View source for Khuzdul

{{short description|Fictional language of dwarves in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox language
|name       = Khuzdul
|creator    = [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]
|created    = c. 1935
|setting    = [[Middle-earth]], the setting of the novel ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', the secret and private language of the [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]].
|fam1       = [[constructed language]]s
|fam2       = [[artistic language]]s
|script     = [[Cirth]]
|posteriori = Influenced primarily by [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] in [[phonology]] and [[Morphology (linguistics)|morphology]] and other [[Semitic Languages]]
|iso3       = none
|glotto     = none
}}
{{special characters}}
'''Khuzdul''' ({{IPA-all|kʰuzˈdul|pron}}) is a [[fictional language]] created by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], one of [[Languages constructed by J. R. R. Tolkien|the languages]] of [[Middle-earth]], specifically the secret and private language of the [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]]. He based its structure and [[phonology]] on [[Semitic languages]], primarily [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], with [[triconsonantal root]]s of words. Very little is known of the grammar.

== External history ==

Tolkien began developing Khuzdul before the publication in 1936 of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', with some names appearing in the early versions of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. Tolkien based Khuzdul on [[Semitic languages]], primarily [[Hebrew]], featuring [[Triliteral|triconsonantal root]]s and similarities to Hebrew's [[phonology]] and [[Morphology (linguistics)|morphology]].{{sfn|Fauskanger}}<ref>{{cite conference|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SOF7m2m3AXcC&q=Khuzdul+Hebrew&pg=PA43 |book-title=Arda Philology 1 |conference=First International Conference on J. R. R. Tolkien's Invented Languages. Stockholm, 4–8 August 2005 |year=2007 |first=Magnus |last=Åberg |title=An Analysis of Dwarvish |pages=42–65 |isbn=9789197350013 |editor=Stenström, Anders}}</ref>{{sfn|Hostetter|2013|p=341}}
Tolkien noted some similarities between [[Dwarves in Middle-earth|Dwarves]] and Jews: both were "at once natives and aliens in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue…".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Carpenter|2023|loc=#176 }}</ref>
Tolkien commented of the Dwarves that "their words are Semitic obviously, constructed to be Semitic."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reocities.com/Area51/Shire/5014/interview.html |title=An Interview with J.R.R. Tolkien |date=January 1971 |work=[[BBC Four]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019210751/http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/5014/interview.html |archive-date=19 October 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although a very limited vocabulary is known, Tolkien mentioned he had developed the language to a certain extent. A small amount of material on Khuzdul phonology and root modifications has survived which is yet to be published.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hostetter |first=Carl F. |author-link=Carl F. Hostetter |title=reply to: Khuzdul - mostly to Aelfwine/Carl Hostetter |website=Lord of the Rings Fanatics Forum |date=26 November 2004 |url=http://www.lotrplaza.com/archives/index.php?Archive=archive&TID=161449 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422132752/http://www.lotrplaza.com/archives/index.php?Archive=archive&TID=161449 |access-date=21 April 2017 |archive-date=2017-04-22 }}</ref>

== Internal history ==

=== Secret language ===

In the fictional setting of Middle-earth, little is known of Khuzdul (once written ''Khuzdûl''), the Dwarves kept it secret, except for place names and a few phrases such as their battle-cry and [[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]]'s tomb inscription in [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]], which read respectively:{{sfn|Fauskanger}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|+ The very small [[Corpus linguistics|corpus]] of Khuzdul phrases{{sfn|Fauskanger}}
|-
| {{transl|art|Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!}} || "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!"
|-
| {{transl|art|Balin Fundinul uzbad Khazad-dûmu}} || "Balin son of Fundin, lord of Moria"
|}

According to the ''[[Lhammas]]'', Khuzdul is a [[language isolate]], the sole member of the '''Aulëan''' language family, not related to the [[Oromëan]] languages spoken by [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] (all of which are akin to [[Quenya]]{{sfn|Hostetter|2013|p=341}}). Aulëan was named from the Dwarvish tradition that it had been devised by [[Aulë]] the Smith, the [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Vala]] who created the Dwarves. Later, Tolkien dropped the origins of Elvish being taught by [[Oromë]], but kept the origins of Khuzdul the same. It is said in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' that Aulë created the dwarves, and taught them "the language he had devised for them", making Khuzdul, both in fiction and reality, a [[conlang|constructed language]].<ref name="Lhammas">{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987|loc=Part 2, ch. 5, "The [[Lhammas]]"}}</ref>

