Linguistics of Erinnal

Mütvian

A subtle language with some doublespeak spoken in dialects in the Land of 1,000 Princes.

Sounds

Vowels

• a: [a] as in Spanish casa (“ah”)
• ă: [ə] as in about (“uh”)
• e: [eɪ] as in day (“ay”)
• i: [i] as in see (“ee”)
• o: [oʊ] as in oh
• u: [ʌ] as in cup
• ü: [u] as in moo
• ö: [ɔɪ] as in boy (“oy”)
• ó: [ɔ] as in thought (“aw”)

Consonants

• b: [b] as in bat
•  
• c: [t͡ʃ] before e or i, as in church; [k] elsewhere, as in cat
• d: [d] as in dog
• f: [f] as in fish
• g: [ɡ] as in go
• ğ: [ɣ] voiced velar fricative, a soft rasping sound made in the back of the mouth, as in Spanish agua (between vowels)
• h: [h] as in hat (always pronounced)
• j: [ʒ] as in measure
• k: [k] as in kite
• l: [l] as in love
• m: [m] as in moon
• n: [n] as in net
• p: [p] as in pat
• r: [r] alveolar trill (rolled r), as in Spanish perro
• s: [s] as in sit
• ș: [ʃ] as in she
• st: [ʃt] as in “sht” (the sound at the start of shtick), treated as a single consonant cluster
• t: [t] as in top, but without the puff of air (unaspirated)
• ț: [t͡s] as in the “ts” sound in cats
• v: [v] as in van
• y: [j] as in yes, the consonantal “y” sound, as in English yes
• z: [z] as in zebra

Southern Mütvian accents favor back-articulated vowels and a slower, weightier delivery, contributing to a deeper overall sound.

Northern accents shift vowels forward in the mouth and maintain a faster speaking pace, resulting in a lighter, sharper cadence.

Sentence Construction

Mütvian sentence structure reflects a culture focused on action, consequence, and state rather than identity. Speech is functional, declarative, and often omits elements that can be inferred from context.

Word Order

Mütvian most commonly follows a Verb–Subject–Object order, especially in commands, ritual speech, and direct statements.

Jana soit io tanü
Protect my soul

Here, the action (to protect) anchors the sentence, with the subject and possession following it. This reflects a worldview where what is done matters more than who acts.

In formal declarations, chants, or poetic language, the subject may appear first for emphasis.

Possession

Possession follows the noun rather than preceding it.

soit io – soul of mine
jer io – heart of mine

This structure treats possession as a relationship, not an inherent quality. A possessive suffix (-iy) exists but is typically reserved for legal, formal, or precise contexts.

Modifiers

Adjectives and descriptors generally follow the word they modify.

jera jüs – hearts of the Mütvian people

Meaning is built additively, with the core noun established before it is qualified.

Negation and Time

Negation and time are expressed with separate words rather than verb conjugation.

ne – no, not
uth – now
i·vak – soon
i·vak·ne – not yet

These words typically appear near the verb but are flexible in placement when clarity is maintained.

States and Conditions

Abstract concepts are often expressed as states or outcomes rather than actions. This is reflected in vocabulary that distinguishes between events and their lasting effects.

vru·so – death as an event or passage
to·dren – death as a state or what remains

Similarly, suffixes such as -vak (immediate condition) and -dra (lingering result) are commonly used to describe lived experience rather than moral judgment.

The Copula

The verb e·ru (“to be”) exists but is often omitted when the meaning is clear. It is typically used only when clarifying identity, role, or formal status.

In everyday speech, Mütvian favors brevity and certainty over grammatical completeness.

Overall Tone

Mütvian sentences tend to be short, direct, and final. The language prioritizes what is happening, what has happened, and what condition something is in, rather than speculation or abstraction.

Phrases

In some stories you may come across entire phrases written in a foreign language. (Mütvian is an actual language being developed!) We’ll replicate those sentences here.

Jana soit io tanü – [Mother Nor’dagha] Protect my soul; lit. “Jana, soul of mine to protect”

Jana – Name for protective aspect of Nor’dagha
soit – soul
io – my
tanü – to protect

Jera jüs lüsasöi / Mütvia Rejestöi – Only in our hearts / Does Mütvia live

Greetings, Partings, and Customs

Jera! (inf. greeting) My heart!
Sa er sülve (inf. parting) Be safe
Bruso sóro (for. greeting) Good day
Bruso devro (for. parting) Good night
Vruso sóro (exp. greeting) Leave and die
Vruso devro (exp. parting) Your ass in ashes
Gorsi, sülve, ia paksilo. Strength, safety, and peace.

