Modern Gerudo (language)

Gerudo in its modern form is the main language of the Gerudo people. While the spoken language has changed significantly since ancient times, the written script has remained unchanged since before the Great Flood and is one of the longest lasting writing systems in Hyrulean history. Spoken by all Gerudo women of the desert, and a majority of those that have long since left, Gerudo has often been described by non-natives as a harsh yet sensual language that is extremely difficult yet rewarding to learn. It differs from Hylian speech in that it has an entire letter to itself that Hylian speakers find difficult to pronounce, the letter "v", that permeates Gerudo speech and culture. It is said that any non-native who can master the language of the Gerudo can master anything.

Writing System

Uses the same alphabetical structure as Hylian, but with an added letter: "v"

Syntax

The apostrophe in between words indicate a brief pause in the word (like a space), or the word "and". E.g. "Sav'saaba" means "good evening", whereas "orr'aaq" means "night and day"
"Sav" is usually added onto everyday greetings, but can be also used to greet people during holidays. For example, "Sav'naboor'aaq" literally means "Good Nabooru Day", but more generally translates to "Merry Nabooru Day".

Vocabulary

Vababa (vah-bah-bah)

Grandmother

Baba (bah-bah)

Mother

Vehvi (veh-vee)

Daughter/Child

Vai (vaye)

Woman

Voe (voh)

Man

Vatiti (vah-tee-tee)

King

Vure (voo-er)

Bird

Aaq (ahck)

Day

Vatnu (vaht-noo)

Festival/Celebration

Basso (bah-soh)

Warrior

Av'abe (ah-vah-bay)?

Who?

Av'sir (ahv-seer)?

What?

Av'eq (ah-veck)?

When?

Av'ul (ah-vool)?

Where?

Av'lo (ahv-loh)?

Why?

Vasa (vah-sah)?

How?

Number System

"The usage of only two single numbers (1 and 5) suggests that the Gerudo numerical system is a simplified variation of Roman numerals. It is possible that counting would consist of the two available numbers being used consecutively to reach the desired number."

— source

plain text transcript

"The usage of only two single numbers (1 and 5) suggests that the Gerudo numerical system is a simplified variation of Roman numerals. It is possible that counting would consist of the two available numbers being used consecutively to reach the desired number."

Avi (ah-vee)

zero or 'nothing'

Vi (vee)

one (1)

Vi'vi (vee-vee)

two (2)

Vi'vivi (vuh-vee-vee)

three (3)

Vivi'vivi (vuh-vee-vuh-vee)

four (4)

Ve (veh)

five (5)

Ve'vi (veh-vee)

six (6)

Ve'vivi (veh-vee-vee)

seven (7)

Vi've'vivi (vee-veh-vee-vee)

eight (8)

Vivi've'vivi (vee-vee-veh-vee-vee)

nine (9)

Vi'l (vee-eel)

ten (10)

Ve'l (veh-eel)

fifty (50)

Vi'li (vee-lee)

one-hundred (100)

Vi'li + any number before 100

100 + number

Single number + vi'li

a multiple of 100

Ve'li (veh-lee)

five-hundred (500)

Vi'lib (vee-leeb)

one-thousand (1,000)

Ve'lib (veh-leeb)

five-thousand (5,000)

Vi'libi (vee-lee-bee)

one million (1,000,000)

Ve'libi (veh-lee-bee)

five million (5,000,000)

The Gerudo use the symbols for "1" and "5" in the same way they write out their numbers. The symbol for zero is a horizontal line, and to indicate a multiple of ten, one line is struck through the "1" or "5." For example, to write ten (10), the symbol for one is written with one line, 100 would be a one with two lines, 5,000 would be a five symbol with three lines, etc.

Common Phrases

Greetings

Sav'otta (sah-voh-tah)

Good morning

Sav'aaq (sah-vahck)

Good day/afternoon

Sav'saaba (sahv-sah-bah)

Good evening

Sav'orr (sah-vore)

Good night

Vasaaq (vah-sahck)

Hello

Sav'orq (sah-vorck)

Goodbye

Sarqso (sark-soh)

Thank you

Insults

Mavos orr'kori

"enjoy the nightstick", a slutshaming insult

Fukuku!

"Fuck you!" or "Go fuck yourself!"

Warning: lesbophobia

Vevhi'a so vai'mabassa

"May your daughter be a woman-lover (lesbian)"

Vai'mabassil orr'tate

"woman-loving night-walker"

Other phrases

Sa'oten (sah-oh-ten)

an exclamation of surprise