Dwarves were unwilling to teach outsiders Khuzdul, even to their non-dwarf friends. Dwarves would speak the languages of the region "but with an accent due to their own private tongue...".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Carpenter|2023|loc=#176 }}</ref> Dwarves were however willing to reveal the names of places in Khuzdul, such as the names of the landmarks of Moria: "I know them and their names, for under them lies {{transl|art|Khazad-dûm}}, the Dwarrowdelf... Yonder stands {{transl|art|Barazinbar}}, the Redhorn...and beyond him are Silvertine and Cloudyhead:...that we call {{transl|art|Zirakzigil}} and {{transl|art|Bundushathûr}}."<ref name="Bridge of Khazad-dûm" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"}}</ref>

=== Iglishmêk ===

Besides their ''aglâb'', spoken tongue, the Dwarves used a [[sign language]], or ''iglishmêk'',<ref name="WJ" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1994|loc=part 4, appendix D}}</ref> which was also just as secretive as Khuzdul. According to ''[[The War of the Jewels]]'', it was learned simultaneously with the ''aglâb'' from childhood. The Dwarvish sign language was much more varied between communities than Khuzdul, which remained "astonishingly uniform and unchanged both in time and in locality".<ref name="WJ" group=T/> Tolkien described its structure and use: "The component sign-elements of any such code were often so slight and so swift that they could hardly be detected, still less interpreted by uninitiated onlookers. As the Eldar eventually discovered in their dealings with the Naugrim, they could speak with their voices but at the same time by ‘gesture’ convey to their own folk modifications of what was being said. Or they could stand silent considering some proposition, and yet confer among themselves meanwhile."<ref name="WJ" group=T/>

Tolkien only gave a few examples of the Iglishmêk sign language in his unpublished notes. The command to "Listen!" involved a slight raising of both forefingers simultaneously. The acknowledgment "I am listening" involved a slight raising of the right-hand forefinger, followed by a similar raising of the left-hand forefinger.<ref group=T>{{cite journal |last=Tolkien |first=J.R.R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |title=From Quendi and Eldar, Appendix D |editor-last=Hostetter |editor-first=Carl F. |editor-link=Carl F. Hostetter |journal=[[Vinyar Tengwar]] |number=39 |date=July 1998 |pages= 5, 10}}</ref>

== Phonology ==

The following phonemes are attested in Tolkien's Khuzdul vocabulary.

:{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
! &nbsp;
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Postalveolar consonant|Postalveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Uvular consonant|Uvular]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! [[stop consonant|Plosive]]
| {{IPA|b}}
| {{IPA|t}} {{IPA|d}}
|
|
| {{IPA|k}} {{IPA|ɡ}}
|
| {{IPA|ʔ}}<sup>1</sup>
|-
! [[Aspirated consonant|Aspirated plosive]]
|
| {{IPA|tʰ}}
|
|
| {{IPA|kʰ}} ({{IPA|ɡʰ}})<sup>2</sup>
|
|
|-
! [[Fricative]]
| {{IPA|f}}
| {{IPA|s}} {{IPA|z}}
| {{IPA|ʃ}}
|
| ({{IPA|ɣ}})<sup>2</sup>
|
| {{IPA|h}}
|-
! [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
| {{IPA|m}}
| {{IPA|n}}
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
| {{IPA|(r)}} <sup>3</sup>
|
|
|
| {{IPA|ʀ}} <sup>3</sup>
|
|-
! [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|
| {{IPA|l}}
|
| {{IPA|j}}
|
|
|
|}

:{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
!
![[Front vowel|Front]]
![[Central vowel|Central]]
![[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
||{{IPA|i}} {{IPA|iː}}||&nbsp;||{{IPA|u}} {{IPA|uː}}
|-
! [[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]
||{{IPA|e}} {{IPA|eː}}||{{IPA|ə}}<sup>4</sup>||{{IPA|o}} {{IPA|oː}}
|-
! [[Open-mid vowel|Open-mid]]
||&nbsp;||&nbsp;||{{IPA|ʌ}}<sup>4</sup>
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
||&nbsp;||{{IPA|a}} {{IPA|aː}}||&nbsp;
|}

Only one [[diphthong]] is attested in Khuzdul: '''''ai''''' [{{IPA|ai}}], as seen in ''ai-mênu''.

