High Valyrian words are more than dramatic lines from Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. High Valyrian is a constructed language with its own vocabulary, noun classes, cases, and verb patterns. This beginner guide focuses on 30 useful, attested words and explains how to learn them without treating every English word as if it had a simple one-to-one Valyrian equivalent.
What Is High Valyrian?
High Valyrian was developed by linguist David J. Peterson for HBO, building on the small amount of Valyrian language material that already appeared in George R. R. Martin’s books. It is a constructed language rather than a random collection of fantasy words, which means grammar matters as much as vocabulary.
For beginners, the best approach is to learn a small core vocabulary first, then notice how those words change inside sentences. If you want to explore supported vocabulary interactively, use our High Valyrian Translator. For character naming rather than translation, try the Valyrian Name Generator.
30 Essential High Valyrian Words and Meanings
The list below uses base dictionary-style forms where possible. Many nouns can change form depending on number and grammatical case, so treat these as vocabulary anchors rather than fixed forms that can be dropped unchanged into every sentence.
- dragon
- zaldrīzes
- fire
- perzys
- blood
- ānogar
- woman
- ābra
- man
- vala
- mother
- muña
- father
- kepa
- child
- rūs
- person
- issaros
- sun
- vēzos
- moon
- hūra
- star
- qēlos
- water
- iēdar
- sky
- jēdar
- wind
- jelmio
- snow
- sōna
- ice
- suvion
- smoke
- ōrbar
- mountain
- blēnon
- river
- qelbar
- sea
- embar
- earth
- tegon
- tree
- guēse
- forest
- guēsin
- heart
- prūmia
- hand
- ondos
- eye
- laes
- night
- bantis
- good
- sȳz
- name
- brōzi
Famous High Valyrian Phrases
Rytsas — Hello or greetings
Rytsas is a useful beginner greeting and one of the easiest High Valyrian words to recognize in learning materials. It is a good reminder that useful vocabulary is not limited to dragons, war, and royal titles.
Valar Morghūlis — All men must die
Valar Morghūlis is one of the best-known Valyrian expressions. The word valar is related to vala, “man,” but High Valyrian changes nouns according to grammatical number and function, so the phrase should be learned as a complete expression rather than translated word by word.
Valar Dohaeris — All men must serve
Valar Dohaeris is the traditional reply to Valar Morghūlis. Learning the pair is useful because it shows how familiar phrases can contain forms that look different from the basic dictionary entries beginners first encounter.
Drakarys — the dragonfire command
Drakarys, often written as “Dracarys” in English-language material, is the famous command associated with dragonfire. If dragon-rider vocabulary is your main interest, see our guide to High Valyrian dragon commands.
How High Valyrian Words Change in Sentences
English learners often expect one spelling to stay the same everywhere, but High Valyrian uses grammatical cases and multiple number categories. For example, vala is the basic singular word for “man,” while related forms change depending on whether the noun is plural, collective, possessive, an object, or serving another grammatical role.
The same principle applies to zaldrīzes, “dragon.” The dictionary form is useful for memorization, but a complete sentence may require a different form. That is why a vocabulary list is a starting point, not a substitute for grammar.
High Valyrian also has four grammatical noun classes commonly described as lunar, solar, aquatic, and terrestrial. These classes affect how words decline. You do not need to memorize every ending on day one, but you should know that endings carry meaning.
High Valyrian Pronunciation Tips for Beginners
- Respect long vowels. A macron, as in ī or ū, marks vowel length and should not be ignored.
- Treat ñ as one sound. It is similar to the “ny” sound in a word such as canyon.
- Do not rely on English spelling habits. High Valyrian has its own sound system, so familiar-looking letters do not always behave exactly as they do in English.
- Learn words with audio when possible. Seeing the spelling and hearing the word together makes long vowels, stress, and unfamiliar consonants easier to remember.
How to Practice These 30 Words
Start by dividing the vocabulary into small groups: people and family, nature, body words, and dragon-related vocabulary. Review five to eight words at a time instead of trying to memorize all 30 in one session.
Next, connect each word to a real context. Pair zaldrīzes with a dragon image, perzys with fire, vēzos with the sun, and hūra with the moon. Concrete associations are easier to remember than isolated flashcard translations.
Then move from individual words to short phrases and grammar. Our Learning High Valyrian guide explains a broader study path, while the High Valyrian Translator can help you explore supported vocabulary. When a word is not supported, do not assume an invented-looking result is authentic.
For lore context, you can also read about the rise and fall of Valyria to understand why High Valyrian functions as an ancient prestige language within the setting.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not treat every dictionary form as sentence-ready. High Valyrian is inflected, so a noun may need a different ending when it becomes an object, a possessive form, a plural, or a collective. Copying the base form into every sentence can produce grammar that looks plausible but is wrong.
Do not mix High Valyrian and its descendant varieties without noticing. The Valyrian spoken in places such as Astapor developed differently from the classical language. A word heard in a scene may therefore belong to a Low Valyrian variety rather than High Valyrian itself.
Do not invent translations for missing vocabulary. If a verified word is unavailable, keep the English word, describe the idea another way, or mark the translation as unavailable. A confident-looking invented word is less useful than an honest limitation.
Do not ignore spelling marks. Long vowels and letters such as ñ are part of the language, not decoration. Preserving them helps distinguish forms and keeps your spelling closer to the language as documented.
Where to Verify High Valyrian Vocabulary
For source-based study, David J. Peterson’s published High Valyrian Swadesh list is a useful vocabulary reference, while his language notes explain grammar and screen dialogue in context. Duolingo’s High Valyrian course overview also explains the language’s structure and was developed in collaboration with Peterson. When sources disagree, prefer material tied directly to the language creator or clearly label uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is High Valyrian a real language?
High Valyrian is a constructed language, meaning it was intentionally designed rather than developing naturally over centuries. David J. Peterson expanded the language for HBO with a consistent sound system, grammar, vocabulary, noun cases, and verb patterns, so learners can study it systematically even though it comes from a fictional world.
What does Valar Morghūlis mean?
Valar Morghūlis is commonly translated as “All men must die.” It is one of the best-known Valyrian expressions from the books and screen adaptations. Beginners should learn it as a complete phrase because the form valar is grammatically different from the basic singular noun vala, meaning “man.”
What does Dracarys mean?
Dracarys is the familiar English spelling of the dragonfire command used in the series; language notes commonly render the High Valyrian spelling as drakarys. It is strongly associated with ordering a dragon to breathe fire, so context is essential when understanding how the word functions in dialogue.
What High Valyrian words should a beginner learn first?
Start with concrete, reusable vocabulary such as vala for man, ābra for woman, muña for mother, perzys for fire, zaldrīzes for dragon, and nature words such as vēzos for sun and hūra for moon. Then add common phrases and grammar.
Why do High Valyrian words change form?
High Valyrian uses grammatical cases and several number categories, so nouns change endings according to their role in a sentence. A dictionary entry gives you the base form, but subjects, objects, possessive relationships, plurals, collectives, and other grammatical functions can require different forms. This is normal grammar, not inconsistent spelling.