Romulan 101

[wraith1701]

In her Rihannsu books, prolific Trek writer Diane Duane has created a wealth of information on Romulan language and culture.  In the books, the terms Romulan, Romulus, and Remus are considered to be simply the Federation terms for the people, language, and planets of the Romulan Star Empire.  Being Earth terms, these labels are obviously not used by Romulans when referring to themselves.  

The following is a brief compilation of some words and phrases from Duane's books. Since the current season of the rpg takes place in Romulan space, some players might find the following words and phrases useful.  While not all have been spoken in any film or TV episode, some, such as Jolan'tru (generic semiformal greeting and farewell)
have made their way into 'screen-canon'.

Rihannsu-

The primary native languages of the Romulan people. It developed from Old High Vulcan on the journey of the exiles from Vulcan to Romulus. It is also the Romulan's name for themselves--  Rihanha (singluar), Rihannsu (plural):  native(s) of ch'Rihan, literally "the Declared".

ch'Rihan-

Romulus, or  "Planet of the Declared"

ch'Havran

Remus, or "Planet of the Travelers"

Phrases

   * a'hyan hnaai ll'anha - "(persons name), get an away team ready to go."
   * lagga ch'jhu - "a flower for an angel"
   * hwiiyo her'u- "I am lonely"
   * hnalo-stev thllen-a - "I want results now"
   * hnalo thlo hru'fir - "I need my bondmate," or "I need to bond"
   * hwiiy amton'wi-kha - "you are promiscuous"
   * hwiiy kneu'ginye - "you are a lush"
   * tal 'le kll'inghann - "you look like a Klingon"
   * hwiiy l'lorel'ei - "you are attractive"
   * ssuej-ay thlom? - "do you know me?"
   * jol-ao au - "I love you"
   * kll'inghann-a fvaiin aefvadh-ayar'dhat chon - "Klingon dogs are not welcome here" (aefvadh is the verb, meaning "are welcome," with -ayar being the suffix to denote a singular third person subject-verb combo)
   * ssuej-ay t'lhim lloann'na? - "do you know that Fed?"
   * hriah-ay th'ann(-a) hrrau br'terrh - "take the prisoner(s) to the brig"
   * urruyo oira - "I'm on (going to) the bridge"
   * ya-ie'yakk - "armed and ready to open fire"
   * hwiiy kllhe - "you (are a) worm"
   * v'yy'al, fvai - "(you will) die, dog"
   * v'rhaen-ao'au - "I'll kill you"
   * Ie-a'rhea - "Yes, dear heart?"
   * au 'e! - "Oh yes!"
   * hnafirh 'rau - "let me see"
   * hteij 'rahe - "activate transporter"
   * Ie'yyak-hnah! - "Fire disruptors!"
   * Ssuej-d'ifv? - "Do you understand?" (superior to inferior)
   * Vaed'rae! - "Attend me!"
   * h'ta-fvau - "Come back here!" (lit, "To last place, immediate-return!")

