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Zandali

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Zandali

Zandali writing.

Tablet of Theka

Zandali writing on the Tablet of Theka.

Tales of de Loa - Kimbul

Zandali writing on Inv helm cloth zandalardungeon c 01 [Tales of de Loa: Kimbul].

Zandali, also known as Troll[1][2] or Zandalari,[3][4] is the native language of all trolls. 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.[5] Zandali is taught to the young of the Darkspear tribe, with Orcish being taught in addition. Although described as a guttural language,[6] Zandali always has a melodious flow to it.[7]

The Hakkari refer to the language as "the old tongue" and do not converse in it.[8] 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:

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,[21] but has also been used to refer to non-Wild God beings, such as wisps.[22]
  • Mojo = A magic spell, hex, or charm, or (broadly) magic power.
  • Voodoo = Ancient magic used by trolls.

Untranslated Zandali words, phrases and names[]

In the RPG[]

Icon-RPG This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Some trolls have descended so far into barbarism that they have forgotten Zandali, instead speaking Low Common.[28] The Troll language is largely syllabic.[29]

  • 'jin = Chieftain or Elder, added as a suffix.[29]
  • '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.[30]
  • Atal'Hakkar = "Devoted to Hakkar" or "In Honor of Hakkar".[31]
  • Kaz'kah = Death Totem.[32]
  • Mon = Man.[citation needed]  (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.[33]
  • Zul' = Voodoo master, often a prefix added to a name when they become one.[29]
  • Zul'jin = Great Tribal Witch Doctor, (rough translation).[29]

Troll names[]

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.[34] 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.[29]

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.[35]

Untranslated words, phrases and names[]

In-game parser[]

Questionmark-medium
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

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.

Number of letters in word Word List
One-letter words A, E, H, J, M, N, O, S, U
Two-letter words Di, Fi, Fu, Im, Ir, Is, Ju, So, Wi, Yu
Three-letter words Deh, Dim, Fus, Han, Mek, Noh, Sca, Tor, Weh, Wha,
Four-letter words Cyaa, Duti, Iman, Iyaz, Riva, Skam Ting, Worl, Yudo
Five-letter words Ackee, Atuad, Caang, Difus, Nehjo Siame, T'ief, Wassa
Six-letter words Bwoyar, Deh'yo, Fidong, Honnah, Icense, Italaf, Quashi, Saakes, Smadda, Stoosh, Wi'mek, Yuutee
Seven-letter words Chakari, Craaweh, Flimeff, Godehsi, Lok'dim, Reespek, Rivasuf, Tanponi, Uptfeel, Yahsoda, Ziondeh
Eight-letter words Ginnalka, Machette, Nyamanpo, Oondasta, Wehnehjo, Whutless, Yeyewata, Zutopong
Nine-letter words Fus'obeah, Or'manley

Words used by players, mobs and NPCs

  • Dim = Lol
  • T'ief godehsi wha = Sands consume you![37]

Speculation[]

Questionmark-medium
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
  • "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 <Overseer of Sul>.
  • "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 Inv sword 43 [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 Inv sword 108 [Jin'rohk, The Great Apocalypse].
  • "Rokh" = "World(s)" or "End/To end something". Used in Trade archaeology zinrokh sword [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 Inv sword 45 [Sang'thraze the Deflector].
  • "Sul" = Namesake of the Farraki Sul the Sandcrawler. Term also associated with various elements of Zul'Farrak, such as Inv sword 40 [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 Trade archaeology zinrokh sword [Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds]. This would agree with one of the possible definitions for Rokh being "world(s)", though it would conflict with Inv sword 108 [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 Star Wars 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.[38]
  • Tyrathan Khort picked up Zandali and is able to speak it with a Stranglethorn accent.[39]
  • Zul's Trade archaeology troll tablet [Seal of Implacable Fate] was made of carefully etched series of Zandali symbols on a wooden placard.

References[]

 
  1. ^ World of Warcraft: Beginner's Guide
  2. ^ World of Warcraft Battle Chest Guide
  3. ^ a b N [60R] Zandalarian Shadow Talisman
  4. ^ H [30-60] Meet the Goldtusk Gang
  5. ^ Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, pg. 42
  6. ^ War Crimes, chapter 35: "[The alternate Vol'jin] came at Anduin like a madman, shrieking in his own guttural language [...]"
  7. ^ Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, pg. 39
  8. ^ Exzhal#Dialogue
  9. ^ Trade archaeology trollbatscepter [Atal'ai Scepter]
  10. ^ N [1-70 Daily] A Time to Reflect
  11. ^ Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment 2018-04-30. Battle for Azeroth Preview: Zuldazar Visitor’s Guide. Retrieved on 2018-05-02.
  12. ^ H [35-60] Blood in the Tides
  13. ^ Blood of the Highborne, chapter 1
  14. ^ H [20-60] A Tribute for Death
  15. ^ a b H [10-70] Children's Week
  16. ^ H [20-60] The Forlorn Soul
  17. ^ a b Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment 2018-06-06. Battle for Azeroth Preview: Nazmir Visitor’s Guide. Retrieved on 2018-06-08.
  18. ^ Loreology on Twitter (dead link)
  19. ^ Loreology on Twitter (dead link)
  20. ^ B [10-30] Mind Vision
  21. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 129
  22. ^ Ask CDev - Round 2
  23. ^ H [10-60] To Sacrifice a Loa
  24. ^ Bloodsworn, pg. 91
  25. ^ Loyalist Sailor
  26. ^ Shadows Rising, pg. 248 - 249
  27. ^ H [10-60] Zuvembi Brew
  28. ^ Lands of Mystery, pg. 34
  29. ^ a b c d e World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 50
  30. ^ Lands of Mystery, pg. 171
  31. ^ Dark Factions, pg. 127
  32. ^ Shadows & Light, pg. 10
  33. ^ Horde Player's Guide, pg. 93
  34. ^ Manual of Monsters, pg. 102
  35. ^ Horde Player's Guide, pg. 10
  36. ^ a b c Magic & Mayhem, pg. 56
  37. ^ Witch Doctor Zum'rah
  38. ^ World of Warcraft Battle Chest Guide
  39. ^ Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, pg. 76, 77

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