FOREWORD
Hello and welcome to the TAU DICTIONARY. This is a list of Tau words, their Literal Translations, Meanings, Explanations, Military Terms and, were appropriate, their Route Words. The List has been compiled by myself, Dakarillion, over the last five years from Codexes, Books, White Dwarfs, the Internet and other Tau Players. Upon posting it to the main forum to see what people thought of it I received a number of requests for it to be converted to an article and so here it is, enjoy.
NAMING TAU
First off, we shall talk about how to name the Tau. The first part of a Tau's name is the Caste to which he belongs, e.g. Shas/Fire, Fio/Earth, etc. The second part is the individual's rank within society attached to his Caste by an apostrophe, e.g. O, Ui, Shas'O, Fio'Ui, etc. The third is the name of the Sept from which he originates, e.g. T'Au, Vior'La, D'Yanoi, etc. The last part of his/her name is names and titles that have been bestowed upon or earned by the individual, usually for great deeds done or sometimes for displaying the trait the name/title refers to, e.g. Vior'La = Hot Blooded. Most Tau of lower rank will have one or two such names, having not been around long enough to accumulate much notice. Others, especially those of the highest ranks, could have more than half a dozen names. Where this is the case, most Tau have their names shortened so as to avoid long winded introductions. In these cases, their name consists of their rank, an apostrophe and then their principle title or name. A few examples of Tau names:
- My own Commander, Shas'O Tash'Var Or'Es Kessan Tam'Ya Raatol = Fire Commander Tash'Var Great Wise Noble Mentor, shortened to O'Raatol, Mentor being his principle title.
- Shas'O Vior'La Shovah Kais Mont'Yr = Fire Commander Vior'La Farsighted Skillful Seen Battle which shortens to Legendary O'Shovah, Commander Farsight.
- Por'Ui Bork'An Kauyon Il'Porrui = Water Envoy Bork'An Patient Emissary.
- With Ethereals, shortening the name is slightly different. They do not include their rank but instead retain their Caste. So, Aun'O T'Au Raa'Nal Ya'Va Shi'Vre = Ethereal Majesty T'Au Master of the Undying Spirit, shortens to become Aun'Va, the Undying Ethereal.
TAU RANKS
Every Tau has a Rank which denotes their place within society. Those of lowest rank, La, are the workers, foot soldiers, messengers, pilots or apprentices of the Tau race whereas those of El rank or higher are the architects, commanders, diplomats, admirals and leaders of Tau society. Each Rank is not necessarily reached simply through time either. Those of La rank will become Ui after a number of years of service automatically, but can rise faster through noble deeds and/or valorous actions, yet to advance to Vre or higher takes dedication and the ability to prove one's self worthy. Fewer still reach the rank of O, many feeling that El is great enough, only the very best earning the great honour of the Highest Rank. This does not seem to be reflected among the Auns however, who have a greater degree of higher Ranked individuals than the other four castes. Each rank also has a different meaning depending on the Caste the individual is from, e.g. A Fire Caste Ui is known as a Veteran whereas an Air Caste Ui is known as a Carrier. The different Ranks and titles are divulged below:
- O - Highest Tau Rank - Fire: Commander / Air: Admiral / Earth: Planner / Water: Ambassador / Aun: High One
- El - Fourth Tau Rank - Fire: Noble or Knight / Air: Captain / Earth: Engineer / Water: Diplomat / Aun: Holy One
- Vre - Middle Tau Rank - Fire: Hero / Air: Pilot / Earth: Overseer / Water: Magister / Aun: King
- Ui - Second Tau Rank - Fire: Veteran / Air: Carrier / Earth: Senior / Water: Envoy / Aun: Prelate
- La - Lowest Tau Rank - Fire: Warrior / Air: Messenger / Earth: Worker / Water: Bureaucrat / Aun: Prince
THE DICTIONARY
Well here it is, the list as it stands. More is being added all the time so check back regularly for updates. Also, if any one knows of any others or would like to request a certain word or phrase be added, feel free to PM me or add to the Article discussion. First off, here's how to read it:
- WORD - MEANING/S - LITERAL TRANSLATION - MILITARY TERM - (EXPLANATION) - ROUTE WORD/S
.
