a horse to ride like any other.
Probably literally "As/like another a horse to ride is luck". Thus, "sene" means "as/like", "sovya". means "another", "donde" means to ride, "ain" means "is" and "dovienya" means "luck".
shaidar haran
hand of the dark
"Shaidar" means "dark". "haran" means "hand of".
sha'mad conde
thunder walkers
An Aiel warrior society. No idea on word order.
shadar logoth
shadow's waiting
The present name for Aridhol. "Shadar" probably means "shadow" and "logoth" probably means waiting.
shae'en m'taal
stone dogs
An Aiel warrior society. Because of the plural "en" ending, "shae'en" probably means "dogs", and thus, "m'taal" probably means "stone".
shen an calhar
the band of the red hand
"Shen" means "band", "an" means "of", "cal" means "red" and "har" means "hand".
sovin nai
knife hands
An Aiel warrior society. Because of the plural "in" ending, "sovin" probably means "hands" and thus, "nai" probably means "knife".
Suravye ninto manshima taishite
Peace favor your sword
Probably literally means "??? your sword ???". No idea on the unknown word order. "Ninto" means "your" and "manshima" probably means "sword" as "man". is also present in "mandarb".
tain shari
true bloods
An Aiel warrior society. "Tain" is the plural of "tai" and "shari" is the plural of "shar". No idea on word order. See also "tai'shar".
tar valon
tower that guards
"Valon" is probably related to "val"> which probably means "guard", thus "tar" probably means "tower".
tarmon gai'don
last battle
"Gai" means battle which seems to imply that "tarmon" might mean "last", but "last battle" may not be a correct translation.
tia avende alantin
Ogier
Probably literally "to the trees brother". "Tia" means "to", "avende" means "tree" and "alantin" means "brother".
Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin
The grave is no bar to my call.
The phrase on the Horn of Valere. Probably literally "To my call, death isn't bar". "Tia" means "to", "mi" means "my", "aven" means "call", "Moridin"> means "death", "isainde" means "isn't", and "vadin" means "bar" or "barrier".
valdar cuebiyari
the heart guard
"Val" probably means "guard" and "cue" means "heart". The interesting thing here is that "dar" means "sister". I am not sure what to make of this.

Aaron Bergman

10/14/98

Copyright (c) 1998 by Gary Kephart