Legends of Belariath

Vulpine Language

Vulpani, the Language of the Vulpine

[10/23/2011 Revision]

Vulpani has existed in some form since The Lady first created the race, but the early grammatical rules of the language (thought of now as being Ancient Vulpani) were far more fluid and complicated than modern Vulpani.

Modern Vulpani shares many of its grammatical rules with Common, using more or less the same word order in sentences. "What did she say?", for example, would literally be translated as "Fex ola vin nan?"

The written Vulpani language has 54 letters and is written in a flowing, artful cursive handwriting; as it does not use the Latin alphabet, the terms given here are for the purposes of use in roleplay and pronunciation. On paper, Vulpani is very seldom anglicized.

In addition to Vulpani vocabulary terms, this page also fills in information about vulpine culture when appropriate-- see the words bar'reggo, Kalva Tarre, niyama'fa, and charavizhra for examples.

OOC Note: Vulpani is a language that's still in a relatively early form of construction, and as such this document will be regularly updated as new words are created. Please speak to Callie Volopa, the Vulpani Conception Artist, regarding any questions or if you'd like to see new words added. It's assumed that any vulpine who grew up in a vulpine tribe has a fluent grasp of the language, though of course your results may vary if your vulpine character didn't grow up in a tribe (or based upon your individual needs).

abiyo (uh-BYE-yo): "question"

abiyoen (uh-bye-YO-en): "questioning"

ahmin (AH-meen): "imposter"

ahn (ON): "it"

ahnt (AUNT): "it's"

aku-aku (A-koo, A-koo): "a quiet, introspective moment"

ala (AY-lah): "be"

alanti (ah-LAN-tee): "being"

alma (ALL-mah): "please"

almalan (all-MAH-lan): "pleasing"

almanash (all-MAH-nash): "pleasable"; someone or something who is able to be pleased

alzon (ahl-ZONE): "bring"

alzoni (ahl-ZONE-ee): "brings"

alzonlan (ahl-ZONE-lan): "bringing"

antava (ant-AH-vah): "fae"

antavani (ant-ah-VAH-knee): "fae" (plural)

arazon (AHR-a-zahn): "postcoital treat"; a general term for a food or drink item shared by a couple after lovemaking.

arsh (ARSH; rhymes with marsh): "head" [body part]

arshni (ARSH-knee): "heads" [body part]

ashman (AASH-maan): "troll"

ashmani (aash-MAA-knee): "trolls"

atin (AY-tin): "them"

atina (ay-TIN-na): "they"

atins (AY-tins): "their"

atinso (ay-TIN-so): "theirs"

avar (uh-VAR): "away"

aza (AH-zah): "ape"

azani (ah-ZAH-knee): "apes"

aza`tan (ah-zah-TAHN): "ape-person"; an extremely racist insult for humans

aza’tani (ah-zah-TAH-knee): "ape-people"

azoki (az-OH-kee): "flower"

azokini (az-oh-KEE-knee): "flowers"

azokilan (az-oh-KEE-lan): "flowering"

bahn (BAHN): "horse"

bahnni (BAHN-knee): "horses"

bako (bah-KO): "here"

balu (BAY-loo): "touch"

ban: "on"

bar'- [prefix]: "nude" or "without"

barzen (BAR-zen): "naked"

barzenfus (BAR-zen-foos): "barefoot"

barzenfuslan (bar-zen-FOOS-lan): "barefooting"; "going barefoot"

barzenmaz (BAR-zen-maz): "nudism"

bar'reggo (bar-RAYG-go): "mandatory nudity", usually in the context of a home, party or business establishment in which all guests must be naked

bat (BAHT; as in the second syllable of robot): "off"

baylin (BAY-lynn): "good"

Antonym: hosha (HO-shaa): "bad"

baylinbaz (bay-LYNN-baz): "goodness"

-baz (BAZ): "-ful" and "-ness" suffix; for example ganabaz (though it literally would mean "soundful") translates to "loud"

bentaru (ben-TEAR-ooh): "human"

bentaruni (ben-tear-OOH-knee): "humans"

bertoon (bear-TOON): "radius"; the mathematical term

-bi (BEE): "-less" suffix; for example, ganabi means "soundless" or "quiet"

biasho (bee-AH-sho): "you're welcome"

bol (BOWL): "no"

Antonym-- lin (LYNN): "yes"

bonshi (bon-SHEE): "sex look"; the look that two people give each other that says, without words, that it's time for sex.

boonta (BOON-tah): "south"

boshin (BO-shin): "today"

boskra (BOSK-rah): an immoral action taken in the name of a moral or righteous cause. Framing a dangerous person for murder so that the victim's family would take vengeance on him is an example. Killing in self-defense, however, does not qualify.

branya (BRAAN-ya): "rest"

branyalan (braan-YA-lan): "resting"

breen (BREEN): "strike"

breenlan (BREEN-lan): "striking"

brosh (BROSH; rhymes with "Josh"): "time"

broshlan (BROSH-lan): "timing"

brusha (BROO-sha): "priest"

brushani (broo-SHA-knee): "priests"

bwaa (BWAA): "seven"

bwell (BWELL; rhymes with "dwell"): "thousand"; by itself it means "1000" but putting a number ahead of it can make multiple thousands.

-ca (as a suffix): "-d" or "-ed" suffix

cal: "have"

callan (CAL-lan): "having"

calot (cal-OHT): "had"

calin (CAL-inn): "entrance"

cam: "but"

"Cam Oov Chamat Jilbo gi yi Felkoni?" ("But Who Will Speak for the Soulless Ones?"): A 1912 folk protest song written and popularized by Fire Tribe male singer, songwriter and lute player Tavis Kin'cherno (who wrote "Why Are We Back to Vizhra?" 88 years earlier). He wrote it after his granddaughter, Nieve Falucia (the eldest of her clutch), was declared to be felko and exiled by her next-oldest sibling. The memorable chorus concludes with, "If no one will speak for the soulless ones, I will."

canoy (CAY-noy): "there"

cay (KAY): "so"

cayazar (CAY-ah-zar): "congratulations on your new tail"; a specific vulpine congratulations when someone sees that the Lady has blessed that person with a new tail.

chamat (CHA-maht): "will"

charavizhra (chair-ah-VEESH-ra): an elongated, formal version of "hello" that implies deep affection for the person to whom it is addressed. One would not say "Charavizhra" to a stranger or an enemy, but rather to a close friend or lover.

chaykin (CHAY-kin): "snack"

chaykini (chay-KIN-knee): "snacks"

chaykinlan (chay-KIN-lan): "snacking"

ciente (si-ENN-tay): "passion"

cinte (SIN-tee): "again"

cintro (SIN-tro): "orgy"

cob (COB; rhymes with "rob"): "keep"

cocopa (co-CO-pah): "balance"

cocopalan (co-CO-pah-lan): "balancing"

Common (a loanword from Common): "Common"; refers only to the Common language and has no other definitions.

coroco (cor-OH-coe): "frog"

coroconi (cor-oh-COE-knee): "frogs"

coy (COY): "dog"; can also be used as a derogatory slang term for a crude, unmannered person

dan: "tribe"

danyata (DAHN-ya-ta) [plural danyatani, pronounced dahn-ya-TA-knee): "blessing"

dayhan (DAY-haan): "temple" (as in a place of worship)

See also: lin'dayhan.

delifi (del-EE-fee): "betrothed"; a gender-neutral term for fiancée or fiancé

di (DEH): "sad"

dire (DEH-ray): "sadness"

-di (DEE) [suffix]: added to a number to multiply it by 10; e.g. yindi means "twenty"

din: "child"; can also be added to certain words to denote a younger counterpart; for example eenta means "man", but eenta'din means "boy"

dinni (DIN-knee): "children"

dinayshiama (din-AY-shee-YA-mah): "over my dead body"

dinja (DIN-jaa): "littermate"

dinjani (din-JAA-knee): "littermates"

dire'sleeni (deh-ray-SLEE-knee): "long-lifer sadness"; describes the sadness a vulpine feels from a life lived among short-lived species, and having to watch everyone they care about die (with only very recent exceptions).

dol (DOLE; rhymes with role): "nine"

douwakai (DOW-wah-kai): the worst curse word ever conceived by vulpines or just about any other species. It's not translatable into common, but is used as an exclamation: "Douwakai!"-- instead of an insult, like "You douwakai!" It's one of the few words capable of shocking even open-minded vulpines.