<sup>1</sup><small> Often at the start of words that begin with a vowel, often not written in the Latin alphabet, but has its own rune in Angerthas Moria.</small><br />
<sup>2</sup><small> Supposedly in ''Azaghâl'', 'gh' [{{IPA|ɣ}}] is used to represent this sound in Black Speech and Orcish, but wasn't said of Khuzdul. Could also be [{{IPA|ɡh}}] or [{{IPA|ɡʰ}}].</small><br />
<sup>3</sup><small> Alveolar trill [{{IPA|r}}] a later variant in pronunciation, the uvular trill [{{IPA|ʀ}}] being the original Khuzdul pronunciation.</small><br />
<sup>4</sup><small> No examples found, Tolkien explicitly states these were frequent in Khuzdul, and have their own Cirth runes. Possibly in between incompatible consonant formations or current vowels in known corpus.</small>

Khuzdul features a CV(C(C)) syllable structure. 
Words that begin with a vowel or diphthong have a glottal stop at the beginning to fill the place of an initial consonant.{{sfn|Fauskanger}}  
Words can not start with a consonant cluster, but these are found in medial or final positions in a word.{{sfn|Fauskanger}} 
The language was said to be "cumbrous and unlovely" to the elves;<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 10 "Of the Sindar"}}</ref> Tolkien described it as having a cacophonous quality.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Carpenter|2023|loc=#31 }}</ref>

== Writing ==

{{further|Cirth}}

[[File:Balin zg2.PNG|thumb|right|upright=1.35|{{center|Khuzdul written in [[Cirth]] runes in ''[[Angerthas Moria]]'' style on [[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]]'s tomb, reading <br/>''Balin Fundinul Uzbad Khazaddûmu'',<br/>"[[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]] son of Fundin Lord of [[Moria, Middle-earth|Moria]]"}}]]

Tolkien wrote most of Khuzdul in the Latin alphabet, and in [[Cirth]] within Middle-earth. The dwarves had adopted the Cirth from the elves by the end of the first age, and made changes to their liking to represent the sounds of Khuzdul. There were two methods known of writing Khuzdul, ''[[Angerthas Moria]]'' when the dwarves still lived in Khazad-dûm before its fall, and ''Angerthas Erebor'' once they fled and further developed the Cirth when they settled at [[Erebor]], The Lonely Mountain.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=Appendix E}}</ref>

== Grammar ==

Too little is known of Khuzdul grammar to even construct a sentence, but the language was known to have its morphology based mainly on Hebrew, and other Semitic languages. Tolkien states that Khuzdul was complicated and unlike the other languages of Middle-earth at the time in its phonology and grammar. It has been said the grammar of Khuzdul influenced the basic grammar of [[Adûnaic]], but little material is given to show these influences other than the mention of where Adûnaic's grammar differs from [[Quenya]].{{sfn|Fauskanger}}

=== Nouns and adjectives ===

Nouns and adjectives had singular and plural forms and, like the [[Semitic language]]s, can be in the absolute or [[construct state]]. The construct state indicates a connection with the following noun, being a quality, belonging or part of that noun. The construct comes before the absolute noun e.g.: ''Baruk Khazâd!'' 'Axes + Dwarves' "Axes of the Dwarves" the axes belong to the dwarves, ''Khazad-dûm'' 'Dwarves + Delving' "Dwarrowdelf", a Dwarvish delving. Khuzdul appears to have case endings <!--similar to Arabic,--> with nominative and accusative/genitive cases, and perhaps an adjectival suffix<!--akin to the ''[[Arabic nouns and adjectives#Nisba|nisba]]'' in Arabic-->.{{sfn|Fauskanger}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
!colspan="3"|Title
|-
! Nominative
! Accusative/genitive
! Nisba<!--uncited?-->
|-
| ''-ø''
| ''-u''
| ''-ul''
|-
| ''Khuzd''
| ''Khuzdu''
|rowspan="2"| ''Khuzdul''
|-
| ''Khazad-dûm''
| ''Khazad-dûmu''
|}

