In this article, the Ancient Language refers to the Ancient Language of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy, comprising Eragon, Eldest, and the third book (which has yet to be published and may be called Empire) in the fictional world of Alagaësia. The Ancient Language originated from the Grey Folk, and is used by the elves for everything, and by elves, Dragon Riders, Shades, and other magic users to perform magic. Names in this language are true names, making it the language of magic. The knowledge of one's true name <!--'true name' is accessible and more refined than "someone's or something's name"--> grants the ability to control them/it. The pronunciation, tenses, and other things about the Ancient Language can be found in the Language Guide in the Deluxe Edition of Eragon.

The language is heavily influenced by Old Norse.

Origins

The Ancient Language was the language of the Grey Folk, who were not elves. It is not known for certain what they were.

The Ancient Language wasn't always the language of magic. Originally, magic was controlled by the magic user's thoughts; if the magic user was distracted, the consequences could have been terrible. Eventually, there was a tremendous magical disaster, and the Grey Folk decided to do something about the danger of employing magic. They cast the greatest spell in history, and changed the very nature of magic so that their language controlled it, and even if someone's thoughts were distracted when they were casting a spell, if they used the language the spell would be cast as the words commanded it to be. The effort this spell took caused the Grey Folk to die out. They were said to be the first magic users in the world.

Phrases

All phrases are taken from the back of Eragon, the Eragon Deluxe Edition, and Eldest.

Aí varden abr du Shur'tugals gata vanta--A warden of the Riders lacks passage.

älfr ach thornessa--He does this.

älfrinn ero aí koma ramrsja--She was a strong-looking woman.

Atra gülai un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse skölir frá rauthr.--Let luck and happiness follow you and may you be a shield from misfortune. (In the first book, the last clause is stated to be "may you be shielded from misfortune." In the second, it is revealed Eragon misspoke due to a still-flawed grasp of the language.)

Böetq istalri!--Broad fire!

Deloi moi!--Earth, change!

Domia abr Wydra--Dominance of Fate (book)

draumr kópa--dream stare

Du grind huildr!--Hold the gate!

"Du Silbena Datia"--"The Sighing Mists" (a poem song)

Du Súndavar Freohr--Death of the Shadows

Du Vrangr Gata--The Wandering Path

Du Weldenvarden--The Guarding Forest

Eka aí friai un Shur'tugal!--I am a Rider and a friend!

Fethrblaka, eka weohnata néiat haina ono. Blaka eom iet lam.--Bird, I will not harm you. Flap to my hand.

gath un reisa du rakr!--Unite and raise the mist!

gedwëy ignasia--shining palm

Gëuloth du knífr!--Dull the Knife!

Jierda theirra kalfis!--Break their calves!

Lethrblaka--a bat; Ra'zac's mounts (literally, leather-flapper)

Manin! Wyrda! Hugin!--Memory! Fate! Thought!

Moi stenr!--Stone, change!

Nagz reisa!--Blanket, rise!

Osthato Chetowä--the Mourning Sage

Skolir nosu fra brisingr--Shield us from fire

Skulblaka, eka celöbra ono un malabra ono un onr Shur'tugal né haina. Atra nosu waíse fricai.--Dragon, I honor you and mean you and your Rider no harm. Let us be friends.

Stenr reisa!--Raise stone!

Thrysta deloi--Compress the earth.

Thverr stenr un atra eka hórna!--Traverse stone and let me hear!

Togira Ikonoka--The Cripple Who Is Whole

tuatha du orothrim--tempering the fool's wisdom (level in the Riders' training)

Waíse heill!--Be healed!

Wiol ono.--For you.

Wiol pömnuria ilian.--For my happiness

Words

All words are taken from the back of Eragon, the Eragon deluxe edition, and Eldest.

abr--of

adurna--water

Agaetí Blödhren--Blood-oath Celebration

aí--a

Aiedail--the Morning Star

älfr--he

älfrinn--she

arget--silver

Argetlam--Silver Hand

Bjartskular--Brightscales

blaka--Flapper

blöthr--halt; stop

breoal--family house

brisingr--fire

Dagshelgr--Hallowed Day

deloi--earth

dras--city

draumr kópa--dream stare

Du--the

eddyr--am

eka--I

ero--was

er--is

freohr--death

grind--gate

Edoc'sil--Unconquerable

eitha--go, leave

eragon--litterally brave or mighty

ethgri--invoke

Fethr--feather

Fethrblaka--bird (literally feather-flapper)

garjzla--light

haina--harm

heill--heal

Helgrind--The Gates of Death

hugin--thought

huildr--hold

hvitr--white

iet--my (informal)

illian--happiness

jierda--break; hit

kvetha fracai--greetings, friend

lam--hand

lethr--leather

lethrblaka--a bat; the Ra'zac's mounts (literally leather-flapper)

malthinae--to bind of hold in place; confine

manin--memory

moi--change

nagz--blanket

ono--you

onr--your

pömnuria--my (formal)

reisa--rise

Ristvak'baen--Place of Sorrow

seithr--witch

Shur'tugal--Dragon Rider

skolir--shield

skoliro--shielded

skul--scale

skulblaka--dragon (literally scale-flapper)

slytha--sleep

stenr--stone

sundavar--shadows

thrysta--thrust;compress

un--and

vanyali--elf

Varden--the Warders

vöndr--a thin, straight stick

wiol--for

waíse--be

weohnata--will

wyrda--fate

yawë--a bond of trust