Christopher Paolini - Inheritance

To spare readers as much difficulty as possible, I have compiled the following list, with the understanding that these are only rough guidelines to the actual pronunciation. The enthusiast is encouraged to study the source languages in order to master their true intricacies.

Aiedail-AY-uh-dale

Ajihad-AH-zhi-hod

Alagaesia-al-uh-GAY-zee-uh

Albitr-ALL-bite-ur

Arya-AR-ee-uh

Blodhgarm-BLAWD-garm

Brisingr-BRISS-ing-gur

Carvahall-CAR-vuh-hall

Cuaroc-coo-AR-ock

Dras-Leona-DRAHS-lee-OH-nuh

Du Weldenvarden-doo WELL-den-VAR-den

Ellesmera-el-uhs-MEER-uh

Eragon-EHR-uh-gahn

Farthen Dur-FAR-then DURE ( dure rhymes with lure )

Firnen-FEER-nin

Galbatorix-gal-buh-TOR-icks

Gil’ead-GILL-ee-id

Glaedr-GLAY-dur

Hrothgar-HROTH-gar

Islanzadi-iss-lan-ZAH-dee

Jeod-JODE (rhymes with load )

Murtagh-MUR-tag ( mur rhymes with purr )

Nasuada-nah-soo-AH-dah

Niernen-nee-AIR-nin

Nolfavrell-NOLL-fah-vrel ( noll rhymes with toll )

Oromis-OR-uh-miss

Ra’zac-RAA-zack

Saphira-suh-FEAR-uh

Shruikan-SHREW-kin

Silthrim-SEAL-thrim ( sil is a hard sound to transcribe; it’s made by flicking the tip of the tongue off the roof of the mouth)

Teirm-TEERM

Thardsvergundnzmal-thard-svair-GOON-dinz-mahl

Trianna-TREE-ah-nuh

Tronjheim-TRONJ-heem

Umaroth-oo-MAR-oth

Uru’baen-OO-roo-bane

Vrael-VRAIL

Yazuac-YAA-zoo-ack

Zar’roc-ZAR-rock

THE ANCIENT LANGUAGE:

Agaeti Blodhren-Blood-oath Celebration (held once a century to honor the original pact between elves and dragons)

alfa-elf (plural is alfya )

alfakyn-the race of elves

Atra du evarinya ono varda.-May the stars watch over you.

Atra esterni ono thelduin, Eragon.-May good fortune rule over you, Eragon.

audr-up

bollr-a round object; an orb

brisingr-fire ( see also istalri)

Dauthdaert-Death Spear: name given to the lances the elves made for killing dragons

Deloi sharjalvi!-Earth, move!

Domia abr Wyrda-Dominance of Fate (book)

draumr kopa-dream stare

drottning-queen

drottningu-princess (roughly; it’s not an exact translation)

du-the

Du Fells Nangoroth-The Blasted Mountains

Du Vrangr Gata-The Wandering Path

Du Weldenvarden-The Guarding Forest

ebrithil(ar)-master(s)

Eka ai fricai un Shur’tugal.-I am a Rider and a friend.

Eka elrun ono, alfya, wiol forn thornessa.-I thank you, elves, for this gift.

elda-a gender-neutral honorific suffix of great praise, attached with a hyphen

Elrun ono.-Thank you.

Erisdar-the flameless lanterns both the elves and the dwarves use (named after the elf who invented them)

fairth-a picture taken by magical means on a shingle of slate

fell-mountain

finiarel-an honorific suffix for a young man of great promise, attached with a hyphen.

flauga-fly (v.)

frethya-hide (v.)

ganga-go

ganga aptr-go backward

ganga fram-go forward

ganga raehta-go right

gedwey ignasia-shining palm

Gulia waise medh ono, Argetlam.-Luck be with you, Silverhand.

Helgrind-The Gates of Death

hvitr-white

illgrathr-bad hunger

islingr-light-bringer/illuminator

istalri-fire ( see also brisingr)

jierda-break; hit

kausta-come

kverst-cut

Kverst malmr du huildrs edtha, mar frema ne thon eka threyja!-Cut the metal holding me, but no more than I desire!

ladrin-open

letta-stop

Liduen Kvaedhi-Poetic Script

mae-a fragment of a word that Eragon never finished saying

naina-make bright

Naina hvitr un bollr.-Make round white light.