E: "I" (first-person pronoun; always capitalized)

E'po: "I'll"; "I will"

E'ra: "I've"; "I have"

E'rex: "I'd"; "I would"

E'sh: "I'm"; "I am"

eenta (EEN-tah): "man"

eenta'din (een-TAH-din): "boy" [lapu: "woman"]

eentar (EEN-tahr): "sir"

ega (EE-gah): "stubborn"

egasha (ee-GAH-sha): "if you insist on doing it anyway"; implies that the person this word is spoken to is not taking the speaker's advice, and therefore the speaker isn't responsible for the consequences of not being listened to

elofia (el-OH-fi-ah): the game of "blackjack"; vulpines and humans both believe they created it, and there's no evidence against either claim

-en [suffix]: "-ing" suffix (add an 'n' to the beginning when the root word has a vowel)

enkashla (en-KOSH-la): "do you speak" (usually followed by a language; for example, the sentence "Enkashla Vulpani?" means, "Do you speak Vulpani?")

et'- [prefix]: "un-" or "non-" prefix; add et'- to many words to make them mean the opposite.

et'jalk: "doesn't"

et: "not"

et'koshu'a'rumba (et-COE-shoe-a-RUM-bah): literally "unloving sex"; in its original, archaic meaning it refers to sex in which the participants don't like each other. Its modern meaning refers to sex between people who *hate* one another, although it doesn't *necessarily* imply rape.

et'qelen (et-KWEL-enn): "unwilling"

et'reggo (et-RAY-go): "not mandatory"; "optional"

et’vulp (ET-vulp): a racist, pejorative substitute for the word "et’vulpine"; signifying contempt

et'vulpine (ET-VUL-pine) [plural "et'vulpine"]: literally "not vulpine", refers to 'outsider' races, anyone who isn't a vulpine. Unlike the pejorative word et'vulp, this is a matter-of-fact term that does not indicate any value judgment towards the person in question. It also does not include fuch'vulpines, people born of another race who have made a choice to follow vulpine customs and beliefs, and/or have married into a vulpine family.

etana (ee-TAHN-ah): "forever"

evala (ee-VAH-lah): "hello". Unlike charavizhra or vizhra, it's a neutral word that makes no statement about the closeness of a relationship.

fa: "are"

-'fa [suffix]: suffixed version of fantoni, meaning "place" or "location".

fantoni (FAN-toe-knee): "place" or "location"

farfignugen (FARF-igg-NEW-gen; last syllable has a hard g): a vulpine expression of "annoyance"; relatively mild, it barely counts as a curse. "Rats!" or "Darn!" would be an equivalent exclamation in Common.

faza (FA-za): "sing"

fazasi (fa-ZA-si): "sings"

fel'gaishin (FEL-gay-shin): "spirit animal"

felka'rumba (FEL-ka-RUM-bah): sex in which each partner feels deeply attuned to the needs and desires of the other, literally "spiritual sex"

felkani (fel-KHAN-ee): "spirit"

felkanibaz (fel-KHAN-ee-bahz)) [usually shortened to felki]: literally, "soulful one’; a person who has successfully completed their soul-joining ceremony. Such a person is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a member of a vulpine tribe.

felkanibitan (fel-khan-ee-BEE-tahn) [almost always shortened to felko]: literally, "soulless one"; a person whose soul-joining ceremony at the age of 20 ended without them receiving a soul. In many tribes, the community routinely shuns such a person. In the Verlosi tribe, a felko is usually abandoned completely by their family and cut off from all ties to the tribe; even the legendary Verlosi hero Gashan had to do this to one of his own sons rather than buck the ancient traditions of his kinsmen. Unfortunately, felkoni are often drawn to the evil and dangerous cult of the Run’ya Najaka, one of the only communities in which they’re not only welcome, but highly valued.

felkulu (fel-KOO-loo); plural felkulu: "soul-builder"; refers specifically to someone between the age of 18—the literal start of adulthood—and the age of 20, who has not yet been soul-joined.

felkonsh (felk-ONSH): literally, "too young for a soul"; refers to someone of an age between birth and 18 (when they're legally considered an adult). But since soul-joinings don't happen until age 20, they go from this to being felkulu-- soul-builders.

fen: "why"

"Fen Lo Op Wren ki Vizhra?" ("Why Are We Back to Vizhra?"): An 1824 song written and popularized by Fire Tribe male singer, songwriter and lute player Tavis Kin'cherno. Written about the end of a relationship, it's told from the perspective of a man who first realizes his lover is growing apart from him when she stops using charavizhra to greet him and goes back to vizhra. Ultimately, he finds himself powerless to prevent her from walking out of his life. The song gained Kin'cherno great fame among vulpines and a decent amount of wealth, and The Lady rewarded him for bringing honor to his tribe by granting him his third tail.

fenta (FEN-tah): "this"

fex: "what"

fikaruka (FEE-kah-roo-kah): "that's the idea"

finton (FIN-tahn): "heir"

foona (PHOO-nah): "bottle"

foonalan (phoo-NAH-lan): "bottling"

foonani (phoo-NAH-knee): "bottles"

fuch'vulpine (fooch-VUL-pine): "vulpine by choice"; refers to a non-vulpine who is married to or romantically involved with a vulpine, or worships The Lady. By tradition these people are considered vulpines in their own right, even though they weren't born vulpine.

fuchira (foo-CHEER-ah): "choice"

fuchirani (foo-cheer-AH-knee): "choices"

fuck: "fuck" (a loanword from Common)

fucker: "fucker" (a loanword from Common)

fus (FOOS): "foot" (as in the body part, not the system of measurement)

fusen (FOOS-en): "feet" (as in the body part)

ga'hijun (ga-HI-junn): "animal lust"; refers to a state of mind in which a person is driven by wild, animal passions, whether it be during sex, during battle or any other situation

ga'rumba (ga-RUM-bah): wild, hot, "animalistic sex"

gaishin (GAY-shin): "animal"

galshi (GAL-shee): "enemy"

galshini (gal-SHEE-knee): "enemies"

gan'nicha (gan-NEE-cha): "tail superior"; someone who has more tails than another person.

gana (GAH-nah): "sound"

ganabaz (gah-NAH-baz): "loud"

ganabazbaz (gah-na-BAZ-baz): "loudness"

ganabi (gah-NAH-bee): "quiet" or "soundless"

ganyo (GAHN-yo): "tail"

ganyoni (gahn-YO-knee): "tails"

garuya (ga-ROO-yah): "faith"

Gelafo (gell-AH-foe): A vulpine priest from 6200 years ago whose enduring legacy is the book entitled Gelafo's Recitations. It's a book of 207 sacred prayers in Ancient Vulpani. Many of the most religious vulpines have memorized all of them. Each recitation speaks on one specific topic, though some topics are brought up more than once. Interestingly, sex is not mentioned anywhere within the text. Each recitation is eight lines long, except for the 207th, which is only five lines long, because Gelafo died before he could complete it.

gi (GII; rhymes with me): "for"

giln (GEELN): "food"

gojad (go-JAAD): a loving relationship between two partners that progressed from an initial state of disdain or hostility, as in a gojada story.

gojada (go-JAA-dah): a very frequently used "type of story" in which the romantic leads don't get along at first sight, and over the course of the story, as they go through hardships or battle enemies together, they grow closer and fall in love. Famous contemporary vulpine novelist Milana Serafin has called the format "severely overused".

gosha (GOE-shaa): "return"

goshalan (goe-SHAA-lan): "returning"

goshanen (goe-SHAA-nen): "returning"

gran (GRAHN): "forge"

granca (GRAHN-ca): "forged"

granlan (GRAHN-lan): "forging"

gugubada (goo-GOO-ba-dah): "would you like some"?

gushan (GOOSH-ahn): "enjoy your food"; "bon appetite"

halpa (HAL-pah): "miss", as in "I've missed you".

halpata: "missed"

hasha (HA-shaa): "forest"

hasha'dan (HA-shaa-dan): "Forest Tribe"

hax (HOCKS): "pie"

hijun (HI-junn): "lust"

hijunlan (hi-JUNN-lan): "lusting"

hiyazhin (HI-ya-zhin) [plural "hiyazhin"]: A form of vulpine "prayer" that involves sitting in front of a private altar and "masturbating" solo.