Common Expressions

These phrases are used in daily Mütvian speech. Many assume shared hardship and mutual awareness of danger, and are often spoken plainly rather than warmly.

Uth stă. – It stands now. / It is so, for now.
Ne uth. – Not now.
Sa uth? – You now? / Are you ready?
Uth i·vak. – Now, soon. / Give it a moment.
Sa sül·ve? – Are you safe?
Sa ne sül·ve. – You are not safe.
Vru·so uth. – Death is here now. / Someone is dying.
To·dren stă. – Death remains. / The aftermath is here.
Ne prus·ku. – Do not speak.
Prus·ku. – Speak.
Sa hu·len io. – Follow me.
Sa na·rek. – Run. / Flee.
Gi stă. – We remain. / We are still here.
Müt stă. – The people endure.
Lan·dru stă. – The land endures.
Ströi stă. – Things are bad. / The situation holds.
Ne eg. – Not one. / None left.
Eg stă. – One remains.
Sa ju·rak. – You stand with me. / You are my ally.
Ne o·thir. – Not an outsider. / One of us.
Uth töi. – Life is now. / We live today.

Numbers

Mütvian numbers are direct and utilitarian. They are used primarily for counting, obligation, and order rather than abstraction. Numbers do not inflect for gender or case.

Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers express quantity.

eg – one
kua – two
trár – three
fara – four
veren – five
saruk – six
kethra – seven
oren – eight
nethra – nine
daren – ten

Compound Numbers

Numbers above ten are formed additively. Mütvian treats tens as counted units rather than compressed numerals. There is no single root for “hundred” in common speech; larger quantities are expressed through repeated groupings of ten.

42
fara daren kua
lit. four ten two
forty-two

93
nethra daren trár
lit. nine ten three; nine-tens and three
ninety-three

100
daren daren
lit. ten ten
one hundred

112
daren daren daren kua
lit. ten ten ten two
one hundred twelve

500
veren daren daren
lit. five ten ten
five hundred

In everyday speech, numbers above thirty are used sparingly and most often appear in contexts of tribute, debt, grain stores, casualties, or formal record-keeping. Larger numbers are spoken deliberately, emphasizing accumulation rather than abstraction.

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate sequence or position and are formed by adding the suffix -dra, marking an established or resulting order.

egdra – first
kuadra – second
trárdra – third
faradra – fourth
verendra – fifth
sarukdra – sixth
kethradra – seventh
orendra – eighth
nethradra – ninth
darendra – tenth

The use of -dra aligns ordinal numbers with the concept of outcome or established state, emphasizing position after action rather than abstract rank.

Usage Notes

Numbers typically follow the noun they modify.

müt trár – three people
reje egdra – the first reign

In ritual or formal speech, ordinal numbers may be emphasized to indicate precedence, inheritance, or obligation.

Prefixes and Suffixes

Mütvian builds meaning additively. Most words are constructed from a root combined with one or more affixes that establish relationship, condition, role, or category. The affixes below appear throughout the lexicon and in creature, place, and title nomenclature across Mütvia.

Prefixes

es- (prefix, adj) eternal; from esso; applied to roots to indicate a state without end

Suffixes

Grammatical

-dra (suf) resultant or lingering state after an action; what remains after something has occurred; used in ordinal numbers and abstract conditions
-iy (suf) possessive; equivalent to ‘s in English; typically reserved for legal, formal, or precise contexts
-kas (suf) one who holds authority through a named condition; used in noble and ruling titles
-rek (suf) relational or directional tension; imbalance, pursuit, or obligation between two forces
-ri (suf) one who performs the action of the modified verb; used for roles, creatures, and persistent actors
-tu (suf) verbalizer; to enter or enact the root state
-ty (suf) ongoing action; equivalent to -ing in English
-vak (suf) immediate condition or lived state; a situation affecting the body, mind, or present moment

Locative

-drak (suf) marked edge; a defined boundary between territories or conditions; secular in usage, distinguishing it from vă·esk (the Veiled Gate; final boundary)
-rak (suf) place defined by use or function; a location identified by what happens there; from ko·ren·rak (the rooted place; the woods as anchor) in the Danju song

Fauna

These suffixes appear in the names of Mütvian wildlife and creatures. They are categorical rather than grammatical and are used consistently across related species groups.

