This is where I have consolidated the glossaries from Theonite: Planet Adyn, Orbit, and The Sword of Kaigen for reader reference.
A
a (pl. alu) 1) a Yammaninke personal pronoun meaning ‘he,’ ‘she,’ ‘it,’ or ‘that’ 2) a Yammaninke possessive pronoun meaning ‘his,’ ‘her,’ or ‘its’ 3) a Yammaninke determiner and demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘that.’
Abiria a country occupying the southern part of the continent of North Baxaria, a former Yammanka colony, populated by the descendants of indigenous Abirians, Yammanka colonizers, and the Hadean slaves they brought with them.
Abtya a country occupying the northwestern part of the continent of Kelendugu, populated mostly by tajakalu.
adyn a person with no theonite nyama, telekinetic abilities, or enhanced strength (by Earth standards, a regular human being).
alu (sing. a) 1) a Yammaninke personal pronoun meaning ‘they’ or ‘them’ 2) a Yammaninke possessive pronoun meaning ‘their’ 3) a Yammaninke determiner and demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘those.’
an (sing. n) 1) a Yammaninke personal pronoun meaning ‘we’ 2) a Yammaninke possessive pronoun meaning ‘our.’
ano a Shirojima Dialect word meaning ‘that,’ ‘um,’ or ‘so.’
Appa an informal Kaigengua noun and term of address meaning ‘Dad’ or ‘Papa.’
Arashiki the ancestral castle of the Tsusano family in Ishihama, Shirojima, Kaigen, also called the ‘Stormfort.’
awa a Yammaninke word meaning ‘so,’ ‘well,’ ‘okay,’ ‘good,’ or ‘um.’
ay a Yammaninke exclamation similar to the English ‘oh!’ or ‘hey!’
ayi a Yammaninke expression of the negative, similar to the English ‘no.’
B
ba 1) a Yammaninke adjective meaning ‘big,’ ‘great,’ or ‘important’ 2) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘important person’ 3) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘river.’
Ba a respectful Yammaninke suffix for an important person.
baara a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘work’ or ‘occupation.’
Baba the Sizwean word for ‘Father.’
bada (pl. badalu) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘home,’ ‘place,’ or ‘dwelling.’
Bakwendi a small town in central Yamma, formerly part of the Banta Empire.
bali 1) a Yammaninke preposition (applied as a suffix to a noun) meaning ‘without’ 2) a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘obstruct,’ ‘hinder’ or ‘prevent.’
banbo the Yammaninke word for ‘south.’
Banjoya a prominent city in central Yamma, the former seat of the Banta Empire, which opposed Yammanka rule until the end of the Second Kingdom, when King Banjoya, for whom the city is named, accepted Yammanka rule.
The Banta Empire a powerful coalition of mountain and grassland chiefdoms that once existed in what is now the southwestern part of Yamma, a rival of the Yammanka Empire until its assimilation into Yamma, a strong influence on Yamma’s current culture and system of government.
bara a Yammaninke auxiliary verb meaning ‘did,’ ‘has,’ ‘had’ or ‘have.’
basa (pl. basalu) the Yammaninke word for ‘lizard.’
Basadenyaa a popular fictional superhero on Duna (called ‘Gecko Girl’ in most Lindish translations).
basi a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘drug’ or ‘medicine.’
bataaxe (pl. bataaxewu) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘message,’ ‘correspondence’ or ‘report.’
Baxaria the two continents encompassing the former Yammanka colonies of Carytha and Abiria, and the former Sizwean colonies of Malusia and Zandile, meaning ‘New World’ in Yammaninke.
bayelendaana (pl. bayelendaananu) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘translator’ or ‘interpreter.’
Bemba a mythical figure in Falleya, the first male human ancestor.
Bembadon the seventh day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Bemba from the Donkili, a day of rest, peace, and family.
Biladugu a country on the continent of Namindugu, populated by the descendants of various indigenous peoples and colonizers from Abtya and Yamma.
bloodline technique a fighting maneuver or trade secret (usually necessitating specific powers) that is passed down through a family line and kept secret from outsiders.
Blood Needle a jijaka bloodline technique unique to the Tsusano family, wherein the practitioner takes control of a small amount of the blood inside their victim’s body and freezes it in the shape of needle, which is used to strike pressure points or pierce vital organs, called ‘Chihari’ in Shirojima Dialect.