See also: orinjin.

hoanka (HO-ann-kah): "separate"

hoankalan (ho-ann-KAH-lan): "separating"

hoankasi (ho-ann-KAH-see): "separates"

ho'tin (ho-TINN): "too bad"

hosha (HO-shaa): "bad"

Antonym: baylin (BAY-lynn): "good"

hun (HUN; rhymes with "one"): "except"

huno (HOO-no): "exception"

idbare (id-BAR-ay): "brazen"

inayfa (in-AY-fah): "blast"

inayfalan (in-AY-fah-lan): "blasting"

inkor (een-CORE): "silver"

inma (IN-mah): "road"

intofo (IN-toe-foe): "future"

Ixano (ix-AH-no): a mythological friendly "eating monster" who was "notorious for his appetite. He was known for eating not only the food that was put in front of him (and very rapidly), but also the dishes and utensils used to eat the food.

ja (ZSA): the Vulpani indefinite article, serving the same purpose as the word "a" in Common-- used before singular nouns. 'Ja felkani' is equivalent to 'a spirit', for example.

Ja'lu (JAY-loo): "Great Warrior", a rank bestowed upon Kilinia by the Verlosi Tribal Elder two thousand years ago and never given to any other vulpine before or since. Can thus also refer to Kilinia herself by default.

jal (jaal): "do"

jalet (jal-ET): "don't"; a blending of the words jal, meaning "do", and et, meaning "not".

jalk (jaalk): "does"

jalan (jaal-LAAN): "doing"

japalu (jay-PAH-loo): "Drak Sen"

japaluni (jay-pah-LOO-knee): "Drak Sen" (plural)

jappa (JAH-pah): "zone"

jarkan (ZSAR-khan): "red"

jay'din (JAY-din): the "youngest littermate" in a vulpine litter; is also informally used to describe the youngest sibling in a non-vulpine family.

jenta (JEN-tah): "second" (measurement of time)

jentani (jen-TAH-knee): "seconds" (measurement of time)

jib: "million"; by itself it means "one million"

jilbo (JILL-bo): "speak"

jilbu (JILL-boo): "speaks"

jilbolan (jill-BO-lan): "speaking"

jin’aka (szinn-AY-kah): a "celibacy oath" that a vulpine might swear after becoming engaged to another. Between the time that the oath is taken and the time the marriage is made official (or the engagement is formally ended), the vulpine would cease all sexual activity, even with their future mate. This is done as a show of devotion to their future mate, and need not necessarily be reciprocal.

jinjona (jin-JOE-nah): a "seasoning" blend used on chicken, pork or beef; the meat is skewered and grilled, and often served with peanut sauce. It's a vulpine traditional dish. The seasoning contains beri-beri, saffron, plenty of coriander, oregano, and a pinch of yatava.

jinta (SZINN-tah): "real"

jinton (JINN-tahn): "everything"

jiqua (SSHJEE-qua): "crazy"

jojoma (jo-JOE-mah): "goodbye"; unlike linka and malinka, it's a neutral term that says nothing about the relationship between the person saying it and the person it's being said to

joolooni: (jew-LOO-knee): "seafood"

ka: "try"

kah'yoto (KHA-yo-toe): an unbreakable "vulpine oath" sworn by saying 'E opar kah'yoto'. The person swearing kah'yoto is bound by The Lady to fulfill that pledge or die trying. It is not something taken lightly by vulpines, and The Lady has literally struck down vulpines who have deliberately broken it. Swearing kah'yoto usually involves prostrating oneself to the person to whom the vow is being made. Once prostrated, the kah'ri is forbidden from rising until the kah'tima touches both of the kah'ri's shoulders; this symbolizes that the kah'ri is willing to live and die at the kah'tima's command.

--Related Terms--

kah'ri: the person giving the pledge

kah'tima: the person receiving the pledge (Both terms are gender-neutral.)

-~~~~-

kajada (ke-JAA-dah): "detective"

kalan (KAA-lan): "trying"

kalva (CAL-vah): "night", "evening"

[kovu (COE-voo): "day"]

kalva'pa (cal-VAH-pa): "dinner" (literally "evening meal")

Kalva Tarre: "The Night of Succession"; in Verlosi'ka this refers to the night a new Tribal Elder is named after the passing of the previous one. It's celebrated with a series of massive parties.

Kalva Untama: "Night Demon", the nickname given to the barbarian known as Bowala, who twenty-two thousand years ago murdered many members of the Verlosi Tribe, attacking at night.

kalva'tan (cal-VAH-tan): "night person"

kantlivi (cant-LEE-vee): a type of "chair" commonly found in vulpine temples; it is a circular chair designed for multiple people, with a raised platform in the middle. People can sit back in the chair and use the platform to support their back, or kneel on the cushion and use the platform as a table.

karu (care-OOH): "before"

kashla (KASH-lah): "language"

kashu (ka-SHOE): "invasion"

kashupata (ka-SHOE-pe-ta): "invader"

kashupatani (ka-SHOE-pe-TAH-knee): "invaders"

karemma (CARE-em-mah): "after all" or "in conclusion"

karsha (CAR-shah): "welcome"

katain (kah-TAIN): "home"

-'ka [suffix]: "home of", for example Verlosi'ka literally means "home of the Verlosi"

kataro (ka-TAH-roe): "house"

Kavalo Mountains (kaa-VAH-low): the mountains surrounding the Ulma Valley, home of the Verlosi Tribe; the highest of them are about 5,000 feet tall. Every few months a group

kayafa (KAY-ah-fa): "healer"

kaycha (kay-CHA): "hail" (as in "Hail our tribe!", not like the weather pattern)

Kayta (KAY-tah): a common vulpine female name meaning "ancient and wise"

keeash'a (kee-YAA-sha): "beloved"

keelva (KEEL-vah): "shoulder"

keelvani (keel-VAH-knee): "shoulders"

keeshan (kee-SHAN): "amen"

keeza (KEE-zah): "cheese"

kenton (KEN-tahn): "flavor"

kentonbaz (ken-TAHN-baz): "flavorful"; "delicious"

kentonbi (ken-TAHN-bee): "flavorless"; "bland"

ki: "to" (as in "go to bed")

kiken (KEE-ken): "health"

kikenja (kee-KEN-zsa): "good health to you", the vulpine equivalent of "bless you" or "Gesundheit" when someone sneezes

Kilinia: (kill-INN-e-ah): A legendary Verlosi general who lived two thousand years ago; given the rank of Ja'lu-- "Legendary Warrior"-- for her victory on the Hyaroth Plains over a wolven tribe (see "The Legend of Kilinia" for more); it is believed that after her death and burial, her tears created Lake Kilinia, just outside Verlosi'ka

kin'cherno (kin-SHARE-know): "orator"; specifically a person in a vulpine temple who leads group prayer services by speaking from the sacred texts and sharing his or her interpretations of them

kinacia (kin-AY-shaa): "afternoon"

kina'pa (kin-AY-pa): "lunch" (literally "afternoon meal")

kinshaya (kin-SHA-yah): "fly"

kinshosha (KIN-sho-sha): a type of "incense"; commonly used during vulpine worship celebrations. It smells of vanilla with a light hint of cinnamon.

kinta (KIN-tah): "fish"

kintay ra (kin-TAY-rah): "thank you" or, more formally (and in prayers), "we thank you".

kiro (KEER-oh): "veil"

kiro'shuka (keer-oh-SHOO-kah): literally "veil of The Lady"; it's how vulpines refer to the "aurora"-- be they the "aurora borealis" or "aurora australis".

kitera (kit-EHR-uh): "me on top"; referring to a sexual position

kiteru (kit-EHR-roo): "you on top"; referring to a sexual position

kiya (KAI-ahh): "finger"

kiyalan (kai-AHH-lan): "fingering", but literally it means "to point the finger at"; it doesn't refer to the sexual activity.

kiyani (kai-AHH-knee): "fingers"

kiyasha (kai-AHH-sha): "knuckle"

kiyashani (kai-ahh-SHA-knee): "knuckles"

knara (NARR-ah): "parent"

knaralan (narr-AH-lan): "parenting"

ko: "too" (as in "E koshu kun ko"-- "I love you too"

kohnma (cone-MA): "friend"

kohnmani (cone-MA-knee): "friends"

kohnmatos (cone-MA-toas): "friendship"

kojo (KO-zho): "fire" (as in the classical element)

kojo'dan (KO-zho-dan): "Fire Tribe"

kolasha (koe-LAY-sha): "infinity"

kolo (KOE-loe): "hour"

koloni (koe-LOE-knee): "hours"

komaka (ko-MAH-ka): "Chirot"

komakani (ko-mah-KA-knee): "Chirot" (plural)

konishma (cone-EESH-mah): "my first"; used to describe the person to whom the speaker lost his or her virginity. Konishma is gender-neutral; one can be either male or female.

