An example of the Aeldari runes that make up the written form of the Aeldari Lexicon.
The Aeldari Lexicon, also sometimes called the Eldar Lexicon, is the name given by Imperial scholars to the spoken and written language of the Aeldari species.
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible for an outsider, particularly Humans, to understand anything but the most basic formulations of the Aeldari Lexicon, as many of its references are metaphors that draw directly upon the collective Aeldari psyche, incorporating mythical peoples and places and long-lost times and events in its basic structure.
The Aeldari also communicate with poses and gestures because their senses are far more finely attuned to others' emotional and mental states as a result of their intensely psychic natures than the average Human; it is possible for two Aeldari to have an entire conversation using only their body language.
The Aeldari written language is equally complex. Each written symbol, whether it is a rune, script or a hierogram, is not simply the letter of an alphabet like the written High or Low Gothic language used in the Imperium of Man. Instead, each Aeldari symbol represents an entire concept.
Furthermore, even more difficult to comprehend from the Human perspective is that many of these symbolic concepts can have a subtly different meaning when committed to usage in Aeldari script, another when employed in the rune-casting prognostications of the Farseers and yet another when incorporated into the hierograms of the Aeldari houses and design schools.
A more complete set of Aeldari Lexicon runes.
Ultimately, the language of the Aeldari is an ancient and complex dialect built upon and refined over many millions of Terran years. Compared to the crude, blunt sounds of High or Low Gothic, its words flow from one to the next, each sentence a complete idea as much as a collection of letters or numbers. Humans can imitate Aeldari speech to a certain degree, with sufficient training, but compared to a native speaker they are slow and halting at best.
This is largely because, as noted above, the Aeldari language is not actually comprised of words alone like Human languages, but also accompanied by a detailed set of poses and gestures. The way an Aeldari stands, the cast of his features or how he moves his hands can all change the meaning of words, sometimes dramatically.
Examples of the Aeldari Lexicon's rune-based written language.
Further complicating matters is that each Aeldari word or symbol is as much a concept as it is a name for something. Thus while the Aeldari word for "rock" might mean rock, it might also be used to convey permanence or stability, or in a different context lack of life or thought.
To a Human, words gain meaning from their context and the words around them, while to an Aeldari the words themselves already possess infinite meaning, manipulated by a crooked finger or slight inflection when speaking.
The Aeldari Lexicon is used by all of the different Aeldari kindreds, including the Asuryani, the Exodites, the Ynnari, the Harlequins and the Drukhari, though each faction may have different dialects or particular usages that differ from the others.
The Aeldari Lexicon can differ from craftworld to craftworld, and most Aeldari can tell the origin of another member of their species simply by the differences in both their speech and body language.
Transliterated Examples
Sentences
| Aeldari Lexicon Sentence | Low Gothic Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shea nudh Asuryanish ereintha Asuryanat. | May the blessings of Asuryan protect the children of Asuryan from abomination. | Most potent and dire of all Aeldari prayers. |
| Da gceilfi an fhirinne, b'flieidir go neosfai breag- | If the truth were hidden, perhaps a lie would be told- | This sentence may be incomplete. |
| Bhi se chomh dorcha gur cheapamair go raibh an oichie tagtha. | It was so dark that we thought night had come. | |