Nouns and adjectives may have had different declensions for formation and number. Tolkien stated plural formations were similar to Arabic's [[broken plurals]], which would make for many irregular plurals; two examples are known: ''baruk'', the plural of ''bark'' "axe", and ''Khazâd'', the plural of ''Khuzdul''.<ref name="Parma Eldalamberon 17" group=T/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
! colspan="5"| 1st declension
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"| Template  || Sg.
! colspan="2"| Pl.
|-
! Abs. &amp;<br/>Const. || Abs. || Const.
|-
! Root || Meaning || ''CuCC'' || ''CaCâC'' || ''CaCaC''
|-
! √KhZD || Dwarf
| ''Khuzd'' || ''Khazâd'' || ''Khazad''
|-
! √RKhS || Orc
| ''Rukhs'' || ''Rakhâs'' || ''Rakhas''
|}

Other noun declension types likely exist, but little detail is provided to show any full declensions or identify any broken plurals. Of these, the only hints that point to their existence is in compounded attested words and single words:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
!colspan="8"| Known noun and adjective forms
|-
!colspan="4"| Absolute
!colspan="4"| Construct / composition
|-
!colspan="8"| Singular
|-
!colspan="2"|Root
! Pattern || Word
!colspan="2"|Root
! Pattern || Word
|-
! √BRK || Axe
| ''CaCC'' || ''Bark''
! √NRG || Black
| rowspan="2"|''CaCC''
| ''Narg-''
|-
! √NLʔ || River-course
| rowspan="2"| ''CâCaC'' || ''Nâla’''
! √ThRK || Staff
| ''Thark-''
|-
! √ZRM || Pool, lake
| ''Zâram''
! √BRZ || Red
|rowspan="3"|''CaCaC''
|''Baraz''
|-
! √NRG || Black
| ''CaCâC'' || ''Narâg''
! √NRG || Black
|''Narag''
|-
! √GThL || Fortress
| ''CaCoC'' || ''Gathol''
! √ZHR || Hollow
|''Zahar''
|-
! √FLK || Hewer
|''CeCaC'' ||''Felak''
! √GBL || Great in size
|''CaCiC'' || ''Gabil''
|-
! √ZRK || Spike, tine, peak
|''CiCaC'' ||''Zirak''
! √KhLD || Glass, mirror
|''CeCeC'' ||''Kheled''
|-
! √NBR || Horn
| ''‘iCCaC'' || ''‘inbar''
!√KBL || Silver (metal)
|''CiCiC'' ||''Kibil''
|-
! √KhZD || Dwarf
| ''CuCC'' || ''Khuzd''
! √DBN || Valley
| ''CuCaC'' ||''Duban''
|-
! √TM(M) / √DM(M) || Hall
| ''CûC'' || ''Tûm / dûm''
! √ZBD || Lord, ruler
| ''‘uCCaC'' ||''‘uzbad''
|-
!colspan="8"| Plural
|-
!colspan="2"|Root
! Pattern || Word
!colspan="2"|Root
! Pattern || Word
|-
! √RKhS || Orc, goblin
| ''CaCâC'' || ''Rakhâs''
! √ʔZN || Shadow / dim
|rowspan="2"| ''CaCaC'' || ''‘azan''
|-
! √BRK || Axe
| ''CaCuC'' || ''Baruk''
! √KhZD || Dwarf
| ''Khazad''
|-
! √ShThR || Cloud
| ''CaCûC'' || ''Shathûr''
! √BRK || Axe
| ''CaCuC'' || ''Baruk''
|-
! √ShMK || Gesture
| ''‘iCCêC'' || ''‘ishmêk''
! √SGN || Long
| ''CiCiC'' || ''Sigin''
|}

The word ''baruk'' is both the absolute and construct plural form of ''bark'', likely the result of being a broken plural.<ref name="Parma Eldalamberon 17" group=T>{{cite journal |last=Tolkien |first=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |title=Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |year=2007 |issue=17 |editor=Gilson, Christopher |page=85}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
!colspan="7"|Collective nouns
|-
! 
!colspan="2"|Root template
!colspan="2"|Root: √BZ(Z)
!colspan="2"|Hall: √TM(M)
|-
! Number || Collective || Singulative || Collective || Singulative || Collective || Singulative
|-
| Absolute || ''CûC'' || ''CuCûn'' || ''Bûz*'' || ''Buzûn*'' || ''Tûm*'' || ''Tumûn*''
|-
| Construct || ''CuC'' || ''CuCun'' || ''Buz*'' || ''Buzun'' || ''Tum*'' || ''Tumun''
|}

