On the Origin of Names
To the casual observer, the various names an intrepid traveler will encounter throughout Alagaësia might seem but a random collection of labels with no inherent integrity, culture, or history. However, as with any land that different cultures---and in this case, different species---have repeatedly colonized, Alagaësia acquired names from a wide array of unique sources, among them the languages of the dwarves, elves, humans, and even Urgals. Thus, we can have Palancar Valley (a human name), the Anora River and Ristvak'baen (elven names), and Utgard Mountain (a dwarf name) all within a few square miles of each other.
While this is of great historical interest, practically it often leads to confusion as to the correct pronunciation. Unfortunately, there are no set rules of the neophyte. Each name must be learned upon its own terms, unless you can immediately place its language or origin. The matter grows even more confusing when you realize that in many places the spelling and pronunciation of foreign words were altered by the resident population to conform to their own language. The Anora River is a prime example. Originally anora was spelled äenora, which means broad in the ancient language. In their writings, the humans simplified the word to anora, and this, combined with a vowel shift wherein äe (ay-eh) was said as the easier a (uh), created the name as it appears in Eragon's time.
To spare readers as much difficulty as possible, the following list is provided, with the understanding that these are only rough guidelines to the actual pronunciation. The enthusiast is encouraged to study the source languages in order to master their true intricacies.
While this is of great historical interest, practically it often leads to confusion as to the correct pronunciation. Unfortunately, there are no set rules of the neophyte. Each name must be learned upon its own terms, unless you can immediately place its language or origin. The matter grows even more confusing when you realize that in many places the spelling and pronunciation of foreign words were altered by the resident population to conform to their own language. The Anora River is a prime example. Originally anora was spelled äenora, which means broad in the ancient language. In their writings, the humans simplified the word to anora, and this, combined with a vowel shift wherein äe (ay-eh) was said as the easier a (uh), created the name as it appears in Eragon's time.
To spare readers as much difficulty as possible, the following list is provided, with the understanding that these are only rough guidelines to the actual pronunciation. The enthusiast is encouraged to study the source languages in order to master their true intricacies.
Christopher Paolini
The Ancient Language
- adurna -- water
- Adurna risa. -- Water, rise.
- Agaetí Blödhren -- Blood-oath Celebration (held once a century to honor the original pact between elves and dragons)
- Aí varden abr du Shur'tugalar gata vanta. -- A warden of the Riders lacks passage.*
- Aiedail -- The Morning Star
- alfa -- elf (plural is alfya)
- alfakyn -- the race of elves
- alfa-kona -- elf woman
- arget -- silver*
- Argetlam -- Silver Hand
- Athalvard -- an organization of elves dedicated to the preservation of their songs and poems
- Atra du evarínya ono varda. -- May the stars watch over you.
- Atra du evarínya ono varda, Dathedr-vodhr. -- May the stars watch over you, honored Dathedr.
- Atra esterní ono thelduin, Eragon. -- May good fortune rule over you, Eragon.
- Atra esterní ono thelduin, Eragon Shur'tugal. -- May good fortune rule over you, Eragon Dragon Rider.
- Atra esterní ono thelduin / Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr / Un du evarínya ono varda. -- May good fortune rule over you / Peace live in your heart / And the stars watch over you.
- Atra guliä un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse skölir fra rauthr. -- May luck and happiness follow you and may you be a shield from misfortune.
- Atra guliä un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse sköliro fra rauthr. -- May luck and happiness follow you and may you be shielded from misfortune.
- Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya. -- Let us be warded from listeners.
- audr -- up
- Bjartskular -- Brightscales
- Blödhgarm -- Bloodwolf
- blöthr -- halt; stop
- böllr -- a round object; an orb
- Brakka du vanyalí sem huildar Saphira un eka! -- Reduce the magic that holds Saphira and me!
- breoal -- family; house
- brisingr -- fire (see also istalrí)
- Brisingr, iet tauthr. -- Fire, follow me.
- Brisingr raudhr! -- Red fire!
- Dagshelgr -- Hallowed Day
- Dauthdaert -- Death Spear; name given to the lances the elves made for killing dragons
- Deloi moi! -- Earth, change!*
- Deloi sharjalví! -- Earth, move!