-chin (suf) large fauna; applied to substantial herd or game animals
-evna (suf) gracile fauna; applied to slender, light-bodied animals
-nek (suf) diminutive; applied to small fauna, juvenile forms, or reduced manifestations of a larger root
-olk (suf) territorial fauna; applied to solitary predators defined by range defense rather than pursuit
-sha (suf) enduring quality; applied to animals or entities defined by a persistent behavioral or physical characteristic
-tach (suf) aerial predator; applied to hunting birds and winged threats
-ush (suf) aquatic fauna; applied to fish and water-dwelling creatures
-vach (suf) sturdy or heavy-bodied animal; applied to game animals built for force rather than speed
-vash (suf) predator; general predator nominal suffix applied to hunting creatures and territorial entities
-volk (suf) pack or socially organized predator; applied to creatures that hunt in coordinated groups
-vur (suf) large solitary predator; applied to apex or near-apex threats

Creature and Phenomena

These suffixes appear in the names of undead, spirits, and Land phenomena. They carry theological or metaphysical weight distinct from fauna suffixes.

-ken (suf) one caught in an incomplete state; applied to entities defined by an unfinished condition — a journey not completed, a death not resolved
-nik (suf) one who enacts a condition upon others; applied to entities whose defining quality is what they do to those around them rather than what they are in themselves

Lexicon

A

a·dru (adj) near, within reach
a·dru·tu (v) to approach
an (n) year
a·vak (adj) hungry
a·vak·tu (v) to hunger
a·zor (n) ash
av (adj) new

B

ba·rek (n) bones, skeletal remains
ba·rek·nek (n) digits; fingers or toes; the small bones of the extremities; from ba·rek (bones, skeletal remains) + -nek (diminutive nominal suffix)
ba·ru (v) to burn
ba·ru·so (n) fire
ba·ru·vak (n) firewood
blud (n) blood as a physical substance
bo·rak (n) shelter, crude cover
bor·nek (n) a large black carrion bird that follows Lathari activity; used by experienced travelers as an indicator of feeding grounds and road conditions; from borak (shelter) + -nek (diminutive nominal suffix)
bö·vi (v) to end, conclude
bru·so (adj) good
bu·lóm (n) clay; wet earth that takes shape and holds

C

čă (part) that; which (linking particle)
cha·len (v) to circle, move around cautiously
cha·ru (v) to chase, pursue
chor·nek (n) a large tick-analog found on Vorchin; carries the named harvest fever; hide-processing without guild training is inadvisable; from chorvik root + -nek (diminutive nominal suffix)
chor·vik (n) a large waterfowl of the Gergi river system, hunted for down and meat; seasonal migration marks the beginning of the cold months in the Mütvian folk calendar
cu·ren (v) to cut deliberately

D

da (adv) yes
da·mel (adj) tired, fatigued
da·mel·tu (v) to grow exhausted
dan·ju (n) festival; recurring communal rite tied to season, obligation, or survival cycle
da·ruk (v) to strike
de (prep) of, by, for, from, to, with
de·i·a (phrase) here is / this is
de·ras·töv·ya (n) congratulations
dev·ro 1. (n) night, pl. devra; 2. (n) ashes
dev·zu (v) to awaken, lit. to survive the night
do·mi (n) command given by force
do·vak (n) pain (felt, not wounded)
-dra (suf) resultant or lingering state after an action; what remains
drak·sha (n) a heavy, short-legged draft animal bred for forested Mütvian terrain; notably calm around undead, making it significantly more valuable than comparable animals; from drav (wound) + -sha (enduring quality suffix)
drav (n) wound, physical injury caused by force
dresh·nik (n) a biting swarm insect of the Chepuinyev lowlands; individually negligible, dangerous in late-summer numbers; certain wetland paths are seasonally forbidden due to documented dreshnik activity
drev·ka (n) a ground-nesting fowl hunted for meat and eggs; goes completely silent before dusk; experienced hunters use this silence as a natural warning indicator
drev·nik (n) a noble whose Land-connection survived death and who continues issuing compulsions to the living within their former domain; from drev- (deep-rooted, persistent) + -nik (one who enacts a condition upon others)
drev·olk (n) a solitary mid-sized forest predator of the deep Vorichnaya; does not hunt humans but defends territory with disproportionate violence; the Hammer and Thorn keeps records on individual animals; from drev- + -olk (territorial designation suffix)
du·ran (adj) cold
du·vak (n) the condition of dryness; absence of moisture; from du·ran (cold, without) + -vak (immediate condition or lived state)

