Learn how to speak like a native Na'vi

What is Conversational Na'vi

The definition of conversational use of a language can vary from person to person, depending on that person’s level of comfort. Because of this, it’s helpful to define what is meant by conversational language in this document before we begin.

Conversational language is a complex web of shorthand, idioms, slang and ease of access rules that allow speakers to communicate quickly and effectively, much like what you do in your native tongue on a daily basis. It can also be referred to as common or colloquial language.

Much like a natural language, which evolves each of these things over time, Na’vi has also quickly evolved many forms of shorthanded colloquial communication of its own. Over the years that it has been in development, new methods of communication have been developed both through use by the speaker base and by revelation from Paul Frommer’s own use of the language.

Once a learner is well-versed in the rules that form the backbone of Na’vi grammatical structure, they can begin to omit and imply information from context by use of these conversational/colloquial methods, significantly reducing the amount of effort it takes to speak a thought in Na’vi.

Formal vs. Colloquial Language

Spoken language falls into three categories: formal and colloquial language, and one flexible middle category which we will call neutral language. Neutral language is the realm of language that you are likely already familiar with, so we aren’t going to talk about it much from here on out.

It is apparent from the glimpses that we have seen of Na’vi clan life, from the insight that the language gives us into their culture, and from the word of Paul Frommer that the Na’vi have a social structure that distinguishes between the different types of conversation. Let’s talk about what sets each of these apart.

Colloquial language is fast, natural and comfortable, and is the default form of communication that native speakers of a language use to communicate with other familiar native speakers. In Na’vi, Paul has equated “colloquial” and “informal” language. ^{[1] [2]} Colloquial language is mutually exclusive from formal language.

An easy way for an English speaker to identify this realm of conversation is to think of the kind of context where one would say something similar to “Hey, how’s it going?” Often, it’s with friends, family, coworkers, or people of a younger age than the speaker and because of this, colloquial language usually indicates a level of comfort or familiarity with the person that is being communicated with.

Conversely to colloquial language, formal language is slow and intentional, often using unique constructions or more complicated synonyms for common words. It is reserved for special circumstances and even among native speakers of a language it is rare. Formal language is likewise mutually exclusive from colloquial language.

As silly as it sounds, an easy way for an English speaker to identify this realm of conversation is to think of the kind of context where one would say something similar to “O’ great person, I respectfully request your pardon.” Formal language is exceedingly rare in modern English, with the bulk of conversation taking place in neutral or colloquial language.

Formal Na'vi

On one end of the conversational spectrum is formal Na’vi. The use-case for much of this area of Na’vi is in the context of ceremonial language, though certain constructions carry into more casual conversation as well. Because the only two official formal constructions we have are the ceremonial aspect and the honorific pronouns, this area of the guide is also going to stray into the realm of neutral Na’vi to cover some constructions that won’t be used in colloquial Na’vi. Let’s get started.

Ceremonial and Honorific

There are two conventional areas where Na’vi is exclusively formal, in the ceremonial affect and in honorific pronouns. The ceremonial affect is the second position infix <uy>. The ceremonial affect, as it would seem, is only used in ceremonial circumstances. The only example in the film where we have seen this so far was in Jake’s coming of age ceremony at Hometree with the line, ngenga 'itan omatikayaä luyu set. na'viyä luyu hapxì. You are a son of the Omatikaya now. You are part of the Na’vi. Like many other infixes, the ceremonial affect can be dropped once context has been established by its use.

Additionally, ceremonial or honorific speech requires honorific pronouns. They’re formed around the base forms ohe and ngenga. A helpful table can be found below.

	Singular	Dual	Trial	Plural
1st Person Exclusive	ohe	mohe	pxohe	ayohe
2nd Person	ngenga	mengenga	pxengenga	ayngenga

Lastly, according to Frommer’s use in the first post on naviteri.org, use of both of the ceremonial affect and honorific pronouns together can indicate sincerity or or solemnity. ^{[naviteri.org]}

Formal Words and Phrases

There are no examples of truly formal usage of words or phrases outside of the ceremonial or honorific. However, there are situations where Paul has mentioned that a word or phrase are “more formal”, or gives things on a scale from most formal to most colloquial. For the sake of being thorough, the following is a list of words and phrases that fall into the “more formal” or neutral speech realms.

ätxäle si oe pivawm... [1]

lì’fyari po kllkxem sìn peyì? [2]

lu oeru lie a... [3]

ngari solalew polpxaya zìsìt? or ngari solalew zìsìt apolpxay? [1]

ngeyä kewan pìmtxan? [4]

tsalì’uri fko pamrel si fyape? [5]

Idioms in Na'vi

A crucial element to speaking a language conversationally is knowing the idiomatic elements of the language. Idioms are words, phrases and constructions that, when used in specific circumstances, take on a different meaning than their given definition. They occur frequently in neutral speech and colloquial conversation. This document will divide idiomatic uses of words into two categories, idioms and idiomatic constructions.

Idioms

The following is a list of words and phrases that fall into the idiomatic category.