In compound words, the adjective usually precedes the noun, as in ''sigin-tarâg'', "longbeards".{{sfn|Fauskanger}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
! colspan="4"|Compounded nouns
|-
! rowspan="4"|Adj. + noun
|'''''Barazinbar'''''<br/>Redhorn || ''Baraz''<br/>Red || ''Inbar''<br/>Horn
|-
|'''''Kibil-nâla'''''<br/>Silverlode || ''Kibil''<br/>Silver (metal) || ''Nâla''<br/>River-course
|-
|'''''Kheled-zâram'''''<br/>Mirrormere || ''Kheled''<br/>Mirror || ''Zâram''<br/>Lake
|-
|'''''Sigin-tarâg'''''<br/>Longbeards || ''Sigin''<br/>Long || ''Tarâg''<br/>Beards
|-
! Noun + adj.
|'''''Zirakzigil'''''<br/>Silvertine || ''Zirak''<br/>Spike, tine || ''Zigil''<br/>Silver (colour)
|-
! Noun-prep./acc.<br/>+ adj.
|'''''Bundushathûr'''''<br/>Cloudyhead || ''Bund-u''<br/>Head (in/of/acc.) || ''Shathûr''<br/>Clouds
|-
! Verbal noun
|'''''Felak-gundu'''''<br/>Cave-hewer || ''Felak''<br/>Hewer || ''Gund-u''<br/>Cave (acc.)
|}

===Verbs===

Only four verb words are known.{{sfn|Fauskanger}} The exact tense or use of these verbs are unknown:

:'''''Felak''''' : to use a tool like a broad-bladed chisel, or small axe-head without haft.<ref name="VT48" group=T/>
:'''''Felek''''': to hew rock.<ref name="VT48" group=T/>
:'''''Gunud''''' : to delve underground, excavate, tunnel.<ref name="VT48" group=T/>
:'''√''S-L-N, Sulûn, Salôn''''' : to fall or descend swiftly.<ref name="VT48" group=T>{{cite journal |last=Tolkien |first=J.R.R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |title=Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings, Part two |editor-last=Hostetter |editor-first=Carl F. |editor-link=Carl F. Hostetter |journal=[[Vinyar Tengwar]] |number=48 |date=December 2005 |page=24}}</ref>

== Lexicon ==
===Placenames and names===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+ Khuzdul proper names analysed by [[Helge Fauskanger]]{{sfn|Fauskanger}}
|-
! Khuzdul names !! Translation !! Khuzdul names !! Translation
|-
|'''''[[Azaghâl]]''''' || A lord of the Belegost Dwarves in ''The Silmarillion'', ch. 20 ||'''''Mahal''''' || [[Aulë]], known to the dwarves as the Maker.
|-
|'''''[[Azanulbizar]]''''' || 'Dimrill Dale' lit: ''"Shadows of streams/rills"'' or ''"Dark stream dale"''. ||'''''Mîm''''' || A Petty-Dwarf, possibly an 'inner name'.
|-
|'''''[[Barazinbar]]''''' || 'Redhorn' (Caradhras), also shortened to '''''Baraz''''' 'Red'. ||'''''Narag-zâram''''' || 'Black-lake', early name, Mirrormere?
|-
|'''''Bundushathûr''''' || 'Cloudyhead', also shortened to '''''Shathûr''''' 'Clouds'. ||'''''Nargûn''''' || Mordor, and Sauron, lit: ''"Black one/place"''.
|-
|'''''Buzundush''''' || 'Blackroot', earlier name of the [[Silverlode]]. ||'''''Nar(u)kuthûn''''' || Nargothrond, possible later name.
|-
|'''''Felakgundu''''' || Cave-hewer; epessë of [[Finrod]]. Origin of ''Felagund''. ||'''''Nulukkhizdîn''''' || Nargothrond, the Petty-Dwarvish name
|-
|'''''Gabilân''''' || 'Great River'. a portion of the river ''Gelion'' ||'''''Sigin-tarâg''''' || The Longbeards, the house of [[Durin]].
|-
|'''''Gabilgathol''''' || 'Great Fortress' (Belegost). ||'''''Sharbhund''''' || Amon Rûdh, possibly meaning 'Bald Hill' as is in [[Sindarin]].
|-
|'''''Gamil Zirak''''' || 'Old Spike', Nickname of a Firebeard smith. ||'''''Tharkûn''''' || Gandalf, said to mean 'Staff-man'.
|-
|'''''Gundabad''''' || [[Mount Gundabad]]. ||'''''Tumunzahar''''' || 'Hollowbold' (Nogrod).
|-
|'''''Ibun''''' || A Petty-Dwarf, possibly an 'inner name'. ||'''''Udushinbar''''' || Earlier name of Bundushathûr.
|-
|'''''Kibil-nâla''''' || The name of the [[Silverlode]]. ||'''''Uruktharbun''''' || Earlier name of Khazad-dûm or Azanulbizar, meaning unknown.
|-
|'''''[[Khazad-dûm]]''''' || Dwarf-mansion, Dwarrowdelf' (later known as Moria). ||'''''Zigil-nâd''''' || earlier name of the [[Silverlode]].
|-
|'''''[[Kheled-zâram]]''''' || 'glass-lake', i.e. Mirrormere. ||'''''Zirakinbar''''' || 'Silverhorn', earlier name of Zirakzigil.
|-
|'''''Khîm''''' || A Petty-Dwarf, possibly an 'inner name'. ||'''''[[Zirakzigil]]''''' || 'Silvertine' (Celebdil), also shortened to '''''Zirak''''' 'Spike'.
|}

