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Lughat'ishval Dictionary

Summary:

This is the dictionary for the Ishvalan language that shows up in my Under Ishvalla series, with IPA transcriptions as requested.

First chapter is single words, second chapter is phrases and sentences.

Notes:

Here is the promised Ishvalan dictionary! Only words that have been used in-story so far, but someday I might change that.

Just for the record, I reserve the right to come back and change anything I need to, because this language is still very much a work in process.

The key is as follows:

Ishvalan word

[IPA transcription]
(part of speech) Translation.
Additional notes, if applicable.


Enjoy the language, you nerds.

Chapter 1: Words

Chapter Text


abe

[ˈabɛ]
(adj.) Four.


am’tr

[ˈamːtɹ̩]
(n.) Water, blood, life.
Tangent: A person’s am’tr can either mean their life or their blood. There’s another word for blood, especially used in context of animals, but if a person dies then their am’tr was spilled/shed. Also used in reference for drinkable water/life-giving water. This means there are a lot of life metaphors related to water.


Am’trawwala

[ˌamːtɹaˈwala]
(n.) First Rain.
A ritual observed by Ishvalans on the first rain after the Ishvalan New Year (roughly around March).


ava

[ˈava]
(n.) Child.


Avat’ishval

[ˌavat’ˈiʃval]
(plural: Avayut’ishval, [aˌvajut’ˈiʃval])
(n.) Ishvalan
Literally, child of Ishval.


eba

[ˈɛba]
(n.) Daddy.

esam

[ˈɛsam]
(plural: esamyu, [ɛˈsamju])
(n.) Name.
This instance of a name is that of a person whose name has never been brought before Ishvalla.


esamala

[ɛˈsamala]
(plural: esamalayu, [ɛˈsamaˌlaju])
(n.) Holy name.
A name that has been brought before Ishvalla and written in his Book. Only Ishvalans have an esamala.


Esamekke

[ɛˈsamɛkɛ]
(adj.) Not to be named; Nameless.
To be Esamekke is to have your holy name returned to Ishvalla: a dead man walking, an incorrigible criminal.


haqarib

[haˈqaɾib]
(n.) A reference to an Ishvalan male whose name you know. Roughly translates to ‘brother’.


haqaribl

[haˈqaɾibl̩]
(n.) A reference to an Ishvalan female whose name you know. Roughly translates to sister.


in

[ˈin]
(adj.) One.


jush

[ˈd͡ʒuʃ]
(adj.) Ten.


kahiribla

[kaˈhiɾibla]
(plural: kahiriblayu, [kaˈhiɾiˌblaju])
(n.) Warrior priest.


katal-nabi

['kʰatalnaˌbi]
(n.) Slaughtering army.
'Katal' means to kill, 'nabi' is the same word used for a swarm, as in swarm of locusts. A katal-nabi is not just an invading army, but one meant to annihilate.


katal-shakh

['kʰatalˌʃax]
(plural: katal-shakhyu, [kʰa'talʃaˌxiju])
(n.) Assassin, slaughterer.


khams

['xams]
(adj.) Five.


loykume

['loiˌkumɛ]
(prep.) On you; to you.


Lughat’ishval

[ˌluɣatʼˈiʃval]
(n.) Tongue of Ishval


modhen

[moˈðɛn]
(plural: modhenyu, [moˈðɛnju])
(n.) Sinner.


mudalim

[muˈdalɪm]
(n.) Teacher, master.


mutiq

[ˈmutiq]
(n.) A brother-in-arms, a close ally.


nan

[ˈnan]
(adj.) Two.


rabiq

[ˈɹabiq]
(n.) Family, family group.


sadiq

[ˈsadiq]
(n.) A circle of friends, a friend group.


sbthe

[ˈspθɛ]
(adj.) Seven.


sharintil

[ˈʃaɾinˌtil]
(n.) A respectful name for an Ishvalan female whose name you have not been granted. Roughly translates to ‘cousin’ or ‘distant kin’.


sharintilib

[ˈʃaɾinˌtilɪb]
(n.) A respectful name for an Ishvalan male whose name you have not been granted. Roughly translates to ‘cousin’ or ‘distant kin’.


shureq

[ˈʃuɾeq]
(plural: shureqyu, [ˈʃuɾeqju])
(n.) Alchemist.
Implies ‘sinner’, though the word for a sinner who is not an alchemist is ‘mudhen’.


sti

[ˈsti]
(adj.) Six.


thamy

[ˈθami]
(adj.) Eight.


thela

[ˈθɛla]
(adj.) Three.


tse

[ˈt͡sɛ]
(adj.) Nine.


t’ishval

[t’ˈiʃval]
(adj.) Ishvalan, of the desert