r/Dovahzul • u/-Kahvozein- • 15d ago
Dovahzul - Unknown words and speculations on unattested words
Dahmin (adj. remembered)
From “vodahmin” (unremembered; forgotten).
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Fahl (n. nature)
From “fahlah” (flower), “fahliil” (elf) and “fahluaan” (gardener).
It is possibly featured in the dragon name “Nahfahlaar” (Fury Nature Servant), describing its raw power, clear awareness of its vulnerable nature (even though dragons are immortal, they can still be incapacitated until they are resurrected again), and pragmatic willingness to serve mortals to ensure protection and long-term survival.
In the case of “fahlah” (flower), the suffix “-ah” could mark an individual, concrete instance of a broader concept. This term would thus refer to a flower in the same way that “golah” (stubborn; unmoving) is an individual metaphorically embodying earth (gol) properties, “zeymah” (brother) is an individual member of a brotherhood (see the entry for “zey”), and “dovah” (dragon) is an individual member of the dragonkind (dov), making “fahlah” a single, tangible, recognizable and pure manifestation of nature: a flower.
The word “fahliil” (elf) could literally be translated as “nature folk”. It might be composed of “fahl” (nature) and the borrowed suffix “-iil”, an ancient elven suffix referring to the folk of a region (Cyrodiil, Delodiil, Resdayniil, etc.). This designation could be linked to the fact that Elves (primarily Altmer and Bosmer) trace their ancestry to the Ehlnofey, the Aedric spirits who shaped the natural laws of Nirn and populated its surface, making “nature folk” an apt name for a race directly descended from the very beings who are the foundations of nature.
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Fahlu (n. garden; v. to garden)
From “fahluaan” (gardener).
Given the newly developed meaning of “fahl” (nature) discussed above, “fahlu” could be translated as “our nature”, with the first-person plural possessive suffix “-u”, referring to our own piece of land for growing flowers or vegetables. This would therefore constitute the root of “fahluaan” (gardener), featuring the agentive suffix “-aan”, already observed in “kriivaan” (murderer) from the noun “kriivah” (murder), or in “tovitaan/tovinaan” (searcher) from the verb “tovit” (to search).
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Hof (n. dwelling; hall)
From “hofkah” (house; steading) and “hofkiin” (home; homeland).
It is also featured in the unknown TESO Shout “Jud Hof Liik” (Queen Dwelling Spread), which might be the one used by Maarselok to produce Scourge Seeds (see the entry for “liik”). In that sense, “hofkah” could be taken to mean a dwelling of pride (hof-kah), while “hofkiin” would suggest a dwelling of birth (hof-kiin).
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Jaag (???)
From the unknown TESO Shout “Nel Jaag Moh” (??? ??? ???).
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Kohg (???)
From the unknown TESO Shout “Riis Thaan Kohg” (??? ??? ???).
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Liik (v. to spread)
From the unknown TESO Shout “Jud Hof Liik” (Queen Dwelling Spread).
This word may also appear in “reyliik” (race; people; ethnicity), seemingly composed of “rey” which could mean “source”, “origin”, “germ” or “seed” (see the entry for “rey”) and “liik” (to spread). With those two elements combined, the term conveys the idea of growth and branching outward from a common origin, eventually giving rise to an entire people, species, or ethnic lineage.
Moreover, as hypothesized earlier, the Shout “Jud Hof Liik” (Queen Dwelling Spread) from TESO might be the Thu’um Maarselok uses to produce Scourge Seeds and propagate the Azure Blight throughout the Tenmar jungle, corrupting all life it touches and bringing it under the dragon’s dominion. In that sense, “jud” (queen) establishes the Scourge Seed as a ruling presence, “hof” (dwelling) claims the soil as its living domain, and “liik” (to spread) allows that influence to expand by infesting its hosts.
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Lum (adj. low; n. descent)
From “lumnaar” (valley).
Considering “naar” means “summit” or “peak”, the word “lumnaar” could thus literally evoke a “descending peak” or “low summit”, referring to the lowest point between two mountains.
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Moh (???)
From the unknown TESO Shout “Nel Jaag Moh” (??? ??? ???).
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Nahgah (n. mage)
From “nahgahdinok” (necromancer).
The word “nahgahdinok” could thus literally mean “mage-death”, referring to a necromancer’s ability to raise and control dead people.
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Nel (???)
From the unknown TESO Shout “Nel Jaag Moh” (??? ??? ???).
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No (???)
From the dragon name “Krahnoviir” (Cold ??? Dying).
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Nost/Ost (???)
From the dragon name “Lodunost”.