E

e·dra (adj) far, distant, out of reach
e·dra·tu (v) to move away
eg (number) one
en (prep) in; inside; within
e·o (pro) his
e·o·no (pro) him
e·ru (v) to be
es- (suffix, adj) eternal, from esso
es·so (adj) eternal
es·trö·i·ji·a (n) portal to elsewhere (eh-STROY-zhya)
e·thra (n) breath (physical)
e·thru (v) to breathe
eu·so (n) door (ay-OO-soh)

F

fa·len (v) to fall, fail, collapse
fa·ruk (v) to stalk quietly
fa·vak (n) involuntary loss; the condition of having lost through failure or force; from fa·len (to fall, fail, collapse) + -vak (immediate condition or lived state)
fi·dra (n) noise, uncontrolled sound
fi·ren (n) fear
fi·ren·tu (v) to fear

G

ga·ma·lad (n) family
ga·rel (v) to guard
ga·rel·ri (n) guard, watcher
ga·thra (n) tool
ga·thru (v) to use a tool
ge·ra (n) mouth (body part), pl. geraa
gi (pro) us
glas (n) voice; spoken sound of a person
go (pro) we
gol·vach (n) a heavily built forest pig with inward-curving tusks; hunted for meat and leather; known to turn without warning; from gorsi (strength) + -vach (animal nominal suffix)
gor·dren (n) courage; strength that endures; active bravery as distinct from passive survival; from gor·si (strength) + pa·dren (endurance)
gor·rek (n) the strong side; the dominant hand; from gor·si (strength) + -rek (relational tension suffix)
gor·si (n) strength
gra·ven (n) grave, burial pit
gre·volk (n) a large wolf-analog with black-streaked coat that hunts in coordinated groups; packs near black bile saturation zones exhibit hunting behaviors experienced hunters describe as wrong; from gorsi root + -volk (predator nominal suffix)

H

ha·rak (n) the Harrow; the act of entering darkness; a place one descends into; the canonical Mütvian term for delving into ruins, dungeons, or the deep earth; from ha·ru (to hide) + -rak (place defined by use or function)
ha·ru (v) to hide
ha·ruk (n) hiding place
ha·vak (n) heat, oppressive warmth
hu·len (v) to follow

I

i (prep) in
i·a (conj) and
i·je (n) something internalized, within one’s self
i·mor (n) memory
i·mor·tu (v) to remember
io (pro) my, of mine
i·thra (adv) where to; toward which place
i·thri (adv) where; in which place
i·vak (adv) soon
i·vak·ne (adv) not yet
-iy (suf) possessive akin to ‘s in English

J

ja·do (n) gift
jad·tö (n) mercy
jer (n) a dear one close to the heart, pl. jera
ju·rak (n) ally, one who stands with you
jüs (adj) of the Mütvian people by laws of nature; concept of the same

K

ka·dur (n) weapon (general)
ka·dur·tu (v) to arm oneself
kam·man (n) work
ka·mu (v) to work
ka·thra (n) knife
ka·thru (v) to stab
kärt (n) horn
kär·tim (n) steel, blade, weapon material
ke·nal (adj) known, familiar
ker·se (n) west
ke·țar (v) to remain; to stay in place
klis·tar (v) to shout; to call loudly
kol·vur (n) a solitary, heavily built bear-analog of the volcanic foothills around Mt. Verich; significantly larger than any standard bear; the Dracovich domain officially neither confirms nor denies it as a hazard; from ko·ren (deep holding) + -vur (large predator suffix)
ko·ren (n) root; deep holding (ritual usage)
kor·vo (n) raven, pl. korva
kou·ro (n) heart, pl. koura
kra·țüm (v) to claim; to take as property of the Land
ku·a (number) two
kur·vash (n) a lean, grey-coated solitary canid larger than the Grevolk; hunts alone, targeting the weakest animal in a herd with patience experienced shepherds describe as deliberate; from kur- (pursuit root) + -vash (predator nominal suffix)

L

la·thra (n) corpse
la·thari (n) the Lathari; lit. those who work the corpse; the scavenging undead that consume the improperly dead; from la·thra (corpse) + -ri (one who performs the action); see also Lathari in the Mütvia Gazetteer
la·vi·tu (v) to love
la·vo (n) familial love
le·vak (v) to leave behind
lo (pro) I
lü·bev (n) romantic love; attachment that persists (beyond the grave)
lu·vak (v) to lie (intentional falsehood)
lu·vak·ta (n) lie, false statement
lü·sa·söi (adv) only

