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Na'vi/Texts

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The publicly available texts in Naʼvi include short snippets and phrases released in interviews, a couple spoken samples of the language provided with transcriptions, two poems, and a page from the Naʼvi script of the film.

Phrases

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Following are publicly released samples of Naʼvi that were not used in the text of this Wikibook.


Fìskxawngìri tsapʼalute sängi oe.

"I apologise for this moron."[1]

fì-skxawng-ìri tsapʼalute s‹äng›i oe
this-moron-top apology make‹pej?› I

Fayvrrtep fìtsenge lu kxanì.

"These demons are forbidden here."[1]

fì-ay-vrrtep fì-tsenge lu kxanì
this-pl-demon this-place be forbidden

Oeri ta peyä fahew akewong ontu teya längu.

"(Ugh,) my nose is full of his alien smell."[2]

oe-ri ta po-yä fahew a-kewong ontu teya l‹äng›u
me-top from s/he-gen smell attr-alien nose full be‹pej

Tawsìp ngeyä lu sngeltseng.

"Your ship is a garbage scow." [translation from Klingon][3]

taw-sìp ngeyä lu sngel-tseng
sky-ship your be garbage+place

Ayftxozä lefpom ayngaru nìwotx!

"Happy Holidays to you all!"[4]

ay-ftxozä le-fpom ay-nga-ru nì-wotx
pl-holiday adj-well.being pl-you-dat adv-all

Mipa zìsìt lefpom ngaru!

"Happy New Year!"[4]

mip-a zìsìt le-fpom nga-ru
new-attr year adj-well.being you.sg-dat

Lìʼfya ngeyä sìltsan leiu nìtxan.

"Your (use of) language is very good!"[4]

lìʼ-fya ngeyä sìltsan l‹ei›u nì-txan
speak?-way your good be‹approb adv-great

ʼAwvea ultxari ohengeyä, Nawma Saʼnok lrrtok siveiyi.

"May the Great Mother smile upon our first meeting."[5]

ʼawvea ultxa-ri ohe-nga-yä nawm-a saʼnok lrrtok s‹iv›‹ei›i
first meeting-top I.form+you-gen great-attr mother smile make‹sjv›‹approb

Lu awngar aytele apxay a teri saʼu pivlltxe.

"We have a lot to talk about."[note 1]

lu awnga-ru ay+txele a-pxay a teri ay+tsa-ʼu p‹iv›lltxe
be we.incl-dat pl+matter attr-many sbrd about pl+that-thing speak‹sjv

Oeyä ikran slivu nga, tsakrr oeng ʼawsiteng mivakto.

"Be my banshee and let's ride together."[6]

oe-yä ikran sl‹iv›u nga tsa-krr oe+nga ʼaw-si-teng m‹iv›akto
I-gen banshee become‹sjv you that-time I+you one-make-same ride‹sjv

Tengkrr palulukan moene kxll sarmi, poltxe Neytiril aylìʼut a frakrr ʼok seyä layu oer.[citation needed]

"As the thanator charged towards us, Neytiri said something I will always remember."

teng-krr palulukan me-oe-ne kxll s‹arm›i
same-time (name) du-I-to charge make‹past.ipfv
p‹ol›lltxe Neytiri-ìl ay-lìʼu-it a fra-krr ʼok ay+ts[e]-yä l‹ay›u oe-ru
say‹pfv (name)-erg pl-word-acc sbrd all-time memory pl+it-gen be‹fut I-dat

Film script

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A portion of the script of Jake, the human protagonist in the film Avatar, is visible in a short documentary on the making of the film.[7] Three minutes in, there's a close-up of a page of Jake's Na'vi dialog, "Naʼvi Dialog for Jake—3-13-2007", reproduced here. Stress is marked by underlining. Since the dialog is Jake's, it is likely that some of the Naʼvi may be ungrammatical.[note 2]