- As'Kor - Piranha
- Aun - Ethereal; Celestial - High One
- Ay'Vaal - Puretide
- Ba'Y - Lost
- B'Gel - Orks - G'El
- Bon'T - Devil
- Bon'Val - Devilfish - Bon'T + Val
- Bsum - Heavy
- Caadan - Sniper
- Da'Noh - Unsolved Mystery - Mystery Not Yet Unravelled
- D'Yanoi - Twin Moons
- Eldi - Gifted
- Fannor - Commerce
- Fio - Earth
- Fio'Qan - Machine; Technology - Ideas of the Earth - Fio
- Fu'Llasso - Political Mess - Cursed Mind Knot
- Fu'Tol - Thinker
- G'El - Beast
- Gal'Leath - Explorer
- Geo'Or'Ka - Hammerhead
- Gue - Human/s
- Gue'La - Human Warriors - Gue + La
- Gue'La'Vesa - Human Auxillaries - Helper Humans - Gue + La + Vesa
- Gue'Ron'Sha - Space Marines - Engineered Humans
- Gue'Vesa - (Non-Combatant Humans Who Have Joined The Tau Empire) - Gue + Vesa
- Il'Emaar - Courier
- Il'Fannor - Merchant - Fannor
- Il'Porrui - Emissary
- J'Kaara - Mirror; Shadow
- J'El - Scout; Sentry
- Jel'La - Scout Warriors - Pathfinders
- K'Ai - Blow; Hammer; Strike
- Kais - Skillful
- Kass'L - Orca
- Kau'Ui - Cadre
- Kauyon - Hunter; Patient; Patient Hunter
- Kavaal - Battle
- Kessan - Wisdom; Wise
- Kir'La - Warden
- Kir'Qath - Defender; Guard
- Kir'Shas'Vre - Castellan
- Kit'Au - Atmosphere
- Kol - Worthy
- Ko'Vash - Worthy Cause - To Strive For - Kol + Vash
- Kor - Air
- Kor'Esta'Vre - Valiant - Kor; Vre
- Kor'Por - Manta
- Kor'Rua - Squadron
- Kor'Vatra - Fleet
- Kor'Vesa - Drone - Faithful Helper - Kor + Vesa
- L'Au - Fear
- Lar'Shi - Hero
- Lar'Shi'Vre - Protector - Lar'Shi + Vre
- La'Rua - Team
- La'Rua'Ui - Team Leader - La'Rua
- Lhas'Rhen'Na - Noble Sacrifice - Shattered Jade
- M'Al - Firearm; Gun; Missile; Projectile
- Mal'Caor - Spider - Many Limbed
- Mal'Kor - Vespid - Aerial Warriors
- Mal'Vah - Gunship - M'Al + Vah
- Mesme - Combination; Group
- M'Lath - Humble
- Mon'T - Battle; Death; Kill; War
- Mont'Au - (The) Terror - (the Time of Civil War the Tau wish never to return to) - Mon'T + L'Au
- Mont'Dor - Choas; Confusion; Disorder; Panic - Mon'T
- Mont'Ka - Killing Blow - Mon'T + K'Ai
- Mont'La - Hazard; Obstruction - Mon'T
- Mont'O - Crisis - Mon'T
- Mont'Tra - Destroy; Destroyer - Mon'T
- Mont'Viel - Quick Death - <>on'T + Viel
- Mont'Yr - Seen Battle - Mon'T
- Mor'Braa - Bomber
- M'Yen - Hidden; Secret; Stealth; Unforseen
- M'Yen'Kai - Hidden Blow - M'Yen + K'Ai
- Nel - Blade; Sword; Weapon
- Nem'sha - Defiant
- N'Lan - Dark
- Nol - Secure
- Nol'Qan - Security - Nol
- Nu'Anul - Superior; Supreme
