Common Drow words

Note concerning current policy

Up until January 2011, there was no Drow language on Arelith. Today, we have Xanalress. So there is no longer a need to remember any drow words. Using the words in this article or any other "canon" drow words in-game is now frowned upon and strongly discouraged, since it alienates players who do not want to learn a whole new language just to play a drow character. The following article is therefore only provided for historic purposes.

If you are a new player, and don't care about the old days, you may stop reading here. If you're interested in the history of Drow roleplay, and maybe also understand why some players still talk about it, you may read the below.

Common words in the drow tongue

Underdark players (and a few unlucky surface players) would notice that drow characters often made use of weird expressions Like: "dos", "xas", "usstan" or "Kivvil". These words are part of the drow dictionary, and in order to improve the role playing and distinguish the drow way of speaking from the other races, many drow-owner players used them.

A list of common terms have been published on the arelith boards (credit to sojouner and fire boar), if you either play or wish to start a drow character, it is strongly recomended to have the following list copied on your journal:

Yes = Xas

No = Nau

Not = Naut

Thank you = Bel'la Dos (apostrophe positioning optional)

Matron = Ilharess (other valid spellings include Illharess and Il'lharess)

Queen/supreme ruler (not really used here) = Valsharess

Lolth bless you = Lolth kyorl dos

Lolth be praised = Lolth tlu malla

Surfacer = Kivvil

Human = Rivvil

Surfacer Elf = Darthiir

I (myself/this one) = usstan

me = Ussa

mine = Usst

My = Ussta

you = dos

your = Dossta

yours = dosst

Yourself = Dosstan

I/we Greet You = Vendui'

I/we Leave You = Aluve'

Of course = Del'heen

(general curse) = Vith

Male (Gender) = jaluk

Male in charge of something = Jabbuk

Female (Gender) = jalil

Mistress (Respectful way to address an unknown female) = Jabress

sister = dalninil

Brother = Dalninuk

Daughter = Dalharil

Son = Dalharuk

honoured = malla

Example: Of course, honoured Matron, I will do that for you. = Del'heen, malla Ilharess, usstan will do that for dos.

NOTE: You did not have to know these words if you play a Drow, you could always ask to the other players in case they said something you did not understand, still, knowing them would make RP flow way faster and would spare you from OOC chats (tells), which could take away your attention from the main RP focus.