Lapine Language (Glossary)

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Courtesy of the Watership Down Wiki.

Animals:

Elil: Enemies (of rabbits) a term that refers to the natural enemies of rabbits (foxes, stoats, badgers, etc) and also to humans, who are regarded as one of the Thousand Enemies. Its use is similar to use of the word "evil" in the English language. The rabbits also know their enemies as "u embleer hrair", Lapine for "the stinking thousand”.

Hlessi: A homeless rabbit without a hole to dwell in. (plural: hlessil)

Homba: A fox. (plural: hombil)

Lendri: A badger. (plural: lendril)

Marli: A doe (female rabbit); also means "mother". Literally, a doe. Figuratively, a mother.

Pfeffa: A cat. (plural: pfeffil)

Yona: A hedgehog. (plural: yonil)

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Nouns:

Bob-stones: A traditional game among rabbits. The Lapine word is unknown, but Adams translates it as "bob stones" and calls it a traditional game among rabbits. A traditonal game among rabbits. A "cast" of stones is on the ground, and covered with a forepaw. The opponent must hazard some sort of guess about its nature.

Flay: Food, e.g. grass or other green fodder.; particularly good food is called flayrah, using the suffix -rah, which literally means "food of princes”.

Frith: The sun, personified as a god by rabbits. Frithrah! is used as an exclamation and translates to "the lord Sun”.

Hlao: Any dimple or depression in the grass, such as that formed by a daisy plant or thistle, which can hold moisture. Any dimple or depression in the grass, which can hold moisture. Also, the name of a rabbit. Usually used as a suffix. E.g. Threarah=Lord Threar Roo: Used as a suffix to denote a diminutive. E.g. Hrairoo.

Hrair: Any number greater than four. It is translated to thousand and, less commonly, five. Hrair, combined with elil and the suffix -rah, forms the name Elil-Hrair-Rah: literally, "the prince with a thousand enemies", which is shortened to El-ahrairah, the rabbits' mythological champion and messiah. A great many; an uncountable number; any number above four. U Hrair=The Thousand (enemies).

Hrairoo: "Little Thousand". The name of Fiver in Lapine.

Hraka: Droppings, feces.

Hrududu: An onomatopoeic term that refers to any motor vehicle. A tractor, car or any motorvehicle. Plural (hrududil). (plural: hrududil).

Inlé: The moon; also the idea of darkness, fear or death (as in the "Black Rabbit of Inlé"). Fu Inlé is used to refer to "after moonrise". Literally, the moon; also moonrise. But a second meaning carries the idea of darkness, fear and death.

Ni-Frith: Noon.

Rah: A prince or leader or chief rabbit.; usually used as a suffix, e.g. Threarah means "Lord Threar”.

Sil: Outside, outdoors.

Tharn: To be petrified with fear, i.e. "deer in headlights”.

Thlay: Fur.

Threar: A rowan tree, or mountain ash.

Zorn: Destruction or murder; can also denote catastrophe, suffered a catastrophe.

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Verbs:

Silflay: A term used for both grass used for grazing and the act of grazing itself. To go above ground to feed. Literally, to feed outside. Also used as a noun.

Vair: To excrete, to pass droppings.

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Adjectives:

Embleer: An adjective translated to stinking, specifically referring to the smell of a fox. Stinking, as in the smell of a predator, esp. a fox.

Narn: An adjective denoting nice or pleasant, often in terms of food. Pleasant to eat.

Roo: Used as a suffix to denote a dimunitive, e.g. Hrairoo. A diminutive, usually affectionate. Suffixed.