Galindri Words and Phrases

Book Two: The Gallant Riders contains a great deal of the Galindri tongue, which admittedly is not easy to pronounce as one reads along. Here is a glossary of words and phrases along with sound files for pronunciation. The files are from the upcoming audio books, so some of the readings are in character.

A’lanóka – ‘Night,’ Teya’s black mare.

anshó′a le – Is she alone?

b’ámava berries – berries with a dark staining juice, used in a legend to hide a light-skinned baby (Kraal) among the Galindri.

b′á-ja – thank you.

bo-thé ga-yá-toh – a light curse meaning ‘flying boars’.

dep’ázhana k’ó-saya, b’á-ja! – Thank you (formal) elder sister, thank you!

de-petha – take it.

do’aya ayát-sem – ten-hand circle, a seasonal meeting of fifty elders from different tribes.

doma-jo-áman – literally ‘horse legs,’ strong thighs needed for riding bareback.

el-á′tra-beh – welcome, literally ‘sun shine on you.’

f’alón – tree (general). Galindri names for trees are sacred and secret.

Ga-te-shon’a – Outlander, non-Galindri.

Gáteth’a – ‘This Land’. What the Galindri call their continent.

Gatéth-sho’a – ‘People of the Land.’ What the Galindri call themselves.

gebeh – food.

g′ólena – drink.

jo’áman – horse.

jo-áman t’menéko – (it is) a colt (young male horse).

k’ó-saya – elder sister.

l’lash – a wrap worn around the chest by men and women, often used to hold small items.

lá-k’o-kus – old woman.

Lelóndi – she who is lofty. (Cindra’s private nickname)

lok-shíneh – war token, a trophy taken from the first kill in battle.

ló-poh – father.

Majii-Ama – adopted daughter of Majii.

ma-shi’íni – a bitter herb with small light pink flowers that can cause severe digestive problems. Teya uses it as a derogatory term for Outlanders.

mén-ko-she – daughter.

Ne, ne! Doha erenáya! – No, no! Release me!

Neko-fáche-beh! – One who has sex with goats.

ó-ki-jéshola – woman’s hair, signifying a woman’s readiness for or involvement in a romantic relationship.

Ozh-sho-lapah – literally ‘God people mother’ or Jayda, the World Mother.

P’ínika-do – Two Knives (Teya’s nickname).

Sheja jezhónk’a noko? – Cindra says “Maybe we can get a husband for brother?” She meant to say ‘neko’ (the goat), not ‘noko’ (brother). This causes humor.

T’emeko’a Tol’ózh – The Baby Boy of the King God. It is the Galindri version of the story of Kraal the demigod, son of Arathus.

T’ózha – Fleet or fast. Cindra’s horse.

Wá-shad! – Expression of surprise, no direct translation.

yime, l’nók-da – it is time to speak.

zéh’noka – dread wolf, a species of large canine with long, gaping jaws.