List of Minbari words and phrases
From The Babylon Project
The following is a partial list of Minbari words and phrases along with a brief explanation of their meaning in English. Where possible, the specific Minbari dialect from which the word originate will also be specified.
[edit] Glossary of Words
[edit] Ahel
Ahel translates into English as "continuous fire". It is phonetically identical to the English exclamation "Ah hell". [1]
[edit] Alit
Alit is a Warrior Caste military rank comparable to an Earth Brigadier General.[2]
[edit] Anla'shok
Anla'shok can be loosely translated into English as "Ranger". That is to say one who ranges (travels) over a region to protect the area.[3]
[edit] Chayva
Chen translates into English as "seven." [4]
[edit] Denn'bok
A traditional weapon, roughly translates into English as "fighting pike".[5]
[edit] Denn-shah
Denn-shah can be loosely translated into English as "to the death".[6]
[edit] Entil-zha
Entil-zha is not actually a Minbari word, at least not in it's entirety. The specific phrase is believed to be of Vorlon origin and first entered Minbari vocabulary during the First Shadow War.[3] However, the word does contain the "Zha" word component which in other Minbari words usually is a reference to "the future", so Entil-Zha's true meaning should be "the one who creates or guides the forces creating the future".[7]
[edit] Fane
Fane literally translates as a small temple or shrine, though it's actual usage refers to a specific clan as Minbari see the family unit as a shrine to their beliefs.[2]
[edit] F'hursna
F'hursna is an honorific given to the Master teacher of the Denn'bok.[3]
[edit] Gokk
A domestic pet, similar to Earth Cats in demeanour. [8]
[edit] Heefa
Heefa translates as "passionate love-making".[9][2]
[edit] Ingati
A fierce animal, much respected for its courage and a sought after hunting trophy. Broadly similar to an Earth grizzly bear.[2]
[edit] Isil'zha
Isil'zha is a Minbari word which usually means change, changing the future, or coming of a new age. [10][11]
[edit] Madagon
A very aggressive six legged animal about the size of an Earth Great Dane. It features include sharp spines on its back and a double set of teeth.[2]
[edit] Mora'dum
Mora'dum translates into English as "the application of terror." Most likely a word from the warrior caste's language.[5]
[edit] N'Kai
N'Kai is an usual word in Minbari languages as it appears in all ninety seven Minbari dialects and sub-tongues yet it never means the same thing twice. As such it can mean many different things including but not limited to "sand", "father" and "boot". The word is pronounced with a sharp tongue-click after the "N" sound. [12]
[edit] Na
Na translates into English as "one" or "first". For example "Anla'Shok Na" means "Ranger One". [3]
[edit] Nafak'cha
Nafak'ch roughly translates as "rebirth ceremony".[13]
[edit] Ni
Ni translates into English as "no", "negative" or "don't".[14]
[edit] Nusental
Nusental translates into English as "you're welcome."[15]
[edit] Satai
An honorific used exclusively by each of the nine members of the Grey Council.[16]
[edit] Sech
Sech translates into English as "teacher" though it has a stronger cultural connotation than the English equivalent and is a title that commands great respect and is the mark of someone who has achieved mastery of their given subject or vocation. In the words of Sech Durhan "Any Sech would rather resign from his position and give up the ancient art forever than teach its ways to the unworthy."[3]
[edit] Sha'neyat
Sha'neyat can be loosely translated into English as "death destroyer".[3]
[edit] Shag-toth
Shag-toth translates into English as "soul hunter." [16]
[edit] Shai Alit
Shai Alit is a Warrior Caste military rank comparable to an Earth 5-star General, or Joint Chief of Staff.[2]
[edit] Shaal
Shaal is an honorific title, granted to a person who has made a major achievement, usually a lifetime achievement.[2]
[edit] Shan-fall
The third movement of preparation and mutual understanding. One of many Minbari courtship rituals where a prospective couple will spend the night together discovering one another's centers of pleasure, with great deliberation prayerfully, with respect and meditation, while a group of close friends or family wait outside to pray and meditate and ensure that things do not go too far. (Not to be confused with Heefa.)[17]
[edit] Shu-Nali
Shu-Nali is a particular type of design aesthetic and was the basis for the "Liandra" type vessels.[18]
[edit] Temshwee
A small, blue, bird like creature.[3]
[edit] Tet
Tet translates into English as "nine." [4]
[edit] Ti'la
Ti'la can be loosely translated into English as "poet song." [9]
[edit] Tuzanor
Tuzanor comes for the ancient Na'sen dialect of Adronato and translates into English as "City of Sorrows."[3]
[edit] Vi drosh
Vitrosh translates into English as "I'm sorry."[14]
[edit] Vo
Vo translates into English as "five." [4]
[edit] Z'ha'dum
Z'ha'dum translates into English as "death of the future", or "the dark future".[7]
[edit] Zerka
A small, rare ceremonial plant that is spun into thread used only on very special garments. [19]
[edit] Zhu San
Zhu San translates loosely into English as "Are you all right?"[14]
[edit] Glossary of Phrases
[edit] "Enfalli nus fi dromo en calli fen"
This phrase loosely translates as "stand by as we go aboard and inform us immediately if you pick up any transmissions."[20]
[edit] "Fayzen shok"
This phrase translates as "Ahead full".
