A Treatise on the Sidhe Languages!
“Whatch ye doin there boyo? I be hearin yer bout to go down ta the old docks? Really? Well, best be takin’ yer sword cuz I here dem’ Dock Barons dun like ye much.”
The Sidhe are a strange quizzical race, who have four known spoken languages, and a variety of dialects. They all however share a key few features for those wanting to spice up their roleplay. So without further ado the basics of Sidhe slang!
Learning to Gab!
The first thing to remember is that if you are a high ranking Sidhe your gob (mouth) is not going to be thickly accented compared to a member of the Tuathanach. However, no matter how you spin it a Sidhe do have a particular twang and musical sense to their speech. The first things to remember are the following:
- Sidhe who live closer to the Great Coill do not use “TH” sounds in their speech. Their usage of the Sean Teanga (old tongue) is much more rampant than say the Fox or the lands of Kernow. Eire dwellers drop the “a” or “uh” sounds before a lot of sounds “above” becomes “bove”.
- Albans tend to speak farther back in the throat. They do not use “H” sounds when sounds when speaking and they stress their vowels if the are “uu” or “ay”. If its a short vowel like the sound in “pen” its shortened. Albans also morph “d”s into “t”s and “ar” into “ir”.
- Kernowyon (those from Kernow) tend to speak in a very flightly sense.
- Cymri have musical accents sounding a bit like people from the Greaet Coill, but often keep the TH sounds!
Mortal example: ”How are you?”
Coil-Folk Sidhe: “How be ye?”
Alban Sidhe: “”ow be yih”
Another aspect to know is that Sidhe do not use terms such as “Is” or “are”. Those doing so are often considered pretentious and highborn (a basic way to make yourself sound like a know it all is simply use “is”). They prefer to use the word “be” in most cases. Finally they mostly drop the “ing” sound on words. Only the Cymri seem to pronounce it out loud and is often a marker of their heritage.
Then there is the basic morph of the following words:
- You becomes ye.
- Your or You’re becomes yer.
- To becomes ta.
- I is often simply dropped for the word me, the same is said for my (Meself, Me way etc).
Languages of Cels
The languages of Cels are another aspect that some might find interesting. As mentioned in the Sidhe Language information each province has its own native tongue. Often these languages are spoken among the members of that province only, but can be learned by those outside. The reason why these regional languages have pervaded the Tuath is mostly due to the Clanns and the independence of the Septs.
Basic Bearlin Slang
For the novice of Altear lore, Bearlin is the name for “common” in Cels. Basically its english. Please note that a lot of Bearlin IS based off of various dialects of modern Celtic areas. We’re just going to cover the basics here.
Basic Universal Bearlin Terms
Gaffer – Boss.
Gob – Mouth
Gab / Jab – To talk
Feck – Form of the word “Fuck”, actually means to strike someone.
Shite – Form of the word “Shit”
Bowsy – Drunkard
Git – Fool
Bloody – Common Exclamaition other forms includ “Bleed off!” “Bleeding idiots!”
Edjit – Idiot
Guards – Slang for the Gardai or Guardians of a Clann.
Lot – A group of people.
Nutter – Crazy
Sleveen – Cunning or crafty sort.
Lad – Boy
Lass – Girl
Aye – Yes
Da – Father
Mam – Mom
Dun – Don’t
Common Alban Terms
Laird – Lord
Bairn – Baby
Aff – off
Cannie – Smart
Dinnae – Didn’t
Dobber – Fool
Fae – From
Geez – Give
Hoora – Very
Ken – Know
Mibay – Maybe
Naw – No
Radge – Crazy
Yin – One
Common Kernish Slang
Abroards – Open
Ought! – Nothing, No, Zero
Assob’n – That is it, that’s it!
Baistly – Horrible, ugly, vulgar
Clidgy – Messy
Coose – Chase
Crake – Whine
Edna – Isn’t
Ess! – Yes
Fowst – Shabby
Glaze – To look at something, to stare
Niffed – Annoyed
Common Cymri Slang
Arri – Yes / Agree!
Arri arri – (No belief, full of shit)
Scrut – Stupid / Fool
Tidy – Nice
Bewt – Good, fantastic
Tunky – Shit
Nits – Nuts
Huck up! – Shut up!
Common Mananish Slang
Agg – To cut something
Augh-Augh – (A word of interjection)
Baygal – Ugly
Besom – A woman
Boh – A boy or man
Janging – Loud or Noisy
Jig – To have fun
Jiggered – To be shut or locked up
Basic Sean Teanga (Gaelic)
These are the basics of Gaelic (Irish) which we use for the Sean Teanga or standard “Sidhe Old Tongue”. Most of this just covers basics of the Sidhe’s native tongue. The language of Sean Teanga is from the lands of Eire were the first colonies of the High Kingdom were founded the people of Eire call themselves the Eirineach.
Greetings
Fàilte – Welcome
Dia Dhuit – Hello
Dias muir dhuit – Reply to hello.
Go raibh maith agat – Thank you!
Slan – Goodbye
Phrases
Conas ata tu? – How are you?
Ta me go maith – I am good.
Ta me go dona – I am sad.
Ta bron orm – I am sorry.
Oiche Maith! – Good Night!
Maidin Maith – Good Morning!
Is mise – My name is.
Mol me Danu – I praise Danu.
