Tongues of the world

The tongues of the world

What dracarys and valar morghulis truly mean, the words the horselords ride by, and how much of these languages the books actually set down — as against the screen.

High Valyrian

Essas poucas frases são quase todo o Alto Valiriano que os livros publicados registram por extenso. A língua do velho Domínio Livre sobrevive na página como um punhado de palavras e os dialetos valirianos bastardos das Cidades Livres — cada cidade tendo se afastado da língua-mãe a seu próprio modo. A língua fluente e plenamente declinada ouvida nas imagens em movimento foi construída para a tela por um filólogo do nosso próprio mundo, e vai muito além do que os romances registram; a crônica a assinala como adaptação, não como cânone.

Dothraki

The tongues of Westeros & beyond

What does dracarys mean?

Dracarys is High Valyrian for “dragonfire,” and it is the single word a dragon is taught to obey — the command Daenerys Targaryen uses to bid her dragons loose their flames. It is the shortest and most terrible order in the tongue of old Valyria.

What does valar morghulis mean?

Valar morghulis is High Valyrian for “all men must die.” It serves the Braavosi as greeting, farewell, and password alike; the proper answer is valar dohaeris — “all men must serve.” Together they bind death and duty into a single creed.

What does khaleesi mean?

Khaleesi is the Dothraki word for a khal's queen — his wife. A khal is a warlord who leads a khalasar, the whole riding band of warriors, families, slaves and herds that follows him. Daenerys carries the title as the wife of Khal Drogo.

Are the languages in the books as complete as the show's?

No. The novels set down only a scattering of High Valyrian phrases and a modest Dothraki vocabulary. The fluent, fully grammatical languages heard in the television adaptation were built for the screen by a philologist and go far beyond anything the books record — the chronicle treats them as adaptation, not canon.