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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​ â€‹

​

 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

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