Oel ngati kameie, ma Tsmukan, ulte ngaru seiyi ireiyo.
I See you Brother, and thank you.
oe-ìl nga-ti kam‹ei›e ma tsmuk-an ulte nga-ru s‹ei›i ireiyo
I-erg you-acc See‹approb voc sibling-masc and you-dat make‹approb thanks
Ngari hu Eywa saleu tirea, tokx ʼìʼawn slu Naʼviyä hapxì.
Your spirit goes with Eywa, your body stays behind to become part of the People.
nga-ri hu eywa salew[note 3] tirea tokx ʼìʼawn slu naʼvi-yä hapxì
you-top with Gaia proceed spirit body remain become people-gen part
fmetokit emzolaʼu ohel.
I have passed the tests.
+tì-fmetok-it em-z‹ol›aʼu ohe-ìl
pl+nomz-test-acc over-come‹pfv I.form-erg
Ätxäle si tsnì livu oheru Uniltaron.
I respectfully request the Dream Hunt.
ätxäle si tsnì l‹iv›u ohe-ru unil-taron
request make that be‹sjv I.form-dat dream-hunt
Ma Eytukan, lu oeru ayʼu frapor.
Eytukan, I have something to say, to everyone.
ma eytukan lu oe-ru ay-lìʼ-ʼu fra-po-ru
voc (name) be I-dat pl-say-thing every-one-dat
Ayʼu na ayskxe mì teʼlan.
The words are like stones in my heart.
ay-lìʼ-ʼu na ay+tskxe mì+txeʼlan
pl-say-thing like pl+stone in+heart
Eo ayoeng lu txana tìkawng.
A great evil is upon us.
eo ay-oe-nga lu txan-a tì-kawng
before pl-I-you be great-attr nomz-bad
Sawtute zeraʼu fte fol Kelutralti skivaʼa.
The Sky People [humans] are coming to destroy Hometree.
+taw-tute z‹er›aʼu fte fo-ìl kelku+utral-ti sk‹iv›aʼa
pl+sky-people come‹ipfv so.that they-erg home+tree-acc destroy‹sjv
hem fìtseng yeʼrìn.
They will be here soon.
p‹ìy›ähem fì-tsenge yeʼrìn
arrive‹imm this-place soon
Ayngari zene hivum, tx[...] (rest of line obscured)
You have to leave, or you will die.
ay-nga-ri zene h‹iv›um
pl-you-top must leave‹sjv
Ma Tsuʼtey te Ro[...]
Tsuʼtey of the Rongloa, son of [...]
ma tsuʼtey te
voc (name) of [in names]
Naʼviru [...]
to the people [...] (handwritten)
naʼvi-ru
people-dat

Jake's speech near the end of the movie, which Tsu'tey translated, is as follows. It was cut in places for the timing of the film, so it does not completely follow the English:

Fpoleʼ sawtutel ʼupxaret
The sky people have sent us a message
[san] Ayoeri tsat new
tsun mivunge [sìk].
that they can take whatever they want [and no-one can stop them].
Slä awngal 'upxaret fpìye' for.
But we will send them a message.
Kämakto nìwin, ayngati spivule hufwel.
You ride out [as] fast [as] the wind can carry you.
Ayolo'ru alahe peng ziva'u.
You tell the other clans to come.
For peng syeraw Toruk Makto.
You tell them toruk-makto calls [to them].
Tswayon set oehu,
You fly now, with me,
ma smukan, ma smuke!
brothers, sisters!
sawtuter wìyintxu ayoeng
and we will show the sky people
ke tsun fo fìkem sivi
[that] they cannot take whatever they want [cannot do this]
fìtsenge
[and that] this
l(u) awngeyä!
[this] is our [land]!

A few other lines of the film have been confirmed, including some which did not make it into the final cut:

Grace: Tsun tivam. Aylìʼu ngian nì'it skepek lu.
"Not bad. You sound a little formal."
Tsuʼtey: Fayvrrtep fìtsenge lu kxanì.
"These demons are forbidden here."
child: Txopu räʼä si, lu ketuwongo nìʼaw.
"Don't be afraid, it's just some alien."
ʼÌʼawn alìm!
"Stay back!"
Moʼat: Fìketuwongti oel stìyeftxaw.
"I will look at this alien." (stìsyeftxaw would also be appropriate here)
Yola krr, txana krr, ke tsranten.
"It doesn't matter how long it takes."
Pori zene kllfrivoʼ nga.
"He is your responsibility."
Eytukan: Tsampongut Tsuʼteyìl iveyk.
"Tsuʼtey will lead the war party."
chant: Srung si poeru, ma Eywa!
"Help her, Gaea!"
Moʼat: Tivìran po ayoekip.
"Let her walk among us."
Lu hasey.
"It is finished."

There have been several attempts at working out the rest of the script. Some of these are summarized at LeanNavi.org here. They likely include numerous errors.

Songs

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Frommer translated four of Cameron's songs into Na'vi. The Hunting Song is in the next section; here are the other three.

Weaving Song

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Note that several words occur in their short-plural form.

The rhythm of rain and sun,              Tompayä kato,
tsawkeyä kato,
                         tompa 'rain', kato 'rhythm'
tsawke 'sun'
Of night and day, Trrä sì txonä trr day, txon night
The rhythm of the years, S(ì) ayzìsìtä kato, zìsìt year
And the beat of the hearts, Sì ʼekong teʼlanä ʼekong a beat, txeʼlan heart
Hearts of the People Teʼlanä le-Naʼvi
Fills me, Oeru teya si, teya full
Fills me. Oeru teya si.
 
