Zandali



Zandali, also known as Troll or Zandalari, is the native language of the trolls. Trolls of all types speak Zandali. Like many languages, Zandali has many accents divided by regions. The Stranglethorn Vale accent is distinct enough that trolls can recognize it with only one word. Zandali is taught to the young of the Darkspear tribe, with Orcish being taught in addition. Although described as a guttural language, Zandali always has a melodious flow to it.

The Hakkari refer to the language as "the old tongue" and do not converse in it. In World of Warcraft, Zandali is the secondary language spoken by the Darkspear trolls of the Horde.

It appears to be named after Zandalar, where the early trolls first settled.

Zandali primer (official translations)
Here are a few common Zandali phrases and words, for which the translations have been officially confirmed by Blizzard:


 * Atal'ai = Devoted Ones.
 * Bwon'tulak = Death singer.
 * Dazdooga = Fire.
 * Doba quzhu ta tawbo! Metah bo chu! = We bring a gift for you, great loa of death!
 * Fa'da = Father.
 * Ma'da = Mother. Male blood trolls use the word as a term of respect for the females of their society.
 * Rush'kah = A type of special ceremonial mask used by shadow hunters.
 * Shera Ali'kh = Death's Hand.
 * Zen = Druid, often a prefix added to a name when they become one. Examples include Zen'Balai, Zen'Kiki, and Zen'tabra.
 * Zul' = Voodoo master, often a prefix added to a name when they become one.
 * 'aka = A suffix used to denote the daughter of someone, such as Ohgan'aka being the daughter of Ohgan.

Unconfirmed Zandali words
These words are of English origin and it is not known whether or not they're regarded as Zandali or have an unknown Zandali equivalent:


 * Juju = A fetish, charm, or amulet used by some tribes, or the power associated with a juju.
 * Loa = Powerful spirits and deities around which troll religion is centered. Mainly used as the troll word for Wild Gods, but has also been used to refer to non-Wild God beings, such as wisps.
 * Mojo = A magic spell, hex, or charm, or (broadly) magic power.
 * Voodoo = Ancient magic used by trolls.