Blood Puppeteer a jijaka powerful enough to control another person’s entire body by manipulating their blood, thought to exist only in legends and ghost stories.
bo a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to come from.’
bogolan a traditional type of Yammanka fabric associated with wealth and status.
bokken a blunt practice sword with the approximate weight and dimensions of a katana, usually made of wood.
bolo 1) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘hand’ or ‘arm’ 2) a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to have’ or ‘to hold’ 3) a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to care for,’ ‘to provide for’ or ‘to look after.’
bound a Dunian measure of distance (roughly equivalent to 26.4 feet or 7.74 meters).
C
Carytha a country occupying the northern part of the continent of North Baxaria, a former Yammanka colony populated by the descendants of various indigenous peoples, Yammanka colonizers, and Hadean slaves.
Chakadon the fourth day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Chaka from the Donkili, a day of work.
-chan an informal Shirojima Dialect suffix used to address a close female friend and/or a female person of lower status than the speaker.
click a Dunian measure of distance based on how far the sound of a clicked tongue can carry (roughly equivalent to 1.75 miles).
D
dafe a Yammanka article of clothing consisting of a large rectangle of fabric that can be worn around the waist, shoulders, or head, also called a ‘wrapper.’
Dakkabana an international space center operated primarily by Yamma, with different sectors belonging to other nations.
de a Yammaninke particle placed at the end of a sentence for emphasis, like an exclamation point.
Daybreak Academy an international theonite academy in Livingston, Carytha.
dege a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to learn.’
den (pl. denw or denwu) a Yammaninke noun and term of address meaning ‘child.’
denke a Yammaninke noun and term of address, meaning ‘boy child’ or ‘son.’
denyaa a Yammaninke noun and term of address, meaning girl child’ or ‘daughter.’
di 1) a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to give’ or ‘to hand over’ 2) a Yammaninke modal verb meaning ‘will’ or ‘should.’
dimi a Yammaninke word for ‘pain.’
dimimabasi the Yammaninke word for ‘painkillers.’
dinma (pl: dinmanu) a Dunian measure of time (roughly equivalent to 0.43 seconds).
Disa a country on the continent of Namindugu, a former Yammanka colony populated by the primarily tajaka descendants of native Disankalu and Yammanka colonizers.
Disanka (pl: Disankalu) 1) a person from Disa 2) an adjective describing a person or thing originating from the nation of Disa or its culture.
Disaninke the predominant language spoken in the country of Disa.
dojo a training space in Shirojima fighting tradition.
doni doni a Yammaninke phrase translating roughly to ‘calm down’ or ‘take it easy.’
Donkili a song performed by finawu to teach others about the history of the world and its relationship to the religion of Falleya.
-dono a deeply formal Shirojima Dialect suffix (used to address a member of a high koro family).
doron a Yammaninke adverb meaning ‘only.’
Dugubali the name of the Falleya Spirit of the Stranger, meaning literally ‘placeless.’
duloki a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘shirt,’ ‘top’ or ‘tunic.’
Duna a planet that closely resembles Earth in a dimension that parallels ours, also used more generally to refer to the realm of the present and the living.
Duna Fune the Yammaninke word for Earth, meaning literally ‘Twin of Duna.’
dumini a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘eat.’
E
euphorium an illegal drug.
F
Fa the Yammaninke word for ‘Father.’
Fa-Kiye a reverent address for God, Kiye, in the Yammanka religion of Falleya, meaning literally ‘Father Kiye’ (sometimes used as a mild oath).
fankatigi (pl. fankatigiwu) a sub-theonite with physical strength equal to or surpassing that of the average theonite.
faja the primal male vital force, the source of consciousness, instinct, and rudimentary reasoning (combines with naja in living beings to create the higher vital force of nyama).
Falleka a practitioner of Falleya.
Falleke the holy union of God, Kiye, and Goddess, Nyaare, in the Yammanka religion of Falleya.
Fallekeba a Yammaninke exclamation meaning simply ‘Great Falleke.’