'ivong nìk’ong [1]

ätxäle si palulukanur tsnì smarit livonu... [2]

eltur tìtxen si [30]

fìfya tsafya [2]

ftu X ne Y pela’a? [39]

fwäkì ke fwefwi [38]

hayalo oeta/ta oe [4]

hìpey taronyu, hifwo yerik [5]

hìtxoa [6]

ka wotx [7]

ke pxan [4]

ke tsun fko tspivang torukit fa fwa pewnti snew [37]

kxetse sì mikyun kop plltxe [8]

kxìmyu nga [9]

li ko [10]

lìfyari po kllkem sìn peyì? [11]

lrrtok ngaru/aylrrtok ngaru [12]

mivakto zawnong/makto zong [31]

na kenten mì kumpay [13]

na loreyu ‘awnampi [13]

nari si <verb> [39]

ngari keftxo fwa ke tok [39]

ngaru tìkxey [32]

ngaru tìyawr [33]

ngaru tsulfä [4]

ngaytxoa [15]

nitram nì’aw [16]

oeru ke’u [17]

oeru meuia [18]

oeru teya si [19]

oeru txoa livu [36]

po keynven sìn ketse [39]

pum ngeyä [4]

rä’ä räptum [20]

reykìkxi utralti, zup mauti [21]

rolun [2]

sasya [22]

set pesalewfya? [34]

seykxel sì nitram [4]

seysonìltsan [23]

siva ko/sivako [22]

soleia [22]

srefereiey nìprrte’ [10]

sre fwa sngap zize’ [7]

tam [24]

tì’efumì oeyä [15]

tì’i’avay krrä [26]

tìomummì oeyä [27]

tokx eo tokx [14]

tolätxaw nìprrte’ [35]

tolel [2]

to tìtseri [10]

...verar wivan [28]

za’u nì’eng [29]

zola’u nìprrte’ [18]

Idiomatic Constructions

The following is a list of rules and constructions that fall into the idiomatic category.

'ul... 'ul... In this construction, 'ul becomes the more.[1]

ftxey... fuke... In this construction, ftxey becomes whether.[2]

li can be combined with sre+ to indicate by, as in "by x time (but not after)". Example: kem si li trraysre [3]

li can be used as a hesitant or unexpected yes. Example: li, slä... [3]

li + <verb> can be used to show strong imperative. Example: li kä! [3]

lu can be used with the dative to idiomatically indicate possession. Example: lu oeru tsko. The verb + dative combo usually comes first in this construction. [4]

nän... nän... In this construction, nän becomes the less.[1]

nìftxan X na Y. Used in equal comparisons, in this construction nìftxan becomes as. [5]

The topical case can be used to idiomatically mark inalienable possession. Example: oeri txe'lan. [6]

Slang and Shorthand in Na'vi

On the opposite end of the spectrum from formal Na’vi is colloquial Na’vi. Paul Frommer was very intentional from the beginning to mark out cases in Na’vi where words and phrases are used in colloquial context. Furthermore, because Na’vi is a living, breathing language, there are also slang and colloquialisms that have arisen from common use of the language in speaker communities that fit within the parameters of use of Na’vi- or have been approved by Paul himself, that add even more depth to Na’vi as a spoken language. For example, a commonly held opinion about the formality vs. colloquial registers of speech in Na'vi is that the more abbreviation, truncation, and omission you employ in your sentence, the more colloquial it will sound. Vice versa, the less abbreviation, truncation, and omission you employ in your sentence, the more formal it will sound.

Colloquial and Slang Words

The primary way that language usage becomes colloquial is through slang and shorthand. Slang and shorthand is often a direct result of native speakers contracting words or phrases for ease of pronunciation or communication. As such, the root of slang words can often be traced through the slang itself. Na’vi follows this trend by practically contracting words to reach the shortened, colloquial versions.

The following is a comprehensive list of Na’vi words that are considered slang, shorthand, informal or colloquial, their roots, and their meanings.

'evan a colloquial usage of 'evengan. [15]

'eve a colloquial usage of 'evenge. [15]

ayawnven which is a spoken colloquial variant of ayhawnven. The same pattern follows for the other plural forms. [20]

ayoi which is a spoken colloquial variant of ayioi. [20]

eyweveng a spoken slang of eywa'eveng. [16]

fewtsok a spoken slang of fewtusok. [16]

fta a colloquial usage of futa. [1]

fyìpmaut when spoken colloquially it becomes FYÌP.mawt, two syllables instead of the traditional three. [23]

kärìp a spoken slang of kä'ärìp [30]

ketsran used colloquially as a response to questions. [2]

kxì a colloquial usage of kaltxì. [3]

komum a slang of ke omum. [28]

kemum a slang of ke omum. [28]

leykeykyu a slang of horenleykeykyu. [25]

leyngkem a spoken slang of leymkem. [23]

maitan a casual shortening of ma 'itan. [21]

maite a casual shortening of ma 'ite. [21]

may+ a spoken slang of mì ay. [19]

mungwrrto a casual shortening of mungwrrtxo. [24]

nayweng a spoken slang of nìayoeng. [17]

ngey a colloquial usage of ngeyä. [4]