M

ma·jo (n) house
ma·ren (adj) alive but wounded
mi·rush (n) a large, dark-fleshed freshwater fish common to the Gergi tributaries; smoked for winter stores and traded as currency in river settlements; from mu·rek (wet, soaked) + -ush (fauna nominal suffix)
mit·rek (n) the weak side; the off hand; from mit·sa (weak) + -rek (relational tension suffix)
mit·sa (adj) weak
mi·zhak (n) a brute
mo·dra (n) mud
mor·vash (n) a territorial wetland entity tied to the Gergi tributaries and the Chepuinyev lowlands, responsible for disappearances near stagnant water; from mo·ruk (soil, worked earth) + -vash (predator nominal suffix); juvenile form known as mor·vash·nek
mor·vash·nek (n) juvenile form of the Morvash before territorial establishment; found in river shallows; small enough to be mistaken for debris; aggressive; wading the Gergi tributaries in spring is inadvisable; see mor·vash
mo·ruk (n) soil, worked earth
mo·ruk·rak (n) a field; a bounded place of worked earth; from mo·ruk (soil, worked earth) + -rak (place defined by use or function)
mu·chal (n) a whisper
mur·dir (v) to murder; to kill with intent
mu·rek (adj) wet, soaked
mu·rö·na (adj) dark; lightless; without sky-light
müt (n) people, residents of an area; typically refers only to humans
müt·a·nu·ri (n) protector of the people
mü·tóș (n) the Land; the ground as an active claiming force; that aspect of Nor’dagha which holds the dead in the ground
Mütvi (pr) Mütvians; collective proper noun for natural born citizens of Mütvia
Mütvia (n) the official language of Mütvia; the name of the country

N

na·dra (n) rain
na·rek (v) to flee
na·thra (n) storm
na·vi·u (v) to eat
ne (adv) no
ne·lik (adj) happy
ne·lik·ta (interj) Wonderful! (expression of joy)
ne·mi (n) name; spoken identifier
nes (pro) he/she/they; gender neutral
nis (pro) him/her/them; gender neutral
no·sir (v) to carry; to bear continuously
no·val (adj) silent
nu·vak (n) food

O

oj (interj) a vocal call or lament used in song or speech to draw attention, express grief, or mark an emotional turn; carries no semantic content beyond emphasis or feeling
o·thir (n) outsider, non-Mütvian
o·vak (n) water (drinkable)
o·vak·tu (v) to drink

P

pa·dren (n) endurance
pa·dru (v) to endure
pa·dru·vak (n) an attempt; the condition of putting oneself into endurance; trying as an act of sustained effort rather than optimism; from pa·dru (to endure) + -vak (immediate condition or lived state)
pa·len (prep) through; by way of
pak·si·lo (n) peace, or the concept of
pa·thra (n) path, traveled ground
pa·thra·vak (n) available paths; the condition of having options or choices remaining; from pa·thra (path, traveled ground) + -vak (immediate condition or lived state)
pel·ka (n) a weasel-sized predator that hunts Slatka in field boundaries; trapped for its dense winter pelt, one of Mütvia’s few reliable export goods; from pa·dru (to endure) root, indicating a creature of persistent, quiet activity
pi·vak (n) warning sign
pi·vak·tu (v) to warn
prus·ko (v) said; past and past participle of prus·ku
prus·ku (v) to say
pus·tir (v) to let pass; to allow through

R

ra·duk (n) rot, decay
-rak (suf) place defined by use or function
ra·vak (v) to return
ră·vösk (n) taken thing; seized and kept object or being
re·je (n) reign
re·je·stöi (n, adj) one’s eternal reign and life
re·ju (v) to reign
-rek (suf) relational or directional tension; imbalance, pursuit, or obligation between forces
re·küm (v) to return; to come back from absence
re·ša (conj) but; however
re·thra (n) order imposed by force
re·vak (adj) forbidden
re·vak·tu (v) to forbid
-ri (suf) one who performs the action of the modified verb
rish (n) sleep
ri·shu (v) to sleep

