The Dragon Language, properly known as Thu'um, is the means by which dragons, and in fact the Dragonborn, use to breathe fire and frost attacks towards enemies. The player actually learns the language in order to gain the ability to do "shouts". One learns these abilities by raiding dungeons across Skyrim and learning new words that are carved into the walls. There are 24 shouts (of what we know), comprised of one, two or three words, as one continues to learn the language with the help of the Graybeards atop High Hrothgar. The player gains the words and shouts by reading them mystically off curved carved walls in dungeons and certain above-ground sites. Barrows are often found to have Thu'um walls.
Dragon Alphabet[ | ]
The Dragon alphabet consists of 34 distinct runic symbols. While most have direct English-letter equivalents, some represent sounds English uses two letter to represent, such as "th" and "ch". Full Shouts are mastered with the discovery and activation (by spending stored Dragon Souls from slain Dragon foes) of three-word phrases. The complete alphabet is as follows:
Common Words[ | ]
With a passing familiarity of the alphabet, you can now learn the following common words, which are listed in Dragon first, and then their English equivalent.
| Dragon Word | English Word | Rune(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aak | Guide | |
| Aal | May (as in "May his soul") | |
| Aan | a/an | |
| Aar | Servant | |
| Aav | Join | |
| Aaz | Mercy | |
| Ag | Burn | |
| Ah | Hunter | 
|
| Ahmik | Service | |
| Ahmul | Husband | |
| Ahkrin | Courage | |
| Ahrk | And | |
| Ahst | At | |
| Ahzid | Bitter | |
| Al | Destroyer | |
| Alok | Arise | |
| Alun | Ever | |
| Aus | Suffer | 
|
| Bah | Wrath | 
|
| Bahlok | Hunger | 
|
| Bein | Foul | |
| Beyn | Scorn | |
| Bodiis | Borrow | |
| Bonaar | Humble | |
| Bormah | Father | |
| Bovul | Flee | |
| Boziik | Bold(ly) | |
| Brendon | Specter | |
| Brii | Beauty | 
|
| Briinah | Sister | 
|
| Brit | Beautiful | |
| Brod | Clan | |
| Brom | North | |
| Bron | Nord | |
| Bruniik | Savage | |
| Dah | Push | 
|
| Dahmaan | Remember | |
| Daal | Return | 
|
| Daar | This/These | 
|
| Denek | Soil | |
| Dez | Fate | |
| Diin | Freeze | 
|
| Diiv | Wyrm | 
|
| Diivon | Swallow | |
| Dir | Die | |
| Dinok | Death | |
| Dilon | Dead | |
| Do | Of/About | |
| Dok | Hound | |
| Dov | Dragon, Dragonkind (referring to the race of dragons) | |
| Dovah | Dragon | |
| Dovahgolz | Dragonstone | |
| Dovahkiin | Dragonborn | |
| Draal | Pray | |
| Dreh | Do/Does | |
| Drem | Peace | 
|
| Drey | Did ("drey kod" - "did wield") | |
| Drog | Lord | |
| Drun | Bring | |
| Du | Devour | |
| Dukaan | Dishonor | |
| Dun | Grace | 
|
| Dur | Curse | 
|
| Dwiin | Steel | |
| Dwiirok | Carve | |
| Faas | Fear | 
|
| Feim | Fade | 
|
| Frul | Temporary | 
|
| Fus | Force | 
|
| Gaan | Stamina | 
|
| Gaar | Unleash | 
|
| Gol | Earth | 
|
| Grah | Battle | 
|
| Gron | Bind | 
|
| Gut | Far | 
|
| Haal | Hand | 
|
| Haas | Health | 
|
| Hah | Mind | 
|
| Hun | Hero | 
|
| Iiz | Ice | 
|
| Joor | Mortal | 
|
| Kaal | Champion | 
|
| Kaan | Kyne | 
|
| Kest | Tempest | 
|
| Klo | Sand | 
|
| Konahrik | Warlord | 
|
| Koor | Summer | 
|
| Krah | Cold | 
|
| Krii | Kill | 
|
| Krosis | Sorrow | 
|
| Laas | Life | 
|
| Lah | Magicka | 
|
| Lok | Sky | 
|
| Lun | Leech | 
|
| Maar | Terror | 
|
| Mey | Fool | 
|
| Mid | Loyal | 
|
| Mir | Allegiance | 
|
| Mul | Strength | 
|
| Nah | Fury | 
|
| Neh | Never | 
|
| Nir | Hunt | 
|
| Nos | Strike | 
|
| Nus | Statue | 
|
| Od | Snow | 
|
| Ov | Trust | 
|
| Qah | Armor | 
|
| Qo | Lightning | 
|
| Raan | Animal | 
|
| Rii | Essence | 
|
| Ro | Balance | 
|
| Ru | Run | 
|
| Shaan | Inspire | 
|
| Shol | Sun | 
|
| Slen | Flesh | 
|
| Strun | Storm | 
|
| Su | Air | 
|
| Tah | Pack | 
|
| Tiid | Time | 
|
| Toor | Inferno | 
|
| Ul | Eternity | 
|
| Vaaz | Tear | 
|
| Vah | Spring | 
|
| Ven | Wind | 
|
| Viik | Defeat | 
|
| Viir | Dying | 
|
| Viing | Wing | 
|
| Vur | Valor | 
|
| Wuld | Whirlwind | 
|
| Yah | Seek | 
|
| Yol | Fire | 
|
| Zah | Finite | 
|
| Zii | Spirit | 
|
| Zol | Zombie | 
|
| Zoor | Legend | 
|
| Zul | Voice | 
|
| Zun | Weapon | 
|