High Valyrian: Learn How To Speak And Pronounce Common Phrases

As the House of The Dragon continues to entertain and intrigue our eyes week after week, our ears are left to hear this ancient, yet fictional language known as High Valyrian, the language of the old Valyrian Freehold. Hearing, learning, and maybe even understanding High Valyrian is not even a bad thing, because this language that can summon mighty dragons is quite fascinating. Don’t you agree?

In the first season of House of The Dragon series, you can see the Targaryens speaking the language. Daemon and Rhaenyra both use and speak High Valyrian as a way of forming a deeper connection between them — as if the old language is their own special love language. You can also witness Aemond Targaryen using High Valyrian to command his dragon Vhagar, and that’s because the Targaryens' dragons can only communicate in High Valyrian. And, there is Jacaerys Velaryon who is also learning High Valyrian with Maester Gerardys; he even stumbles over a few words during the class, which is an ordinary thing that happens when one is learning a new language.

High Valyrian, a fictional language created by David J. Peterson, is a member of the Valyrian language family. The language is no longer used as a primary language of communication by the common people of Valyria, but it is sometimes spoken by its elite society. It is a functional and inflectional language that is continuously evolving. So, thank you David J. Peterson for developing this extraordinary language, for without you there would be no High Valyrian. Kirimvose.

For now, here’s a set of pronunciation tips and vocabulary you can master to kickstart your High Valyrian lessons.

Giphy / Game of Thrones

Giphy / Game of Thrones

Pronunciation Tips

• “R” should be trilled. Think of rrrrrrrrr. Think of the Spanish “R”. Just roll every single “R” that you see. If you think you are being extrrrra with yourrrr trrrriling of rrrrrrr’s, think again because you’re not. What you’re doing is really just enhancing your Valyrrrrian accent.
• “J” is pronounced as zh like in zhuzh. Its pronunciation is more palatal, almost similar to your regular “J” sound.
• “Y” is pronounced as ü. Not ooohh or uuh, but something like euh. Think of it as if you’re posing with a semi-duck face, pronouncing the letter “Y” as euh.
• “Ñ” is pronounced as the Spanish “Ñ.” Think of the word año pronounced as ah-nyo. Think of the word niña pronounced as nee-nya. Think of the word niño pronounced as nee-nyo.
• The macron over the vowel letters (Ā, Ē, Ī, Ō, Ū, Ȳ ) indicate that the sound of the letter must be stretched. So when you see vowels with a macron on top of any vowel letter, remember to prolong the pronunciation.

High Valyrian Words

Start practicing your High Valyrian pronunciation with the following words.

• yes – issa
• welcome – jiōrna
• hi, hello – rytsas
• goodbye – geros ilas
• and – se
• no – daor
• please – kostilus
• again – arlī
• actually – drīvose
• hontes – bird – hontes
• hontesse – birds
• azantys – knight
• azantyssy – knights
• zentys – guest
• zentyssy – guests
• vala – man – vala
• vali – men – vali
• boy – taoba
• taobi – boys – taobi
• woman – ābra
• women – ābri
• girls – riñi
• girl – riña
• mother / the mother – muña
• mothers / the mothers – muñi
• father / the father – kepe
• wife – ābrazȳrys
• female – ābrenka
• blood of the dragon – zaldrīzo ānogar
• cat – kēli
• cats – kēla
• long night – bantāzma
• sword – korze
• hammer – galry
• money – gēlior
• bread – havon
• Game of Thrones – Tymptir Dēmalȳti
• wolf – zokla
• wolves – zoklī
• piece of fruit – gerpi
• not today – tubī daor
• yes and no – issa se daor
• excellent – rōvēgrior
• white – timpa
• black – zōbrie
• red – mele
• yellow – qeldlie
• horse – anne
• grapes – avera
• grape – avero
• you – ao
• to bake – bāngagon
• name – brōzi
• mountain – blēnon
• freedom – dāerves
• queen – dāria
• sea – embar
• silver – gēlion
• bread – havon
• nowhere – daoriot
• long night – bantāzma
• lord – āeksio
• small – byka
• luck, happiness – biarves
• Mother of Dragons – Muña Zaldrizoti
• bull – vandis
• fly – sōvēs
• older brother – lēkia
• younger brother – valonqar
• older sister – mandia
• younger sister – hāedar
• twin – idaña

High Valyrian Sentences

Start practicing your High Valyrian pronunciations with these simple sentences.

• How are you? – Skorkydoso glaesā?
• I am well. – Syrī glaesan.
• I am not doing well. – Syrī glaeson daor.
• Why? – Skoro syt?
• What’s your name? – Skoroso jemēle brōzā?
• How’s it going? – Skorkydoso glaesā?
• That one is good. – Kony sȳz issa.
• Not today. – Tubī daor.
• What do you think? – Skoros otāpā?
• My mother is happy. – Ñuha muña kirine issa.
• My father is happy. – Ñuha kepa kirini issa.
• The day is beautiful. – Tubis gevie issa.
• Will you marry me? – Ao ynoma dīnilūks?
• I am good, thank you. – Sȳz iksan, kirimvose.
• Seven Hells! – Sīkudi nopāzmi
• I love you. – Avy jorrāela
• Thank you. – Kirimvose.
• You’re welcome. – Biarvose.
• My name is (name). – Ñuha brozi (name) issa.
• My father is a wise man. – Kepa ñuha sylvie vala issa.
• My mother is wise. – Muña sylvie issa.
• More pigeon pie, please. – Tolī rhūqo lōtinti, kostilus.
• Valyrian is my mother tongue. – Valyrio muño ēngos ñuhys issa.
• My father loves my mother. – Ñuha kepa ñuhe muñe jorrāelza.
• Where is the bathroom? – Skoriot rāenābion ilza?
• Hold the door, please. – Nerni ōrēs, kostilus.
• Happy birthday! – Asshekhqoyi vezhvena!
• Calm down. – Lykirī.