dwarvish: Kádish
Kádish is the language spoken by the kádi dwarves. Since the kádi were excellent mapmakers and were the only people inhabiting Ûnduleah during the Cold Age, the names they gave most old places are adopted into the common tongue. However, normal speech is now mostly conducted in the common tongue, and kádish is still spoken in select circles as a form of elitism.
Dwarven Root Word Table
| Root word | Meaning | Etymology / Notes | Example usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ka- | Lord/Govenor(prefix) | Leader, responsible for others | Ka'unthur |
| U- | Bad/Evil (prefix) | used to dennote something bad | U'aruka |
| El- | Good/beautiful (prefix) | used to dennote something good | El'haru |
| -or | Place, region (suffix) | used to signify place | Azor |
| -ar | Place, region (suffix) | used to signify place | Unar |
| -ûn | Place, low lying (suffix) | used to signify a dark, or low lying place | |
| -kar | Person (suffix) | ||
| -rak | Object (suffix) |
| Root | Meaning | Etymology / Notes | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| aashi | River | From older la-ashi, dropped "la" over time | Aashi'dûn (Riverhold) |
| anteru | Volcano | Mount Anteru | |
| Aachor | Eastern continent | "A-Agor", -or denotes large region | — |
| fal | Metal | Precious metal | Falrûn (metalhold) |
| bal | Forge/Craft | Balmakh = Forge of Creation | Balmakh, Bal’kai |
| berril | Cold | -ril used for cold areas or climates | Berril Forest |
| bor | Wall/Shield | Borak, Borûn | |
| carsa | Castle | Possibly from kar/ka (place) + root sa (safety?) | Carsathal |
| dai | Soul/Spirit | Used in sacred or ancient names | Thaldai, Daikor |
| darn | Root/Foundation | Core origin, essential | Darnkai, Darnûl |
| deoki | Purple | Deoki’larik (purple lake) | |
| Dîn | Western Dwarves | Region-based ethnicity, distinct from Kádi | Dînkar |
| drekh | Tunnel/Path | Underways and roads | Drekhûn |
| dur | Stone | Foundation, unyielding | Kadur, Durûn |
| el | Light | Abstract light or knowledge | Elrak, Eldûn |
| Escren | Farm | From Fescrien, name of harvest season | Escrenhob (farm-village) |
| fescrien | Harvest season | Prosperity and farming | Fescrien’dûn |
| grim | Iron/Strength | Strong, resilient | Grimthal, Grimrak |
| gund | Fortress | Defense, enclosed stronghold | Gundrak, Gundûm |
| gur | Darkness | Shadowy places | Guraz, Gurnor |
| haru | Humans | Non-dwarven race name | Harukar, Uharuka, Eharu |
| hob | Village | Small settlement | Hobrak, Hobril |
| ixah | Fire | Elemental fire, roots of ix- and xa- | Ixrak, Ixkar |
| ili | Forest | Lush greenwood root | Ilinor, Fili |
| kar | Tool/Hammer | Creation | Karakûr, Karakai |
| Ki | Height/Tall | Grand, big or high | Kirei |
| kirei | Mountain | Contraction of ki+rei (high reach) High place, noble peak | Kiridûn, Thalkirei, Kireidor |
| kor | Honor | Nobility, virtue | Korûn, Korak |
| koyah | Snow | Soft, white precipitation | Lakoyah, Koyah’dal |
| kraz | Brotherhood | Clan, fellowship | Krazûn, Kraz’gund |
| kûl | Cold/Ice | Frozen element | Kûldur, Kûlak, Lakûl |
| kûr | War | Violent clash | Kûrakai, Kûrdum |
| la | Water | Base root for water | Lark, Lasingi |
| laashi | River (old) | Original compound before becoming aashi | Laashi’thar |
| lakoyah | Snow | Blend of la and koyah | — |
| lankos | Water (elemental) | Broader concept than just liquid | Lankosthal (Temple of Water) |
| laos | Marsh | Contraction of la + taos | Laostar |
| larik | Lake | Still body of water | Larik’dûn |
| lasik | Sea | Great water body | Lasikor |
| lazork | Ice | Harsh cold or frozen water | Lazorkûn |
| leah | Land | One of the great elements | Ûnduleah |
| makh | Crafting | Mastery of tools | Makhûl, Balmakh |
| mor | Darkness | Ominous or ancient shadow | Morzarn, Mordûn |
| murz | Foundation | Deep, unshakable base | Murzdal, Murzkai |
| Naash | Southern Continent | From phrase “no aashi” (no river) | |
| nor | Age | Related to thal, deep time | Norgar, Norka |
| rak | Blood | Life force | Rakdur, Rakzarn |
| rei | Reach, length | Extent, of a place or someone's power | Kirei |
| ril | Cold | Suffix used in northern or icy areas | Berril, Karil, Escarril |
| riish | Red | Warm, passionate color | Riishkar, Riishûn |
| singi | Snake/River | Winding flow, metaphor for rivers | Lasingi, Singikar |
| strig | Island | Lonely rock or land surrounded by sea | Strigdal, Strigor |
| taos | Earth | Elemental soil, growth | Taosgar, Laostar |
| thal | Ancient/Song | Time, story, song | Thaldai, Thalkirei, Qua'thal |
| ûndu | All, totality | Often a prefix denoting wholeness | Ûnduleah, Ûndukar |
| ven | Cave | Hollow, hidden place | Ûrven |
| vaahr | Light/Fire | Enlightenment, sacred flame | Vahrel, Vaahrûn |
| Path/Tunnel | Wayfinding, journey | ||
| vorn | Life/Blood | Related to rak, vitality | Vornkai, Vornrak |
| zaos | Sand | Dry, eroding land | Zaosthal, Zaoskar |
| zarah | Wind | Element of air, sweeping motion | Zarahdûn, Zarakai |
| zarn | Fortress | Impregnable place | Zarnkai, Zarnûl |
Geographical Distribution
Primarily spoken by the kádi dwarves on Aachor, but some select elite people around the world can understand and speak it.
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