I weave the rhythm Katot täftxu oel täftxu to weave
In yellow and blue, Nìean nìrim ean blue, rim yellow
The rhythm of the years, Ayzìsìtä kato,
The spiral of the lives, ʼÌheyu sìreyä ʼìheyu a spiral, tìrey life
Lives of the people, Sìreyä le-Naʼvi,
Fills me, Oeru teya si,
Fills me. Oeru teya si.

Tree Song (Funeral Song)

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This song appears in the movie. A fair amount of elision occurs, marked in parentheses.

We are all seeds / Of the Great Tree              Utralä (a)Nawm / ayrinaʼ l(u) ayoeng,                         
Whose strength is in our legs A peyä tìtxur mì hinam awngeyä
Like the mighty trunks, N(a) aysangek afkeu,
In our arms Mì pun
As sheltering branches, N(a) ayvul ahusawnu,
In our eyes M(ì) aynar
The blue-flower Na seze
Which unfolds to the sun. A ʼong ne tsawke.
We are all seeds / Of the Great Tree Utralä (a)Nawm / ayrinaʼ l(u) ayoeng,
Whose song is within us. A peyä tìrol m(ì) awnga.

Spiral Song

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Music creates patterns              Pamtseol ngop ayrenut                         
In the silence of the mind Mì ronsemä tìfnu
As weavers do Tengfya ngop säftxuyul
In the physical world. Mì hifkey.
Chorus:
We sing to See Awnga rol fte kivame
We See to sing Kame fte rivol
We sing our way Rerol tengkrr kerä
Down the eight paths Ìlä fyaʼo avol
To the center. Ne kxamtseng.
The songs bind the thirteen spirals Aywayl yìm kifkeyä
Of the solid world ʼÌheyut avomrr
To the eight spirit paths Sìn tireafyaʼo avol
Like the threads of a Songcord. Na waytelemä hìng.
Chorus

Spoken texts

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There are four online recordings of Frommer speaking extended amounts of Naʼvi.

Short dialog

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Half-way down the article is a sound recording of a short conversation, with English subtitles. The Naʼvi is not documented; what follows likely contains some errors. Unintelligible segments are marked with ((double parentheses)).

Oel hu Txewì trram naʼrìngit tarmok.
Yesterday I was with Txewì in the forest
Tsoleʼa syeptutet atsawl frato mì sìrey.
and we saw the biggest Trapper I've ever seen.
((L))u fo l((e))hrrap
Those things are dangerous.
Tsun tutet tspivang ko
They can kill a person, you know.
Oe ((o))mum.
I know.
Nari soli ayoe [moe] fteke nìhawng livok.
We were careful not to get too close.

Glossary:

Trram yesterday, naʼrìng a forest, tok to occupy (a place)

Tseʼa to see, syep to trap, tute a person, tsawl big, tìrey life

Hrrap danger, tspang to kill, omum to know

Nari si to pay attention, fteke lest, hawng excessive, lok approach

Hunt Song

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In the 0818 broadcast, at time 3′30″, Frommer recites the second verse and chorus of the Hunt Song he translated for Cameron. The Naʼvi text is as follows:[8]

We are walking your way              Terìran ayoe ayngane                          tìran to walk
We are coming Zeraʼu zaʼu to come
We are singing your way Rerol ayoe ayngane rol to sing
So Choose Ha ftxey ftxey to choose
Choose one among you ʼAwpot set ftxey ayngal a l(u) ayngakip ʼawpo an individual
Who will feed the People. ʼAwpot a Naʼviru yomtìyìng. yom to eat, tìng to give
 
Chorus
 
Let my arrow strike true Oeyä swizaw nìngay tivakuk swizaw an arrow, ngay true, takuk to strike
Let my spear strike the heart Oeyä tukrul txeʼlanit tivakuk tukru a spear, txeʼlan a heart
Let the truth strike my heart Oeri tìngayìl txeʼlanit tivakuk
Let my heart be true. Oeyä txeʼlan livu ngay.
 
You are fast and strong Lu nga win sì txur win fast, txur strong
You are wise Lu nga txantslusam txan much, tslam to understand
I must be fast and strong Livu win sì txur / oe zene
So only
Only if I am worth of you
Ha n(ì)ʼaw
Pxan livu txo nìʼaw oe ngari
nìʼaw only,
pxan worthy
Will you feed the People Tsakrr nga Naʼviru yomtìyìng

Public letter

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The Naʼvi is as follows. Stressed syllables are underlined.