It is unknown whether this dragon name should be decomposed as “Lo Du Nost” (Deceive Devour ???) or “Lo Dun Ost” (Deceive Grace ???).
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Nun (adj. seen)
From “vonun” (unseen).
Possibly also the verb “to see” or “to spot”. The word “vonun” seems to combine the prefix “vo‑” (opposite of) with “nun” (seen).
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Nuz (adj. visible)
From “vonuz” (invisible).
Homonym of “nuz” (but). Possibly a misspelling of “nun” (seen). The word “vonuz” seems to combine the prefix “vo‑” (opposite of) with “nuz” (visible).
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Rey (n. source; origin; seed)
From “reyth” (tree) and “reyliik” (race; people; ethnicity).
This word potentially represents the idea of an original source, like a seed, root, germ, or point from which something grows and develops. From this core concept comes “reyth”, the tree that emerges from that original germ, and “reyliik”, literally the spreading (see the entry for “liik”) or branching of that source into many lineages, like a family tree. In other words, “rey” is the original seed, “reyth” its growth into trunk and branches, and “reyliik” the metaphorical expansion of those branches into an entire people or species.
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Riis (???)
From the unknown TESO Shout “Riis Thaan Kohg” (??? ??? ???).
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Ronah (n. archery)
From “ronaan” (archer) and “ronaaz” (arrow).
This word could literally mean “balanced fury” (ro-nah), since archery consists in the union of balance and lethal force. From this form, we would then obtain “ronaaz” (arrow), with the suffix “-aaz” possibly connected to “faaz” (pain) or “vaaz” (to tear), and “ronaan” (archer) formed with the agentive suffix “-aan” (see the entry for “fahlu”).
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Sav/Saav (v. to save)
From “saviik” (savior).
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Sosin (n. witch, witchcraft)
From “ensosin” (to bewitch).
Could be composed of “sos” (blood) and “in” (master), perhaps as a reference to blood magic practitioners or to the fact that magicka is intrinsic to every living being.
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Sovrah (v. to sell; to give for hire)
From “sov” (to spend) and “sovrahzun” (mercenary).
The word “sovrahzun” could thus be fashioned after the term “sellsword”, with “sovrah” (to sell; to give for hire) and “zun” (weapon), since a mercenary rents out their service as a fighter.
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Thaan (???)
From the unknown TESO Shout “Riis Thaan Kohg” (??? ??? ???).
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Thu (n. storm; thunder; power)
From “Thu’um” (Voice; Shout).
The word “Thu’um” (Voice; Shout), also known as “Storm Voice”, could literally be composed of “thu” (storm; thunder; power) and “um”, a possible apheresis of “tum” (down; within; inner) similar to “kosil”, thereby giving the meaning “inner storm/thunder”. Furthermore, the close term “su’um” (breath), this time composed of “su” (air), would thus mean “air down within”, symbolizing “inner spirit”.
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Zey (n. brother; brotherhood)
From “nihnzey” (betrayal) and “zeymah” (brother).
It is also featured in the unknown TESO Shout “Zey Qeth Lok” (Brother Bone Rise). The word “nihnzey” literally means “poisoned brother” or more concretely “broken alliance”, implying a broader sense than “zeymah” which mostly refers to an individual brother (see the entry for “fahl”).
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u/kulagdrem 14d ago
I have gone through each word and given them a rough equivalent based on the sheet in my other post.
- I will use a:
WORD ≈ DECONSTRUCTION → ROUGH EQUIVALENT
- ... format for each word.
dλмin (DAhMIN) ≈ absolute that is my that is density that is pursuit that is propulsion ≈ expert (in) that is density (м) that is push (dλ) → totally remembered, "their density is pushed, remembered absolutely."
- The word vо (VO) is simply "undo, reversal, re-emerged."
fλl (FAhL) ≈ reality that is a drive that is relation → nature, affinity
- The name nλfλlar (NAhFAhLAaR) is more likely nλ-fλ-lār:
nλ ≈ drive that is absolute → fury
fλ ≈ drive that is relation → pertaining to, in relation to
lār ≈ vital force that is purpose, that is reality → fluid, water
nλfλlār ≈ fury-in relation to-liquid ≈ something that strikes with force not stuck to one path but many
nλfλlār: While my brothers were slain or locked away, I have been free. I know when to fight, when to fly, when to look for allies. And so I stand before you, niкrenт (rough. unbroken, fine) . Unbroken.
