High Elvish[1] (alternatively Altmeri,[2]High Elven[3]:6 or Elvish)[UOL 1] is the language used by the High Elves of the Summerset Isles. It is directly descended from Aldmeris, and as such is very similar to its relatives like Ayleidoon, Ald Chimeris or the Falmer language. For the longest time, High Elven was the common language used in all legal documentation until it was later replaced by Tamrielic in 1E 2813.[3]:6 The common tongue of the empire, Cyrodilic, is based on the Altmer's speech and writing.[4]:7 To date, there are no known texts written in this language, but some words are known.
In Elvish, there is no soft "c", so when a word begins with "Ce" or "Ci" it is pronounced with a /k/ sound. For example "Cey-Tarn Keep" is pronounced like "Kay-Tarn Keep". Similarly, the letter G is always pronounced /ɡ/, never /dʒ/.[UOL 2]
"Listening eye", the fulcrum who balances competing theories, collects evidence and interviews suspects[7], a member of an examiner's quorum whose role is to inspect and advise[8]
Father (used in the patronymic part of an Altmer's extended name)[32]
Autak
An interjection (seemingly expresses negative emotions, possibly disgust)[33], possibly an injonction for the person to "vanish", to "disappear", to "leave"
Autameld
An exiled individual (lit. "cloud/vanish-driven" in Ayleidoon)[34]
"Shadow Thalmor", an unofficial para-military shadow-organisation that existed in 2E 582, secretly led by corrupt officials from inside the Thalmor proper who resented the rulers of the Aldmeri Dominion[45]
Shining golden crystal used by the Altmer to light their ancient crypts, probably means "Fruit-Stone" (from Falmeric "Cullei", Fruits, and Ayleidoon "Culle", Food, and "Anda", Stone)[47]
Broken child; refers to Altmeri children abandoned by their parents because of their imperfection, such as physical deformity[56] (cf. Ayleidoon "kynd"—"child")
High Examiner, an investigator of the Divine Prosecution, a detective. They always come in a group of three called an "examiner's quorum", composed of a revelator-naganwe, an admanen and a thalmilan.[8]
Shining golden crystal used by the Altmer to contain and replenish magicka, probably a compound word of "Mala" (High or Loving in Ayleidoon) and "Ondo" (of unknown meaning).[47]
Unknown but likely related to "death"; used in the translingual word "revelator-naganwe", meaning "death seer", whose role in an examiner's quorum is to use magic to solve murders[58]
Proper, conform to the Praxis, part of Altmer society[40]
Praxis
Customs or established practices[61][62][63], the set of spoken and implicit rules and guidelines of Altmer society[64][65], the act of belonging in Altmer society[30], also sometimes the practical applications of a field of study (when used outside the context of Altmer society)
A critical witness in a criminal investigation[66] Could probably be break down as Rias (probably related to rias in Falmeric meaning for/because) and en (from Admanen) as to mean someone there for what their eyes saw ("eye witness")
Sage affiliated with the College of Sapiarchs, an order of keepers of the Crystal Tower, scholars dedicated to specific fields of study, and academics who oversee the Ceremoniarchy of High Elf society by interpreting the Scrolls of Praxis[67]
Rellenthil - Water (?) — the settlement has also been known as Riverfield or Riverfeld, indicating that "Thil" or "Enthil" could possibly mean Field in Elvish
Russafeld - Scarlet Shrine in many dialects of Aldmeris, commonly believed to be a shortening or corruption of Dread Temple
Kargaeda - (Shares the same "-eda" suffix as Silaeda. Since most Altmer seem to name their gryphons based on their appearance or magical abilities, Kargaeda's name might be related to his appearance as an Aurulun Gryphon: "A rare, tropical breed with dark plumage highlighted by streaks of vivid orange. Like the last embers of the sun lingering in the night sky."[75])
Mafremare - Frost (?) (Probably related to Mafremare's plumage, being a Snowcap Gryphon: "A white, alpine breed far from her natural habitat."[75])
Nagravia - Is Ugly (She's identified by Justiciar Farowel as the mate of Haeliata, and her name should probably be translated in context as She-Who-Is-Ugly)
Welkadra - Sky-(?)-Ancestor (Given its seemingly out of place and unique ability name "Elder Shockwave", perhaps this is what this hechatere's name is meant to translates to, something like Ancestral Sky-Break)
Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.