koonala (coo-NAH-lah): "nice to meet you"

koonu (KOO-new): "wife" [mayjhin (MAY-zhin): "husband"]

koshu (KO-shoe): "love"; but only used in the literal sense of romantic love or the love between family members. Using 'koshu' to say "I love painting," for example, would not be appropriate--in those instances use 'tenora'.

koshuani (KO-shoe-AH-knee): "lovers"

koshunash (KO-shoe-nash): "lovable"

koshu'a (KO-shoe-a): "loving" [et'koshu'a: "unloving"]

koualoo (KOO-ah-loo): "tree" or "trees" (both singular and plural form are the same)

kovu (COE-voo): "day"

[kalva (CAL-vah): "night"]

kun (coon): "you"

kun'rex (COON-rex): "you'd"

kuna (COON-ah): "your"

kunai (coon-AY): "yours"

kunrel (COON-rel): "you're"

kyriah (kai-REE-ah): "violent"

kyrio (kai-REE-oh): "violence"

la: "my"

laama (LAY-mah): "north"

lahn (LAWN): "sweep"

-lan (LAHN; rhymes with fan): "-ing" suffix

lapu (LAY-poo): "woman"

lapu'din (lay-POO-din): "girl" (eenta: "man")

lapur (LAY-pour): "ma'am"

larak: (lar-AHK): "only"

lar'oto (lar-OH-toe): a "cunning and intelligent person", good at coming up with long-term plans or schemes (like a larakia player, thinking seven or eight moves ahead)

larakia (lar-ACHE-ee-ah): "chess"

laopo (lay-oh-PO): "strip", as in to take one’s clothes off

(laopoen: "stripping")

laopoen roken (lay-oh-PO RO-ken): "stripping area", used to describe the vestibule inside bar’reggo establishments where patrons are expected to remove their clothes

lash (LASH): "nature"

lasha (LAY-sha): "since"

layta (LAY-tah): "mother"

laytalan (lay-TAH-lan): "mothering"

laytaki (lay-TAH-kee): "grandmother"

laytakiki (lay-TAH-kee-kee): "great-grandmother" (And so on and so forth.)

le (LEE): "and"

lee'boonta (lee-BOON-tah): "southeast"

lee'laama (lee-LAY-mah): "northeast"

leebo (LEE-bow): "east"

lenk (LENK): "how"

lieshka (LEASH-kah): a vulpine term of endearment, loosely translated as "darling"

lin (lynn): "yes" [bol (bowl): "no"]

lin'alma (lynn-AHL-maa): "yes, please"

lin'dayhan (lin-DAY-haan): "family temple". Designed to be a place of worship where people of all ages can participate, nudity and expressions of sexuality are strictly forbidden. Instead, vulpines worship The Lady there in other ways.

Lingorian (lin-GORE-ee-an): a northern vulpine tribe known for their fine cheesemaking. Though they make 112 distinct varieties of cheese, the generic term "Lingorian keeza" refers to a cheese very much like pepper jack.

linka (LEAN-kah): "goodbye", informal, used only between strangers or casual acquaintances (see also 'malinka')

lintova (lin-TOE-vah): "family"

Liranja: A legendary vulpine philosopher who lived 3,000 years ago. His wisdom is taught to kits of all vulpine tribes from a very young age.

liv'oken (liv-OAK-en): "what's up"

lo: "are"

lon (lawn): "me"

lona (LAWN-ah): "mine"

loonta (LOON-tah): "apart"; "separated"

lopo (LOW-po): "air"

lopo'dan (LOW-po-dan): "Air Tribe"

losh (LOWssh): "arm"

loshni (LOWssh-knee): "arms"

loshsha (LOWssh-sha): "elbow"

low: "evil"

lu (LOO): "all"

luxa (LUKES-ah): "void"

luxa'dan (LUKES-ah-dan): "Void Tribe"

ma: "to do"

maajaak (MAH-jacque): "existence"

maana (MAY-nah): "mage"

mabren (MAY-bren): "new love glow"; the aura of someone who's falling in love

mabrock (MAY-brock): "energy"

mabrockin (may-BROCK-inn): "energetic"

maha (MAH-ha): "hand" [body part]

mahani (mah-HA-knee): "hands" [body part]

malinka (ma-LEAN-kah): a formal version of "goodbye" used only between good friends (similar to charavizhra for hello)

maltakin (mal-TAH-kin): a person using a "Swap Gender" spell

malta'rumba (mal-tah-RUM-bah): literally "swap-gendered sex", sex in which at least one of the participants is using a Swap Gender spell [from "maltakin", meaning a swap-gendered person, and "rumba", meaning sex]

manya (MAHN-ya): "best"

map: "now"

maraco (MARE-a-coe): a genre of cultural "vulpine music". Its fundamental characteristics are beautiful four- or six-part melodies, an upbeat, dance-music style, and no use of any instruments except percussion.

marakai (MARE-ah-kai): "steel"

marritza (marr-IT-sa): "post-meal relaxation"; the time one spends after a meal, relaxing and letting their food digest, and perhaps talking with one's friends

martok (MAR-tok): "restaurant"

mayjhin (MAY-zhin): "husband" [koonu (KOO-new): "wife"]

-maz [suffix]: Equivalent to the "-ism" suffix in Common. The general rule when adding -maz to the end of a word is that you retain the same syllable emphasis as the root word; i.e. "ula" [OOH-la] becomes "ulamaz" [OOH-la-maz].

mazo (MAAHS-oh): "mean" [verb]

me'- (MEH) [suffix]: added to the front of a number to make it a "negative number"; e.g. me'starr means "negative one"

meb (MEB): "six"

meelep (ME-lep): "elf"

meelepni (me-LEP-knee): "elves"

mejan (MEE-jaan): "ready"

mensha'keen (men-SHEH-keen): [this is] "going poorly"

mensha'vosh (men-SHEH-vaash): [this is] "going well"

metaru (MET-ar-roo): "centaur"

metaruni (met-ar-ROO-knee): "centaurs"

mez: "in"

mikalba (mick-AL-bah): "a look of unspoken desire between two people"; each of them wishes the other one will initiate flirting, but both are too shy to take the initiative.

mikaya (mick-EYE-yah): someone who seemingly lacks the ability to be quiet

Milana Serafin: (contemporary) A famous vulpine author of epic novels who's noted for writing only one book every 100 years-- each time on one of her centenary birthdays. Her first four books (written in 1611, 1711, 1811 and 1911) have received continent-wide critical acclaim and made her a very wealthy woman.

Milana Serafin's Books:

The Long Voyage of Night (1611)

Journey Through a Daydream (1711)

When Pretense Falls (1811)

Inevitability (1911)

milya (mill-YAH): "field", as in a field of flowers, not a field of expertise

minkay (min-KAY): "poem"

minkayni (min-KAY-knee): "poems"

min'taba (mint-AH-bah): a vulpine "quiche" that is made with meat (usually sausage), cheese, shredded potatoes, eggs, evaporated milk and, if desired, vegetables.

miyaka (mee-AH-ka): "casual"

miy'rumba (mee-RUM-bah): literally "casual sex"; but doesn't bear the same negative meaning as in Common. It refers to sex in which the participants are having a casual conversation, as if they're not actually having sex at all. (See also "et'koshu'a'rumba", whose archaic meaning is somewhat closer to the Common idea of 'casual sex').

mohnta (MOAN-tah): "last", as in 'it lasts forever', not as in 'the last potion'.