[edit] "Flok sha"
This phrase translates as "Engines at full." [21]
[edit] "Nachass....duweena"
The exact meaning of this phrase is unclear, although it is used to order a computer to play the sounds of rain falling on a roof. [22]
[edit] "Ni moshna"
This phrase translates as "Don't be (sorry.)"[14]
[edit] "Nascen Fek"
This phrase loosely translates as "check weapons systems."[23]
[edit] "Nih sakh sh'lekk, sleem wa"
Adronato phrase meaning "I am your friend in peace". [24]
[edit] "Ne tawa, ness-ah"
This phrase loosely translates as "set course" or "set course for...".[4]
[edit] "Nisi du zafann drok"
This phrase loosely translates as "Ready forward weapons”.
[edit] "Nuzin falani...en alis mi dron"
This phrase translates as "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met." NOTE: this phrase does not mean "My words are inadequate to the burden of my heart." [23][15]
[edit] "Seh'lick sakar"
This phrase loosely translates into English as "soul sick".[25]
[edit] "Si dramani"
This phrase loosely translates as "cease fire". [1]
[edit] "Si dromo"
This phrase loosely translates as "order confirmed."[23]
[edit] "Ve nessa n'fallen "
This phrase translates as "I know what's coming."[14]
[edit] "Zak dosh, ninty-vo komma shok"
This phrase loosely translates as "turn thirty degrees to port." [26]
[edit] Notes on Minbari Languages
- The Minbari have a sum total of ninety seven dialects and sub-tongues though the three major languages are Adronato, Feek and Lenn'a.[12][24] While all Minbari generally understand all three languages, it's considered a taboo for a member of the Warrior or a Religious castes to speak in the language of the Worker caste. The Worker caste on the other hand have no such taboo as they are often required to interact with members of all three castes as part of their jobs as workers.[3]
- Adronato is the language of the Religious Caste and is by far the most demanding of the three, possessing an intricate set of grammatical rules that change from situation to situation, depending on who the speaker is addressing and what the topic of conversation is. Non native speakers find it to be far too easy to say the wrong thing to the wrong person in the wrong grammatical way in the religious-caste dialect. [3]
- The language of the Warrior Caste tends to be much more straightforward and vigorous compared to the other dialects. [3]
- The language of the Worker Caste has a simple and unadorned style compared to the other two dialects.[3]
- No Minbari language has a corresponding word for "goodbye". All Minbari phrases that are used for partings contain within them the possibility of meeting again, in some way shape or form.[27]
- "Zha" is a component that appears in several Minabri phrases and usually refers to "the future", though it's exact meaning changes depending it's use as either a suffix or a prefix and what other component makes up the full phrase. For example "Isil-zha" normally means "changing the future" while "Z'ha'dum", with the broken "zha" means the "death of the future". [7]
- "Shok" is a component that appears in words and phrases relating to travel and direction.
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Into the Fire
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Other Voices Vol 3 - Babylon 5 Alien Guide
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 To Dream in the City of Sorrows
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Voices of Authority
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Learning Curve
- ↑ Grey 17 is Missing
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 JMS post on compuserve - 1/6/1998
- ↑ A Race Through Dark Places
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The War Prayer
- ↑ A Late Delivery from Avalon
- ↑ In the Beginning
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Quality of Mercy
- ↑ Ceremonies of Light and Dark
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 War Without End, Part I
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Between the Darkness and the Light
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Soul Hunter (episode)
- ↑ Racing Mars
- ↑ The Legend of the Rangers
- ↑ Atonement
- ↑ In Valen's Name
- ↑ The Summoning
- ↑ Messages from Earth
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Shadow Dancing
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 And Now For a Word
- ↑ Soul Mates
- ↑ Ship of Tears
- ↑ Objects at Rest