Untranslated Zandali words, phrases and names
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 * Amani - Most powerful forest troll tribe.
 * Amani'shi - May be an elite force of the Amani tribe in Zul'Aman.
 * Atal'alarion - Atal'ai dire jungle troll boss in the Temple of Atal'Hakkar.
 * Azzaga choogo zinn! - Said by Hex Lord Malacrass in Zul'Aman upon killing a player. Also said by Master Gadrin when empowering the Horde adventurer during In Every Dark Corner.
 * Bwonsamdi - Death loa.
 * Chaga... choka'jinn. - Said by Halazzi and Shadra Betrayers.
 * Dahazi - Sepulcher of the Dahazi within Kings' Rest.
 * Dazar - First king of Zandalar. Zuldazar, Atal'Dazar, Dazar'alor and Dazar'ai are named after him.
 * Da Amani de chuka! - Said by Zul'jin and later Daakara in Zul'Aman upon killing a player.
 * Da'kala koraste... - Said by War-God Jalak in Throne of Thunder.
 * Da'kala di'chuka HORRIDON! Kalimaste! - Said by War-God Jalak in Throne of Thunder.
 * Di chuka Rezan! - Said by Rastakhan before rushing to save Rezan from Vilnak'dor.
 * Di chuka Zandalar! - Said by various Zandalari NPCs.
 * Farastu - Unbound water elemental at Shimmer Ridge. Its name may directly translate to its title, .
 * Gachaga - Sometimes said by blood troll mobs.
 * Gurubashi - The most powerful jungle troll tribe.
 * Guzincha - Sometimes said by blood troll mobs.
 * Hakkar - Powerful loa associated with blood.
 * Ikambokem - Said by witch doctors in Warcraft III.
 * Jin'do - Jungle troll, former leader of the Gurubashi tribe.
 * Jin'rokh - Zandalari dire troll in Throne of Thunder.
 * Jin'sora - Darkspear bow merchant in Orgrimmar.
 * Jin'Zallah - Sandfury rare mob in Tanaris.
 * Jin'Zil - Darkspear witch doctor in Malaka'jin.
 * Kai'jin - Darkspear war recruiter in Orgrimmar.
 * Mai'jin - Witherbark witch doctor in the Hinterlands.
 * Mueh'zala - Sandfury death loa.
 * Nazferiti - Lake in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Nek'mani - Pool in the Cape of Stranglethorn.
 * Ohgan - Raptor mount of Bloodlord Mandokir.
 * Orik'ando - Darkspear in Camp Mojache.
 * Pohkiza - Sometimes said by blood troll mobs upon dying.
 * Rush'kah - Special ceremonial masks used by shadow hunters.
 * Samedi - Darkspear grave loa.
 * Sendulo ma'das na khu'das, kuba zinn awe. - Said by Rokhan when empowering the Horde adventurer during In Every Dark Corner.
 * Sen'jin - Former chieftain of the Darkspear. Father of Vol'jin. Namesake of a Darkspear village in Durotar.
 * Shango - Storm loa.
 * Siame-Quashi - Elite Darkspear organization.
 * Tai'jin - Darkspear priest trainer in Razor Hill.
 * Taz'dingo - Warcry or cheer. Used by headhunters, witch doctors, shadow hunters and Rokhan in Warcraft III, the  emote for troll player characters in World of Warcraft and by Zul'jin in Heroes of the Storm.
 * Tazaga-choo! - Said by Akil'zon in Zul'Aman upon death.
 * Taz'okun = Spoken by several Zandalari throughout Zandalar.
 * Thresh'jin - Mossflayer warlord in Zul'Mashar.
 * Ty'jin - Darkspear shadow hunter in Thrallmar.
 * Vol'jin - Former leader of the Darkspear tribe. The prefix "Vol" is also found in the names of Vol'guk and General Vol'tar.
 * Vosh'gajin - Forest troll shadow hunter in Blackrock Spire.
 * Yayo'jin - Revantusk reagent vendor in the Hinterlands.
 * Yojamba - Island in Northern Stranglethorn, served as the hub for the Zandalari between patch 1.7.0 and patch 4.1.0.
 * Zagota - An insult.
 * Zandalar - Island in the South Seas, home of the Zandalar Empire.
 * Zanza - Zandalari loa.
 * Zul'arek - Witherbark rare mob in the Hinterlands.
 * Zul'brin - Mossflayer rare mob in the Eastern Plaguelands.
 * Zul'Dare - Island south of Lordaeron.
 * Zul'jin - Former warlord of the Amani.
 * Zul'Lor - Atal'ai ghost in the Temple of Atal'Hakkar.
 * Zul'Marosh - Amani chieftain in the Eversong Woods.
 * Zul'Serak - Unknown, referenced by Keris of Zul'Serak.
 * Zuvembi - Name for Zuvembi Brew, a low magic brew that can turn anyone who breathes its fumes in easily manipulated.

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Forest troll settlement names

 * Amani
 * Tor'Watha - Village in the Eversong Woods.
 * Zeb'Watha - Village in the Eversong Woods.
 * Zul'Aman - Forest troll capital in the Ghostlands.
 * Mossflayer
 * Mazra'Alor - Temple in the Eastern Plaguelands.
 * Zul'Mashar - City in the Eastern Plaguelands.
 * Shadowpine
 * Zeb'Nowa - Village in the Ghostlands.
 * Zeb'Sora - Village in the Ghostlands.
 * Zeb'Tela - Village in the Ghostlands.
 * Smolderthorn
 * Tazz'Alaor - Chambers in Lower Blackrock Spire.
 * Vilebranch
 * Agol'watha - Ruin in the Hinterlands.
 * Jintha'Alor - Temple city in the Hinterlands.
 * Shaol'watha - Ruin in the Hinterlands.
 * Witherbark
 * Hiri'watha - Ruin in the Hinterlands.
 * Shadra'Alor - Temple in the Hinterlands.
 * Zun'watha - Ruin in the Hinterlands.