See also: pinto

mohntaba (moan-TAH-bah): "lasts", in the same context

mone (MOAN): "brave"

mone'zai (moan-ZAY): "brave and true"

monsha (MOAN-shaa): "surprise"

monshaca (moan-SHAA-cah): "surprised"

morn (MORN; rhymes with "born"): "look"

mornlan (MORN-lan): "looking"

Muxa: a world-famous Verlosi vulpine businessman who lived three thousand years ago and brought some of the earliest concepts of commerce itself to his people. The Muxa Palo ("Muxa Marketplace") in Verlosi’ka is named after him.

naaran (NEIGH-ran): "marathon"

naa'rumba (neigh-RUM-bah): "marathon sex"

nan: "say"

napo (NEIGH-po): "make"

naponash (neigh-PO-nash): "makable"

naposi (neigh-PO-see): "makes"

-nash (NASH; rhymes with bash): "-able" suffix

nayra (NEIGH-ra): "beautiful"

nazora (naz-ORR-uhh): "mistress"

ne (NEH): "am"

negashama (neigh-ga-SHA-mah): "I will never forget that"; an expression used to describe an unpleasant memory. It's used almost as a vow, implying that one will not only never forget it, but never forgive those responsible.

neko (KNEE-ko): "inn"

nell (NELL): "like"

ni (KNEE): "with"

Antonym-- et'ni: "without"

-ni (as a suffix): pluralizes certain nouns, such as "tizhani" meaning "brothers". Typically, adding -ni to the end of a word moves the emphasis to the syllable following what it originally was; for example when changing "danyata" [dahn-YA-ta] to "danyatani", the emphasis is moved to the third syllable of the new word [dahn-ya-TA-knee]. This is a common rule in Vulpani, and only a small number of suffixes vary by allowing the emphasis to remain on the *same* syllable. In the instance of a word that ends with the letter 'n', the letter 'i' is added to the end to pluralize it, instead of adding '-ni" and making the finished word have "nni" at the end-- unless the root word is only one syllable.

nicalsha (nee-CAL-shaa): "friend"; specifically a friend whom the speaker doesn't have sex with

nicha (NEE-cha): "superior"

nico (NEE-ko): "rise"

nicron (NICK-ron): "goblin"

nicroni (nick-ROWN-knee): "goblins"

nikay (KNEE-kay): "until"

nim: "let"

ninfa (NIN-fa): "asshole" (used as a figurative insult, not a literal part of the body)

nilve (NIL-vee): "sorry"

nin (NIN; rhymes with bin): "three"

ninkay (NIN-kay): "ice"

ninopa (nin-OH-pa): "water"

ninopa'dan (nin-OH-pa-dan): "Water Tribe"

Ninopa Reenya: "Water Guide", the title given to Ikatia

nin'maana (nin-MAY-nah): "water mage"

niyama (knee-AH-mah): "snake"

niyama'fa (knee-AH-mah-fa): literally "snake spot", it is the point between the shoulder blades that's nearly impossible for most people to reach with their hands. It's called the snake spot because in the legend of Gashan and Bowala, Bowala, a barbarian, had a tattoo of a snake at this spot, and Gashan stuck a Super-Desiccating disc at that point, where Bowala could not take it off-- killing the dangerous elven warrior.

nu (NEW): "of"

nunti (NOON-tea): "false"; "fake"

oblin (OH-blin): "lake"

odafa (oh-DAH-fah): "garden"

okee (OH-kee): "okay"

okoya (oh-KO-yah): "offend"

okoyanash (oh-ko-YA-nash): "offendable"

okoyata (oh-ko-YAH-tah): "offended"

ola (OH-la): "did"

omanyae (oh-MON-yay): "my condolences"; "my sympathies"

onaf (oh-NAPH): "extreme"

on- (OHN): "prefix" for "extreme".

onpiller (on-PIE-lar): literally "extreme happiness"

onsha (ON-sha): "young"

ooloosha (ooh-LOO-sha): "rabbit"

oolooshani (ooh-loo-SHA-knee): "rabbits"

ooloosha'riltaen (ooh-LOO-sha-ril-TAIN): "chasing rabbits"; a vulpine saying meaning someone is overanalyzing a situation that they can do very little to change at the moment.

oona (OOH-na): "hope"

Oontaro (OON-tar-oh): the eleventh child of The Lady and the only one born with no tails; in fact every other one was born with nine tails

oov (OOV): "who"

op: "we"

op'vyn: "we're"

opa (OH-pah): "teach"

opala (oh-PAH-lah): "teacher"

opar (OH-parr): "swear", as in a vow

oparta: "swore"

orinjin (or-INN-jinn) [plural "orinjin"]: a form of vulpine "prayer" that involves having "sex with partners".

See also: hiyazhin.

osha (OHH-sha): "joint" [body part]. "-sha" is also added on to parts of the body to indicate a joint in that area; for example

oshba (OSH-ba): "minute" (measurement of time)

oshbani (osh-BA-knee): "minutes"

-ot [suffix]: changes the base word to past-tense; if the last letter of the word is a vowel, it is dropped.

otona (oh-TOE-nah): "intelligence"

ovanya (oh-VAUGHN-ya): "friend with benefits"; a friend whom the speaker has sex with

oyay (OH-yay): "hey"

palata (pa-LAH-taa): "syndrome"

palo (PAH-low): "marketplace"

pan (PAHN): "must"

pata (PAH-ta): "nice"; as in "impressive", not as in ‘a nice person’.

patabi (pah-TA-bee): "meal"

pel'- [prefix]: Serves simultaneously as an "ir-", "un-", "ir-" "im-", "in-" or a like prefix (making something the opposite, in other words), and an "-ible", "-able" or "-al" (for example) suffix. Pel'koshu, for example, translates as "unlovable". The pel'- prefix is always the first syllable that's emphasized in every word, and never changes the emphasis of the root word.

pel'abiyo (PEL-uh-BYE-yo): "unquestionable"

pel'alma (PEL-ALL-mah): "unpleasable"

pel'balu (PEL-BAY-loo): "untouchable"

pel'cob (PEL-COB): "unkeepable"

pel'faza (PEL-FA-za): "unsingable"

pel'gosha (PEL-GOE-shaa): "unreturnable"

pel'hoanka (PEL-HO-ann-kah): "inseparable"

pel'jal (PEL-jaal): "undoable"

pel'jilbo (PEL-JILL-bo): "unspeakable"

pel'kinshaya (PEL-kin-SHA-yah): "unflyable"

pel'koshu (PEL-KO-shoe): "unlovable"

pel'lash (PEL-lash): "unnatural"

pel'manya (PEL-MAHN-ya): "unbestable"; someone or something that can not be bested

pel'monsha (PEL-MOAN-shaa): "unsurprisable"; someone who cannot be surprised by something

pel'nan (PEL-nan): "unsayable"; something that cannot be said

pel'napo (PEL-NEIGH-po): "unmakable"

pel'nell (PELL-nell): "unlikable"

pel'okoya (PEL-oh-KO-yah): "unoffendable"; someone who cannot be offended

pel'opa (PEL-OH-pah): "unteachable"

pel'qaw (PEL-KAW): "unhurtable"

pel'raz (PEL-RAZ): "unthinkable"

pel'rushya (PEL-ROOSH-yah): "unacceptable"

pel'tenora (PEL-ten-OR-rah): "unenjoyable"

pel'tulo (PEL-TOO-low): "unhateable"; someone or something that can't be hated

pel'versha (PEL-VERSH-ah): "inexplicable"

pillerre (pie-LAR-ray): "happiness"

pohntapa (pone-TAH-pah): can be either "damn" or "dammit" depending on its context

pi (PIE): "that"

piller (pie-LAR): "happy"

pillerbaz (pie-LAR-baz): "happiness"

pinto (PIN-toe): "last", as in 'the last of a thing'

po (PO): "can"

powla (POW-la): "rapid"

powla'rumba (POW-la-RUM-bah): "hard, fast sex"

praita (PRAY-tah): "family line"

pusha (POO-shaa): "playing card"

pushani (poo-SHAA-knee): "playing cards"

pzhalsta (pizz-SHAL-sta): "go fuck yourself"

qanya (KWAN-ya): "smell"

qaolin (KAY-oh-lynn): "inferior"

qaw (KAW): "hurt"

qelen (KWEL-enn): "willing"

qopolo (ko-PO-low): "power"

qopolosi (ko-PO-low-see): "powers"

qua (KWAA): "five"

quenka (QWEN-kah): "youth"

Qzari (kizz-ARE-ee) [plural "qzari"]: "Naming Day". In many tribes, newborn kits go without names for a few days to a couple weeks after they're born, and each kit has his or her individual day in which their parent announces their name. The naming is usually followed by some light refreshments and celebrating. Some poorer (or more frugal) families that can't afford a qzari for each of their children may decide to consolidate, and have just one qzari in which every child's name is announced on the same day.