Falleya a Yammanka religion centered on the Falleke (the marriage between God, Kiye and Goddess, Nyaare).
famun a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to understand.’
fankama (pl. fankamanu) patron or master of the household, similar to English ‘Master.’
fankatigi (pl: fankatiwu) a person with superhuman physical strength but no theonite nyama or other special abilities.
fe a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to want.’
fele a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to look at,’ ‘to observe,’ ‘to examine,’ ‘to check’ or ‘to notice.’
fen a versatile Yammaninke noun meaning ‘thing.’
fina (pl: finawu) a member of the fina kafo; a prefix for a member of the fina kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
finayaa a respectful address for a female member of the fina kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘ma’am.’
Firebird the crime-fighting alter ego Robin Thundyil.
fle a Yammaninke word said when presenting something to someone, similar to English ‘here’ (i. e. ‘here it is’ or ‘here you go’).
fonya a shortened form of fonyoya the ability to control air.
fonyaka a shortened form of fonyojaka (pl: fonyakalu) a person with fonya (the ability to control air).
fonyo the Yammaninke word for ‘wind.’
forontunu a spicy Yammanka snack.
G
gaafene a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to attempt’ or ‘to try.’
gbaati a shortened form of kewaati or kettewaati (pl: gbaatinu) a Yammanka measure of time (36 minutes in Earth time).
genkan the entryway of a traditional Shirojima house, typically where one takes off or puts on shoes.
Geomijul a Kaigenese tech company specializing in info-com device technology.
gidan a Yammanka term of endearment for a sibling or close friend.
Grotta a high-security prison in Livingston, Carytha, specifically designed to contain powerful theonite criminals.
guli a Kaigenese unit of currency (roughly equivalent to 50 American cents).
gundumu (pl. gundumuwu) a human-animal hybrid.
H
Hades the westernmost country on the continent of Namindugu, a former Yammanka colony, the original homeland of most of Duna’s adyns.
Hadinka (pl. Hadinkalu) 1) the Yammaninke word for a person from the Dunian country of Hades 2) a Yammaninke word for a person or thing originating from the country of Hades or its culture.
Haijing a coastal city in the modern Ranganese Union, a major military stronghold of the Kaigenese Empire prior to the Keleba, meaning ‘Sea Capital’ in Rangagua.
hakama a type of loose pants traditionally worn by swordsmen, archers, and other martial artists in Shirojima, Kaigen.
haketo the Yammaninke word for ‘forgive me,’ ‘excuse me,’ ‘pardon me.’
hankili a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘thought’ or ‘intelligence.’
haori a long coat, traditionally worn by men of status in Shirojima, Kaigen.
Heibandao a coastal city in Holangoku, Kaigen.
Hellbat the crime fighting alter-ego of the adult Elleen Elden.
hen the Yammaninke word for ‘yes.’
I
Imma Fini an upscale instant clothes printing service on Duna.
i ni soxoma a Yammaninke greeting used in the morning, meaning literally ‘you and the morning.’
i ni kiye a Yammaninke greeting used in the afternoon, meaning literally ‘you and the sun’
isandlabali an acrobatic, kicking-based fighting style developed by Baxarian and Kaigenese slaves in northern Sizwe, meaning literally ‘handless.’
Ishihama a coastal town in Shirojima, Kaigen, ancestral home of the Tsusano family.
Isi-Sizwe the primary language spoken in the country of Sizwe.
J
ja a type of spiritual energy in the Yammanka religion of Falleya.
jakama (pl. jakamanu) a Yammaninke word meaning ‘teacher,’ ‘mentor,’ or ‘master,’ a formal address used by an apprentice to address their mentor.
Jali a prefix for a member of the jaseli kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
jaliden a diminutive address for a young member of the jaseli kafo.
jalido a jaseli-exclusive hall where high-ranking jaseliwu gather to discuss matters that are secret from the public.
Jalike a respectful address for a male member of the jaseli kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Sir.’
jaliya the ‘way of the jaseli’
Jaliyaa a respectful address for a female member of the jaseli kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Ma’am.’
jamana a Yammaninke adjective meaning ‘together.’
Jamu Kurankite a global peace-keeping and humanitarian aid force of highly trained theonites based in Yamma, meaning literally the ‘Peace Army.’
Jamuttaana (pl: Jamuttaananu) an agent of the Jamu Kurankite.
jarabolo a fighting style that mixes wrestling and high contact techniques, taught in koro schools across Kelendugu, meaning literally ‘lion arm.’
jaseli (pl: jaseliwu) a member of the endogamous Yammanka social class that specializes in speech, music, and dance.
ji the Yammaninke word for ‘water.’
jijaka (pl: jijakalu) a theonite with the ability to control water.
jiya the ability to control water.
jonn the Yammaninke word for ‘slave.’