Jungle troll settlement names
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 * Bloodscalp
 * Bal'lal - Ancient settlement in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Tkashi - Ancient settlement in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Zul'Kunda - Home of the Bloodscalp in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Zuuldaia - Ancient settlement in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Darkspear
 * Malaka'jin - Village in Stonetalon Mountains.
 * Zabra'jin - Village in Zangarmarsh.
 * Skullsplitter
 * Balia'mah - Ancient Settlement in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Ziata'jai - Ancient settlement in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Zul'Mamwe - Home of the Skullsplitters in Northern Stranglethorn.
 * Miscellaneous
 * Aboraz - Ancient jungle troll settlement in the Cape of Stranglethorn. Occupied by the minions of Zanzil since patch 4.0.3.
 * Jubuwal - Ancient jungle troll settlement in the Cape of Stranglethorn, next to the Gurubashi Arena.
 * Kal'ai - Ancient jungle troll ruins in Northern Stranglethorn. Occupied by the Murkgill murlocs since patch 4.1.0.
 * Mizjah - Ancient jungle troll settlement in Northern Stranglethorn. Occupied by Mosh'Ogg ogres since patch 4.0.3.
 * Zul'Gurub - Jungle troll capital in Northern Stranglethorn.

Zandalari settlements

 * Dol'watha - Village
 * Village in the Vines
 * Shaol'mara - Outpost on the Isle of Thunder. Overtaken by the Kirin Tor Offensive.
 * Za'Tual - Outpost on the Isle of Thunder.
 * Zeb'ahari - Fishing village
 * Zeb'tula - Outpost on the Isle of Thunder. Overtaken by the Sunreaver Onslaught.
 * Zuldazar - Zandalari capital on Zandalar.

Other

 * Gundrak - Ice troll capital in Zul'Drak.
 * Zul'Farrak - Sand troll capital in Tanaris.
 * Zul'Drak - Large ice troll region in Northrend.

In the RPG
Some trolls have descended so far into barbarism that they have forgotten Zandali, instead speaking Low Common. The Troll language is largely syllabic.


 * 'jin = Chieftain or Elder, added as a suffix.
 * 'fon = Loner; someone who has deliberately absented himself from troll society and its obligations and is little better than a pariah. Added as a suffix.
 * Atal'Hakkar = "Devoted to Hakkar" or "In Honor of Hakkar".
 * Kaz'kah = Death Totem.
 * Mon = Man. (May represent a form of Low Common, rather than Zandali.)
 * Zufli = Baby Witch, corruption of the voodoo master prefix, "zul". It is a derogatory term for female witch doctors, but some females have taken on the title as a mark of pride.
 * Zul' = Voodoo master, often a prefix added to a name when they become one.
 * Zul'jin = Great Tribal Witch Doctor, (rough translation).

Jungle troll names
Jungle troll youth do not receive public names until they have earned a name in battle. Until then, they are referred to by generic diminutives. Jungle troll names look simple but are surprisingly complex. Their language is largely syllabic, and various syllables can be added to the beginning or end of a troll's name to denote status and ability. Troll given names are usually one syllable, to facilitate the additions of these titles. Some trolls drop their given names altogether and are known purely by their titles.
 * Male Names: Vol, Ros, Mig, Gal.
 * Female Names: Shi, Mith, Hai, So.
 * Family Names: Trolls do not have family names, though they occasionally use their tribe's name in its place.

Forest troll names
Forest trolls follow the same naming conventions as jungle trolls, though some of the suffixes and prefixes differ.
 * Male Names: Doth, Mag, Ran, Vis.
 * Female Names: Lith, Arn, Din, Mak.
 * Family Names: Like jungle trolls, forest trolls have no family names.

Untranslated words, phrases and names

 * Bambe
 * Dambala - Loa of Serpents & Treachery
 * Legba - Loa of Speed
 * Lukou - Loa of Healing & Respite
 * Ogoun - Loa of War
 * Shaka
 * Ula-tek - Goddess of Serpents
 * Zuvembi

In-game parser
This is the list of words created by the in-game language parser for the Troll language and is listed as language number fourteen (word range 1280-1358) in the Language text file.

Note: The language algorithm used by the in-game "translator" merely makes the words look like Zandali. It does not actually use a specific dictionary. Therefore, translated in-game speech isn't true Zandali.

Words used by players, mobs and NPCs
 * Dim = Lol
 * T'ief godehsi wha = Sands consume you!

