Diane Duane: The Book of Night with Moon

D does not appear by itself as a consonant in Ailurin, only as a diphthong, dh.

efviauw (n) the electromagnetic spectrum as perceived by cats

ehhif (n) human being, (adj) human

eiuev (n) veldt: a large open space. As a proper noun, Eiuev, “ the Veldt” means the Sheep Meadow in Central Park

eius’hss (n) the “control” quality in hauissh

ffrihh (n) refrigerator (cat slang: approximation)

fouarhweh (n) a position in hauissh, described as “classic” by commentators

fvais a medium-high voice among cats; equates with “tenor”

fwau (ex) heck, hell, crap

Hauhai (n) the Speech

hauissh (n) the Game

he’ihh (n) composure-grooming

hhau’fih (n) group relationships in general

hhouehhu (v) desire/want

Hhu’au (pr n) The Lion-“God” of Today; nickname for ehhif “ Patience,” one of the carved stone lions outside the New York Public Library main branch

hihhhh (excl) damn, bloody (stronger than vhai)

hiouh (n) excreta (including both urine and feces)

hlah’feihre (adj) tortoiseshell (fur)

houff (s n) dog

houiff (pl n) dogs

Hrau’f (pr n) daughter of Iau, the member of the feline pantheon most concerned with creation and ordering it; known as “the Silent”

hruiss (n) fight, in compounds with words for “tom-fight,” etc.

hu (n) day

hu-rhiw (id) “day-and-night”; idiom for a black-and-white cat

hwaa (n) drink

hwiojviauw (adj) the “upper electromagnetic,” meaning plasma functions, gravitic force, etc.; “upward”

iAh’hah (n) New York: possibly an approximation of the English name

Iau (pr n) the One; the most senior member of the feline pantheon; female

Irh (pr n) one of the feline pantheon; male (Urruah refers to his balls)

o’hra (n) opera (approximation)

ra’hio “ radio”; A feline neologism

Reh-t (n, abstract) the future; also, the name for the Lion-Power guarding it, the Invisible One of the Three guarding the steps to the New York Public Library main branch

rhiw (n) night. Many compounds are derived from this favorite word, including the name Rhiow (the actual orthography would be rhiw’aow, “ nightdark,” but the spelling has been simplified for the purposes of this narrative).

rich (n) horse (but in the countryside, also ox, or any other animal that works for humans by carrying or pulling things; “beast of burden”). A cat with a sense of humor might use this word as readily for a taxicab, shopping cart, or wheelbarrow. rrai’fih (n) pride relationship implying possible blood ties ruah (adj) flat

sa’Rrahh (pr n) the ambivalent feline Power, analogous (roughly) to the Lone Power

Sef (pr n) the Lion-“God” of Yesterday; nickname for “Fortitude,” one of the lions outside the New York Public Library main branch

sh’heih (n) “queen,” unspayed female

siss (n) urine; a “baby word” similar to ehhif English “pee pee,” and other similar formations

sshai-sau (adj) crazy

sswiass a pejorative: “sonofabitch,” bastard, brat, etc.

sth’heih (n) “tom,” unneutered male

uae (n) milk ur (n) nose

Urrua (pr n) the Great Tom, son and lover of Iau the Queen (from the older word urra, “ scarred”)

urruah (id) “flat nose” (compound: from ur’ruah)

vefessh (n) water, also (adj) the term cats use to indicate the fur color humans call “blue” vhai (adj) damn, bloody

Cat thoughts and silent communications are rendered in italics.

in The Unadulterated Cat (Gollancz, 1989)