Nam iet er Eragon Sundavar-Vergandi, sonr abr Brom.-My name is Eragon Shadeslayer, son of Brom.

Nidhwal-dragon-like creatures that live in the sea, related to the Fanghur

niernen-orchid

Ono ach neiat threyja eom verrunsmal edtha, O snalgli.-You do not want to fight me, O snalgli.

Se ono waise ilia.-May you be happy.

Se onr sverdar sitja hvass.-May your swords stay sharp.

Shur’tugal-Dragon Rider

slytha-sleep

snalgli-a race of giant snails

Stenr risa.-Stone, rise.

Stenr slauta!-Stone reverberate (sound)! ( slauta is difficult to translate; it is a sharp, cleaving sound, like that of cracking stone, but it can also mean to make such a sound)

Stydja unin mor’ranr.-Rest in peace.

sundavrblaka-shadow-flapper

svit-kona-a formal honorific for a woman of great wisdom

thelduin-rule over

theyna-be silent

thrautha-throw

Thrysta vindr.-Compress the air.

thurra-dry (v.)

un-and

Vae weohnata ono vergari, eka thaet otherum.-We will kill you, I swear it.

Vaer Ethilnadras-a brown, free-floating seaweed with gas-filled bladders along the joints of its branching stem

vaetna-scatter/dispel

valdr-ruler

veoht-slow

verma-heat (v.)

vrangr-awry; wandering

Waise neiat!-Be not!

yawe-a bond of trust

THE DWARF LANGUAGE:

Az Ragni-The River

Az Sweldn rak Anhuin-The Tears of Anhuin

barzul-curse someone with ill fate

Beor-cave bear (elf word)

derundann-greetings

dur-our

durgrimst-clan (literally, “our hall,” or “our home”)

Erothknurl-a stone of earth (literally, “earthstone”; plural is Erothknurln )

Fanghur-dragon-like creatures that are smaller and less intelligent than their cousins, the dragons; related to the Nidhwal (native to the Beor Mountains)

Farthen Dur-Our Father

Feldunost-Frostbeard (a species of goat native to the Beor Mountains)

grimstborith-clan chief (literally, “hall chief”; plural is grimstborithn )

grimstcarvlorss-arranger of the house

grimstnzborith-ruler of the dwarves, whether king or queen (literally, “halls’ chief”)

Ilf gauhnith!-a peculiar dwarf expression that means “It is safe and good!” Commonly uttered by the host of a meal, it is a holdover from days when poisoning of guests was prevalent among the clans.

Ingeitum-fire workers; smiths

knurla-dwarf (literally, “one of stone”; plural is knurlan )

Nagra-giant boar; native to the Beor Mountains (plural is Nagran )

thardsvergundnzmal-something that appears other than it actually is; a fake or counterfeit; a sham

Tronjheim-Helm of Giants

Vor Orikz korda!-By Orik’s hammer!

THE NOMAD LANGUAGE:

no-an honorific suffix attached with a hyphen to the main name of someone you respect

THE URGAL LANGUAGE:

drajl-spawn of maggots

nar-a title of great respect

thulqna-woven straps the Urgals use to display the crests of their clans

Uluthrek-Mooneater

Urgralgra-Urgals’ name for themselves (literally, “those with horns”)

Kvetha Fricaya. Greetings, Friends.

What a long road this has been. It’s difficult to believe that the end has finally arrived. Many times, I doubted whether I would ever finish this series. That I did is due in no small part to the help and support of a great many people.

I do not exaggerate when I say that writing Inheritance has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. For a variety of reasons-personal, professional, and creative-this book presented more of a challenge than any of the previous ones. I’m proud to have completed it, and I’m prouder still of the book itself.

Looking back on the series as a whole, I find it impossible to sum up my feelings. The Inheritance cycle has consumed twelve years of my life-nearly half of it, to date. The series has changed me and my family, and the experiences I have had as a result would take another four books to recount. And now to let it go, to say goodbye to Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Nasuada, and Roran and to move on to new characters and new stories … It’s a daunting prospect.