Joyakalo the tenth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Joya from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s April).
Jungsan the capital city of the Kaigenese Empire, meaning ‘Middle Mountain’ in Kaigengua.
K
Kaa- a Shirojima Dialect prefix used when addressing one’s mother (typically combined with – chan or the more formal –san).
ka a Yammaninke word for ‘person.’
kabaka a shortened form of kabajaka (pl: kabakalu) a person with the ability to control stone and/or other solid materials (thought to have died out centuries ago).
Kabadon the second day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Kaba from the Donkili, a day of work.
kaban a Yammaninke adverb meaning ‘already.’
kafo (pl. kafonu) an endogamous occupation-based social class.
kafoka (pl. kafokalu) a Yammaninke word used to refer to people of a kafo other than the koro kafo and/or individuals outside one’s own kafo.
Kaigen a country occupying the easternmost part of the continent of Namindugu, the center of the Kaigenese Empire, home to most of Duna’s jijakalu.
Kaigengua the primary language spoken in the country of Kaigen and the Kaigenese Empire (similar to Earth’s Korean).
kallaana a racial slur used to refer to white adyns, meaning ‘corpse’ in Yammaninke.
Kalleyso the alter ego used by criminal gang leader, Shumba Sekhmet, listed in Robin Thundyil’s Firebird files as Killer 30.
kallin a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to kill.’
Kama a respectful address for the head of the household (one’s fankama), one’s mentor (one’s jakama), or someone in a position of authority over the speaker, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Master,’ can be used as a suffix to a first or last name.
kamaya a term referring to traditional Yammanka social hierarchy, including but not limited to the practice of powerful koronu providing for members of other kafonu in exchange for their services, and young people serving and apprenticing with more experienced members of their own kafo.
kana 1) a Yammaninke negative imperative, similar to English ‘don’t’ 2) a Yammaninke auxiliary verb meaning ‘shouldn’t.’
kan 1) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘speech’ 2) a Yammaninke preposition meaning ‘on’ or ‘atop.’
karanyang a simple bell-like musical instrument played primarily by female jaseliwu.
katana a traditional Kaigenese sword.
kati a Yammaninke adverb meaning ‘very much’ or ‘extremely.’
kawa a Yammaninke auxiliary verb meaning ‘should.’
kayiri synthetic material similar to paper but fireproof, waterproof and sturdier.
kele a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘war.’
Keleba the first and only open war fought between Duna’s theonite superpowers, precipitated in 5291 when Daybreak Academy principal Oyeda Biida was assassinated along with several students, meaning ‘Great War’ in Yammaninke.
kele koro a member of the fighter kafo.
kelen a Yammaninke word meaning ‘one’ or ‘first.’
Kenduro the name of the Falleya Widower spirit.
keneya a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to heal.’
kera a Yammaninke auxiliary verb denoting the past tense when placed after another verb.
Kiyaare a famous fictional superhero on Duna (called ‘Lady Sun’ in most Lindish translations).
Kiye God in the Yammanka religion of Falleya, traditionally associated with soul, vitality, and the sun.
Kiyedon the last day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the Falleya God, Kiye, the day of temple.
Kolunjara the capital city of Yamma.
kodo the Yammaninke word for ‘north.’
kono 1) a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to wait’ 2) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘middle,’ ‘center,’ ‘core,’ ‘inside,’ ‘interior’ or ‘stomach.’
kora a long-necked stringed instrument with a calabash body, played exclusively by jaseliwu.
koro (pl: koronu) a member of the warrior or commoner class, also called ‘kele koro.’
Koro a prefix for a member of the manga koro or kele koro kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
koroden a diminutive address for a young member of the manga koro or the kele koro kafo.
koroke a respectful address for a male member of the kele koro or manga koro kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Sir.’
Koronkalo the fifth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for Queen Koronkan Wagadu, the third queen of Yamma (roughly coincides with Earth’s November).
koroyaa a respectful address for a female member of the kele koro or manga koro kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Ma’am.’
koyin (pl. koyinu) a Dunian unit of measure about the width of a grown man’s thumb (roughly equivalent to two Earth centimeters).