Ayeylanur oeyä sì eylanur lìʼfyayä leNaʼvi nìwotx: To all my friends and friends of the Naʼvi language:
ʼeylan a friend, lìʼfya a language (lit. 'way of speaking'), nìwotx all of
Oel ayngati kameie, ma oeyä eylan, ulte ayngaru seiyi irayo. I See you, my friends, and I thank you.
kame to "See", to look into and understand, irayo thanks
Fpoleʼ ayngal oer fìtxan nìftxavang a ʼupxaret stolawm oel. I have heard the message you have sent me so passionately.
fpeʼ to send,txan so much (lit. 'this much'), nìftxavang passionately,
ʼupxare a message, stawm to hear
Lìʼfyari leNaʼvi oel ʼefu ayngeyä tìyawnit. I feel your love for the Naʼvi language.
ʼefu to feel,yawne love (lit. 'belovedness')
Ulte omum oel futa tìfyawìntxuri oeyä perey aynga nìwotx. And I know you are all waiting for my guidance.
omum to know, tìfyawìntxu guidance, pey to wait
Spivaw oeti rutxe, ma oeyä eylan: Please believe me, my friends.
spaw believe, rutxe please
oe new nìtxan ayngaru fyawivìntxu. I want very much to guide you.
new to want,txan much, fyawìntxu to guide
Slä nìawnomum, But as you know,
(nì-?-omum, not currently parsable)
zene oe ʼawsiteng tìkangkem sivi fohu I must work together with those
ʼawsiteng together,kankem si to work
a Uniltìrantokxit sì kifkeyit Eywaʼevengä zamolunge awngar. who have brought us “Avatar” and the world of Pandora.
unil-tìran-tokx an Avatar (lit. 'dream-walker body'), kifkey a world,
Eywa-ʼeveng Pandora (lit. 'child of Eywa'), za-munge bring hither
Foru ʼupxaret oel fpoleʼ, I have sent them a message,
 
slä vay set ke pamähängem kea tìʼeyng. but up to now no answer has arrived.
set now, hem to arrive,ʼeyng an answer
Nìaynga oe perey nìteng. Like you, I too am waiting.
teng similarly
Tìʼeyngit oel tolel a krr, When I receive an answer,
tel to receive
ayngaru payeng, I will let you know,
peng to tell
tsakrr payeʼun sweya fyaʼot and I will then decide the best way
peʼun to decide, swey best, optimal, fyaʼo a way
a zamivunge oel ayngar aylìʼut horentisì lìʼfyayä leNaʼvi. to bring you the words and rules of Naʼvi.
ʼu a word, koren a rule,
Sìlpey oe, layu oeru yeʼrìn sìltsana fmawn a tsun oe ayngaru tivìng.    I hope I will soon have good news to give you.
sìlpey to hope, yeʼrìn soon, sìltsan good, fmawn news, tìng to give
Aylìʼufa awngeyä ʼeylanä aʼewan Markusì ta Ngalwey . . . In the words of our young friend Markus from Galway . . .
ʼewan young
ʼIvong Naʼvi! Let Naʼvi bloom!
ʼong to bloom
Kìyevame ulte Eywa ngahu. Goodbye for now, and may Eywa be with you.
 
Ta ʼeylan karyusì ayngeyä, Pawl. Your friend and teacher, Paul.
karyu a teacher

On this Night

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Traditional questions for Passover Seder.