Speculation

 * "Akil" = "Eagle". Used as a prefix in the names of the eagle loa Akil'zon and Akil'darah, as well as the Zandalari troll Windweaver Akil'amon.
 * "Atal'" = "Devoted to".
 * "Alarion" = "Guardian".
 * "Alor" = "Temple/Altar". Used in the names of Jintha'Alor and Shadra'Alor, named after Jintha and Shadra, respectively.
 * "Antu" = "Overseer". Antu'sul has the title of .
 * "Atal'alarion" = "Guardian of the Devoted".
 * "E'chuta" = There is no specific translation, but it could possibly be an insult or swear word.
 * "Jang" = "Protect". Used in Jang'thraze the Protector.
 * "Jin" = Possibly "leader" or "elder". Used in the names of Jin'Zil, Kazra'jin, Sen'jin, Vol'jin, Yayo'jin, Zul'jin, etc.
 * "Kai'ju" = Might translate to "frost" or "frozen", as in the Elemental Unrest event, Gahz'rilla was summoned bearing another name: Kai'ju Gahz'rilla. The hydra has also always used ice-related abilities.
 * "Rohk" = "End of worlds/apocalypse". Used in Jin'rohk, The Great Apocalypse.
 * "Rokh" = "World(s)" or "End/To end something". Used in Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds. See "Zin".
 * "Rush" = Possibly translates to "ceremony" and "ceremonial", thus making rush'kah mean "ceremony mask" / "ceremonial mask".
 * "Sang" = "Deflect". Used in Sang'thraze the Deflector.
 * "Sul" = Namesake of the Farraki Sul the Sandcrawler. Term also associated with various elements of Zul'Farrak, such as Sul'thraze the Lasher, Sul'lithuz basilisks, and Antu'sul, the "Overseer of Sul".
 * "Tal" = Possibly "enclave". Used in Tal'farrak, Tal'aman, and Tal'gurub.
 * "Thraze" = "Blade".
 * "Watha" = Common suffix in troll village names (Agol'watha, Hiri'watha, Shaol'watha, Dol'watha, Nazwatha, Zun'watha, Zeb'Watha).
 * "Zandalar" - May mean "holy". The Zandalari named a mountain range they considered holy, because of it brimming with loa, the "Zandalar Mountains", thus "holy mountains".
 * "Zandalari" - May be a superlative adjective of "Zandalar" meaning "holiest". Making Zandalari trolls the "holiest trolls" due to their deep reverence for the loa surpassing that of other trolls.
 * "Zeb" = Possibly "forest" or "forest village". Common prefix in forest troll villages such as Zeb'Watha, Zeb'Tela and Zeb'Sora, but also the ice troll village of Zeb'Halak (In Grizzly Hills, a forest) and the Zandalari town of Zeb'tula (Located in a marshy forest on the Isle of Thunder). Although it could also be the prefix for a smaller settlement/village.
 * "Zin" = Possibly "destroyer", as in Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds. This would agree with one of the possible definitions for Rokh being "world(s)", though it would conflict with Jin'rohk, The Great Apocalypse, so "rokh" itself might have two definitions. Another possibility is that "rokh" refers only to the end of something, while "zin" refers to "world(s)" and "jin" keeps its original definition; therefore Jin'rohk would directly translate to "greatest/above all/most authoritative/end(s) of something", which defines an apocalypse, while Zin'rokh would mean "a world's end or destruction".
 * "Zul" = Likely has different meanings depending on its usage, as it can be used as a prefix (Zul'jin) or name (Zul) for an individual. It is a prefix often associated with capital temple cities such as Zul'Aman, Zul'Gurub, Zul'Drak and etcetera. There is an exception to a capital temple city using Zul not as a prefix but as part of the name, Zuldazar (though the lack of apostrophe could be argued to indicate the separate concepts of 'Zul' and 'Dazar' of being fused almost entirely). However, it has also been used as a name on its own as evident by the Altar of Zul and Empire of Zul.

Notes and trivia

 * Phrases could be heard in Warcraft III from several of the available troll creeps that one could hire or mind control. Some are taken from the  language of Huttese, others from the Spanish language, and more from other pop culture references. Their meanings are unknown. These may only be meant as click jokes but are here for completeness sake.
 * Few dare to learn Zandali as the Darkspear tribe tend to be very aggressive when asked about it.
 * Tyrathan Khort picked up Zandali and is able to speak it with a Stranglethorn accent.
 * Zul's Seal of Implacable Fate was made of carefully etched series of Zandali symbols on a wooden placard.