===Words===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+ Khuzdul words analysed by [[Helge Fauskanger]]{{sfn|Fauskanger}}
|-
! Khuzdul !! Meaning !! Khuzdul !! Meaning
|-
|'''''-âb / -b''''' || abstract collective? ||'''''kheled''''' || glass, mirror
|-
|'''''‘aglâb''''' || spoken language ||'''''Khuzd / Khazâd''''' || [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarf / Dwarves]]
|-
|'''''‘aya, ‘ai-''''' || upon ||'''''Khuzdul''''' || Dwarvish language, lit. "Dwarf-of(gen.)"
|-
|'''''‘azan''''' || dark, dim ||'''''kibil''''' || silver, the metal
|-
|'''''‘iglishmêk''''' || sign-language of the Dwarves || '''''ma-''''' || passive participle?
|-
|'''''‘inbar''''' || horn || '''''mazarb''''' || written documents, records
|-
|'''''‘ûl''''' || streams || '''''mazarbul''''' || records (the Chamber of Mazarbul, [[Book of Mazarbul]])
|-
|'''''‘uzbad''''' || lord || '''''mên* / mênu''''' || 2nd person plural, "you" - Nom.* / Acc.
|-
|'''''‘uzn''''' || dimness, shadow || '''''-n / -ân / -în / -ûn''''' || one, person or place.
|-
|'''''baraz''''' || red || '''''nâla’''''' || path, course, river-course or bed
|-
|'''''bark / baruk''''' || axe / axes || '''''narâg''''' || black
|-
|'''''bizar / bizâr?''''' || dale or valley || '''''Rukhs / Rakhâs''''' || [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orc / Orcs]]
|-
|'''''bund''''' || head || '''''sigin''''' || long
|-
|'''''buz / bûz''''' || root? || '''''sulûn / salôn''''' || fall, descend swiftly
|-
|'''''duban''''' || valley || '''''sharb''''' || bald?
|-
|'''''dûm / tûm'''''<sup>1</sup> || delving, subterranean mansion, hall || '''''shathûr''''' || clouds
|-
|'''''dush / dûsh?''''' || black, dark? || '''''tum / tûm''''' || hall / delving<sup>1</sup>
|-
|'''''felak''''' || tool for cutting stone || '''''thark / tharuk*''''' || staff / staffs*
|-
|'''''felek''''' || hew rock || '''''turg* / tarâg''''' || beard / beards
|-
|'''''gabil''''' || great || '''''-u''''' || of / accusative marker
|-
|'''''gamil''''' || old?<!--cf. Swedish gammal--> || '''''-ul''''' || of, patronymic genitive ending
|-
|'''''gathol''''' || fortress || '''''zahar''''' || hollow?
|-
|'''''gund''''' || underground hall || '''''zâram''''' || pool, lake
|-
|'''''gunud''''' || delve underground, excavate, tunnel || '''''zigil''''' || silver, the colour
|-
|'''''hund''''' || hill? || '''''zirak''''' || spike
|}

<sup>1</sup> <small>Seen in ''Tumunzahar'' in 'Hollowbold', with 'bold' as an obsolete term for dwelling. Assimilates to 'D' when precedes one, e.g. ''d-t = d-d : Khazad-dûm''</small>

