Old Tongue

The Old Tongue is the language spoken in the Age of Legends. In the current Westlands only the well-educated know more than a few words. This site marks words and phrases in Old Tongue like this.

For a thorough discussion of the Old Tongue, its etymology and the meanings of words and phrases, one of the best sources is Aaron Bergman's The Compleat Old Tongue 2.0 and references therein.

Here is a listing of Old Tongue words and phrases by where they first appear in the books. They are linked to their definitions and etymology in The Compleat Old Tongue 2.0. Locations of definitions, if not in the same chapter, are added parenthetically.

Chapter Phrases
Guide ajah - a temporary organization
Alindrelle - no definition, but from context it means the "West Waters"
Osendrelle - no definition, but from context it means the "East Waters"
PotD alsa'daar - Moon Tower
SaSG Shadar Nor - Cutter of the Shadow, Slicer of the Shadow
NS,Ch16 carneira - first, or first lover
NS,Ch23 ''Rahien'' - dawn
TEotW,Prologue ''Ishamael'' - Betrayer of Hope
TEotW,Ch6 ''Avendesora'' - Tree of Life
''Avendoraldera'' - no translation given
TEotW,Ch9 ''al'' - of, son of
ay - of, daughter of
''Manetheren'' - Mountain Home
''Manetherendrelle'' - Waters of the Mountain Home
TEotW,Ch13 ''Aldieb'' - West Wind, the wind that brings the spring rains
''Mandarb'' - Blade
TEotW,Ch18 ''Carai an Caldazar.'' - For the honor of the Red Eagle.
''Carai an Ellisande. Al Ellisande.'' - For the honor of the Rose of the Sun. The Rose of the Sun.
TEotW,Ch19 ''Shadar Logoth'' - the Place Where the Shadow Waits, Shadow's Waiting
TEotW,Ch25 ''Tuatha'an'' - Traveling People
''Mahdi'' - Seeker
''Far Dareis Mai'' - Maidens of the Spear
TEotW,Ch36 ''Al'cair'rahienallen'' - Hill of the Golden Dawn
''ta'veren'' - no translation given
''ta'maral'ailen'' - Web of Destiny
TEotW,Ch43 ''Machin Shin'' - Black Wind
TEotW,Ch46 ''Dai Shan'' - battle lord
''Kiserai ti Wansho.'' - Glory to the Builders.
Tsingu ma choba - I am unworthy.
''Ninte calichniye no domashita,'' Agelmar ''Dai Shan'' - Your welcome warms me, Lord Agelmar.
''Kodome calichniye ga ni Aes Sedai hei'' - Here is always a welcome for Aes Sedai.
TEotW,Ch48 ''Suravye ninto manshima taishite'' - Peace favor your sword.
TEotW,Ch49 ''Mordero daghain pas duente cuebiyar.'' - no translation given, word for word translation is - Death fear none holds my heart
Tsingu ma choshih, T'ingshen. - You honor me, Treebrother.
TEotW,Ch52 ''cuendillar'' - heartstone
''Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin'' - The grave is no bar to my call.
TGH,Ch2 ''shatayan'' - chatelaine, or head housekeeper
''shambayan'' - chamberlain, or head butler
TGH,Ch4 Magami - Little Uncle
Atha'an Miere - Sea Folk
TGH,Ch7 Lanfear - Daughter of the Night
''Do Miere A'vron'' - Watchers Over the Waves
TGH,Ch8 Tai'shar Malkier - true blood of Malkier
mashiara - lost love
TGH,Ch9 Kiseran - Builder
TGH,Ch16 alantin - Brother, short for Brother to the Trees
TGH,Ch19 ''alantin'' short for ''tia avende alantin'' - Brother to the Trees
''Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin'' - The grave is no bar to my call.
TGH,Ch21 Daes Dae'mar - the Great Game or Game of Houses