-'ra [suffix]: 've; e.g., "E'ra" in Vulpani translates to "I've" in Common

rahn'tolo (RON-toe-low): "just kidding"

Rahnari VII: a vulpine restaurateur, owner of Rahnari’so in the village of Verlosi’ka, home of the Eternal Orgy ("Zinot Cintro"), which has been going on non-stop for the last 450 years.

ray: "our"

ray'din (RAY-din): the "eldest littermate" or "eldest child" in a vulpine litter; is also informally used to describe the eldest sibling in a non-vulpine family

rayo (RAY-oh): "first"

raz (RAZ; rhymes with "Taz"): "think"

-re (REE): "-ness" suffix; e.g. lowre means "evilness"

re'yaha (ree-YA-ha): "together"

reggo (RAY-go): "mandatory"

reen (REEN; rhymes with "bean"): "never"

reentala (reen-TAH-la): "never mind"

reenya (REEN-ya): "guide"

rel (REL; rhymes with "bell"): "run"

rellan (REL-lan): "running"

ren: "fall"

renshin (REN-shin): "no sarcasm intended"; a word added to sentences to specify that the statement is to be taken seriously, where otherwise it might not be.

rentapo (ren-TAH-poe): "protect"

renyan (REN-yan): "success"

rex: "would"

rexla (REX-lah): "direct"

ri: "give"

rik (RICK): "ten"

rikajsha (rick-AH-shja): a vulpine "victory cheer"; also the name of a species of ironweed that grow south of the Verlosi village, which in the hands of someone skilled can make a formidable weapon

rilo (REE-low): "reveal"

rilta (RIL-tah): "chase"

riltaen (ril-TAIN): "chasing"

rinton (RIN-tawn): "past"

rippon (RIP-pon): a vulpine "funnel cake" dessert.

ro (RO): "we"

-ro (ROW) [suffix]: a suffix attached to a number that puts it in order. For example, starro means "first", and yinro means "second".

rokash (RO-kaash): "cottage"

roken (RO-ken): "area"

roma (ROAM-ah): "body"

ron (RON): "quite"

rooch (ROOCH; rhymes with pooch): "hundred"; by itself it means "one hundred", but with a number added to the front of it, it can mean multiple hundreds.

roonta (ROON-tah): "wall"

roosh (ROOSH): "felt"

rop: "where"

rosh (ROSH; rhymes with "Josh"): "feel"

rosha (RO-shaa): "line"

Roshara (ro-SHAA-rah): a "high dialect" of Vulpani, easily understood by anyone who speaks Vulpani, but only commonly used by tribal leaders, diplomats, and other people of high importance. It’s considered slightly snooty for everyday conversation. (See also: Utara).

ro’shun (RO-shoon): "tradition keeper"; a vulpine tribal elder who is chiefly responsible for making sure that the tribe’s traditions, heritage and cultural identity are kept. When a non-vulpine wishes to marry into a vulpine tribe, the ro’shun must approve the marriage before it can take place. Often this is accomplished by means of a ritual challenge-- but sometimes this is little more than a formality.

rota (ROW-tah): "sky"

rotare (row-TAH-ray): "celestial"

rotare'dan (row-TAH-ray-dan): "Celestial Tribe"

rowen (ROW-in): "life"

rowen'sleeni (row-in-SLEE-knee): "long-lifers" such as vulpines, Drak Sen and elves; species whose members tend to live for many centuries

rowen'yajani (row-in-ya-ZSA-knee): "short-lifers" such as humans, catpeople, Sheyka and wolven; species whose lifespan is measured more in decades than in centuries (though there's no fixed number at which rowen'yajani ends and rowen'sleeni begins)

yajaneca (ya-tza-KNEE-cah): "xenophobia" against rowen’yajani.

yajanecati (ya-tza-KNEE-cah-tea): someone who is prejudiced in this fashion.

rumba (RUM-bah): "sex"

run'y (ROON-ee): "follower"

run'ya (ROON-yah): "followers"

Run'ya Najaka: A vulpine religious cult that believe one day, the Lady's evil second husband Najaka will change from his constellation form back to his vulpine form and wreak havoc upon the earth, and that they will be his unstoppable army that will bring devastation to all et'vulpine.

rushya (ROOSH-yah): "accept"

-se (SEA) [suffix]: "this many times"; e.g. yin means "two", and yinse means "twice". With numbers that end in the letter "s", another s is not added, just the e.

santin (SAN-tin): a "deck of cards"

-'sh [suffix]: Equivalent to the "'m" suffix in common; thus E'sh means I'm

sha: "from"

shalsta (SHAWL-sta): the word literally means "wanderer", but it's used to refer to a vulpine who's spent little or no time with those of his own kind and has virtually no knowledge of his cultural heritage. (The word is gender-neutral).

shay'pa (SHAY-pah): "breakfast" (literally "morning meal")

shaybo (SHAY-bo): "present"; as in time, not referring to a gift

shayloni (shay-LOW-knee): "morning"

shin: "by"

shonba (SHOWN-bah): "turning point"

shuka triesta (SHOE-ka TREE-es-tah): "Our Lady"; both words are only ever used together as the descriptor (though not the actual name) of The Lady. The Lady's real name is seldom used out of respect for Her, and *never* in front of et'vulpine.

-si (SEE) [suffix]: Roughly equivalent to the "-s" suffix in common; it takes a word and puts it into action.

sinaysha (sin-AY-sha): "always"

sinta (SIN-tah): "beyond"

sirli (SIR-lee): "event"

sirlini (sir-LEE-nee): "events"

sita (SEE-tah): "slave"

sitani (see-TAH-knee): "slaves"

sleema (SLEE-mah): "long"

-'so (SOW) [suffix]: The third-person possessive morpheme. Equivalent to the "-'s" suffix in Common; this implies ownership by the person represented by the subject of the root word. For example, if you wanted to say the home belonged to Callie, you would call it "Callie'so katain".

soosapoo (SOO-sa-poo): literally "city-dweller", but used as a derogatory term for someone whose teeth and mind have been dulled by easy living.

starr (STAHR): "one"

starro (STAHR-oh): "first"

starrse (STAR-sea): "once"

starro’fin: "first heir"; the eldest daughter in a vulpine clan

sur (SIR): "formerly"; used before last names to indicate a previously-held last name. Also used by felko to tell what their previous clan was before being exiled.

suta (SOO-tah): "room", as in the room of a house or other building

szovan (SJO-vahn): "dwarf"

szovani (sjo-VAHN-knee): "dwarves"

-ta [suffix]: "-ed", e.g. "missed" translates into "halpata" in Vulpani

taf (TAF): "four"

tal (taal): "since"

tan: "person"

tanni: "people"

tarle (tar-LAY): "course"; as in a course of action

tarre (TAR-ray): "succession"

taruq (TEAR-ook): "island"

taya (TAY-yah): "god"

tayashin (TAY-ah-shin): "goddess"

tayva (TAY-vah): "original"

tay'ganyo (TAY-gan-yo): "original tail"; the tail a vulpine was born with.

tay'ganyoni (tay-gan-YOH-knee): "original tails"; used when a vulpine was born with two or more tails.

Tayva Din: literally "original child", it is used when one refers to one of the fourteen children born to the Lady, called "The Original Children of The Lady". This is to distinguish them from all other vulpines, who are also considered children of The Lady.

te (TEA): "is"

tenora (ten-OR-rah): "enjoy", used in sentences where the Common word 'love' would be appropriate, but in reference to activities or interests. 'E tenora joolooni', "I love seafood", would be the correct use of this word, where 'E tenora kun' would not be.

tew (TEA-ooh): "been"

tezha (TEZH-ha) [plural "tezha"]: "abomination"; a strongly pejorative term that’s usually reserved only for people that the speaker believes are too dangerous or evil to walk the earth—such as the Run’ya Najaka.

ti: "to do"

-ti [suffix]: similar to the "-er" or "-or" suffix in Common, though not used for *every* word

tima (TEA-mah): "receive"

tin: "on"

tinjako: "orgasm"

tinjako’hox: "orgasm pie"; a pie made with chocolate, caramel, strawberries and a special layer of Tianopo honey that causes those that eat it to have an orgasm

tizha (TISH-ah) [plural "tizhani"]: "brother"

tizha'vaana (TISH-ah-VAH-nah) [plural "tizhani'vaana"]: "brother-in-arms" (literally, battle-brother)

toe (TOE): "toe" (loanword from Common)

toes (TOES): "toes" (loanword from Common)

topa (TOE-pah): "succeed"

toq (TOCK): "eight"

towa (TOE-ah) [plural "towani"]: "sister"

towa'vaana (TOE-ah-VAH-nah) [plural towani'vaana]: "sister-in-arms" (literally, battle-sister)

triestan (tree-ESS-tahn): literally "worship of the Lady", it’s the name vulpines use for their religion.

trihan (TRY-han): "beer"

tulo (TOO-low): "hate"

tuva (TOO-vah): "storm"

tuyen (TOO-yen): "speed"

ula (OOH-lah): "hero"

ulamaz (OOH-lah-maz): "heroism"

ulare (ooh-LAH-ray): "heroic"

Ulma Valley (OOL-mah): the valley in which Verlosi’ka is located

un (oon): "oh"

untama (OON-tah-ma): "demon"

untamani (oon-tah-MA-knee): "demons"

upoto (ooh-PO-toe): "halfling"

upotoni (ooh-poe-TOE-knee): "halflings"

Utara (ooh-TAH-rah): a "commoner’s dialect" of Vulpani. This is the dialect of Vulpani that is used in everyday conversation. (See also: Roshara).

vaana (VAH-nah): "battle"

var (VAR; rhymes with bar): "zero"

varse (VAR-sea): literally "zero times", but is also used as an alternate way of saying "never"

vash (VASH): "little"

vel: "property of"; used exclusively to introduce someone as the slave of someone else. Geniia, property of Davak, might for example introduce herself as, "Geniia, vel Davak".

veeta (VEE-tah): "daughter" [add 'ki' to the end for each generation; ex. 'granddaughter' is veetaki, and so on.]