Kri a mythical figure in the religion of Falleya, the first female human ancestor and the mother of all tajakalu.
Kribakalo the last month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Kri from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s June).
Kudazwe a Dunian continent divided between two nations—the independent country of Kudazwe and Kaigenese Kudazwe, belonging to the Kaigenese Empire.
kuma a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘word.’
kumantigi the head speaker at a public event, a role typically given to the most senior jaseli in attendance, meaning literally ‘chief of words.’
Kumono Academy a private high school for koro boys in an old temple on Mt. Takayubi in Shirojima, Kaigen, traditionally headed by the Matsuda family.
Kumono Lake a spring-fed lake on Mt. Takayubi in Shirojima, Kaigen.
-kun an informal Shirojima Dialect suffix, used to address a close male friend and/or a male person of lower status than the speaker.
Kusanagi a peninsula in Shirojima, Kaigen, called the ‘Sword of Kaigen’ for its history of cutting down would-be invaders.
Kyougetsu Yari the name of the white-lacquered katana forged by Kotetsu Katashi and wielded by Matsuda Takeru, meaning literally ‘Spear of the Mirror Moon’ in Shirojima Dialect, also called the ‘Moon Spire.’
L
la a Yammaninke preposition, similar to English ‘at,’ placed at the end of a phrase to indicate location.
Laaxara the realm of the afterlife in the religion of Falleya.
labila a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to allow to.’
laje a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to look at.’
lakunun a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to wake up,’ to regain consciousness,’ ‘to come back around.’
lala a Yammaninke adverb meaning ‘maybe’ or ‘probably.’
langa or lanya (pl. langana) a Yammaninke swear word meaning ‘curse’ or ‘malediction.’
Lazou Linghun a fonyaka bloodline technique, wherein the practitioner vacuums the air from their victim’s body through the mouth, collapsing their lungs, meaning ‘Soul Pull’ in Rangagua.
Lindish a language originating on the western islands of Hades and spoken in some parts of Carytha and Abiria (nearly identical to Earth’s English).
littigi (pl: littigiwu or littiwu) a sub-theonite with the ability to control light.
littiya the ability to control light.
Livingston the largest city in the country of Carytha.
The Longhouse Confederacy a coalition of Native Abirian tribes that banded together in an attempt to oust the Yammanka colonizers from Abiria and establish an independent nation once in 5135 and again in 5290.
M
Madugukalo or Madukalo the eighth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Madugu from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s February).
mada 1) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘stillness’ or ‘calm’ 2) a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to calm,”to quiet,’ ‘to settle down.’
maga a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to touch.’
maloya a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘shame.’
manga koro (pl. manga koronu) a member of the Yammanka ruling kafo
Manga Koro a prefix for a member of the manga koro kafo, similar to English ‘Lord,’ or ‘Lady’
mani a Yammaninke interrogative, similar to English ‘what?’
mase a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to step back’ or ‘to move away’
mattaku a Shirojima Dialect expression of exasperation.
mba a Yammaninke expression of acknowledgement used when one is greeted or called by name, similar to saying ‘yes?’ ‘what?’ ‘I heard you,’ or ‘I understand’ (masculine).
meke (pl: mekenu) a Yammanka unit of currency used throughout most of the world, one fiftieth of a walla (roughly equivalent to four cents).
men a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to hear,’ ‘to listen’ or ‘to understand.’
menkanfen the Yammaninke word for ‘info-com device.’
mercium a parasitic sentient substance of unknown composition and origin.
miri a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to think.’
The Moon Spire the name of the white-lacquered katana wielded by Matsuda Takeru, called ‘Kyougetsu Yari’ or ‘Kyougetsu’ in Shirojima Dialect.
muna a Yammaninke interrogative similar to English ‘what?’ or ‘why?’
N
Na the Yammaninke word for ‘Mom’ or ‘Mother’
Nabali the name of the Falleya Spirit of the Motherless.
Nadamui a town on one of the farthest southern islands of Shirojima, meaning ‘Hill of Tears’ in the local dialect.
nafa a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘importance.’
Nagi a mythical deity from the Donkili, the founding male ancestor in Namindugu, conflated with God, Kiye, in Ryuhon Falleya.
