Ao

From The Languages of David J. Peterson
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Dothraki

Etymology

From Proto-Plains aɣo (deep, depth).

Pronunciation

IPA(key): /ao/

Adjective

ao (comparative asaon, superlative asaonaz, negative osao, contrastive osaon, sublative asaonoz)

  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): /ao/

Pronoun

ao (nominative second person singular, plural jeme)

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

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.