S

sa (pro) you
šă (part) emphatic particle; marks focus or insistence; ex. 1) sa kețar, “You remain.” With šă: sa šă kețar, “You—specifically—remain.” 2) reša lübev kețar. “But enduring attachment remains.”, with šă: reša lübev šă kețar, “But it is enduring attachment that remains.” (The attachment itself is in focus, not another quality or outcome.)
sa·dra (n) silence (intentional or magical)
sa·dra·tu (v) to remain silent by choice
sa·lok (v) to listen closely
san·ji (n) land spirits
san·ji·dra (n) Dark Sanji; a Sanji that has crossed from balance into something the Guild of the Branch hunts; from san·ji (land spirits) + -dra (lingering corrupted result); distinct from san·ji in behavior and theological status
sant (n) a story
san·tu (v) to tell, to relate
să·vö·ren (n) buried-state; a person held by the Land
sa·zor (n) salt; the preserving mineral; used against the Land’s claim on worked soil; from sa (the applied thing) + a·zor (ash)
se·dru (n) shadowed place
se·ra (n) shadow
se·ra·gi·a (n) gate, as in a garden gate
se·vak (v) to watch
si·rak (adj) broken, no longer whole
si·vak (n) enemy
sint (n) a song
sin·tu (v) to sing
slat·ka (n) a burrowing rodent that nests in field boundaries; trapped for meat and fur; considered reliable protein through winter
sla·var (n) a blind, pale cave predator found in underground systems beneath the Chepuinyev; hunts entirely by sound and vibration; largely known through what it leaves at cave mouths rather than direct sighting; from sla- (silence root) + -var (predator nominal suffix)
so·it (n) a soul
só·ro (n) day
stă (n) plan, of premeditated design
star·evna (n) a pale, slender deer-analog that grazes forest edges at dawn; hunted primarily for hide which tans to unusually supple leather prized by harness-makers; from stă (quiet intention) + -evna (gracile fauna suffix)
ströi (adj) a terrible state of affairs, significant strife
ströi·kas (n) prince; a ruling noble who holds a principality; one who rules through strife; from ströi (terrible state of affairs; significant strife) + -kas (one who holds authority through); the title supersedes all other noble titles when held
stü·rir (v) to sleep; coma; to rest without waking
su·thra (n) smoke
su·vak (n) frost
sül·ve (adj) safe
sü·ma·jo (n) guild, i.e. commoner guild
șu·nar (v) to listen; to attend to sound or presence

T

ta·brin (n) footprint; track left by a living body
ta·mur (adj) sworn, bound by oath
ta·mur·vak (n) oath-bond
ta·nu (v) to protect
ta·rek (n) debt, owed harm
ta·rek·tu (v) to owe
ța·rül (n) bond; continuing tie after separation
tesh·vir (n) cousin
tha (adv) there; in that place
ti·co (n) quiet; no voices; no movement
ți·nir (v) to hold; to keep in possession or state
to·dren (n) death as a state; the condition of being dead; the aftermath that remains
to·dren·ri (n) the Todrenri; lit. those of the death-state; a Savoren left unaddressed long enough to pull itself free of the soil and walk toward the living; from to·dren (death as a state) + -ri (one who enacts the condition)
to·vak (n) remains (after death)
tor (n) rule, authority
trár (number) three
tu·ma (n) dark; absence of sight
töi (n) life
-tu (suf) verbalizer; to enter or enact the root
-ty (suf) -ing

U

u·dra (n) wind
ul·kren (v) to enclose; to seal in; to prevent exit
u·o (pro) hers
u·o·no (pro) her
u·vak (n) hunger pain
u·vak·dra (n) thirst
u·vak·tu (v) to starve
ü·dvyzd (n) welcome
uth (adv) now, in the present moment

V

va·dra (n) vigilance, watchfulness
va·dra·tu (v) to keep watch
vă·esk (n) final boundary; last edge; ending place; the Veiled Gate (informally)
-vak (suf) immediate condition or lived state; a situation affecting the body, mind, or moment
va·len (adj) present on all sides, surrounding
va·thra (n) bloodshed
ve·drak (n) a territorial border; a secular boundary between principalities or holdings; distinct from vă·esk (the Veiled Gate; final boundary); from vi (land) + -drak (marked edge suffix)
vel·tach (n) a large raptor of the volcanic foothills with unusual wingspan; documented taking young livestock and, in three recorded incidents, children left unattended in open fields; from vel- (high, elevated) + -tach (aerial predator suffix)
ve·rak (adj) loyal
vi (n) land
Vi·a (n) the Land
vi·dra (n) echo
vizh (adj) all, every
vla·dir (v) to rule; to command by force or nature
vo·is·ti (n) any of the Mütvian land spirits
voj·nek (n) abandonment phenomenon; what a principality’s territory becomes when the noble line ends without succession and the Land’s claim goes unmediated; from vo·is·ti root + -nek (diminished or unmediated form suffix); distinct from active Voisti
völ (n) valley; low land between rises
völ·vak (v) to abandon; to let something fall below; to give something over to the ground permanently; from völ (valley; low land) + -vak (immediate condition or lived state)
vor·a·sha (n) a bear-sized ambush cat of the Vorichnaya; hunts from above, dropping onto prey from branches; pelage shifts between grey and near-black by season; from va·dra (vigilance) + -sha (enduring quality suffix)
vor·chin (n) a large, dark-coated ungulate with a pronounced bone ridge along the spine used for tool-making after the hunt; primary large game animal of Mütvia; from vo·is·ti root + -chin (large fauna nominal suffix)
vo·rak (n) the Vorak; a grief-shape the Land generates when a death is concealed from the community; takes the approximate form of the hidden dead and moves toward the household keeping the secret; from vo·is·ti root + -ak (immediate manifestation suffix)
vrüm (v) to give back; to return what was taken
vroj·ken (n) a traveler who died alone between principalities and now walks the road they never finished; from vru·so (death as passage or journey) + -ken (one caught in an incomplete state)
vru·so (n) death as an event or passage; dying, killing, or being sent away; also a journey, especially one out of or into Mütvia
vs·tre·tir (v) to meet; to encounter face-to-face
vzar (v) to seize; to take by force or right

