An Introduction to
Sidhe Language and Cultural Terms
in The Heart of All Worlds*
The sidhe language in The Heart of All Worlds is the result of a collaboration between Charlotte Ashe and Nicki Harper.
Nicki has a doctorate in ancient history with a concentration in comparative linguistics. Her love of sci fi goes way back to when she read Andre Norton's Star Man's Son as a pre-teen and has only grown in the years since.
Nicki’s contribution to the The Heart of All Worlds has been invaluable, and Charlotte and Nicki look forward to continuing their working relationship in future books.
*Please note: The following language and terminology guide is very much incomplete and will be continually updated.
Glossary of terms:
The Known Elfin Races:
The Sidhe:
Es Sidhe
(a singular sidhe person = sidhe)
​​
The human race:
Sidvalulee
(a singular human being = sidhvalu)
​
The Pixie people:
Sidhlokinlee
(a singular pixie = sidhlokin)
​
The Water-pixie people:
Muirdankinlee
(a singular water pixie = muirdankin)
​
The Merrowfolk:
Es Muirdannoch
(a singular merrowperson = muirdannoch)
​
​The Sylph:
Es Sylph
(a singular sylph person = sylph)
​
The Redcap folk:
Hubipowrelee
(a singular redcap person = hubipowree)
​
The Dryad people:
Es Drynauvsidhe
(a singular dryad person = drynauvsidhe)
​​​
The Puca:
Es Phoukin
(a singular puca = phoukin)​
​​
Any member of the Elfin races (includes all races listed above):
Sidhvishlaea​
​​
​
​
The Sidhe:
​​​
A sidhe baby (age 0-5):
Valush
​
A sidhe child (age 5-25):
Valushee
A sidhe adolescent who has not yet come of age (age 25-45):
Vallaea
​
A sidhe adolescent who has recently come of age (age 45-50):
Thithesidhe
An adult sidhe over the age of 50:
Silsidhe
A pregnant sidhe
Fervalusidhe
A sidhe who has mastered a skill/trade/talent/magical ability:
Feralaidhe
(Also used to refer to any sidhe past standard middle age, or about 300 years old)
A sidhe who has recently undertaken the Rite of Wisdom:
Ferathithe
(Typically around 500 years old, upon entering the Elder Years)
​​
An Elder Sidhe:
Feravsidhe
(500+ years old, those who have undertaken the Rite of Wisdom)
A sidhe who has died:
C’rekryvish
A group or gathering of Sidhe:
Sidhli​
A tribe of Sidhe:
Feririar​
A Sidhe Queendom:
Fervishlaea
Mother (literally, womb-bearer):
Ferauvi
Father (literally, seed-giver):
Kinlea
Parent (literally, one who raised me):
Berakryvi
(Note: This may or may not be a bio parent, as those who give life to children and those who raise children are often not the same people in Sidhe culture. When children have more than one parent, it is common practice to refer to each parent as berakryvi followed by the parent’s pet name)
Sibling:
Kryshi
Daughter (term used by berakryvi):
Banvalusidhe
Son (term used by berakryvi) :
Achvalusidhe
“My child” (used by berakryvi. Ungendered):
Valessidhe
“My child”
Auvealush
(term used by biological parents when referring to a child as their biological offspring. When a biological parent is also berakryvi to their children, they tend not to use this word except when specifically addressing biology)
“Pet” name/short name:
Nomkin
(plural = nomkinli)​​
​
​
Titles & Castes:​
Queen:
Ferban
Your majesty (literally, “Great Queen”):
Mikferban
King:
Rigday
Your majesty (literally, “Great King”):
Mikrigday
​
​Sovereign (ungendered equivalent to queen/king):
Lauvgiin
​
Your majesty (literally, "Great Sovereign"):
Miklauvgiin​
​​Caste:
Vishli
Spiral Caste:
Vishli Aldevucavish
Royal Caste:
Vishli Ferrig
Circle Weaver Caste:
VishliAccobeya
​
​Spirit Speaker Caste:
Vishli Ahurabdota
​Spirit Caste:
Vishli Ahura
Circle Caste:
Vishli Accota
Speaker Caste:
Vishli Abdorta
Weaver Caste:
Vishli Beya
Common Caste:
Vishli Silesogat
​
​
​
Gods and religious principles:
​(some of the) Major Gods:
​
​The Blessed Guardian of the Sands that Carpet the World:
L!Khryauvni
​
The Sacred Whore, Blessed Mother of All:
M!Ferauvise
​
Sacred Weaver of Blossoms, Guardian of Trees:
B!Nauvrija
​