Titles and Terms
Tiarna – Lord
Ceili – Client
Bantiarna – Lady
Ri – King (leader of a province)
Banrion – Queen
Ard Ri – High King
Taoiseach – Chieftain
Tanaiste – Second of a Clann
Flaith – Chief
Garda – Guard
Sealgaire – Bounty Hunter
Ridire – Knight or Cavalary man
Laoch – Sworn warrior or Champion
How to refer to people:
- Mo thiarna – M’Lord!
- Mo bhantiarna – M’Lady
Albanic Terms and Phrases
The language of Alba isa derivative of Sean Teanga taken from tribal groups who left the original colonies of Cels for the moors of the west. Albanic in human terms is Scottish Gaelic. Its a mutual language to Gaelic, but shares some key differences. The people of Alba call themselves the Albannaich.
Greetings and Phrases
Hallo – Hello
Ciamar a tha sibh? – How are you?
S mise – My name is __
Maidinn Mhath – Good Morning!
Oidhche Math – Good evening!
Tioraidh – Good bye!
Titles and Terms
Triath – Lord
Bean uasal – Lady
Ceannaiche – Client
Geàrd – Guard
Tòisiche - Second of the Clann
Curaidh – Warrior / Clann Champion
Siorrachd – County
Righ – King
Ban-Righ
Ard Righ – High King
Draoidh – Druid
Sìth - Sidhe (singular)
Sìthean – Sidhe (plural)
How to refer to people:
- Mo Thriath – M’Lord
- Mo Bhean uasal – M’lady
Kernish Terms and Phrases
Kernish was derived from the language spoken by the old Prydaini tribes of old and shares a common lineage with Cymru. In mortal words its Cornish (the language of Cornwall). The people of Kernow call themselves the Kernowyon.
Greetings and Phrases
Dynnargh dhis – Welcome
Dydh ga – Hello
Fatla genes? – How are you?
Ow hanow yw – My name is ___
Myttin Da – Good Morning!
Nos Dha – Good Night!
Dyw genes! – Good bye!
Titles and Terms
Arloedh – Lord
Arloedhes – Lady
Kliens – Client
Gwerinor – Peasant
Ruw – King
Ardh Ruw – High King
Drewydh – Druid
Penntern – Chieftain
Pennsevik – Second of a Clann
Chyf – Chief
Gwardya – Guard
Breselyas – Warrior, / Clann Champion
Helghas – Bounty Hunter
Marghek – Knight
Pow – Province
Konteth – County
Kordh – Clann
Loeth – Sept
Teylu – Fine, House
Penn-Teylu – House Leader
Spyrys – Sidhe (singular)
Spyrysyon – Sidhe (plural)
How to refer to people:
- Ow Arloedh – M’Lord!
- Ow Arloedhes – M’Lady!
Cymyric Terms and Phrases
Cymric is a nearly lost language primarily spokenby those Septs claiming Cymri descent. Derived from the language that evolved out of Kernow, humans know it as Welsh. The people of Cymru refer to themselves as the Cymry (pronounced as Cymri).
Terms and Phrases
Croeso – Welcome!
Hylo – Hello
Shwmae? – How are you?
___ dwi – ___ is my name.
Bore da – Good morning!
Nos da – Good Night!
Hwyl – Good bye!
Titles and Terms
Arglwydd – Lord
Boneddiges – Lady
Cwsmer – Client
Gwladwr – Peasant
Brenin – King
Brenhines – Queen
Dwys Brenin – High King
Derwydd – Druid
Pennaeth – Chieftain
Tyswysog – Second of a Clann
Pen – Chief
Sgrin – Guard
Rhyfelwr – Warrior / Clann Champion
Heliwr – Bounty Hunter
Marchog – Knight
Talaith – Province
Sir – County
Clan – Clann
Llwyth – Sept
Tyaid – Household
Pen-Tyaid – House Leader
Ysbryd – Sidhe (Singular)
Ysbrydion – Sidhe (Plural)
How to refer to people:
- Fy Arglwyd – M’Lord
- Fy Moneddiges – M’Lady
Mananish Terms and Phrases
The folk of the Inish (the Islands) are known as the Mannan or as they call themselves Ny Manninee or simple Manninee. The lanuage of Mananish in the mortal realm is known as Manx.
Terms and Phrases
Failt royd – Welcome
Dy bannee die – Hello
Mish __ – My name is ___
Moghrey mie – Good Morning!
Oie mie – Good Night!
Slan ihiat – Good bye!
Titles and Terms
Chiarn – Lord
Ben seyr – Lady
Cliant – Client
Geaman – Peasant
Ree – King
Benrein – Queen
Ard Ree – High King
Druaight – Druidmarrinagh
Toshiagh – Chieftain
Toshee – Second of a Clann
Triah – Chief
Gardey – Guard
Fer caggee – Warrior / Clann Champion
Marrinagh – Mariner / Ship-to-ship Fighter
Shelgeyr – Bounty Hunter
Reejerey – Knight
Thalloo – Country / Province
Clein – Clann
Sleih – Sept
Kynney – Household
Kione-Kynney – House Leader
Ferrish – Sidhe (Singular)
Ferrishyn – Sidhe (Plural)
How to refer to people:
- My Hiarn – M’Lord
- My Ven Seyr – M’Lady