- Nu'An'Qan - Superiority; Supremacy - Nu'Anul
- O'La'Rua - Command Team - O + La'Rua
- Or'Es - Great; Powerful
- Or'Es'El'Leath - Custodian
- Or'Es'Mal - Powerful Gun - Broadside
- Ou'La - Rank
- O'Na - Drop; Fall
- On'Vah - Dropship - O'Na + Vah
- Par'Keel - Barracuda
- Por - Water
- Por'Qan - Knowledge
- Por'Sral - Propaganda Campaign
- Qath'Fannor - Commerce Proctection - Kir'Qath + Fannor
- Quan'Bay'Tu - Lost Ones - (Polite Term for the Farsight Enclaves)
- Quin'L - Spotter; Seeker; Marker
- Raa'Nal - Master
- Raatol - Mentor; Teacher
- Run'Al - Small Blind or Bunker
- San'Tel - Fighter
- Sen'Vel - Skimmer
- Shan'Al - Coalition
- Shas - Fire
- Shas'Ar'Tol - Fire Caste High Command
- Shaserra - Shadowsun
- Shas'La - Fire Warriors - Shas + La
- Shas'Len'Ra - Cautious Warrior
- Shi - Victory
- Shi'Na - Success - Shi
- Shi'Vre - Spirit - Shi + Vre
- Shovah - Farsighted
- Sin'Nesta - Eldar - Fallen Ones; Old Ones
- Skether - Message
- Skether'Qan - Messenger - Skether
- Ta'Lissera - Communion; Joining; Marriage; Sacred Bond
- Tam'Ya - Noble
- Tau'Va - (The) Greater Good
- T'El - Space - (The) Great Darkness
- Tel'Na - Orbit; Orbital - T'El
- Ti'El'Val - Sunshark
- Tio'Va - Detachment
- Tio'Ve - Contingent
- Tokai - (Tau) City
- Uash'O - Command
- Ukos - Spoon
- Un'Kor - Sky Ray
- Ur'Akym - Shining
- Vah - Ship
- Vah'La - Troop Carrier - Vah + La
- Val - Fish; Shark
- Vash - Cause
- Vash'Tam - Noble Cause - Vash + Tam'Ya
- Vash'Ya - Between Spheres
- Vel'Na - Venerated
- Vesa - Aide - Helper
- Ves'Ron - Necrons; Robots - Robotic Being; Living Metal
- Viel - Quick
- Vior'La - Hot Blooded
- Von'Val - Tiger Shark
- Vral - Undercut
- V'Rok - Might; Strength
- Vsum - Light
- Ya'Va - Undying; Unending
- Y'Eldi - Gifted Pilot - Winged One - Eldi
- Y'He - Tyranids - Ever Devouring
EXAMPLES
- Piranha Light Skimmer Squadron - As'Kor Vsum Sen'Vel Kor'Rua
- Dark Eldar - N'Lan Sin'Nesta
- Chaos Space Marines - Mont'Dor Gue'Ron'Sha
- Heroic Protector of the Greater Good - Lar'Shi Lar'Shi'Vre Tau'Va
- Orca Atmospheric Dropship - Kass'L Kit'Au On'Vah
- Earth Overseer Ke'Lshan Humble Thinker Explorer - Fio'Vre Ke'Lshan M'Lath Fu'Tol Gal'Leath
- Tash'Var Great City of Diplomats - Tash'Var Or'Es Tokai Por'El
- T'Au Commerce Protection Fleet Gifted One - T'Au Qath'Fannor Kor'Vatra Y'Eldi
- Vior'La Hunter Carde Killing Blow - Vior'La Kauyon Kau'Ui Mont'Ka
- Nu'Anul Kavaal Mon'T J'Kaara - Supreme Battle Death Shadow