Verlosi (ver-LOW-see): The fifth of fourteen children born to the lady. The Verlosi vulpine tribe is named after him, and the word Verlosi can refer either to the man, the tribe, or a member of the tribe.

Verlosi'ka (ver-LOW-see-kah): literally "home of the Verlosi", it is the name of the Verlosi Home Village

versha (VERSH-ah): "explain"

veshulo (vesh-OOH-low): In Ancient Vulpani it means literally "point of no return", but today it refers to a specific situation-- the point at which someone has been pushed too far.

viaa (VEE-ah): "peace"

Etymology: Named after a brave chirot healer who saved the life of the hero Gashan's wife and then flew ahead to warn him of a pending Run'ya Najaka invasion, the word is sometimes used as a name for both chirot and vulpines.

vil (VIL; rhymes with bill): "he"

vilna (VIL-nah): "vulpine pride"; refers to the pride vulpines take in their culture, history, tribes, clans and religion.

vin (VIN; rhymes with tin): "she"

vinchin (VIN-chin): "master"

vintioxi (VIN-tee-ox-ee): [this] "makes us even"

viragot (VEER-uh-got): "circumference"

vizhra (VEESH-ra): roughly translates to "greetings", a general-purpose salutation. A casual form of "hello". Unlike 'charavizhra', which explicitly implies deep feelings of friendship or love, 'vizhra' is more commonly used to greet strangers, casual acquaintances or enemies. In fact, greeting someone with 'vizhra' after having previously used 'charavizhra' is sometimes taken, by the person it's addressed to, as an indication that the speaking person believes their relationship is no longer at a deep-friendship level.

vlea (VLAY; rhymes with clay): "next"

vol'ka [plural "vol'ka"]: "student" or "students"

vosh (VOSH; rhymes with wash): "great"

vox (VAHKS): "part"

vul'tova (vul-TOE-vah): "fox-kin"; literally "vulpine family member"

Vulpani (vul-PAH-ni): the vulpine language

vulo (VOOL-oh): "fox"

vuloni (vul-OH-knee): "foxes"

vulpine (VUL-pine): the vulpine species

vulpines (vul-PINES): "vulpines"

vulpinophile (vul-PEEN-oh-FILE-ee): "vulpine-lover"; a loanword from Common. Used to describe a non-vulpine who has a great love of vulpine tradition, customs, people and/or history.

vulplash (VULP-lash): literally "vulpine nature"

vushunya (voosh-OON-yah): "not my problem"

vyan (vee-ANN): "which"

wabaza (WAH-ba-zah): "vitality"

washak (wah-SHOCK): "shrivel"

wayla (WAY-lah): "clothes"

wayta (WAY-tah): "clothed"

[et’wayta (ET-way-tah): "unclothed"]

wenshin (WEN-shin): "son"

wenshinki (wen-SHIN-kee): "grandson"

wenshinkiki (wen-SHIN-kee-kee): "great-grandson"

(And so on and so forth.)

woba (WOE-bah): "father"

wobaki (woe-BAH-kee): "grandfather"

wobakiki (woe-BAH-kee-kee): "great-grandfather"

(And so on and so forth.)

wren (REN): "back"; as in the opposite of "forward", not the body part

xamok (TZAA-mock): "surrender"

xel (tz-ELL): "when"

xela (ex-EE-la): "earth"

xela'dan (ex-EE-la-dan): "Earth Tribe"

xho (ZO): "cat"

xhosa (ZO-za): "catperson"

xhosani (zo-ZA-knee): "catpeople"

xopo (ex-OH-poe): "whenever"

xula (ex-OOH-lah): "miss"; as in a formal term of address for a woman

ya'tizha (ya-TEA-sha): "bond-brother"; a concept that goes far beyond the concept of best-friends and implies a spiritual connection between the people involved; also implies that the two people are not literally biologically related

ya'towa (ya-TOE-ah): "bond-sister"; a concept that goes far beyond the concept of best-friends and implies a spirtual connection between the people involved; also implies that the two people are not literally biologically related

ya'towani (ya-toe-AH-knee): "bond-sisters"

yajaneca (ya-tza-KNEE-cah): "xenophobia"; in this case, xenophobia against rowen’yajani—"short-lifers". Yajaneca is sometimes prevalent among vulpines who’ve lived a few centuries, as they’ve had to watch many rowen’yajani friends grow old and die.

yajanecati (ya-tza-KNEE-cah-tea): someone who is prejudiced in this fashion.

yajay (yah-ZHAY): "short"

yatava (yah-TAH-vah): an "herb" that is found in many valleys throughout the continent. It is sometimes used to make tea. It has an invigorating effect on vulpines.

yaysha (YAY-sha): "bond"

yazar (YEAH-zar): "congratulations"

yeeta (YEE-tah): "both"

yi: "the"

yin: "two"

yinro (YIN-row): "second" (as in 2nd)

yinse (YIN-sea): "twice"

yintapo: "Duessa"

yintaponi: "Duessa" (plural)

yinva (YIN-vah): "billion"

yogg: "prepare"

yoggta: "prepared"

zai (ZAY; rhymes with say): "truth"

zaibaz (ZAY-baz): "truthful"

zaisi (ZAY-see): "truths"

zaiahso (zay-AHH-so): "evidence"

zaiahsin (zay-AHH-sin): "evident"

zaiya (ZAY-yah): "true"

zalo: "fate"

zari (CZAR-ee): "name"

zet: "die"

zeth (ZETH): "dead"

zethan (ZETH-ann): "death"

zeth'rum'vaa: literally "sex death battle"; it refers to a kind of mortal contest that used to be popular to settle scoresin some vulpine tribes in ancient times. Two combatants that hated each other would attempt to prove their dominance over the other one with sex; the winner would be the last one left alive. Zeth'rum'vaani have not been sanctioned by mainstream vulpine culture for thousands of years.

zhaku (ZSA-koo): "take"

zhinta (ZHIN-tah): "celebration"

zihan (ZEE-ahn): "slow"

ziha'rumba (zee-ah-RUM-bah): "slow, passionate sex"

zinot (ZEE-not): "eternal"

zo'boonta (zo-BOON-tah): "southwest"

zo'laama (zo-LAY-mah): "northwest"

zolo (ZO-low): "nothing"

zosho (ZO-show): "heart"

zozan (ZO-zan): "west"

zymata (zy-MAH-tah): "I won't try to stop you" or "I won't fight you";

the exact definition depends heavily on context and a very subtle

pronunciation difference

zynarto (zyn-ART-toe): "child of the Lady" or "children of the Lady" (works as both singular and plural)

INDIVIDUALS

Kilinia: (lived 2000 years ago) A vulpine woman considered to be, far and away, the greatest general in the history of the Verlosi tribe. She was bestowed the title "Ja’lu"-- "Great Warrior"-- by the Verlosi tribal elder, a title never given to another vulpine before or since.

Milana Serafin: (contemporary; born 1511) A famous vulpine author of epic novels who's noted for writing only one book every 100 years-- each time on one of her centenary birthdays. Her first four books (written in 1611, 1711, 1811 and 1911) have received continent-wide critical acclaim and made her a very wealthy woman. Her first book was entitled The Long Voyage of Night.

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

bar'-: "nude" or "without"

-baz: "-ful" or "-ness".

et'-: "un-" or "non-"; add this to the beginning of a word to make it the opposite. Example: et'vulpine means "non-vulpine".

