Each basic idea in Khuzdul is represented by a group of consonants
(most often 3 consonants). This is called the “stem.”
Nouns, verbs, and other words are then formed by adding vowels
in appropriate patterns, and sometimes adding a prefix or suffix.
Kh-Z-D (stem for “Dwarf”
Notice that “Kh” is one
consonant sound.)
Khuzd (Dwarf)
Khazâd (Dwarves)
Khuzdul (Dwarvish)
As noted in the lesson on Writing
Dwarvish, “Th,” “Dh,” “Sh,” “Zh,” “Kh,” and
“Gh” are each a single consonant in Dwarvish.
This system of consonant stems is typical of Hebrew, Arabic, and
related languages. A dwarf would probably look at the English
words
wake (present tense verb)
woke (past tense verb)
awake (adjective)
and conclude that English has a “stem” W-K, designating the
state of being awake.
‹«◊»›
What are the patterns for converting a root to a usable word? We
can figure out a few patterns, but often the analysts are guessing,
based on one or two known Dwarvish words.
Following Ardalambion's notation, let us represent the consonants
of a 3-letter root by the numbers 1, 2, and 3. Using Kh-Z-D as
an example: 1=Kh, 2=Z, 3=D.
stem:
1-2-3
singular
noun: 1u23 (frequently)
Kh-Z-D
(stem for “Dwarf”) → Khuzd (a Dwarf)
B-N-D
(stem for “head”) → bund (a head)
R-Kh-S
(stem for “orc”) → Rukhs (an Orc)
plural
noun: 1a2â3 (frequently)
Kh-Z-D
(stem
for “Dwarf”) → Khazâd
(Dwarves)
T-R-G
(stem
for “beard”) → tarâg
(beards)
R-Kh-S
(stem for “orc”) → Rakhâs
(Orcs)
Other
known plurals, such as shathûr
(clouds) and bizâr
(valleys) do not follow this pattern exactly.
a person, place, or thing
characterized by the root: 1a23ûn
Th-R-K (speculated
to be the stem for “staff”)
→ Tharkûn
(Gandalf's Dwarvish name, speculated to mean “staff-man”)
N-R-G
(stem for “black”)
→ Nargûn
(Mordor)
one who does: a1a2â3
(based on one example)
Z-Gh-L
(speculated to be the stem for “make war”)
→ Azaghâl
(name speculated to mean “warrior”)
adjective: frequently 1a2a3
or 1i2i3
B-R-Z (stem for “red”)
→ baraz
(red)
N-R-G
(stem for “black”)
→ narag
(presumed adjective “black”)
S-G-N
(presumed stem for “long”)
→ sigin
(long, used of a plural noun)
Does
that mean adjectives for singular nouns are 1a2a3,
and adjectives for plural nouns are 1i2i3?
No one knows for sure. Several known adjectives do not
fit either pattern.
adjective, patronymic, genitive:
suffix -ul
Khuzd
(a
Dwarf) → Khuzdul
(Dwarvish)
Fundin
→ Fundinul
({son}
of Fundin)
When the root has only two consonants, then often (though not
always), use those as letters 2 and 3 of the pattern.
Z-N
(stem
for “shadow, dimness”) → uzn
(a shadow)
Z-N
(stem
for “shadow, dimness”) → azan
(shadows) (Why not azân?
Possibly the second vowel appears short because it is in a
compound word, Azanulbizar,
Dimrill Dale.)
For
nearly every one of these “patterns,” there are examples of words
that do not fit the pattern. Take everything with a grain of
salt!
‹«◊»›
Ardalambion
has a listing of all the known Dwarvish words, from all of Professor
Tolkien's writings and letters.
« Khuzdul Language « Dwarvish Index » Khuzdul Sentences »
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