Lexicon of the Mütvian Language

## Sounds

* **a** – ah
* **e** – ay
* **i** – ee
* **o** – oh
* **u** – uh
* **ü** – always *oo* as in *moo*. Ex. Mütvia (MOOT-vee-ah)
* **ö** – always *oy* as in *boy*.  Ex. Vöhjesti (VOYZH-ess-tee), always followed by i if at end of word
* **ó** – always *aw* as in *claw* or *awl*.  Ex. Drósti (DRAW-stee)
* **g** – hard g as in *go*
* **j** – always *zh;* second g in *garage*.
* **st** – always *sht*

In the south, vowels are typically pronounced in the back of the throat, lending to the deep-throated stereotypical sound of a Mütvi.

In the north, vowels are pronounced more in the front of the mouth and the pace of speech is slightly quicker.

## Phrases

In some stories you may come across entire phrases written in a foreign language.  (Mütvian *is* an actual language being developed!)  We’ll replicate those sentences here.

**Jana soit io tanü** – [Mother Nor’dagha] Protect my soul; *lit. “*Jana, soul of mine to protect”

* **Jana** (*ZHAH-nah*) – Name for protective aspect of Nor’dagha, a cultural deity of old
* **soit** (*soh-EET*) – soul
* **io** (*EE-oh*) – my, of mine; *Ex.* soit io, lit. *soul of mine*
* **tanü** (*TAH-noo*) – to protect

**Jera jüs lusasö / Mütvia Rejestöi** – Only in our hearts / Does Mütvia live; *lit.* “Hearts of the Mütvian people only, Mütvia [will] reign eternal”

* **Jera** (*ZHAIR-uh*)  hearts, *pl.* of *jer,* heart; *Ex*. Jer io!, “My heart! / Heart of mine!”, a greeting cry to another of friendship
* **jüs** (*ZHOOSS*) of the Mütvian people; intended to describe something belonging to those of Mütvian birth by natural law, e.g. Mütvia itself
* **lüsasöi** (*LOO-suh-soy*) only
* **Rejestöi** (*RAYZH-eh-shtoy*) eternal reign and life.  *Lit.* Reju (to reign) + es (*suf.* es-, eternal) + tö (life) + i (always follows ö at the end of a word).  Traditional spelling dictates capitalization when used after Mütvia in a sentence.

## Greetings, Partings, and Customs

When speaking with fellow Mütvians in their own caste, the informal (inf) is always used.

When speaking to a fellow Mütvian but of another caste, the formal (for) is always used.

When speaking to an outsider, esp. someone viewed with suspicion, neutrality, negativity, distaste, distrust, or general hatred, the expletive (exp) greeting or parting is used.  If an expletive greeting or parting is used with another Mütvian regardless of caste, it will be seen as a grave insult as the insulter, for all intents and purposes, called a fellow Mütvian an outsider.

There are many times when a Mütvian does not know to whom they are speaking, be it a spirit or stranger. In these cases, the unfamiliar (unf) is used.

**Jera!**  (inf. greeting) My heart! / Heart of mine!

**Sa er sülve** (inf. parting) Be safe, abbr. *sa sülve*

**Bruso sóro**  (for. greeting) Good day

**Bruso devro**  (for. parting) Good night

**Vruso** **sóro**  (exp. greeting) Hello

**Vruso devro**  (exp. parting)  Goodbye

**Gorsi, sülve, ia paksilo**. (Any) Strength, safety, and peace.

It should be noted the drósti have their own lexicon to describe those things of drósti and not of drósti.