Nagidon the first day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Nagi from the Donkili, a day of work.
nagiji a word used to refer to written characters of Kaigenese and/or Ranganese origin.
Nagimaru the name of the Kotetsu-forged katana wielded by the ambidextrous Matsuda Takashi (usually in his right hand), companion to the shorter wakizashi, Namimaru.
Nagino Falleya the prevailing denomination of Falleya in the Kaigenese Empire, which subscribes to all the main beats of the Yammanka creation myth.
naja the primal female vital force, the source of bodily form and base sensations like hunger, pleasure, and pain (combines with faja in living beings to create the higher vital force of nyama).
Namaste a Disaninke greeting.
Nami a mythical deity from the Donkili, the founding female ancestor in Namindugu, conflated with Goddess, Nyaare, in Ryuhon Falleya.
Namikalo the second month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Nami from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s August).
Namimaru the name of the Kotetsu-forged wakizashi wielded by the ambidextrous Matsuda Takashi (usually in his left hand), companion to the longer katana, Nagimaru.
nanjutsu an ancient fighting style developed in the southern part of the current Ranganese Union (then part of the Kaigenese Empire).
Na-Nyaare or Na-Nyaxare a reverent address for Goddess, Nyaare, in the Yammanka religion of Falleya, meaning literally ‘Mother Nyaare’ (sometimes used as a mild oath).
ne a Shirojima Dialect particle indicating a request for confirmation, similar to English ‘no?’ ‘isn’t it?’ or ‘okay?’
Negedon the fifth day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Nege from the Donkili, a day of work.
nenneko a Shirojima Dialect nonsense word used as a soothing filler sound in lullabies.
ngoni a small stringed instrument played by some jaseliwu.
ni a Yammaninke preposition meaning ‘and’ or ‘with.’
Nii- a Shirojima Dialect address for one’s older brother (typically combined with the suffix –san or the more deferent –sama).
Nnyandon the third day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Nnyan from the Donkili, a day of work.
nnse a Yammaninke expression of acknowledgement used when one is greeted or called by name, similar to saying ‘yes?’ ‘what?’ ‘I heard you,’ or ‘I understand’ (feminine).
n’terike Yammaninke for ‘my friend’ (masculine).
n’teriyaa Yammaninke for ‘my friend’ (feminine).
numu (pl: numuwu) a member of the endogamous Yammanka social class that specializes in the creation of tools, weapons, clayware, and machinery.
Numu a prefix for a member of the numu kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
numuden a diminutive address for a young member of the numu kafo.
numuke a respectful address for a male member of the numu kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘sir.’
numuyaa a respectful address for a female member of the jaseli kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Ma’am.’
Nyaare or Nyaxare Goddess in the Yammanka religion of Falleya.
Nyaarekalo the first month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for theFalleya Goddess, Nyaare (roughly coincides with Earth’s July).
nyama any active or potential energy in the universe.
Nyangakalo the seventh month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Nyanga from the Donkili (roughtly coincides with Earth’s January).
The Nyankuma Syllabary a script developed for the purposes of keeping jaseli secrets, vastly more complicated than the Yammaninke alphabet.
nyin a Yammaninke pronoun meaning ‘this.’
nyuman a Yammaninke adjective meaning ‘good,’ ‘right,’ ‘sound,’ or ‘safe.’
O
ola a popular Dunian ballgame originating in Malusia.
P
the Pankajeet an upscale hotel in the Disanka sector of Dakkabana.
Pichon a tribal region in western Hades.
Pita the Disaninke word for ‘father.’
Q
R
ra a Yammaninke tense marker that denotes past tense when placed at the end of a verb.
Ranga a country on the continent of Namindugu, a former province of the Kaigenese Empire, the current center of the Ranganese Union, home to most of Duna’s fonyakalu.
The Ranganese Union a collective of nation-states occupying most of the continent of Namindugu, populated by a mix of fonyakalu and jijakalu.
Rangagua the primary language spoken in the country of Ranga and most of the Ranganese Union (similar to Earth’s Mandarin Chinese).
Rixaara the realm of not-yet-life, that which is waiting to be born, in the Yammanka religion of Falleya.
Ryuhon Falleya the oldest Kaigenese denomination of Falleya, native to Takayubi, Shirojima, based in the idea that all life originates from the ocean, defined by a belief that Nagi and Nami are the truest form of the two founding gods of the world.