| Bionn an fear ciallmar ina thost muai ná bîonn pioc le rá aige. | One shows good sense in silence when one has nothing to say. | |
| Elthir corannir rhiantha en. | The Aeldari maiden who weeps tears for the warrior-folk in the starlight of Rhidhol during the winter. | A more basic translation renders this entire phrase as "mourner" or "widow", though this term represents a much deeper meaning for grief and loss in the Aeldari Lexicon. |
Terminology
| Aeldari Lexicon Term | Low Gothic Literal Translation | Common Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Aeldari | The ancient name for the species the Imperium long knew simply as the Eldar. | |
| Agaith | False face | Refers to the face masks worn by Harlequins. |
| Alai | Of the Alaitoc Craftworld | |
| Amon Harakht | Eagle Pilot | Asuryani fighter pilot |
| Arebennian | Harlequin Solitaires | |
| Athair | Unknown | Harlequin Troupe Master |
| Atherakhia | Destruction | |
| Bechareth | Spirit on the wind | Used to refer to Asuryani Aeldari who died without a Spirit Stone |
| Beithir | Thunderbolt/striking serpent | Ambiguous word; usually applied to Aeldari Support Weapon Batteries |
| Brathu-angau | Kiss of doom | Weapon known as the Harlequin's Kiss |
| Buanna | Reaper | Shuriken Cannon / Shrieker Cannon |
| Ceiba-ny-shak | Literal translation unknown | Aeldari curse |
| Ceifulgaithann | Wind rider | An Eldar Jetbike |
| Creidann | Belief-maker | Aeldari Mini-grenade launcher that fires Hallucinogen Grenades |
| Dakiilithyli | Unknown | Jetbike |
| Dannan | Death | See Mael dannan below. |
| Dathedi | Between colours | Holo-Suit |
| Distaur | Unknown | Harlequin Mime |
| Drethuchii | The Shattering of Harmony | Symbol of the Drukhari Kabal of the Broken Sigil |
| Druchii | Dark Ones | One of several terms for the Drukhari. |
| Drukhari | Dark Ones | One of several terms for the Dark Eldar; this one has come into more popular use among the Aeldari in recent days. |
| Eladrith Ynneas | Unknown | Another of several terms meaning Drukhari; this one was first used openly by the Kabal of the Black Heart. |
| Esdainn | Unknown | Harlequin Shadowseer |
| Eshairr | Unknown | Fourth of the five words for an outcast; it is the only term meaning above the level of a true outcast; it is considered a deadly insult among the Aeldari. |
| Fhaisorr'ko | Unknown | A decisive point in the future for which the Aeldari Seers cannot predict the outcome. |
| Fian Dialcaman | Unknown | Dire Avengers |
| Fian Siispeiraigh | Unknown | Swooping Hawks |
| Fir Caurifel | Unknown | Eldar Titan Clans |
| Geirgilath | Unknown | A Harlequin Flip Belt |
| Haranshemash | World of Blood and Tears | Present name of the Exodite World "Haran". |
| Ilmaea | Black suns | The dying stars held in sub-realms of Commorragh that provide energy to the Dark City. |
| Kaelis Ra | The Destroyer of Light | The C'tan known as the Nightbringer. |
| Kilithikadya | Near-future-to-come | The near-future. |
| Lann Caihe | Water Bringer | An executive officer who is the second-in-command of an Aeldari starship. It his duty to "bring water" to "quench the fire" of his superior and relieve him or her of command if necessary. Extremely rare, such an act is a disgrace to the captain in question who has no choice but to leave his or her Craftworld afterwards, becoming an Outcast. |
| Mael dannan | Total and merciless extermination | No quarter for the enemy. |
| Marathag | Face of death | The term for the fear-inducing Rictus Masks worn by Harlequin Troupe Masters. |
| Margorach | Unknown | Harlequin Death Jesters (means "death fool" in real-world Scottish Gaelic) |
| Marsgrech | Screaming death | Bio-explosive shuriken ammunition |
| Maugan Ra | The Harvester of Souls | Name and title of the Phoenix Lord Maugan Ra |
| Maugetar | Harvester | The weapon of the Phoenix Lord Maugan Ra. |
| Menshad Korum | Hunters in pursuit of themselves | Aeldari lost on the Path of the Warrior, means Exarchs of two or more Warrior Aspects. |