Common words

   * aefvadh - formal greeting, literally "be welcome"
   * aehallh - "nightmare" or "monster"
   * Ael - "winged," also a fairly common proper name
   * afw'ein - "reason," as in one's faculties not motives for behavior
   * Areinnye - Hell
   * au - "you"
   * bedah - "goodbye"
   * ch'Havran - (planet) "of the Travelers"; (Remus)
   * ch'Rihan - (planet) "of the Declared"; (Romulus)
   * daise - prefix indicating "chief," "principle," "senior," "foremost," etc.
   * deihu - "elder"; a member of the Romulan Senate, equivalent to Terran "Senator."
   * dhat - "no"
   * Etre - "Mister" (male or female, as in the military sense)
   * fvai, fvaiin - child's riding-beast and house-pet, similar in size to the Terran Great Dane.
   * Fvillha - "Praetor": originally a judicial-level official with some executive powers, now greatly expanded.
   * galae - "fleet", more specifically "space-fleet". Derives from aeronautic rather than naval tradition.
   * hann'yyo - "thank you"
   * Havranha, Havranssu - native(s) of ch'Havran
   * hfai, hfehan - "bond-servant"; one earning a wage without liberty to change employers at will.
   * hfihar, hfihrnn - "House(s)"; noble families, not dwellings.
   * hlai, hlaiin - large flightless birds farmed for meat, similar to the Terran ostritch.
   * hna - "now"
   * hrrau - "at"/"in"/"on"; general locative particle or infix.
   * hnafirh - "see"
   * hru'fir - "mate"
   * hru'hfirh - "Head-of-House" or "the Lord"; Most senior member of a noble family.
   * hteij - "transporter"
   * ie - "yes"
   * Ihhei - "Madam" or "Ma'am"
   * jolan'tru - "hello" (informal)
   * kaleh - "honor blade"
   * khlenai - "replicator"
   * kuhaos'ellaer - "lastmeal" (dinner)
   * mnekha - "good" (superior - inferior mode)
   * mnek'nra - "good" (inferior - superior mode)
   * na - "the"
   * oira - "bridge"
   * qiuu - "all"
   * Rekkhai - "Sir"
   * rha - "indeed"
   * Rihanha, Rihannsu - native(s) of ch'Rihan, literally "the Declared"
   * ryak'na - "garbage"
   * siuren - "minute"
   * ssuaj - "understand"
   * th'ann - "prisoner"
   * tie-hh'ellaer - "firstmeal" (breakfast)
   * vah - "what"
   * veruul - "fool"

Military ranks

   * ennarain - senior centurian; colonel of infantry, commander of Fleet forces. Minimum rank at which the office may command more than his own vessel.
   * erei'riov - subcommander; captain of infantry, lieutenant commander of Fleet. The usual rank of a first officer.
   * erein -- antecenturion/subcenturion (translation sources vary); officer-cadet of infantry, ensign of Fleet forces.
   * khre'riov - "Commander-general"; colonel of infantry or a commodore of the Fleet forces.

Other races (and related words)

   * Bah'jorann - Bajoran
   * Card'hassin - Cardassian
   * Feh'rengi - Ferengi
   * hevamsu - human
   * Kll'inghann - Klingon
   * klivamsu - Klingon
   * lloannen'galae - Starfleet
   * lloann'mhrahel - Federation (lit, "Them, from There")
   * Lloann'na - a member of the Federation
   * stelai ler'khelloann - Klingon Neutral Zone
   * stelai ler'lloann - Federation Neutral Zone

Curses

   * Areinnye´n - hnah - "go to hell" (loosely)
   * fvadt
   * Hwiiy veruul - "you are a fool"/"you are an idiot"


sources-
http://stexpanded.wikia.com/wiki/Rihannsu_(language)
http://www.tos.net/empires/romulan/romdict.html
http://www.startreklover.com/rihannsu/unknown/rihdictunkown.html

[Meds]

Great post Eric, brilliant information. Thanks for sharing.

[wraith1701]

Figured I'd use this thread to throw up some more Romulan images & info for use in the RPG. 

Romulan Drenet-Class warp transport




Length- 91 meters
Crew- 80
Power plant- artificial quantum singularity drive

Used primarily for civilian transport, this ship has minimal weaponry but is equipped with a cloaking device.

[iceman]

This will be a great help

[Feathers]

I'm glad it has a singularity drive. It would rather scew up my next post if it didn't!

[Bryancd]

I useed the above for my first post! Thanks Eric!

[wraith1701]

No problem; I'm glad you guys are finding it of some use. :)

[Bryancd]

Anyone know how to speak Romulan :D  

LOL!!! I thought about that when we wrote our posts! I had to read one last week and I was like....ummmm....  :blink

[cosmonaut]

"aefvadh"... oh... uhm... what?... well... I'm "in character"... and he's learning the language, so I ... intentionally!... mispronounced it... *whew*