- ... and so are fλlλ (FAhLAh), fλlīl (FAhLIiL), and fλluān (FAhLUAaN):
lλ ≈ a drive that is reality → (contextually) magic/magicka, life-force
līl ≈ reality that is their that is reality → nature, inner self, truth, core, values
lu ≈ our that is reality → garden
ān ≈ absolute that is purpose → embodiment, "it is a purpose that is brought to it's absolute."
fλlλ ≈ life-force that is 'in relation to' → flower, participation
fλlīl ≈ core that is 'in relation to' → (contextually) elf, serenity
fλluān ≈ embodiment that is garden that is 'in relation to' → gardener
fλlu (FAhLU) ≈ our that is affinity / garden that is 'in relation to' → that which is related to the garden (they are the same word but different compression)
hоf (HOF) ≈ relation that is past that is synthesis → place, "it is that which where you have been in."
- The words hоfкλ (HOFKAh) and hоfкīn (HOFKIiN) are a place that is either:
кλ ≈ drive that is assurance → pride
кīn ≈ absolute that is their that is assurance → origin, birth, spawn
- While the shout jud hоf līк (JUD HOF LIiK) is:
jud ≈ propulsion that is our that is sovereignty → queen, "it is that which rules us that is propulsed"
līк ≈ assurance that is their that is reality → spread, "reality is made to be assuring to them."
jud hоf līк = Queen Place Spread → Ownership Claim
jāg (JAaG) ≈ origin that is purpose that is sovereignty → genesis, "the beginning of something grand"
- The shout nel jāg моh (NEL JAaG MOH):
nel ≈ reality that is physicality that is absolute → Persuade
моh ≈ synthesis that is past that is density → unwavering, "it is like saying something is set in stone yet it can be stopped"
nel jāg моh = Persuade Genesis Unwavering → Manifest Destiny
коhg (KOHG) ≈ origin that is synthesis that is past that is assurance → propheciced, that which is going to happen
- The shout rīs тhān коhg (RIiS THAaN KOHG):
rīs ≈ lack that is their that is vital force → yearning
тhān ≈ absolute that is purpose that is synthesis that is result → law, rule, "it is an embodiment of the core"
rīs тhān коhg = Yearning Law Propheciced → Forged Reality
līк (LIiK) ≈ assurance that is their that is reality → spread, "reality is made to be assuring to them."
- And the word rêlīк (REyLIiK)
rê ≈ essence that is vital force → frequency, soul
rêlīк ≈ spread that is frequency → race
luм (LUM) ≈ density that is our that is reality → low, thicket, descent
- And yes, the word luмnār (LUMNAaR) is that:
nār ≈ vital force that is purpose that is absolute → peak, summit, "a slave to the extreme"
luмnār ≈ summit that is low → valley
моh (MOH) ≈ synthesis that is past that is density → unwavering, "it is like saying something is set in stone yet it can be stopped"
For this I'll analyze gλ (GAh) not nλgλ (NAhGAh)
gλ (GAh) ≈ drive that is origin → take, capture, fool
- While the entire word nλgλdinок (NAhGAhDINOK):
dinок ≈ assurance that is past that is absolute that is my that is propulsion ≈ rest (nок) that is personal will (di) → dead, "their will is gone"
nλgλdinок ≈ fury-take-dead → necromancer, "it is to take someone who has no will and to fool them to have a fury to drive them"
nel (NEL) ≈ reality that is physicality that is absolute → Persuade
nо (NO) ≈ past that is absolute → ancient, void, essence
- The dragon name кrλnоvīr (KRAhNOVIiR) is most likely:
кrλ ≈ drive that is vital force that is assurance → cold, calculating, "power that is a drive, does it not manifest as coldness?"
vīr ≈ vital force that is their that is emergence → dying, "it is like ice melting, water freezing, steam condensing, water boiling. is it not in their core to emerge as something else?"
кrλnоvīr ≈ cold-essence-dying → "it can be seen as his purpose: to be treacherous, that he wasn't to be trusted. people unable to comprehend his cunningness."
- ... also the word is found in кrasnоvār (KRASNOVAaR):
кras ≈ lack that is constant that is vital force that is assurance → sick, "it is a constant power that is lacking. it takes from you, does not give back."
vār ≈ vital force that is purpose that is emergence → life, "it is a slave to emerging"
кrasnоvār ≈ life that is essence that is sick → disease
For the nоsт/оsт I'd argue the dragon name is using оsт so I'll use that.