oey a colloquial usage of oeyä. [5]

palukan a colloquial usage of palulukan. [6]

pela'a/la'ape a colloquial alternative to pelìmsim/lìmsimpe. [22]

pinvul a colloquial usage of 'opinvultsyìp. [7]

pxumpxaw when suffixed to a noun ending in n, instead of pxunpxaw. [20]

rìk a possible colloquial usage of yomyo lerìk. [8]

ronsrewngop a spoken slang of ronselngop. [9]

rumaut when spoken colloquialy becomes RU.mawt, two syllables instead of the traditional three. [23]

say+ a spoken slang of sì ay. [19]

snrrtsyìp a colloquial shortening of tawsnrrtsyìp. [21]

solew a spoken slang of solalew. [5]

so'yu a colloquial usage of txanso'hayu. [10]

srangkehe a spoken slang of srankehe. [3]

sran a colloquial usage of sran. [17]

sunkesun a shortening of sunu ke sunu. [21]

-syu a colloquial shortening of the suffix created by of si + yu. [5]

-tìnitranga' a colloquial shortening of tìnitramnga'. [26]

-tsäfpìlyewn a spoken slang of tìsäfpìlyewn. [29]

txunga' a colloquial usage of txumnga'. [11]

vovä' a colloquial shortening of vonvä'. [13]

vuri a colloquial shortening of vurìri. [27]

wou a slang loan word adopted by the Na'vi. [14]

yayaynga' a spoken slang of yayayrnga'. [11]

yo a possible colloquial usage of fyanyo. [8]

zawsena a possible colloquial usage of swizawsena. [12]

zärìp a spoken slang of zä'ärìp [30]

zengke a spoken slang of zenke. [18]

zìsaltrr a colloquial usage of zìsìtaltrr. [7]

Colloquial Phrases

Expanding colloquial speech also means learning about idiomatic and colloquial phrases. An idiom is a phrase that says one thing but means something entirely different based on cultural context and use. They are common in all spoken languages and are often confusing to new learners who are trying to translate the meaning without understanding the idiom itself.

ätxäle si palulukanur... a colloquial shortening of the full proverb ätxäle si palulukanur tsnì smarit livonu... [8]

fyengkekin a colloquial shortening of lì'fyeng kelkin [11]

kangkem val a colloquial shortening of tìkangkem si val [11]

lì’fyari po sìn peyì/lì’fyari po peyì an highly colloquial shortening of lì’fyari po kllkem sìn peyì [9]

makto zong a colloquial shortening of mivakto nìzawnong [1]

ngari solew polpxay? The colloquial way to ask "how old are you". [3]

oeru ke'u. Colloquial, idiomatic phrase meaning "I don't care". [4]

pamrel fyape? The colloquial way to ask how to write something. Typically used in response to hearing an unfamiliar word. [5]

pefmawn [2]

pewn torukä! A colloquial shortening of the full idiom ke tsun fko tspivang torukit fa fwa pewnti snew. [10]

x-ìri peral? The colloquial way to ask "what does X mean"? [6]

tìfkeytok fyape/pefya [2]

tsun pehem? Colloquial shortening of the phrase tsun fko pehem sivi? [3]

yafkeyk pefya? Colloquial shortening of yafkeyk za’u pefya? [7]

Colloquial Constructions

Rounding out the section of colloquial Na’vi are colloquial constructions, grammar rules that are not immediately apparent that can be used in colloquial conversation.

The following is a comprehensive list of colloquial constructions and their meanings.

With verbs that use ne/ìlä/fa, like kä or za'u, it is more colloquial to state the place after the verb, and drop the adposition. If the place comes before the verb, then the adposition is required. [1]

In Na'vi names containing __(v)'(v)__ it is colloquial to pronounce them without the tìftang. [2] [15]

A speaker can use pxay + ay+ colloquially, instead of pxay + singular noun. [3]

A single number can be used to respond to ngari solew polpxay when speaking colloquially. [4]

A speaker can drop the agentive suffix on nouns of transitive verbs with unknown objects when speaking colloquially. [5]

A speaker can use oe spaw/spaw oe colloquially as opposed to oel spaw futa. [6] [7]

A speaker can drop the <iv> infix in the zel clause of zun...zel constructions when speaking colloquially if the verb tenses are the same in both clauses. [8]

A speaker can drop the zel in counterfactual "should" phrases, ie. sweylu zun nga kilvä. [17]

A speaker can drop nìftxan/nì'eng in value and worth comparisons when speaking colloquially. [9]

A speaker can drop lu in interrogatives. [13]

A speaker can shorten sä- prefixed words to s- when speaking colloquially as long as the created syllable is legal and cannot be confused with another word. [10] [11] [13]

A speaker can drop tok when it can be reasonably assumed from context in casual conversation. Nouns retain case endings. [14]

In response to the question pesrrpxì/trrpxìpe/pehrrlik/krrlikpe, a speaker can colloquially respond with lu <number>. [16]

In relaxed conversation, ejectives followed by consonants can be softened eg. fpomtokxnga' > fpomtoknga'. [18]