TheDragon Ageseries has been defined by its immersive worldbuilding over the years and even features its own spin on the Elvish language that adds depth and authenticity to Dalish culture. Elvish, of course, isn’t the only language that’s been created by the game developers over at BioWare, but it’s certainly one of the most prominent ones you encounter as you journey across Ferelden trying to stop the Blight. Nor is it when you cross Kirkwall as yourise tumultuously to fameand restore your family’s name.
That’s why it’s important to familiarise yourself with Elvish - there’s no escaping it, especially if you’re planning on playing an elf inDragon Age: Originsas well asDragon Age: Inquisition! We’ve picked out the most common and useful words and phrases that will aid you as you adventure across Thedas in search of glory and fame.
Translation/Meaning
As you wish
This is a commonly used term of respect as you acquiesce to a Dalish elder’s wishes, especially if they’re your Keeper. Anyone looking to maintain good relations with the Dalish should keep this at the ready should they find themselves conversing with an elf for whatever reason.
The impressive thing about Elvish in Dragon Age is that it almost functions like a real-world language, where each word or unit carries meaning. In this case, “ma” translates to “your,” and “nuvenin” translates to “say” (as in, “as you say”).
Clansman, cousin, brother/sister, close friend
Introduced early on in the Dalish origin (RIP Tamlen), this is a term of endearment used to denote closeness between the Dalish elves, regardless of whether the elves in question are related by blood or merely fellow clansmen. As a general rule of thumb for the usage of this term: You will never hear this being used to refer to a human companion or any other non-elf.
Note that this term is gendered by design: ‘lethallin’ is masculine, ‘lethallan’ is feminine, and ‘lethallen’ is neutral.
Human (derogatory)
A popular (but mostly derogatory) term used by the Dalish to refer to human outsiders, “shemlen” is one to watch out for if you’re a human foolishly traipsing through Dalish territory. You will hear this early on in the Dalish origin’s story progression and throughout Dragon Age 2 as well, which is understandable considering the Dalish have lost much of their homeland to the humans in the past.
If you hear it, perhaps lower your weapons immediately and back away slowly - you’re in Dalish territory now, and outsiders are almost always never welcome here.
This place of love
A word you will hear more often than not, this is the name of a city in Elvhenan, the original homeland of the Dalish elves. Its beautiful translation speaks to the Dalish elves’ affection for their city, and you’ll hear the Dalish speak of it often - with love and longing in their voice, now that Arlathan is lost to them.
Let’s do a quick breakdown of this word: “Ar” is the first-person pronoun for I/me, “lath” means love, and “-an” is a suffix indicating a place or location.
Enter this place in peace
This phrase is a formal Dalish phrase used to welcome and greet fellow elves and even non-elven outsiders, signaling that it is safe to approach (so long as you don’t break any age-old customs and rules), and you’ll hear it whenever you enter into Dalish territory.
The literal translation of this fundamental phrase, based on various fan sources, is “I dwell in this place, this place of peace.” We defy you to find a more romantic and sincere way of welcoming someone into your home!
I love you
A straightforward, heartfelt phrase - this should be used as often as possible to express and denote deep affection and care, whether it is between siblings, friends, or lovers. Players who love romancing the Dalish in their playthroughs (we’re looking at you, Merrill and Solas!) will want to keep this in their back pocket at all times, if only to charm their Dalish love interest at every opportune moment.
To break it down even further: “Ar” is the first-person pronoun for I/me, “lath” means love, and “ma” actually means “you” in this context instead of “my.”
Farewell/safe journey
A traditional Dalish phrase used to bid farewell to fellow kinsmen and friends alike, you will often hear this as you depart from a place or exit from a conversation with a Dalish elf. But this might not mean that they like you - it could just mean that they are being polite.
If you find yourself leaving a Dalish encampment unscathed or having to part ways with a cherished elven friend, this phrase is sure to keep you in their good books when used sincerely.
I am filled with sorrow (I’m sorry)
So you’ve offended someone with a careless remark, or you’ve wrought the (hopefully temporary) ire of the Dalish. This is a handy phrase to keep in your back pocket when you need to apologize for the wrong you’ve caused an elf and to sincerely express remorse for what you’ve done.
For those interested in a more technical linguistic breakdown of the phrase, “Ir” means “I am” while “abelas” is the Elvish word for “sorrow.” So it literally means that you, in your remorse, have turned into sorrow itself. Not the sort of apology for those who don’t actually mean what they say!
My thanks/thank you
Here’s another basic Dalish phrase you need to remember in order to properly express heartfelt gratitude towards a fellow kinsman or your elven friend. Like any other (real-world) foreign language, this should be one of the first few phrases you learn and have in your arsenal when traversing the world of Thedas, out of respect for the mysterious and sacred Dalish.
The pronunciation of this term seems to differ between various NPCs in Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2, but perhaps this is a matter of dialectical differences in Ferelden and Kirkwall. “Ma” in this context means “my,” while “serannas” means “thanks.”
My safe place (I welcome you)
This Dalish greeting, based on countless hours of playthroughs of the Dragon Age games, appears to be a more informal and intimate way of saying hello. It is often used between Dalish elves and fellow clansmen rather than used to welcome strangers - or shemlen - into a space or home.
It literally translates to “my safe place,” but semantically, it is taken to mean that you are, in fact, welcoming someone into your safe place and that you trust them not to cause any trouble. If you’re not an elf, we’d suggest just sticking to the more formal greeting for now, lest you step on some toes for being too presumptuous.