Blessed Guardian of Small Things, Bearer of Seeds:
L’auvkinlea
(Also known as The Many-Faced God and The God of Becoming)
Blessed Guardian of the Skies that Blanket the World:
Aloos’ylau
(some of the) Minor Gods:
The Guardian of All Young Lovers:
Bislhia Talysis
The Guardian of All Mortal Queens:
P’ellferbanjin
Helpers of L!Khryauvni, those who tend to the details:
The La’ekynog
Spiritual Concepts:
Shared origins, ancient connection:
Kry
Vast, the eternal, the spiral, all as one:
Vish
​Essential part/seed/ligament/component/a singular entity:
Laea
​
​
​
Elements & Cardinal Directions:
​
Water:
Vrele
​
Fire:
Caretke
​
Earth:
Delatche
Air:
Aloobii​ ​
​
North:
Nost
​​(Northern = Nostra)
South:
Sost
(Southern = Sostra)
East:
Yest
(Eastern = Yestra)
West:
Vest
(Western = Vestra)
The Ten Queendoms of Laesi:
​​
The Eastern Border Lands:
Yestralekrezershe
​
The Lower Midlands:
Solapelzershe
​
The Upper Midlands:
Nolapelzershe
World River Valley:
Rasulladrovuru
The North Coast Lake Lands:
Merkiizegrenost
The Southern Lowlands:
Sostradropos
The Southern Sea Islands:
Sostramuirzershes
The Northern Highlands:
Nostaloozershe
The Western Sea Lands:
Vestramezershe
The Forest Islands:
Miknauvriogmuirzershes
​
​
​
Geography and Related Terms:
​
The Sidhe Continent (excluding Villalu):
Laesi​
The Border:
Lekrydhe
Hill:
Tor
Mountain (literally “great hill”):
Miktor
Road:
Thithlaea
Sea:
Muir or Mer
Lake:
Merkin
River (literally “running water”):
Rasvurele
Tree:
Nauvri
Grove/Orchard:
Vauvriog
Forest:
Miknauvriog
Field/Farm/Meadow:
Leknauvri
Land (lands, Queendom):
Zershe
Island:
Muirzershe
Coast:
Zegre
Village:
Okosog
Temple:
Sarthan
Town:
Pale
City:
Mikpale
House:
Okos
Boat:
Merkala
Wagon:
Kaltanit​
​
Specific Locations & Landmarks:
Queen’s Mountain:
Ferbanamiktor
(the capital and seat of power for all of Laesi. Official Hall of the Royal Council of Sidhe Nations)
​
Khryslee Lake (largest body of water in Khryslee):
Merkhryslin
Khryslee’s Singing Flower Forest:
Rijamiknauvriog
Capitol of the Eastern Border Lands:
Alovur Drovuru
The planet/the world – Ullavise
​
​
​
​​​Plants & Animals:
​
Red flower prized for its lubricating oil:
Hubia Rija
​
Blue hallucinogenic flowers, prized for use in Soul-Walks:
Zula Sopor Rija
​​
Variety of flower-tree with deep purple blossoms:
Tashlivija​​
​
Variety of tree with a particularly strong, slender trunk:
Elcei
​
Variety of stout, long-lived and many-branched tree:
Lackente
Variety of large milkweed-like plant, prized for its silky inner lining:
Posselke
​
Variety of Flower-tree prized for its textile-producing petals:
Simblini
​
The largest known type of flower-tree on Ullavise:
Srechelee
​
Variety of herb used to repel pixies:
Verlokinlee
​
Shrub with blossoms prized for their calming properties:
Walwasha
Horse:
Grimtanit
​
Grimchin (flying beast used for transport):
Grimchin
​
​
​
Colors:
​
Color:
Epsii
White:
Pura
Gold:
Carzet
Blue:
Zulla
Pink:
Hublee
Silver:
Valex
Black:
Vi
​
Red:
Hubia
Purple:
Talesh
​
Green:
Zulaviz
​
Yellow:
Vizerche
​
Gray:
Vilee
​​
​
Miscellaneous Words/Terms :
​
The Non-interference Doctrine (a.k.a. "The Doctrine"):
Es Lemeddison Rubrio
Incorruptible:
Immervish
The Great Change (a.k.a. the creation of the Villaluan Border):
Es Muchator
Sleep, dream:
Sopor
Rape (literally: “betrayal of the mother goddess”):
Defmor M’Ferauvise
Ritual word of formal greeting to the gods used at shrines and other sacred sites:
Esil supalin vormikente nau’at
​
A loud command given to a horse or a grimchin. The word is imbued with power that will increase a creature's speed and/or stamina when spoken by a sidhe who wields the magic to do so:
Huppah
A command for horses/grimchins to stop immediately.
Overrides commands given by another, unless a stronger level of magic is employed:
Cho
​
Derogatory term for one who is powerful but spoiled, entitled and without skills. Akin to "petted prince" or "lazy spoiled brat", but much stronger andmore offensive:
Busix
​