| TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OOC NOTES | USAGE NOTES | GRAMMAR | PLURILIZATION | |
| POSSESSIVE CASE | VERBS | ADJECTIVES | ADVERBS | |
Many of the Drow words and phrases appearing below are excerpts from "The Drow of the Underdark" by TSR, Inc., and other authorized AD&D sources. Where applicable, these excerpts are displayed in capital letters. The remaining Drow words and phrases have been developed by the Temple of Lloth ("TOL"). This dictionary may be distributed through licensed TSR sites and used in connection with any AD&D role-playing activity. However, TOL requests that no alterations or additions be made to this dictionary for use in Neverwinter Nights ("NWN") without the consent of the TOL GM.
This dictionary has been prepared by the Sorcere for the use of the Drow in dealing with other races and as a guide for other races in the proper dealings with the Drow. To facilitate such use, the majority of this Dictionary has been translated into Common.
Any Drow allowed contact with other races should have received training in proper conduct elsewhere, thus no effort has been made to supplement such training here. Non-Drow are advised to pay heed to these Usage Notes. Many Drow societies welcome mutually profitable or pleasurable dealings with other races or societies. However, the Drow are a justly proud people and are quick to take offense -- often fatal offense -- at what they perceive to be insults or breaches of etiquette.
You have been warned.
Withstanding irregular forms, a plural is completed by "en" if it ends in a consonant or "n" if it ends in a vowel.
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Jabbress - {Mistress} | Jabbressen - {Mistresses} | ||
| Velve - {Blade} | Velven - {Blades} | ||
Coincidentally, the possessive case in the Drow language is very similar to the Common Tongue used by most races. The possessive case is completed with "'s" except if the word ends in "s" where upon "'" is added.
Sarn lil velg'larn's inthen |
{Beware the assassin's schemes} | ||
| Nindil zhah lil Valsharess' elgluth | {That is the Valsharess' whip} | ||
A verb has different forms depending on its number (singular or
plural); person (first, second, third); voice (active, passive);
tense (present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect, future
perfect); and mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive).
NUMBER: Withstanding irregular verbs, the singular form is
completed with "ar".
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Lil sargtlin elggar {The warrior kills} | Lil sargtlinen elgg {The warriors kill} | ||
| Uss jaluk elar {One male dies} | Draa jaluken el {Two males die} | ||
PERSON: Verbs usually have a different form only in the third
person singular of the present tense.
Withstanding irregular verbs,
the third person singular of the present tense is completed with "e".
| Usstan belbau {I give} | Dos belbau {You give} | Uk belbaue {He gives} | |
| Usstan luth {I cast} | Dos luth {You cast} | Il luthe {She casts} | |
VOICE: A passive verb is a combination of a "be" verb and a past participle.
| Active | L'Yathrin harventhe ukt karliik
{The Yathrin severs his head} |
||
| Passive | Ukt karliik zhahus harventhus a'lil Yathrin
{His head was severed by the Yathrin} |
||
TENSE: Withstanding irregular verbs, the past tense is completed with "us".
| Active Voice | Passive Voice | ||
| Present Tense | Uk phlithe {He hates} |
Uk zhah phlithus {He is hated} |
|
| Past Tense | Usstan phlithus {I hated} |
Usstan zhahus phlithus {I was hated} |
|
| Future Tense | Dos orn phlith {You will hate} |
Dos orn tlu phlithus {You will be hated} |
|
| Present Perfect | Dos inbal phlithus {You have hated} |
Dos inbal tlus phlithus {You have been hated} |
|
| Past Perfect | Il inbalus phlithus {She had hated} |
Il inbalus tlus phlithus {She had been hated} |
|
| Future Perfect | Usstan zhal inbal phlithus {I shall have hated} |
Usstan zhal inbal tlus phlithus {I shall have been hated} |
|
MOOD: The mood of the verb indicates the tone in which the statement is made. The common "-ing" ending found in many verbs of the indicative mood is completed with "-in". There are no other endings for the imperative or subjunctive moods.
| Indicative | Udos phuul raldarin l'waess da'fol rivvin.
{We are stripping the skin from some humans} |
||
Adjectives have three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. Withstanding irregular forms, the comparative form is completed with "ur" while the superlative is completed with "url". The common "-ful"suffix for many adjectives is indicated by "'urn".
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative | |
| Olath - {Dark} | Olathur - {Darker} | Olathurl - {Darkest} | |
| Ssin'urn - {Beautiful} | Mzild ssin'urn - {More beautiful} | Mzilst ssin'urn - {Most beautiful} | |
Adverbs, like adjectives, have three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. Withstanding irregular forms, the comparative form is completed with "ur" while the superlative is completed with "url". The common "-ly" suffix for many adverbs is indicated by "ne" (or "e" if ending in "n").