The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has many interesting characters, but the wisest is Paarthurax, a mentor and an unintentional linguistics tutor for the Dragonborn. Paarthurnax acts as one of the Dragonborn's mentors who guides them to their destiny. He is one of three friendly dragons within the game but does not participate in combat like Odahviing and Durnehviir. However, despite his aversion to violence, Paarthurnax is the only reason the Dragonborn can defeat Alduin and save the world.
Skyrim's Paarthurnax resides at the Throat of the World as the hidden Master of the Greybeards. Despite his current tranquility, Paarthurnax once ruled as Alduin's lieutenants during Skyrim's period of Dragon Priests and Dragon Cults. Thankfully, Paarthurnax soon discovered the true measure of their atrocities against humanity and defected from Alduin to help teach mortals the Thu'um. Plagued by his past and determined to conquer his urge to dominate, Paarthurnax isolated himself atop Skyrim's sacred mountain and continued teaching mortals deemed worthy by the Greybeards. Once the Dragonborn meets Paarthurnax, they begin hearing more vocabulary in the dragon tongue than ever before.
Many of Paarthurnax's dialogue mirrors foreign language tutoring methods used in modern school systems. When using new phrases, Paarthurnax tends to precede them with their approximate translation. As a teacher, Paarthurnax's first duty is to mentor the Dragonborn with their Thu'um and destiny. While he assists the Dragonborn in defeating Alduin, his most valuable teachings are found within understanding the Dragonborn's draconic soul. As such, attentive players can begin learning Skyrim's Dragon language by listening to his dialogue after it's repeated. However, not all lines of dialogue are preceded by a translation, and listed below are the most meaningful.
Skyrim Dragon Language Translated: "Zin krif horvut se suleyk."
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim pits players against dragons miraculously resurrecting across the landscape. Many of these dragons fail to resist their base instincts and wreak havoc across Skyrim's cities and towns. However, Paarthurnax follows the Way of the Voice and resists his urge to conquer mortals. This dialogue is triggered when the Blades ask the Dragonborn to kill Paarthurnax. While Paarthurnax doesn't deny his part in subduing the free population of Skyrim, he insists that his transformation is hard-won through meditation and reminder. Paarthurnax expresses these thoughts by stating, "Zin krif horvut se suleyk," which translates into "Honor is fighting the lure of power."
Skyrim's Paarthurnax Translated: "Viik nuz ni kron."
Alduin has plagued Skyrim and the rest of Tamriel for generations, looming over their world and threatening to bring about its end. Though the years may have diminished fear in the general populace, Alduin's legend lives on throughout Skyrim's ruins and sprawling dungeons. Unfortunately, Skyrim's ancient heroes are to blame for this disappearing fear, as their victory over Alduin did not ensure his demise. Paarthurnax is the first NPC to openly acknowledge the flawed plan of Skyrim's historical 'saviors' and the responsibility they unknowingly delegated to the Last Dragonborn. While the heroes did free their peoples from enslavement, they weren't able to kill Akatosh's firstborn with the knowledge they held. This sentiment is shown with the words "Viik nuz ni kron," which translates into "Defeat but not victory," referring to Alduin's survival and the painful struggle of Skyrim's humanoid populations in claiming truly eternal peace.
Skyrim's Dragon Language Translated: "Sahrot hunne."
Most Elder Scrolls protagonists become heroes of legends, preceded by other impressive warriors of renown and prophecy. However, Skyrim follows a different narrative that emphasizes the flaws of its heroic ancestors. Characters like Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, Hakon One-Eye, and Felldir the Old are described as "Sahrot hunne" by Paarthurnax, which translates into "Mighty Heroes."
Unfortunately, their claim to fame sprung from deceit, as their defeat of Alduin did not kill the World-Eater. There is an important distinction between how Paarthurnax examines the heroes using the word "mighty," which suggests a disdain for their perversion of the Thu'um and desire to learn the Dragonrend Dragon Shout.
Skyrim's Paarthurnax Translated: "The dov have words for such things that joorre do not."
There are many differences between dragons and Tamriel's mortals, aside from the obvious body type, powers, lifespan, and lineage differences. It can be quite entertaining for Paarthurnax to try and translate his speech patterns in a language the Dragonborn can understand, with the old dragon regularly struggling to find the correct words for his thoughts. "Dov" means "Dragon" and "Joorre" means "mortal," but the deeper meaning behind the language barrier suggests Skyrim's dragons can (and have) perceived more of the known world. Though mortals can slay dragons, their immortality is otherwise limitless and allows them to obtain knowledge otherwise unknowable.
Skyrim's Dragon Language Translated: "Rah wahlaan." And "Zofaas suleyk."
Throughout The Elder Scrolls games and Tamriel's history, the Elder Scrolls themselves have remained objects of mystery and wonder. Even Paarthurnax, a millennia-old being and tutor, cannot fully comprehend how they came into being or who made them. When attempting to explain this mystery, Paarthurnax refers to "Rah wahlaan" or "Creator Gods" as the party responsible for their existence. However, he's unable to specify how they work or how long they've existed. In a sense, the Elder Scrolls are fractions of creation itself that contain "Zofaas suleyk" which translates into "fearful power." Their ability to peer through time and send Alduin forwards in time is just one of their uses, with other Elder Scrolls and ancient texts in-game capable of traveling to alternate dimensions or blocking out the sun entirely.
Skyrim's Paarthurnax Translated: "Qostiid sahlo aak."
Elder Scrolls game protagonists have rarely had a choice in their destinies, and rarely are they allowed to escape it. Few mentor figures and vital NPCs acknowledge these prophecies, but Paarthurnax's age gives him the wisdom needed to understand the Dragonborn's plight. When discussing the Dragonborn's desire to learn Dragonrend to defeat Alduin, Paarthurnax states, "Qostiid sahlo aak. Just because you can do a thing doesn't mean you should," with the first fraction of the advice translating into "Prophecy is a weak guide." In a way, this advice is the most personable players receive throughout Skyrim's main campaign. Most essential NPCs tend to advise the Dragonborn in a way that benefits them, but Paarthurnax encourages them to choose their own path outside of prophecy.
Skyrim Translated: "Zeymahi lost ont du'ul Bormahu." And “Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah.”
Despite Paarthurnax helping kill Alduin in Skyrim, the old dragon shows great sorrow at the World-Eater's demise. Like all dragons, Paarthurnax and Alduin contained pieces of Akatosh's essence, making all dragons family. Paarthurnax even refers to Alduin as his brother and Akatosh as his father in the "Zeymahi lost ont du'ul Bormahu" line, which means "My brother was once the crown of our father." Paarthurnax then goes on to explain that he can never be pleased with Alduin's death, even though it means Tamriel continues to survive, stating, "Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah," which means "I am sad at his fall."
Players can find other words of the Dragon language by discovering Skyrim's Dragon Shouts hidden on Word Walls throughout the open world, but Paarthurnax is the most consistent tutor. While the Dragon language has appeared throughout The Elder Scrolls, it's most prevalent in Skyrim. Direct translations aren't always available, but attentive players can learn by listening to Paarthurnax's dialogue. Those eager to learn more from Paarthurnax can now access The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition, available for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.