| Mile'ionahd | Warrior of wonder; warrior of surprise | Aeldari name used by the Callidus Assassin Meh'Lindi. |
| Mon-keigh | Unknown | Any species deemed inferior to the Aeldari; it is most often applied at present to Humans. The term is derived from the legendary cannibalistic misshapen monstrosities that invaded and subjugated ancient Aeldari lands until they were cleansed from the galaxy by the hero Elronhir. |
| Murehk | Sting of the wasp | Shuriken Pistol |
| Rhana Dandra | Unknown | The cataclysmic battle where the entire Aeldari race will face Chaos for the final time; essentially the Aeldari Apocalypse or Ragnarok. |
| Saedath | Unknown | Allegorical strategic plan for a battle, taken from the mythic play of a Harlequin masque. |
| Sai'lanthresh | She Who Thirsts | Slaanesh, a Chaos God born from the excesses of the Aeldari that feeds on their souls. |
| Saim | Snake; secret knowledge | This word has a double meaning -- in Aeldari culture the snake is the creature who is supposed to know all the secrets of the universe. |
| Seachmall | Unknown | Illusion. |
| Seachran | Unknown | A delusion. |
| Sha'eil | The place where daemons are found; hell | The Immaterium. |
| Shelwe | Song | When used as a suffix for Aeldari names, the meaning is "Song of [name here]" |
| Shlaereen | Unknown | A silent death. |
| Sierbahn | Unknown | A Scatter Laser. |
| Slavhreenur | Salvation | Same meaning in Low Gothic. |
| Suin Daellae | The doom that wails | The weapon wielded by the Avatar of Khaine, regardless of its actual form. |
| Tranglam | Unknown | The "Doctrine of Tranglam" seems to equate to the Aeldari term for the branch of mathematics Human savants call Chaos Theory |
| Tuelean | Unknown | A Shuriken Catapult. |
| Uigebealach | Lit. "Fabric way" | The term for the Aeldari theory of interdimensional or hyperdimensional physics that describes the functioning of the Webway. |
| Yngir | Unknown | The term refers to giant, demigod-like beings; it is usually used to refer more specifically to the C'tan. |
| Ynnealidh | The necropolis below. | A direct reference to Low Commorragh and the other slumlike regions around it; it is a specifically Drukhari pejorative used to express contempt for their fellow citizens of the Dark City by those in High Commorragh. |
Trivia
In keeping with the fey-inspired theme of the Aeldari as "space elves," the structure and pronunciation of the Aeldari Lexicon is heavily inspired by real-world Celtic tongues from the British Isles, particularly Welsh, Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic.
Sources
- Chaos Child (Novel) by Ian Watson, pp. 142-143, 159, 161
- Codex: Craftworld (4th Edition)
- Codex: Craftworld Eldar (3rd Edition), pg. 3
- Codex: Dark Eldar (3rd Edition), pg. 35
- Codex: Dark Eldar (7th Edition), pp. 10-11, 19, 48
- Codex: Eldar (3rd Edition), pp. 42-43, 49
- Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 42
- Codex: Eldar (6th Edition), pg. 37
- Codex: Harlequins (7th Edition), pg. 14
- Codex: Necrons (3rd Edition), pp. 28, 63
- Codex: Titanicus (2nd Edition), pp. 38-39, 48
- Farseer (Novel) by William King, pg. 134
- Harlequin (Novel) by Ian Watson, pp. 131-132, 137, 231
- Path of the Eldar (Omnibus Novel) by Gav Thorpe, "Dark Son" (Short Story) by Gav Thorpe, pg. 765
- Rogue Trader: Koronus Bestiary (RPG), pg. 44
- Shadow Point (Novel) by Gordon Rennie, pp. 42, 44, 49, 52, 53, 56, 219, 221, 244
- Tales from the Dark Millennium (Anthology) edited by Christian Dunn and Marc Gascoigne, "Vindicare" (Short Story) by C.S. Goto, pg. 58
- Warhammer 40,000: Compendium (1st Edition), pp. 185-187, 191-192
- Warhammer 40,000: Wargear (2nd Edition), pp. 31, 53
- Warrior Coven (Novel) by C.S. Goto, pg. 97
- White Dwarf 127 (UK), pg. 25, 32, 191
- White Dwarf Weekly 53 (2015), pg. 31
- Warhammer Community - Grim Dark Corners: The Fall of the Aeldari and the Birth of Slaanesh