Conversation & Common Phrases
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Key Points
- In canon, numbers and size are expressed through phrases like "very many" or "very little."
- Non-canon numbers are counted zero to nine, with suffixes to express tens, hundreds, etc.
- The suffix -aan is used for ordinal numbers.
- The suffix -t is used for adverbial numbers.
Expressing Numbers or Size
Since the majority of sources for the dragon language in Skyrim are historical or conversational in nature, there is very little to be found in the way of numbers. This can make expressing specific numbers or times particularly challenging. This lesson explores how to deal with those challenges with other vocabulary found in the language.
The language does not feature a counting system. Instead, descriptions and comparisons must be used to express number, length, or size. The following vocabulary can help you with these expressions:
| after | mindin |
| age | bok |
| ago | vod |
| all | pah |
| as | ol |
| before | us |
| best | pruzaan |
| each/every | enook |
| far | gut |
| finite | zah |
| great | lot |
| like/similar to | med |
| little/small | mal |
| many | pogaan |
| most | zok |
| much | pogaas |
| none/nothing | nid |
| once | ont |
| one | gein |
| only | nunon |
| some | osos |
| very | rinik |
Armed with the words above, we can turn numbers into general phrases. "10,000 men" can simply be expressed as rinik pogaan muz "very many men." "8 o' clock in the morning" can be expressed as mindin vu "after dawn."
Also consider colorful descriptions or metaphors to illustrate numbers. "30,000 gold" might be faraansejun "a king's fortune," or "200 miles back" might be pogaan viing vod "many wings ago." Accuracy is ultimately lost, but the best way to express numbers in canon is to use phrases or comparisons that are relatable and paint a picture of the concept.