Tar Eltharin - Language of the High Elves

We are very limited with language for a race as Games Workshop simply have not put one together which is useable for conversation. GW's explanation for this is that Eltharin is far too subtle for other races to understand. However, we have been able to pull together a basic dictionary, using words and runes from the tabletop rulebook, WHFRP, and Black Library works.

After much digging for information, I have found that sadly Games Workshop have not developed words, phrases, or a dictionary for the language of the High Elves. There are several websites out there with unofficial elven phrases, but these are not to be trusted. The most comprehensive Elven languages written are those of JRR Tolkien which include Quenya and Sindarin, although I guess these are not suitable for role playing in the Warhammer world.

Alundirel, lore genius and archmage of old, has provided the following information:

"It’s made worse by the fact that there is a reasonably detailed Khazalid (Warhammer Dwarf) lexicon, for Dwarf-obsessed roleplayers (and WFRP GMs like myself) to use... but alas, no similar lexicon for the Elves.

Perhaps the myriad dialects of Eltharín (original WHFRP sources include the accent over the 'i', more recent ones omit it) are too complex for the human authors to comprehend... "


A couple of additional notes, on the more obscure side of things:


Eltharín - specifically, the Tar-Eltharín spoken in Ulthuan (the Wood Elves of Athel Loren speak a dialect known as Fan-Eltharín, which has a number of differences - for example, the concept of Quyl-Isha translates to the cruder 'Kel-Isha' in Fan-Eltharín) - is itself something of a derivative language, as it seems that most languages in the world are.

This is most clearly shown in the complex incantations of Elven Mages, which are performed in a rich and intricate language known as Anoqeyån, sometimes colloquially known as 'Arcane Elven'. Arcane Languages are precise to allow the greatest control of the Winds of Magic, and few contemporary languages are as precise as Anoqeyån. Eltharín is believed to have evolved from Anoqeyån, which is in turn supposedly a simplification of the Arcane Language of the Slann, who taught the Elves magic in the earliest days."


There are four phrases that have been pulled from WHFRP and are "Tar-Eltharin";

Greetings

Les'anan - Well met
Les'ananra - Well met indeed (response to well met)

Men'thala vasaroiei'vasilei - May you live ten thousand years

Men'thalara - Closest translation is, May you live ten thousand years also (response to may you live ten thousand years)


The following phrases are unofficial in canon, but were constructed using the existing runes and known words, for purposes of RP;
Fighting Talk

Senlui na sarui! - Swiftness and silence!

Thalui na lacoi! - Vengeance and glory!

Cynath'a druchii! - Death to the Dark Elves!


The list below details all examples of Tar-Eltharin that I have come across in the various sources which are shown in italics.


A

Aethyr - The Winds of Magic, also used to describe the realm of Chaos warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic
Amreir - Winterblade (magical sword of Athielle, a princess of Ellyrion) The Shadow King, Black Library
Anar - Dawn, light WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Anaris - Sword of Dawn (magical weapon forged by Vaul) High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Anel - Isle The Shadow King, Black Library
Anurein - The river Reik WHFRP, 2nd Ed.
Aqshy - The wind of fire, red warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic
Arhain - Shadows, night, stealth, secrets, perfidiousness High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Arhaluin - Shadowdeath (magical lance of Prince Kheranion, a follower of the forbidden cults and ally to Morathi before The Sundering) Malekith, Black Library
Asai - Greater words (the name of the group magical words) High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Asrai - Wood Elves Wood Elf rulebook, current Ed.
Asun - Greater runes (collective name for the high runes of Tar-Eltharin) High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Asur - The eternal flame, Mark of Asuryan, symbol of rebirth and lordship High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Athel - Noble (Citation needed)
Auyl - Sorrow (Citation needed)
Azyr - The wind of the heavens, blue warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic


B


C

Cadrathi - Starblade lance (magical weapon of Finudel, a prince of Ellyrion) The Shadow King, Black Library
Caladhai - Symbol of the line of kings, the dragons of flame High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Caldaith - Grace, power, music of the stars High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Caladh - Dragon Citation needed
Caladim - Pride, nobility, hubris Citation needed
Ceyl - Law, order, justice, passion, sword that draws blood High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Cha - Lion The Shadow King, Black Library
Chayal - Lion's Claw (axe of Korhil, captain of the White Lions of Chrace) High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Chamon - The Wind of metal, yellow, gold warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic
Cynath - Chill, death, silence, loneliness High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Cytharai - The twilight pantheon, gods embodying the darker aspects of Asur nature High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Cython - The serpent, wisdom, knowledge, funility, the symbol of Lileath High Elves rulebook, current Ed.