Y

yo (pro) I

Z

za·ğür (v) to sink into; to be drawn down and absorbed
za·mur (n) traitor
za·mur·tu (v) to betray
ză·năr (v) to know with certainty; to be sure
za·ren (v) to kill
za·rok (n) killer
zed·nya (n) danger
zhe·len (adj) living, breathing, actively alive
zhak·dov (n) an oath or promise
zhir·du (v) to go
zu (v) to survive
zu·dra (adj) just (as imposed, enforced)
zu·thra (n) survival through hardship

Extended Examples

Longer passages demonstrating Mütvian in use across register, context, and social relationship. Each example includes the original Mütvian, a literal English translation preserving word order, and an idiomatic English rendering.

Informal Exchange Between Equals

A greeting between two friends of equal standing passing on the road. Mütvian social speech is direct but warm among trusted company; repetition signals relief rather than redundancy.

Mütvian
Jera! Bruso sóro!
Jera! Sa sülve?
Gi stă, gi stă! Sa sülve? Sa ne damel?
Ne·lik·ta! Gi stă. Uth töi, jera!
Uth töi! Nu·vak kenal?
Da, da. Golvach trár — ne·lik·ta!
Oj! Gorsi sa! Sa er sülve, jera.
Sa er sülve. Zhirdu bruso!

English (literal)
My heart! Good day!
My heart! You safe?
We remain, we remain! You safe? You not exhausted?
Wonderful! We remain. Life now, my heart!
Life now! Food known?
Yes, yes. Boar three — wonderful!
Oj! Strength yours! Be safe, my heart.
Be safe. Go well!

Idiomatic English
My heart! Good day!
My heart! Are you safe?
We remain, we remain! Are you safe? Are you not exhausted?
Wonderful! We remain. Life is now, my heart!
Life is now! Is there food?
Yes, yes. Three boar — wonderful!
Oj! Your strength! Be safe, my heart.
Be safe. Go well!

A Commoner Before Ströikas Dracovich

A man petitions Ströikas Dracovich regarding a field producing Savoren near the Vorich border. The exchange illustrates formal address, the prince’s clipped declarative register, and the Mütvian expectation that petitioners arrive having already attempted solutions.

Mütvian
Commoner: Morukrak Vorich vedrak — io gamalad, Ströikas. Kethra sóro — trár savoren. Favak bareknek kua io sonir egdra ne harak. Ne kamu gi morukrak. Gi —

Dracovich: Gi ne kamu? Stă sa?

Commoner: Ne, Ströikas, gi —

Dracovich: Favak bareknek kua sonir egdra sa. Bareknek nethra dra stă nes?

Commoner: Oren, Ströikas, reša —

Dracovich: Stă oren gordren zhirdu nes kuadra. Morukrak?

Commoner: Ne kamu gi —

Dracovich: Kamu sa. Kețar sa tha gi io, čă padru·vak sa zhirdu tha, čă ne baru sa, čă ne padru·vak sa vizh. Zhirdu sa ravak. Sazor sa pathra ne bövi devro. Levak sonir egdra sa morukrak egdra völ bo·vi suvak. Ravak sa ne uth — uth čă favak sa gordren, ne pathra·vak.

Commoner: Ströikas — mütóș tha, muröna pa·len. Kamu morukrak io avi io. Avi nes —

Dracovich: Kenal io čă kamu morukrak avi sa. Kenal io čă stă en nes. Čă prus·ku io tanü sazor pathra ne bövi — ne völvak nes. Vrüm ne mütóș čă vzar nes. Kamu sa palen nes ne völvak nes — stă pathra·vak sa, esső. Stă vizh an.