- delois -- a green-leafed plant with purple flowers
- deyja -- die
- Domia abr Wyrda -- Dominance of Fate (book)
- dras -- city
- draumr kópa -- dream stare
- drottning -- queen
- drottningu -- princess (roughly; it's not an exact translation)
- du -- the
- Du deloi lunaea. -- Smooth the earth/dirt.
- Du Fells Nángoroth -- The Blasted Mountains
- Du Fyrn Skulblaka -- The Dragon War
- Du grind huildr! -- Hold the gate!*
- Du Namar Aurboda -- The Banishing of the Names
- "Du Silbena Datia" -- "The Sighing Mists" (a poem song)
- Du Sundavar Freohr -- Death of the Shadows*
- Du Völlar Eldrvarya -- The Burning Plains
- Du Vrangr Gata -- The Wandering Path
- Du Weldenvarden -- The Guarding Forest
- dvergar -- dwarves
- ebrithil(ar) -- master(s)
- Edoc'sil -- Unconquerable
- edur -- a tor or prominence
- eitha -- go; leave
- Eka aí fricai un Shur'tugal. -- I am a Rider and friend.
- Eka eddyr aí Shur'tugal . . . Shur'tugal . . . Argetlam. -- I am a Dragon Rider . . . Dragon Rider . . . Silver Hand.
- Eka elrun ono. -- I thank you.
- Eka elrun ono, alfya, wiol forn thornessa. -- I thank you, elves, for this gift.
- elda -- a gender-neutral honorific suffix of great praise, attached with a hyphen
- Eldhrimner O Loivissa nuanen, dautr abr deloi / Eldhrimner nen ono weohnataí medh solus un thringa / Eldhrimner un fortha onr feon vara / Wiol allr sjon. -- Grow, O beautiful Loivissa, daughter of the earth / Grow as you would with sun and rain / Grow and put forth your flower of spring / For all to see.
- Eldunarí -- the heart of hearts
- Elrun ono. -- Thank you.
- Erisdar -- the flameless lanterns both the elves and the dwarves use (named after the elf who invented them)
- ethgrí -- invoke
- Eyddr eyreya onr! -- Empty your ears!
- faelnirv -- elven liqueur
- fairth -- a picture taken by magical means on a shingle of slate
- fell -- mountain
- Fethrblaka, eka weohnata néiat haina ono. Blaka eom iet lam. -- Bird, I will not harm you. Flap to my hand.
- finiarel -- an honorific suffix for a young man of great promise, attached with a hyphen
- flauga -- fly (v.)
- fram -- forward
- frethya -- hide (v.)
- Fricai Andlát -- death friend (a poisonous mushroom)
- Fricai onr eka eddyr. -- I am your friend.
- Gala O Wyrda brunhvitr / Abr Berundal vandr-fódhr / Burthro laufsblädar ekar undir / Eom kona dauthleikr . . . -- Sing O white-browed Fate / Of ill-marked Berundal / Born under oaken leaves / To mortal woman . . .
- gánga -- go
- gánga aptr -- go backward
- gánga fram -- go forward
- gánga raehta -- go right
- Garjzla, letta! -- Light, stop!
- Gath sem oro un lam iet. -- Unite that arrow with my hand.
- gedwëy ignasia -- shining palm
- Gëuloth du knífr! -- Dull the knife!
- Gulia waíse medh ono, Argetlam. -- Luck be with you, Silverhand.
- haldthin -- thornapple
- Helgrind -- The Gates of Death
- hlaupa -- run
- hljödhr -- silent
- hvitr -- white
- iet -- my (informal)
- íllgrathr -- bad hunger
- Indlvarn -- a certain type of pairing between a Rider and dragon
- islingr -- light-bringer/illuminator
- istalrí -- fire (see also brisingr)
- Istalrí beotk! -- Broad fire!
- jierda -- break; hit
- Jierda theirra kalfis! -- Break their calves!*
- kausta -- come
- kodthr -- catch
- Kuldr, risa lam iet un malthinae unin bollr. -- Gold, rise to my hand and bind into an orb.