Fìtxon na ton alahe nìwotx pelun ke lu teng?
"Why is this night unlike all other nights?"
fì-txon na ay+txon a-lahe nì-wotx pe-lun ke lu teng
this-night like pl-night attr-other adv-all which-reason not be same
Tonìri alahe, awngal yom hametsì-t, yom matsa-t, ke tsranten; fìtxon yom matsa-t nìʼaw.
"Other nights, we may eat either leavened or unleavened bread; this night we eat only unleavened bread."
ay+txon-ìri a-lahe awnga-ìl yom hametsì-it yom matsa-t ke tsranten
pl-night-top attr-other we-erg eat hametz-acc eat matzah-acc not matter
fì-txon yom matsa-t nì-ʼaw
this-night eat matzah adv-one
Tonìri alahe, awngal yom fkxenti lerìk nìwotx; fìtxon yom sat a lu syäʼä nìʼaw.
"Other nights, we eat all manner of greens; this night we eat only those which are bitter."
ton-ìri alahe awnga-ìl yom fkxen-ti le-rìk nìwotx
nights-as.for other we-erg eat vegetable.food-acc adj-leaf all
fìtxon yom ay+tsa-it a lu syäʼä nìʼaw
tonight eat pl-that-acc that be bitter only
Tonìri alahe, awnga ke yemfpay si keng ʼawlo; fìtxon yemfpay si melo.
"Other nights, we do not dip even once; this night we dip twice."
ton-ìri alahe awnga ke yem-f?-pay si keng ʼaw-lo
nights-as.for other we.intr not put-?-liquid do even one-time
fìtxon yemfpay si me-lo
tonight dip do two-time
Tonìri alahe, awngal yom wutsot tengkrr hereyn nìpxim, tengkrr teruvon, ke tsranten; fìtxon yom tengkrr teruvon.
"Other nights, we dine either sitting upright or reclining; this night we eat reclining."
ton-ìri alahe awnga-ìl yom wutso-it teng-krr h‹er›eyn nì-pxim
nights-as.for other we-erg eat meal-acc same-time sit‹ipfv adv-erect
teng-krr t‹er›uvon ke tsranten
same-time lean‹ipfv not matter
fìtxon yom teng-krr t‹er›uvon
tonight eat while lean‹ipfv
Tonìri alahe, awngal yom wutsot nìfyaʼo letrrtrr; fìtxon yom nìʼeoio.
"Other nights, we dine normally; this night we dine with special rites."
tonìri alahe awnga-l yom wutso-it nì-fyaʼo le-trr~trr
nights other we-erg eat meal-acc adv-way adj-day~redup
fìtxon yom nì-ʼeoio
tonight eat adv-ceremony

Earth Day

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Ma oeyä eylan,

Fìtrrmì letsranten—Trr ʼRrtayä—new oe pivlltxe ayngaru san kaltxì sìk ulte tivìng ayngar lìʼut a tìʼefumì oeyä lu lor frato mì lìʼfya leNaʼvi: meoauniaea. Fìlìʼuä ral lu tìmeʼem sì tìrusey mì hifkey na Nawma Saʼnokä hapxì, ʼuo a fpi reyʼeng Eywaʼevengmì ʼRrtamì tsranten nìtxan awngaru nìwotx.

Ngaytxoa, nìawnomum ke lolu oer nìkeftxo mì soka srr ayskxom letam fte lìʼfyari awngeyä tìkangkem sivi. Slä lu oeru fmawno asìltsan: yeʼrìn ʼìyiʼa sänume a tsari kllfroʼ oe; mawkrr layeiu oer krr nìʼul fte ngivop aylìʼut sì tsayfnesänumvit a tsun frapor srung sivi fte nivume sì ziverok nìswey.

Tsakrrvay, ayngeyä tìmweypeyri irayo seiyi oe, ulte fìtrrä ftxozäri, sìlpey oe, ayngaru prrteʼ livu.

Kìyevame ulte Eywa ayngahu.

Ta Pawl

My friends,

On this important day—Earth Day—I want to say hello to you and present to you the word that, in my opinion, is the most beautiful in the Naʼvi language: meoauniaea. The meaning of this word is “harmony, living in the world as part of the Great Mother,” something that matters a lot to all of us for the sake of The Balance of Life on both Pandora and Earth.

My apologies: As you know, in recent days I have not had sufficient opportunity to work on our language. But I have some good news. My teaching responsibilities will soon end; after that I will have more time to create words and the kinds of lessons that can help everyone best learn and remember.

In the meantime, I thank you for your patience, and I hope you enjoy today's celebration.

Goodbye and Eywa be with you.

From Paul


Notes

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  1. Lit., "There are to us many matters that about them (we) may speak."
  2. Not all the lines made it into the film; the "words are like stones" line, for example, was spoken in English.
  3. Jake would seem to be mispronouncing this.

References

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  1. a b Ayres, Chris (December 12, 2009). "Na'vi talk down Klingon as the last word in alien-speak". The Times. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6954138.ece. Retrieved January 9, 2010. 
  2. Frommer, Paul (December 19, 2009). "Some highlights of Naʼvi". Language Log. Retrieved January 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. "We Translate Your Phrases into Na'vi", UGO Movie Blog, December 23, 2009
  4. a b c An email
  5. Norm's greeting to Grace in Avatar
  6. "Calling All 'Avatar' Fanatics — How to Say 'I Love You' in Naʼvi", lemondrop.com, 2010 Jan 20
  7. Avatar the Movie: James Cameron's Avatar: The Movie Behind The Scenes: Making The Movie 2
  8. Wilhelm, Maria (2009). James Cameron's Avatar: A Confidential Report on the Biological and Social History of Pandora. New York City: !t (HarperCollins). ISBN 0061896756. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)


Lexicon · Na'vi–English dictionary