-nash: "-able"

on'-: "extreme"

INSULTS AND SWEAR WORDS

aza’tanni: "ape-people"; a pejorative term for humans

douwakai: one of the worst swear words ever created; has no literal

translation in Common

ninfa: "asshole"

pohntapa: "damn" or "dammit"

WORDS FOR PARTS OF THE BODY AND SENSES

arsh: "head"

ganyo: "tail"

keelva: "shoulder"

kiya: "finger"

kiyasha: "knuckle"

losh: "arm"

loshsha: "elbow"

maha: "hand"

niyama'fa: "snake spot"; the hard-to-reach area between the shoulder

blades

osha: "joint"

roma: "body"

INDIVIDUAL WORDS THAT ARE THEIR OWN PHRASE

bar'reggo: "mandatory nudity"

biasho: "you're welcome"

cayazar: "congratulations on your new tail"

dinayshiama: "over my dead body"

egasha: "if you insist on doing it anyway"

fikaruka: "that's the idea"

gugubada: "would you like some?"

ho’tin: "too bad"

mensha'keen: [this is] "going poorly"

mensha'vosh: [this is] "going well"

rahn'tolo: "just kidding"

zymata: "I won't try to stop you" or "I won't fight you"

[Not to mention all the various forms of rumba...]

THE OPPOSITE GAME

yes and no-- lin and bol

true and false-- zaiya and nunti

good and bad-- baylin and hosha

going well and going poorly-- mensha'vosh and mensha'keen

day and night-- kovu and kalva

man and woman-- eenta and lapu

boy and girl-- eenta'din and lapu'din

mine and yours-- lona and kunai

first and last-- rayo and pinto

together and apart-- re'yaha and loonta

friend and enemy-- kohnma and galshi

past, present and future-- rinton, shaybo and intofo

everything and nothing-- jinton and zolo

clothed and naked-- wayta and barzen

THE OPPOSITE GAME-- SUFFIXES

full and less: -baz and -bi

ANIMALS (GAISHIN)

"ape"-- aza

"fox"-- vulo

"frog"-- coroco

"horse"-- bahn

"rabbit"-- ooloosha

EMOTIONS

"happy"-- piller

PHRASES

From Liranja (lived 3,000 years ago):

"Koshu et'jalk mazo kun pan sinaysha topa-- larak pi kun pan sinaysha

ka." ["Love doesn't mean you must always succeed-- only that you always try."]

"Jalk kuna manya, le nim zalo jalk yi branya." ["Do your best, and

let fate do the rest."]

"Vulpines lo granka sha kojo le marakai." ["Vulpines are forged from fire and steel."]

From Kiracao:

["It has been my observation that when you take away the things a person wants, and leave them only the things they need, you find out more about the person's character than you ever would otherwise."]

COMMON PHRASES

"Vizhra, lenk fa kun boshin?" ["Hello, how are you today?"]

"E’ra halpata kun." ["I’ve missed you."]

"La zhoso fazasi ki shuka triesta!" ["My heart sings to The Lady!"]

"La katain te kuna katain." ["My home is your home."]

"Alma tenora yi patabi E’ra yoggta gi kun." ["Please enjoy the meal I’ve prepared for you."]

"E opar kah’yoto." ["I swear kah’yoto."]

"Yi ganyoni rilo lu." ["The tails reveal all."]

"Lu zynarto fa nayra." ["All children of the Lady are beautiful."]

"Bo kyrio jappa." ["No violence zone."]

NAMES FOR NUMBERS

0 var: "zero" varse: "0 times" varro: "zeroth"

1 starr: "one" starse: "once" starro: "first"

2 yin: "two" yinse: "twice" yinro: "second"

3 nin: "three" ninse: "thrice" ninro: "third"

4 taf: "four" tafse: "4 times" tafro: "fourth"

5 qua: "five" quase: "5 times" quaro: "fifth"

6 meb: "six" mebse: "6 times" mebro: "sixth"

7 bwaa: "seven" bwaase: "7 times" bwaaro: "seventh"

8 toq: "eight" toqse: "8 times" toqro: "eighth"

9 dol: "nine" dolse: "9 times" dolro: "ninth"

10 rik: "ten" rikse: "10 times" rikro: "tenth"

11 rik'starr: "eleven" rik'starrse: "11 rik'starro: "11th"

times"

12 rik'yin: "twelve" rik'yinse: "12 rik'yinro: "12th"

times"

13 rik'nin: "thirteen" rik'ninse: "13 rik'ninro: "13th"

times"

14 rik'taf: "fourteen" rik'tafse: "14 rik'tafro: "14th"

times"

15 rik'qua: "fifteen" rik'quase: "15 rik'quaro: "15th"

times"

16 rik'meb: "sixteen" rik'mebse: "16 rik'mebro: "16th"

times"

17 rik'bwaa: "17" rik'bwaase: "17 rik'bwaaro: "17th"

times"

18 rik'toq: "18" rik'toqse: "18 rik'toqro: "18th"

times"

19 rik'dol: "19" rik'dolse: "19 rik'dolro: "19th"

times"

20 yindi: "20" yindise: "20 yindiro: "20th"

times"

21 yindi'starr: "21" yindi'starrse: yindi'starro: "21st"

"21 times"

22 yindi'yin: "22" yindi'yinse: yindi'yinro: "22nd"

"22 times"

23 yindi'nin: "23" yindi'ninse: yindi'ninro: "23rd"

"23 times"

24 yindi'taf: "24" yindi'tafse: yindi'tafro: "24th"

"24 times"

25 yindi'qua: "25" yindi'quase: yindi'quaro: "25th"

"25 times"

And so on, and so forth.

30 nindi: "thirty" nindise: nindiro: "30th"

"30 times"

40 tafdi: "forty" tafdise: tafdiro: "40th"

"40 times"

50 quadi: "fifty" quadise: quadiro: "50th"

"50 times"

60 mebdi: "sixty" mebdise: mebdiro: "60th"

"60 times"

70 bwaadi : "seventy" bwaadise: bwaadiro: "70th"

"70 times"

80 toqdi: "eighty" toqdise: toqdiro: "80th"

"80 times"

90 doldi: "ninety" doldise: doldiro: "90th"

"90 times"

100 rooch: "100" roochse: roochro: "100th"

"100 times"

101 rooch'starr: "101" rooch'starrse: rooch'starro: "101st"

"101 times"

110 rooch'rik: "110" rooch'rikse: rooch'rikro: "110th"

"110 times"

120 rooch'yindi: "120" rooch'yindise: rooch'yindiro: "120th"

"120 times"

121 rooch'yindi'starr: rooch'yindi'starrse: rooch'yindi'starro: "121st"

"121" "121 times"

And so on and so forth.

200 yin'rooch: "200" yin'roochse: yin'roochro: "200th"

"200 times"

300 nin'rooch: "300" nin'roochse: nin'roochro: "300th"

"300 times"

347 nin'rooch'tafdi'bwaa: nin'rooch'tafdi' nin'rooch'tafdi'bwaaro:

"347" bwaase: "347 times" "347th"

And so on and so forth.

1,000 bwell: bwellse: bwellro: "1,000th"

"1,000" "1,000 times"

2,000 yin'bwell: "2,000" yin'bwellse: "2,000 yin'bwellro: "2,000th"

times"

And so on and so forth.

10,000 rik'bwell: "10,000" rik'bwellse: "10,000 rik'bwellro: "10,000th"

times"

20,000 yindi'bwell: "20,000" yindi'bwellse: yindi'bwellro: "20,000th"

"20,000 times"

And so on and so forth.

100,000 rooch'bwell: rooch'bwellse: rooch'bwellro: "100,000th"

"100,000" "100,000 times"

200,000 yin'rooch'bwell: yin'rooch'bwellse: yin'rooch'bwellro:

"200,000" "200,000 times" "200,000th"

And so on and so forth.

1,000,000 jib: "million" jibse: "a million jibro: "millionth"

times"

2,000,000 yin'jib: "two yin'jibse: "two yin'jibro: "two millionth"

million" "million times"

10,000,000 rik'jib: "10 rik'jibse: "10 rik'jibro: "10 millionth"

million" million times"

100,000,000 rooch'jib: "100 rooch'jibse: "100 rooch'jibro: "100 millionth"

million" million times"

NAMES FOR LARGE NUMBERS

1,000,000,000 (one billion): yinva

10,000,000,000 (ten billion): rik'yinva

100,000,000,000 (one hundred billion): rooch'yinva

1,000,000,000,000 (trillion): ninva

1,000,000,000,000,000 (quadrillion): tafva

1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (septillion): quava

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (sextillion): mebva

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (septillion): bwaava

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (octillion): toqva

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (nonillion): dolva

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (decillion): rikva

And so on and so forth.

kolasha: "infinity"

me'-: used for negative numbers

me'starr: "negative one"

me'yin: "negative two"

And so on.