- kverst -- cut
- Kverst malmr du huildrs edtha, mar frema né thon eka threyja! -- Cut the metal holding me, but no more than I desire!
- Kvetha Fricai. -- Greetings, Friend.
- kveykva -- lightning
- ládrin -- open
- lámarae -- a fabric made by cross-weaving wool and nettle threads (similar in construction to linsey-woolsey, but of higher quality)
- lethrblaka -- a bat; the Ra'zac's mounts (literally, "leather-flapper")
- letta -- stop
- Letta orya thorna! -- Stop those arrows!
- Liduen Kvaedhí -- Poetic Script
- loivissa -- a blue, deep-throated lily that grows in the Empire
- Losna kalfya iet. -- Release my calves.
- mae--- -- a fragment of a word that Eragon never finished saying
- maela -- quite
- malthinae -- to bind or hold in place; confine
- Manin! Wyrda! Hugin! -- Memory! Fate! Thought!
- Moi stenr! -- Stone, change!*
- Nagz reisa! -- Blanket, rise!
- naina -- make bright
- Naina hvitr un bollr. -- Make round white light.
- nalgask -- a mixture of beeswax and hazelnut oil used to moisten the skin
- Nam iet er Eragon Sundavar-Vergandí, sonr abr Brom. -- My name is Eragon Shadeslayer, son of Brom.
- Nen ono weohnata, Arya Drottningu. -- As you will, Princess Arya.
- Nidhwal -- dragon-like creatures that live in the sea, related to the Fanghur
- niernen -- orchid
- Ono ach néiat threyja eom verrunsmal edtha, O snalglí. -- You do not want to fight me, O snalglí.
- Osthato Chetowä -- the Mourning Sage
- pömnuria -- my (formal)
- Reisa du adurna. -- Raise/Lift the water.
- rïsa -- rise
- Ristvak'baen -- Place of Sorrow (baen---used here and in Urû'baen, the capital of the Empire---is always pronounced bane and is an expression of great sadness/grief)
- Sé mor'ranr ono finna. -- May you find peace.
- Sé ono waíse ilia. -- May you be happy.
- Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass! -- May your swords stay sharp!
- Sé orúm thornessa hávr sharjalví lífs. -- May this serpent have life's movement.
- seithr -- witch
- Shur'tugal -- Dragon Rider
- skolir -- shield
- Skolir nosu fra brisingr! -- Shield us from fire!
- skoliro -- shielded
- skulblaka -- dragon (literally, "scale-flapper")
- Skulblaka, eka celobra ono un mulabra ono un onr Shur'tugal né haina. Atra nosu waisé fricaya. -- Dragon, I honor you and mean you and your Rider no harm. Let us be friends.
- slytha -- sleep
- snalglí -- a race of giant snails
- Stenr reisa! -- Stone, rise!
- Stenr slauta! -- Stone reverberate (sound)! (slauta is difficult to translate; it is a sharp, cleaving sound, like that of cracking stone, but it can also mean to make such a sound)
- Stydja unin mor'ranr. -- Rest in peace.
- Stydja unin mor'ranr, Hrothgar Konungr. -- Rest in peace, King Hrothgar.
- sundavrblaka -- shadow-flapper
- svit-kona -- a formal honorific for an elf woman of great wisdom
- talos -- a cactus found near Helgrind
- thaefathan -- thicken
- thelduin -- rule over
- theyna -- be silent
- Thorta du ilumeo! -- Speak the truth!
- thrautha -- throw
- thrysta -- thrust; compress
- Thrysta vindr. -- Compress the air.
- thurra -- dry (v.)
- Togira Ikonoka -- the Cripple Who Is Whole
- tuatha du orothrim -- tempering the fool's wisdom (level in Riders' training)
- un -- and
- Vae weohnata ono vergarí, eka thaet otherúm. -- We will kill you, I swear it.
- Vaer Ethilnadras -- a brown, free-floating seaweed with gas-filled bladders along the joints of its branching stem
- vaetna -- scatter/dispel
- vakna -- awaken
- valdr - ruler
- the Varden -- the Warders
- Vel eïnradhin iet ai Shur'tugal. -- Upon my word as a Rider.