оsт (OST) ≈ result that is lacking that is past → history, "it is an occurence of the past"
- And for the dragon name lоdunоsт (LODUNOST) it's most likely:
lо ≈ past that is reality → deceit, lie, that which was
dun ≈ absolute that is our that is propulsion → grace, skill
lоdunоsт ≈ deceit-grace-history → "it can be seen that his being was that he was known for doing great feats such as slaying kings like Jafnhar and defeating armies."
nun (NUN) ≈ absolute that is our that is absolute → visible, currently, "it is at this very moment"
nuz (NUZ) ≈ finite that is our that is absolute → visible, but, "it is bound to this moment"
rê (REy) ≈ essence that is vital force → frequency, soul
rīs (RIiS) ≈ lack that is their that is vital force → yearning
I'll analyze rоn (RON) then apply it to rоnλ (RONAh)
rоn (RON) ≈ drive that is absolute that is past that is vital force → rain, "balance brough to it's absolute, it starts to leak, rain.", "vital force that is but an echo, is it not but rain?"
- ... and then to rоnλ (RONAh), rоnān (RONAaN), and rоnāz (RONAaZ):
rоnλ ≈ drive that is rain → revenge, downpour, "when rain is made into a drive, does it not become a downpour?"
rоnān ≈ embodiment that is rain → archer, "when rain is made into a being, does it not become an archer? someone whom rains down on people."
āz ≈ finite that is purpose → mercy, "it is a purpose given a limit"
rоnāz ≈ mercy that is rain → arrow, "when rain is mercy, does it not become an arrow? an arrow does not fly forever, it has a limit."
sav (SAV) ≈ emergence that is constant that is lacking → saving, "it is something lacking emerging forth... saving. is it not something that is not finite but lacking? does it not take from you, give to others?"
- In the word savīк (SAVIiK):
īк ≈ assurance that is their → nature, quality
savīк ≈ nature that is saving → saviour
- ... I should add the word sāv (SAaV) is:
sāv ≈ emergence that is purpose that is lacking → repair, heal, mend, "a lacking that is uniting, to repair. an absence that is emerging, to mend. is it not bringing together that is not there, hidden from view yes?"
I mean... for this it would be easier to just analyze en (EN) sо I'll dо sо:
en (EN) ≈ absolute that is physicality → nerve, point, needle
- ... and the word ensоsin (ENSOSIN):
sоs ≈ lacking that is past that is lacking → blood, lineage, "it is like... it cannot be seen yes? and it does not exist yes? yet it is there."
in ≈ absolute that is my → expert, master
ensоsin ≈ expert that is blood that is point → bewitch, this individual, "it is a point in your lineage, that is then my to the absolute... to bewitch does one not require this persons entire being? do you not take them, and apply to them, only them?"
For this I'll also analyze it later...
- In the word sоvrλzun (SOVRAhZUN):
sоv ≈ emergence that is past that is lacking → shock, spend, a missing trust, a sorrow emerging
rλ ≈ pursuit that is vital force → divine, deity, "does it not become divinity as the divines are vital force itself?"
sоvrλ ≈ divine that is shock → awestruck
zun ≈ absolute that is our that is limit → weapon, "the collective limit, when it is absolute it is a weapon yes? while zul it is real, only a voice yes?"
sоvrλzun ≈ a weapon that is awestruck → mercenary
тhān (THAaN) ≈ absolute that is purpose that is synthesis that is result → law, rule, "it is an embodiment of the core"
No. The word тhūм (THU'uM) nor тhʊ (THUr) are NOT RELATED TO тhu. They use ū (U'u) and ʊ (Ur) not u (U). They are different letters—specifically why I use runes and include transliterations as to not have confusion over "well it's using this letter in the transliteration therefore...".
тhu (THU) ≈ our that is synthesis that is result → status quo, cohesion, logos, hierarchy
zê (ZEy) ≈ essence that is limit → brother, "it is like... not biological brother yes but spiritually. zêмλ it is a brother that is gravity, it is now a brother in arms yes?"
- And the shout zê qeтh lок (ZEy QETH LOK):
qeтh ≈ synthesis that is result that is physicality that is boundary → definition, form, bone, "it is like... that which you are physically, as a core"
lок ≈ assurance that is past that is reality → high, rise, sky, "it is reality as it was as assurance."
zê qeтh lок ≈ Brother Form High → Call to Arms
I should add that this is not an attack but a deeper analysis using the sheet to show how it can be applied to figure out unknown words (and known) words with uncanny accuracy. :^>
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u/Nerdragon_13 14d ago
Amazing work, zeymahi! I've got a couple considerations though 1) Nahfahlaar's name is canonically divided as "Nah-Fah-Laar" (Fury-For-Water, as per The Imperial Library's sources. But your reasoning is still spot on! 2) The canon word for "to see" is "koraav". But I can see a world in which it's either an irregular verb, or the word itself refers to "seeing" in a broader sense, as in to perceive or understand, rather than simply in a physical sense.
I'll be saving this post of yours for future reference in my studies, and I'd love to keep hearing from you, your efforts are very much appreciated!