===Consonantal roots===

Khuzdul's word stems are as in the Semitic languages not full words but groups of consonants, most often in threes.{{sfn|Fauskanger}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
!colspan="4"|Biconsonant roots
|-
! Khuzdul root !! Translation !! Khuzdul root !! Translation
|-
! √''ʔL''
| streams
!√''HL''
|??? - ''Azaghâl''
|-
! √''DM''
| excavation, hall, mansion
!√''ND''
|see '''√''NLʔ''''' - ''Zigil-nâd''
|-
!√''DSh''
|dark, darkness
! √''TM''
| excavation, hall, mansion
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
!colspan="4"|Triconsonant roots
|-
! √''ʔBD''
| ??? - ''Gundabad''
!√''MHL''
| Create, Maker?
|-
! √''ʔGL''
| speech, language, dialect
!√''NBR''
| horn
|-
! √''ʔRK''
| ??? - ''Uruktharbun''
!√''NDD''
| see '''√''NLʔ''''' - ''Zigil-nâd''
|-
! √''ʔZG''
| ??? - ''Azaghâl''
!√''NLʔ''
|path, course, river-course or bed
|-
! √''ʔZN''
| dimness, shadow
!√''NRG''
| black
|-
! √''BND''
| head
!√''RKhS''
| Orc, Goblin
|-
! √''BRK''
| axe
!√''SGN''
| long
|-
! √''BRZ''
| red
!√''SLN''
| fall, descend swiftly
|-
! √''BZR''
| dale, valley
!√''ShMK''
| gesture, hand, sign?
|-
! √''BZZ''
| root (of a plant)
!√''ShRB''
| bald?
|-
! √''DBN''
| valley
!√''ShThR''
| cloud
|-
! √''DMM''
| excavation, hall, mansion
! √''TMM''
| excavation, hall, mansion
|-
! √''FLK''
| hew, hewer
!√''TRG''
| beard
|-
! √''GBL''
| great in size
!√''ThRB''
|??? - ''Uruktharbun''
|-
! √''GML''
| old, great in age?
!√''ThRK''
| staff (rod)
|-
! √''GND''
| cave, tunnel
!√''ZBD''
| lord
|-
! √''GThL''
| fortress
!√''ZGL''
| silver (colour)
|-
! √''HND''
| hill?
!√''ZHR''
| hollow?
|-
! √''KBL''
| silver (metal)
!√''ZRB''
| write, inscribe
|-
! √''KhLD''
| glass, mirror
!√''ZRK''
| spike
|-
! √''KhZD''
| Dwarf
!√''ZRM''
| pool, lake
|}

== References ==

=== Primary ===

{{reflist|group=T|28em}}

=== Secondary ===

{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===

* {{ME-ref|Letters}} <!--Carpenter 1981-->
* {{cite web |last=Fauskanger |first=Helge K. |author-link=Helge Fauskanger |title=Khuzdul - the secret tongue of the Dwarves |work=Ardalambion |url=https://folk.uib.no/hnohf/khuzdul.htm |publisher=[[University of Bergen]] |access-date=23 November 2018}}
* {{cite book |last=Hostetter |first=Carl F. |author-link=Carl F. Hostetter |chapter=Languages Invented by Tolkien: Khuzdul |editor-last=Drout |editor-first=Michael D. C. |title=[[The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2007 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-96942-0 |page=341}}
* {{ME-ref|FOTR}}
* {{ME-ref|ROTK}}
* {{ME-ref|Silm}}    <!--Tolkien 1977-->
* {{ME-ref|LROW}}    <!--Tolkien 1987-->
* {{ME-ref|WOTJ}}    <!--Tolkien 1994-->

== External links ==

* [http://forodrim.org/daeron/md_khuzdul.html Magnus Åberg - An analysis of Dwarvish]
* [http://eldamo.org/content/language-pages/lang-kh.html Eldamo: Khuzdul Compilation by Paul Strack]
* [http://dwarrowscholar.wordpress.com/khuzdul/documents-dictionaries Khuzdul Documents & Dictionaries] - Neo-Khuzdul, based on Tolkien's attested Khuzdul.

{{Languages of Middle-earth}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Middle-earth languages]]
[[Category:Middle-earth Dwarves| ]]
[[Category:Constructed languages]]
[[Category:Constructed languages introduced in the 1930s]]