- veoht -- slow
- Vinr Älfakyn -- Elf Friend
- vodhr -- a male honorific suffix of middling praise, attached with a hyphen
- vöndr -- a thin, straight stick
- vor -- a male honorific for a close friend
- vrangr -- awry; wandering
- Waíse heill! -- Be healed!
- Waíse néiat! -- Be not!
- Wiol ono. -- For you.
- Wiol pömnuria ilian. -- For my happiness.
- wyrda -- fate
- Wyrdfell -- elven name for the Forsworn
- yawë -- a bond of trust
- Zar'roc -- misery
*Note: As Eragon is not yet a master or the ancient language, his words and remarks were not translated literally, so as to save readers from his atrocious grammar. Quotations from other characters, however, have been left untouched.
The Dwarf Language
- Akh Gûnteraz dorzada! -- For Gûntera's adoration!
- Akh sartos oen dûrgrimst! -- For family and clan!
- Ascûdgamln -- fists of steel
- Astim Hefthyn -- Sight Guard (inscription on a necklace given to Eragon)
- Az knurl demn lanok. -- Beware, the rock changes.
- Az Knurldrâthn -- The Trees of Stone
- Az Ragni -- The River
- Az Sartosvrenht rak Balmung, Grimstnzborith rak Kvisagûr -- The Saga of King Balmung of Kvisagûr
- Az Sindriznarrvel -- The Gem of Sindri
- Az Sweldn rak Anhûin -- The Tears of Anhûin
- Azt jok jordn rast. -- Then you may pass.
- barzûl -- to curse someone with ill fate
- Barzûl knurlar! -- Curse them!
- barzûln -- to curse someone with multiple misfortunes
- Beor -- cave bear (elf word)
- Carkna brâgha! -- Great danger!
- delva -- a term of endearment among the dwarves; also a form of gold nodule indigenous to the Beor Mountains that the dwarves greatly prize
- derûndânn -- greetings
- dûr -- our
- dûrgrimst -- clan (literally, "our hall" or "our home")
- dûrgrimstvren -- clan war
- Egraz Carn -- Bald One
- Erôthknurl -- a stone of earth (literally, "earthstone"; plural is Erôthknurln)
- eta -- no
- Eta! Narho ûdim etal os isû vond! Narho ûdim etal os formvn mendûnost brakn, az Varden, hrestvog dûr grimstnzhadn! Az Jurgenvren qathrid né dômar oen etal--- -- No! I will not let that happen! I will not let these beardless fools, the Varden, destroy our country. The Dragon War left us weak and not---
- Etzil nithgech! -- Stop there!
- Fanghur -- dragon-like creatures that are smaller and less intelligent than their cousins, the dragons; related to the Nidhwal (native to the Beor Mountains)
- Farthen Dûr -- Our Father
- Feldûnost -- Frostbeard (a species of goat native to the Beor Mountains)
- Formv Hrethcarach . . . formv Jurgencarmeitder nos eta goroth bahst Tarnag, dûr ensesti rak kythn! Jok is warrev az barzûlegûr dûr dûrgrimst, Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, môgh tor rak Jurgenvren? Né ûdim etal os rast knurlag. Knurlag ana . . . -- This Shadeslayer . . . this Dragon Rider has no place in Tarnag, our holiest of cities! Do you forget the curse our clan, The Tears of Anhûin, bears from the Dragon War? We will not let his pass. He is . . .
- Gáldhiem -- Bright/Shining head
- Ghastgar -- spear-throwing contest akin to jousting and fought on the backs of Feldûnost
- grimstborith -- clan chief (literally, "hall chief"; plural is grimstborithn)
- grimstcarvlorss -- arranger of the house
- grimstnzborith -- ruler of the dwarves, whether king or queen (literally, "halls' chief")
- Gûntera Arûna -- Gûntera Bless
- Hert dûrgrimst? Fild rastn? -- What clan? Who passes?
- hírna -- likeness; statue
- hûthvír -- double-bladed staff weapon used by Dûrgrimst Quan
- Hwatum il skilfz gerdûmn! -- Listen to mine words!