Ryuhon Falleka (pl. Ryuhon Fallekalu) a practitioner of Ryuhon Falleya, also called Ryuhonka or Ryuhonshi.
S
Sabaisu a town on one of the farthest southern islands of Shirojima, meaning ‘Shark Coast’ in the local dialect.
sabari a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to quiet,’ ‘to soothe,’ ‘to know oneself,’ ‘to have clarity.’
sabu magic, witchcraft, supernatural abilities outside the known forms of nyama.
-sama a formal Shirojima Dialect suffix, used to address someone of higher status than the speaker.
-san a somewhat formal Shirojima Dialect suffix, a polite way to address an acquaintance, friend, or someone of similar to or slightly higher status than the speaker.
Sansumakalo the third month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for Queen Sansuma Zankare, the first queen of Yamma (roughly coincides with Earth’s September).
Sasayaiba a jijaka bloodline technique, unique to the Matsuda family, wherein the practicioner turns ice into a bladed weapon hard enough for use in combat against steel weapons and theoretically able to cut through anything, meaning ‘Whispering Blade’ in Shirojima Dialect.
Sayaakalo the ninth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Sayaa from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s March).
Sayida a country on the continent of Namindugu, populated by the descendants of various indigenous peoples and colonizers from Abtya and Yamma.
senjaka a shortened form of senkujaka (pl: senjakalu) a person who controls sand and dust particles (thought to have died out centuries ago).
Senku a prefix for a member of the senkuli kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
senkuden a diminutive address for a young member of the senkuli kafo.
senkuli (pl. senkuliwu) a member of the endogamous Yammanka class that specializes in glasswork.
Senkuke a respectful address for a male member of the senkuli kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘sir.’
Senkuyaa a respectful address for a female member of the senkuli kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘ma’am.’
Senpai a Shirojima Dialect noun, suffix, and term of address meaning ‘upperclassman’ or ‘senior.’
Sensei a Shirojima Dialect noun, suffix, and term of address meaning ‘teacher.’
seri a type of Yammanka pudding.
Shangoro the Thunder King a fictional crime-fighter.
shimatta a Shirojima Dialect exclamatory curse word.
Shirojima a province in the Kaigenese Empire, comprised of a cluster of large and small islands.
Shirojima Dialect the native language of Shirojima, Kaigen (similar to Earth’s Japanese).
Sibikalo the sixth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Sibi from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s December).
siira (pl. siiranu) a Dunian measure of time (roughly 43 Earth seconds) there are 50 siiranu in a gbaati, 100 siiranu in a waati, 2000 siiranu in a day.
Sinimogo the name of a classic cartoon about the Yammanka superhero, Sunjara.
Siradenyaa short for Sirawu-denyaa the name of the Zilazen glass sword wielded by Tsusano Misaki as Sirawu, meaning ‘Shadow’s Daughter’ in Yammaninke.
Sirawu the crime-fighting alter ego of the young Tsusano Misaki, meaning ‘Shadow’ in Yammaninke.
siya (pl. siyalu) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘tribe’ or ‘ethnic group.’
Siyatakalo or Siyakalo the eleventh month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical martyr Princess Siyata from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s May).
Sizwe the southernmost country on the continent of Kelendugu, populated mostly by tajakalu, a former imperial power and old rival of Yamma’s.
so a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘house,’ ‘hall’ or ‘building.’
Sokolokalo the fourth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for Queen Sokolo Wagadu, the second queen of Yamma (roughly coincides with Earth’s October).
soku (pl: sokulu) a traditional Yammanka stringed instrument played with a bow.
sondatigi (pl: sondatiwu) a sub-theonite with the ability to control sound.
sondaya the ability to control sound.
soxoma a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘morning.’
stride a Dunian measure of distance (roughly equivalent to a meter or 3.3 feet).
sub-theonite a person who has special abilities but does not qualify as one of the original types of theonite (tajaka, jijaka, fonyaka, or the now extinct senjaka and kabaka) such as littigiwu, sondatigiwu, and fankatigiwu.
Sumuldugu the ice covered continent on Duna’s south pole.
sugu a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘song.’
suguso a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘school’ (literally ‘house of song’).
suma a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to cool’ or ‘to calm down.’
Suna the ancestral clan of all numuwu and senkuliwu, assimilated into the First Yammanka Empire in 3897.
