Ao

Dothraki

Etymology

From Proto-Plains *aɣo (“deep, depth”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈao/

Adjective

1. deep
2. dark (of color)

Creation and Usage Notes

Initially this was onomatopoeic (imagining moving from the surface to the depths). I later added the proto-form with the velar fricative.

High Valyrian

Etymology

From an invisible proto-language.
The etymology of this word comes from an invisible proto-language. If you're confident you know the etymology, feel free to add it, but reader beware should the etymology be added by someone other than the creator of the language!

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈao/

Pronoun

ao (nominative second person singular, plural jeme)

1. you; second person singular personal pronoun, nominative case

   Ao ynoma dīnilūks?

   Will you marry me?

High Valyrian Personal Pronouns Singular Plural 1st Person 2nd Person 3rd Person 1st Person 2nd Person 3rd Person Lunar/Solar Terrestrial/Aquatic Nominative nyke ao ziry ūja īlon jeme pōnta Accusative yne avy ūī īlōn jemī pōnte Genitive yno aō zijo ūō īlo jemo pōnto Dative ynot aōt zijot ūjot īlot jemot pōntot Locative nykē aō zirȳ ūjā īlō jemē pōntā Instrumental ynoma aōma zijosy josa īloma jemme pōntosa Comitative zijomy joma pōntoma Vocative nykys aōs zirys ūjus īlos jemys pōntus Reflexive/Emphatic nykēla aōla zirȳla jāla īlōnda jemēla pōntāla Possessive ñuhon aōhon zȳhon jāhon īlvon jevon pōjon

Descendants

• Astapori Valyrian: o
• Meereenese Valyrian: a

Creation and Usage Notes

The similarity to Dothraki ao was intentional. First, I really liked the sound, and I liked it as a pronoun—and specifically a second person pronoun. It sounded good to me to refer to someone using ao. Second, I thought it was a nice way to demonstrate that Dothraki and High Valyrian were different languages. There was no way to tie the etymologies together and suggest the two words came from a common source.