TGH,Ch22 ''a'vron'' - watchers
''ma'vron'' short for ''Do Miere A'vron'' - Watchers Over the Waves
TGH,Ch29 ''Corenne'' - Return
''Hailene'' - Forerunners, Those Who Come Before
''Rhyagelle'' - Homecomers, Those Who Come Home.
''damane'' - leashed one
TGH,Ch40 ''a'dam'' - leash
''sul'dam'' - leash holder
''marath'damane'' - Those Who Must Be Leashed
The Great Hunt,Glossary ''Gaidin'' - Brother to Battles
The Dragon Reborn,Map Alindrelle - no definition, but from context it means the "West Waters"
Osendrelle - no definition, but from context it means the "East Waters"
TDR,Prologue Ordeith - wormwood
TDR,Ch18
and
TDR,Ch19
''Muad'drin tia dar allende caba'drin rhadiem!'' - Footmen prepare to pass cavalry forward!
''Los Valdar Cuebiyari! Los!'' - Forward the Heart Guard! - or - The Heart Guard will advance!
''Carai an Caldazar! Al Caldazar!'' - For the honor of the Red Eagle! The Red Eagle!
''Mia ayende, Aes Sedai!'' - Release me, Aes Sedai!
''Caballein misain ye!'' - I am a free man!
''Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!'' - I am no Aes Sedai meat!
TDR,Ch21 Tel'aran'rhiod - the Unseen World - or - the World of Dreams
TDR,Ch34 ''Shae'en M'taal'' - Stone Dogs
TDR,Ch35 ''Faile'' - falcon
TDR,Ch54 ''Aethan Dor'' - Red Shields
TSR,Ch1 so'jhin - a height among lowness, both sky and valley (The Path of Daggers,Glossary)
TSR,Ch22 ''Jeade'en'' - True Finder
''Far Aldazar Din'' - Brothers of the Eagle
''Duadhe Mahdi'in'' - Water Seekers
''Seia Doon'' - Black Eyes
''Sha'mad Conde'' - Thunder Walkers
TSR,Ch23 ''Aan'allein'' - One Man, the man who is an entire people
''gai'shain'' - those sworn to peace in battle
ji'e'toh - honor and duty
''Aes Sedai'' - servant of all
''Aiel'' - dedicated, an oath written into your bones
''Jenn Aiel'' - true dedicated
TSR,Ch25 ''Da'shain'' - one who is sworn to peace
TSR,Ch34 ''Car'a'carn'' - Chief of chiefs
''Al'cair Dal'' - The Golden Bowl
''shaiel'' - Woman Who Is Dedicated
TSR,Ch37 ''Sa souvraya niende misain ye.'' - I am lost in my own mind.
TSR,Ch57 ''Tain Shari'' - True Bloods
'' dovienya'' - luck
''Mia dovienya nesodhin soende'' - translation uncertain
The Shadow Rising,Glossary ''cadin'sor'' - working clothes
TFoH,Ch1 ''Serenla'' - stubborn daughter
''Chalinda'' - sweet girl
TFoH,Ch3 ''Sene sovya caba'donde ain dovienya'' - Luck is a horse to ride like any other.
TFoH,Ch14 ''moghedien'' - a tiny, deadly spider.
TFoH,Ch43 ''Los! Los caba'drin!'' - Horsemen forward!
TFoH,Ch44 ''Sammael'' - Destroyer of Hope.
TFoH,Ch46 ''siswai'aman'' - the spear of the Dragon.
TFoH,Ch51 ''Shen an Calhar'' - Band of the Red Hand
TFoH,Ch53 ''Dovie'andi se tovya sagain.'' - It's time to roll the dice.
TFoH,Ch54 ''Cor Darei'' - Night Spears
The Fires of Heaven,Glossary ''Rahien Sorei'' - Dawn Runners
''Sovin Nai'' - Knife Hands
''Hama N'dore'' - Mountain Dancers
LoC,Prologue(info) ''Shaidar Haran'' - Hand of the Dark
Nae'blis - no translation - the Great Lord(info)'s Regent on Earth (TPoD,Ch12)
osan'gar - left-hand dagger
aran'gar - right-hand dagger
LoC,Ch5 ''Dovie'andi se tovya sagain.'' - It's time to toss the dice.
LoC,Ch6 ''Tsag!'' - an oath
''Bajad drovja!'' - an oath
LoC,Ch42


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