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