Sunjara a famous fictional superhero on Duna.
Suradon the seventh day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Sura from the Donkili, a day of rest and reflection.
T
ta 1) a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘fire’ 2) a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘get,’ ‘take’ or ‘fetch.’
tabi two-toed cloth shoes worn in Shirojima, Kaigen.
tajaka (pl: tajakalu) a theonite with the ability to control fire.
Takayubi a mountain on the tip of the Kusanagi Peninsula in Shirojima, Kaigen, home to a small cluster of villages that share its name.
Takayubi High School the public co-ed high school on Mt. Takayubi in Shirojima, Kaigen.
Takenagi the name of the ancestral Kotetsu-forged katana wielded by generations of Yukino swordsmen (the most recent being Yukino Dai), meaning ‘Bamboo Cutter’ in Shirojima Dialect.
tanto a traditional Kaigenese dagger.
taya the ability to control fire.
theonite a person whose nyama allows them to remotely manipulate the physical world around them.
Thulanism an anti-imperialist ideology originating in Sizwe.
Tou- a Shirojima Dialect prefix used to address and refer to one’s father, usually combined with the suffix ‘-san’ or the more deferent ‘-sama.’
tunyale a Yammaninke exclamation of agreement meaning literally ‘it is true,’ similar to the Hebrew ‘amen.’
U
V
W
waati (pl. waatinu) a Dunian measure of time (one hour and 12 minutes in Earth time).
wa a Yammaninke particle that creates a question when placed at the end of a sentence, similar to a question mark.
wakizashi a traditional Kaigenese sword, shorter than a full-sized katana but significantly longer than a dagger, good for close-quarters combat where a katana is too long.
walla (pl: wallanu) a Yammanka unit of currency used throughout most of the world, fifty mekenu (roughly equivalent to two dollars).
The Whispering Blade a jijaka bloodline technique, unique to the Matsuda family, wherein the practitioner turns ice into a bladed weapon strong enough for use in combat against steel and glass weapons, called ‘Sasayaiba’ in Shirojima Dialect.
Whitewing the crime-fighting alter ego of the young Elleen Elden.
X
Xamanxulle a famous fictional detective and rogue Jamuttaana on Duna (called ‘Ashcat’ in most Lindish translations).
xayake an extremely rude name to call someone in Yammaninke.
Xoora Senondi the systematic burning of all Hadean books, works of art, musical instruments, churches, and castles ordered by Yammanka King Makundana, meaning literally, the ‘Holy Burning,’ called the ‘Great Burning’ in Lindish.
xuro a strong Yammaninke swear word, similar in meaning and application to English ‘shit.’
Xuuse the mythical well at the center of the first Yammanka kingdom (used as an exclamation or mild oath).
Y
ya a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to want.’
yaare a shortened form of yaxare a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘woman.’
Yaarinduro the name of the Falleya Widow spirit.
yaasa a Yammaninke conjunction meaning ‘so that’ or ‘in order to.’
Yamma a country occupying the central and northwestern part of the continent of Kelendugu, populated mainly by tajakalu.
Yammanka (pl: Yammankalu) a person from Yamma; an adjective describing a person or thing originating from the nation of Yamma or its culture.
Yammaninke the main language spoken in Yamma, the most widely-used language on the Planet Duna.
Yammanka obsidian refers to a set of particularly sturdy types of glass developed by Yamma’s senkuliwu, including the industrial jonjo glass and the nearly impervious Zilazen glass.
yan a Yammaninke adverb meaning ‘here.’
ye a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘is.’
yele a Yammaninke verb meaning ‘to laugh’ or ‘to smile.’
yelelega a Yammaninke adjective meaning ‘ridiculous’ or ‘weird.’
yela a Yammaninke tense marker, placed at the end of a phrase or sentence to create the present progressive tense.
Yelanye the origin of modern humans in the Donkili, meaning ‘The Planting’ in Old Yammaninke (the Yelanye marks the Dunian year 0).
yilin a Yammaninke noun meaning ‘light.’
Yujing the capital city of Ranga and the Ranganese Union.
Z
Zandile a country occupying the southern part of the continent of South Baxaria, a former Sizwean colony populated by the descendants of various indigenous Zandilean peoples, Sizwean colonizers, and the Kaigenese indentured workers they brought with them.