A

**Adonsi** (n) Harvest

**an** (n) year

**av** (adj) new

**Avril** (n) Lastthaw

B

**bövi** (v) to end, conclude

**bruso**  (adj) good

C

D

**da** (adv) yes*, pronunciation* DAH

**de** (prep) of, by, for, from, to, with*, pronunciation* DAY

**Deckemjoi** (n) Highmoons

**derastövya**  (n) congratulations, e.g. In celebration of the couple’s wedding, everyone shouted

**devro**  (n) night, *pl.* devra

**devzu** (v) to awaken, *lit.* to survive the night (*devro*, night + *zu*, to survive)

E

**eg** (number) one

**eo** (pro) his, *pronunciation* AY-oh

**eono** (pro) him, pronunciation ay-OH-no

**eru**  (v) to be

**es-**  (suffix, adj) eternal, from *esso*

**esso**  (adj) eternal

**eströijia** (n) portal to elsewhere (eh-STROY-zhya), *ex.  The Veiled Gate is a powerful eströijia*

**euso** (n) door (ay-OO-soh)

F

**Farsoi** (n) Wintersthaw

G

**gamalad** (n) family

**gera** (n) mouth (body part), *pl.* geraa

**gi** (pro) us

**go** (pro) we

**gorsi** (noun) strength

H

I

**i** (prep) in

**ia** (conj) and*, pronunciation* EE-ah

**ije** (n) something internalized, within one’s self

**io** (pro) my, of mine

**-iy** (suf) possessive akin to ‘s in english

J

**Jendui** (n) Frostdeep

**jer**  (n) heart, *pl.* jera

**Joindoi** (n) Nightsfall

**jüs** (adj) of the Mütvian people by laws of nature; concept of the same

K

**kamman** (n) work

**kamu** (v) to work

**kärt** (n) horn

**kerse** (n) west

**korvo** (n) raven, *pl.* korva, *poss.* korvi

**kouro** (n) heart, *pl.* koura

**kua** (number) two

L

**lo** (pro) I

**lüsasöi** (adv) only

**lavitu** (v) to love

**lavo** (n) love

M

**Mai** (n) Seedsee

**majo** (n) house

**Merchia** (n) Sunsbreach

**mitsa** (adj) weak

**mizhak** (n) a brute

**muchal** (n) whisper

**müt** (n) people, residents of an area; typically refers only to humans

**mütanuri** (n) lit. *protector of the people* (müt, *humans* + tanu, *to protect*, + -ri, *one who performs the action of he modified verb*)

**Mütvi** (pr) Mütvians; collective proper noun for natural born citizens of Mütvia, lit. *People of the Land*, including nobles.  When used by nobles, its use infrequently includes drósti.

N

**naviu** (v) to eat

**ne** (adv) no, *pronunciation* NAY

**nelik** (adj) happy

**nes** (pro) he/she/they; gender neutral, can apply to any sentient being

**nis** (pro) him/her/them; gender neutral, can apply to any sentient being

**Nordono** (n) Nightswall

O

**Odrani** (n) Lastgather

P

**paksilo** (n) peace, or the concept of

**prusko** (v) said; past and past participle of **prusku**

**prusku** (v) to say

Q

R

**reju** (v) to reign

**reje** (n) reign, ex. the prince’s *reign*

**rejestöi** (n, adj) one’s eternal reign and life

**-ri** (suf) one who performs the action of the modified verb, ex. singer: *sinturi* (sintu, *to sing +* ri, *one who…*)

**rish** (n) sleep

**rishu** (v) to sleep

S

**sa** (pro) you

**sanji** (n) land spirits (see *voisti)* that often appear as small, misshapen humanoids

**sant** (n) a story

**santu** (v)  to tell, to relate

**Sartonoi** (n) Winterscome

**sem** (n) sign

**sera** (n) shadow

**seragia** (n) gate, as in a garden gate (SEH-reh-gee’-uh)

**sint** (n)  a song

**sin•tu** (v)  to sing

**so•it**  (n) a soul

**sóro**  (n) day

**sta•la** (n) plan, of premeditated design

**ströi** (adj) a terrible state of affairs, significant strife

**Stroika** (n) Royalty normally denoting the head of a house. a Prince regardless of gender.

**sül•ve** (adj) safe

**sü•maj•o** (n) guild, i.e. commoner guild

T

**ta•nu**  (v) to protect

**tesh•vir** (n) cousin

**-ty** (suf) -ing

**ty•ne** (v) to hold

**trár** (number) three

**töi**  (n) life

U

**üd•vyzd** (n) welcome

**uo** (pro) hers, pronunciation OO-oh

**u•o•no** (pro) her, pronunciation oo-OH-no

V

**vi** (n) land

**via** (n) the Land

**vizh** (adj) all, every

**vo•isti** (n) any of the Mütvian land spirits

**vru•so**  1. (n) death; 2. (n) journey, esp. one out of or into Mütvia

W

X

Y

**yo** (pro) I

Z

**zed•nya** (n) danger

**zhak•dov** (n) an oath or promise

**zhir•du**  (v) to go

**zu** (v) to survive