- Ignh az voth! -- Bring the food!
- Ilf carnz orodûm. -- It is one's obligation/fate.
- Ilf gauhnith! -- A peculiar dwarf expression that means "It is safe and good." Commonly uttered by the host of a meal, it is a holdover from days when poisoning of guests was prevalent among the clans.
- Ingeitum -- metalworkers; fire workers; smiths
- Isidar Mithrim -- Star Rose (the star sapphire)
- Jok is frekk dûrgrimstvren? -- Do you want a clan war?
- knurl -- stone; rock
- knurla -- dwarf (literally, one of stone; plural is knurlan)
- knurlaf -- woman/she/her
- knurlag -- man/he/him
- Knurlag qana qirânû Dûrgrimst Ingeitum! Qarzûl ana Hrothgar oen volfild--- -- He was made a member of Clan Ingeitum! Cursed is Hrothgar and all who---
- knurlagn -- men
- Knurlcarathn -- stoneworkers; masons
- Knurlhiem -- Stonehead
- Knurlnien -- Heart of Stone; Stone Heart
- Kóstha-mérna -- Foot Pool (a lake)
- Ledwonnû -- Kílf's necklace; also used as a general term for necklace
- menknurlan -- unstone ones; those who are not, or are without, stone (the worst insult in Dwarvish; cannot be directly translated into English)
- mérna -- lake/pool
- Nagra -- giant boar, native to the Beor Mountains (plural is Nagran)
- oeí -- yes; affirmative
- Orik Thrifkz menthiv oen Hrethcarach Eragon rak Dûrgrimst Ingeitum. Wharn, az vanyali-carharûg Arya. Né oc Ûndinz grimstbelardn. -- Orik, Thrifk's son, and Shadeslayer Eragon of Clan Ingeitum. Also, the elf-courier Arya. We are Ûndin's hall-guests.
- ornthrond -- eagle eye
- Os il dom qirânû carn dûr thargen, zeitmen, oen grimst vor formv edaris rak skilfz. Narho is belgond . . . -- Let our flesh, honor, and hall be made as one by this blood of mine. I do pledge . . .
- otho -- faith
- Ragni Darmn -- River of Small Red Fish
- Ragni Hefthyn -- River Guard
- sheilven -- cowards
- Shrrg -- giant wolf, native to the Beor Mountains
- Skilfz Delva -- Mine Delva (see delva for translation)
- Smer voth. -- Serve the food.
- thardsvergûndnzmal -- something that appears other than it actually is; a fake or counterfeit; a sham
- thriknzdal -- the temper line of the blade of a differentially tempered weapon
- Tronjheim -- Helm of Giants
- Ûn qroth Gûntera! -- Thus spoke Gûntera!
- Urzhad -- giant cave bear, native to the Beor Mountains
- vanyali -- elf (The dwarves borrowed this word from the ancient language, wherein it means magic.)
- Vargrimst -- clanless/banished
- Vol Turin -- The Endless Staircase
- Vor Hrothgarz korda! -- By Hrothgar's hammer!
- Vor Orikz korda! -- By Orik's hammer!
- Vrenshrrgn -- War Wolves
- vrron -- enough
- werg -- an exclamation of disgust (the dwarves' equivalent of ugh)
- werg -- the dwarves'equivalent of ugh (used humorously in the place name Werghadn; Werghadn translates as either "the land of ugh" or, more liberally, "the ugly land")
The Urgal Language
- Ahgrat ukmar. -- It is done.
- drajl -- spawn of maggots
- Herndall -- Urgal dams who rule their tribes
- Ithrö Zhâda (Orthíad) -- Rebel Doom
- Kaz jtierl trazhid! Otrag bagh. -- Do not attack! Circle him.
- namna -- woven strips containing Urgal family narratives that are placed by the entrances to their huts
- nar -- a gender-neutral title of great respect
- thulqna -- woven straps the Urgals use to display the crests of their clans
- Uluthrek -- Mooneater
- Urgralgra -- Urgals' name for themselves (literally, "those with horns")
- ushnark -- father
The Nomad Language
- no -- an honorific suffix attached with a hyphen to the main name of someone you respect