D

Daroir - Remembrance, memory, the strength of stones High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Dhar - Dark, or chaotical magic Dark Elves Rulebook, current Ed.
Druchii - Dark Elves High Elves Rulebook, current Ed.


E

Eadar - Animal The Shadow King, Black Library
Elicirus - Ending, denial Citation needed
Elthin Arvan - The Old World WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Elthrai - Doom, hope, inexorable fate High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Elui - Ending or denial High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Eyin - Pass (as in mountain pass) The Shadow King, Black Library


F

Felchu - Bird of prey The Shadow King, Black Library


G

Ghur - The wind of beasts, brown, amber warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic
Ghyran - The wind of life, green warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic


H

Harathoi - Youth, boundless energy, jealousy High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Hyish - The wind of light, white warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic


I

Ithil - Silver WHFRP, 3rd Ed.


J


K


L

Lacoi - Might, glory, fear of death High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Lathain - Storm, wrath, gently falling rain that brings eternal sleep High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Laure - Golden citation needed
Lecai - Light, nobility of the soul, lightness of being High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Loren - Forest citation needed


M

Mar - Sky citation needed
Menlui - Water, life, majesty, weakness, torrential rain and thunder in distant mountains High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Minaith - Skill in arms, spirituality, the lost way High Elves rulebook, current Ed.


N

Na - And/Of WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Nagrain - Spear of ice (magical weapon of Bathinair, a prince of Yvresse) Malekith, Black Library
Nauglir - Cold one (a minor dragon, these naturally subterranean creatures are sometimes ridden by Druchii. Note, Drukh-Eltharin for Cold one is "Kynead" druchii.net) Dark Elves Rulebook, current Ed.


O

Olithos - Axe (Citation needed)
Onai - Lesser words High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Onun - Lesser runes High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Oriour - Blood, birth High Elves rulebook, current Ed.


P

Piluth - Security, mathematics WHFRP, 3rd Ed.


Q

Qaba - Hidden knowledge WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Qhaysh - High magic WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Quyl - Tears High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Quyl-Isha - The tears of Isha, sorrow, mercy, endurance, mourning for lost children High Elves rulebook, current Ed.


R


S

Saraeluii - World's Edge Mountains Malekith, Black Library
Sarathai - The rune of the World Dragon, symbolising defiance, unyielding High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Sariour - The moon, magic, fortune, evil deeds, destruction wrought by nature High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Sariour na Yenlui - Morrslieb (the second moon) WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Saroir - Eternity, infinity, the flame of love that burns all it touches High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Sarui - Silence The Shadow King, Black Library
Senlui - Swiftness, accuracy High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Sethai - Flight, wind, cry in the far mountains High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Senthoi - Unity, loyalty, broken promise High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Sol - Sun, consciousness WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Shyish - The wind of death, purple, amethyst warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic
Sith Rionnasc'namithshir - "Star Gem of the Sea", An Elven fortress that existed at the mouth of the River Reik, the site of modern day Marienburg in the Wasteland. Destroyed during the War of the Beard. WHFRP, 3rd Ed.


T

Tar - High (as in social status rather than vertical position!) WHFRP, 3rd Ed.
Thalui - Hatred or vengeance High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Thanan - Hidden power, inner strength, indecisiveness High Elves rulebook, current Ed.
Tor - City, town The Shadow King, Black Library


U

Ulgu - The wind of shadow, grey warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic
Uirithas - Unicorn The Shadow King, Black Library
Urithair - Destruction, conquest, sacrifice of innocence High Elves rulebook, current Ed.


V


W


X


Y

Yal - Claw The Shadow King, Black Library
Yenlui - Balance, harmony, chaos High Elves rulebook, current Ed.


Z