Commoner: Ia falen ströi favak?

Dracovich: Ravak sa ia zhirdu·tu io garelri čă kenal sevaktu moruk. Reša ravak sa čă padru·vak sa. Ne zhirdu sa uth — stă tuma.

Commoner: Da, Ströikas.

Dracovich: Sonir egdra sa. Gorrek ne mitrek nes?

Commoner: Gorrek, Ströikas.

Dracovich: Favak sirak kua nes. Zhelén stă nes. Zhirdu sa.

English (literal)
Commoner: Field-of-worked-earth Vorich border — my family, Ströikas. Seven days — three Savoren. Lost fingers-small two son mine first not Harrow. Not work we field. We —

Dracovich: We not work? Plan yours?

Commoner: No, Ströikas, we —

Dracovich: Lost fingers-small two son yours. Fingers-small eight remain-state him?

Commoner: Eight, Ströikas, but —

Dracovich: Stand eight strength go him second. Field?

Commoner: Not work we —

Dracovich: Work you. Stand you there before us, that attempt you go there, that not burn you, that not attempt you all. Go you back. Salt you rows not end night. Leave son first yours field first low end frost. Come-back you not now — now that lost you courage, not paths-available.

Commoner: Ströikas — Land there, dark through. Work field mine father mine. Father his —

Dracovich: Known me that work field father yours. Known me that stand within it. That say me protect rows with salt not end — not abandon them. Give-back not Land that seize it. Work you through it not abandon it — stand paths-available yours, eternal. Stand all years.

Commoner: And fall terrible lost?

Dracovich: Come-back you and send me guard mine that known watch-read soil. But come-back you that attempt you. Not go you now — stand darkness.

Commoner: Yes, Ströikas.

Dracovich: Son first yours. Strong-side not weak-side his?

Commoner: Strong-side, Ströikas.

Dracovich: Lost broken two his. Living remain him. Go you.

Idiomatic English
Commoner: My family’s field at the Vorich border, Ströikas. Seven days — three Savoren. My eldest lost two fingers at the Harrow. We cannot work it. We —

Dracovich: You cannot work it? Is this your plan?

Commoner: No, Ströikas, we —

Dracovich: Your eldest lost two fingers. Does he have eight remaining?

Commoner: Eight, Ströikas, but —

Dracovich: Then he has eight reasons of strength to carry him forward. The field?

Commoner: We cannot work —

Dracovich: You can. You stand before me, which means you walked here, which means you did not burn it, which means you have not tried everything. Go back. Salt the rows before the night ends. Keep your eldest off the east quarter until the dryness holds. Come back when you have lost courage, not when you still have paths left to take.

Commoner: Ströikas — the soil there, darkness all the way through. My father worked that field. His father —

Dracovich: I know your fathers worked that field. I know what holds within it. Which is why I tell you: protect the rows with salt before they end — do not abandon them. The Land does not give back what it seizes. Work through it or abandon it — those are your paths, eternal. They have always been.

Commoner: And if things fall worse and are lost?

Dracovich: Come back and I will send my guard who knows how to read the soil. But come back having tried. Do not go now — that is darkness.

Commoner: Yes, Ströikas.

Dracovich: Your eldest. Is it his strong side or his weak side?

Commoner: Strong side, Ströikas.

Dracovich: He lost the broken two. He lives. Go.

“Danju”, a Mütvian Song

Spring verses of the folk song Danju, sung at the Awakening festival. The song encodes the community’s obligation to the Sanji and the cost of failing it.

Mütvian

“De danju, sonir io,
čă kenal sa.
Falen mizhak,
tarektu sa tarek.

Adrutu havak vi,
ne bövi ivakne suvaken devro.
Stă devzudra,
galen korenrak.

Levak avnur,
stă domi sanji:
Nosir uo,
zhirdu,
stă raduk vi.”

English (literal)
Of festival, son mine,
that known you.
Fall foolishness,
owe you debt.

Approach warmth land,
not end not-yet frost night.
Stand awakening-state,
glow woods.

Leave-behind newborn,
stand command land-spirits:
carry her,
go,
stand rot land.

Idiomatic English
Of the festivals, my son,
these are the ones you have known.
To fall into foolishness
is to owe a debt.

The warmth draws near the land,
and the last frost of night does not yet end.
The Awakening stands,
and the woods begin to glow.

Leave the newborn behind—
the command of the land spirits stands:
they carry her away,
they go,
or the land rots.