Languages in the Realms

Regional Languages

Typical starting regions and their native tongues, along with the typical bonus languages available to someone from that region. Regions denoted with a * also apply to other large settlements of the given race:
Region Native Language Bonus Languages
Aglarond Aglarondan Chessentan, Damaran, Draconic, Elven, Mulhorandi, Orc, Sylvan, Untheric.
Altumbel Aglarondan Aquan, Chondathan, Chessentan, Rashemi, Untheric.
Amn Chondathan Alzhedo, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Shaaran.
Anauroch Midani Chondathan, Damaran, Draconic, Gnoll, Orc.
Calimshan Alzhedo Auran, Chondathan, Chultan, Draconic, Ignan, Shaaran, Tashalan.
Chessenta Chessentan Aglarondan, Chondathan, Draconic, Mulhorandi, Turmic, Unthric.
Chondalwood Shaaran Chessentan, Chondathan, Elven, Halfling, Gnoll, Shaaran, Sylvan, Untheric.
Chult Chultan Alzhedo, Draconic, Dwarven, Goblin, Shaaran, Sylvan, Tashalan.
Cormyr Chondathan Damaran, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc, Turmic.
Dalelands Chondathan Damaran, Elven, Giant, Gnome, Orc, Sylvan.
Damara Damaran Chondathan, Dwarven, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Uluik.
Dragon Coast Chondathan Aglarondan, Chessentan, Damaran, Goblin, Halfing, Orc, Turmic.
Evermeet/Elven* Elven Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Chondathan, Illuskan, Sylvan.
Great Dale Damaran Giant, Goblin, Rashemi, Mulhorandi.
Golden Water Durpari Draconic, Dwarven, Giant, Halruaan, Halfling, Mulhorandi, Shaaran.
The Great Rift / Dwarven* Dwarven Chondathan, Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Illuskan, Shaaran, Terran, Orc, Untheric.
Halruaa Halruaan Elven, Goblin, Halfling, Shaaran, Tashalan.
High Forest Chondathan Elven, Gnoll, Goblin, Halfling, Illuskan, Sylvan.
Hordelands Tuigan Damaran, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Rashemi.
Impiltur Damaran Aglarondan, Chessentan, Chondathan, Dwarven, Giant, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Turmic.
Lake of Steam Shaaran Alzhedo, Chondathan, Dwarven, Goblin, Tashalan.
Lantan Lantanese Alzhedo, Chondathan, Dwarven, Gnome, Ignan, Illuskan, Shaaran.
Lapaliiya Tashalan Alzhedo, Chultan, Gnoll, Halruuan, Shaaran, Yaun-ti.
Luiren/Halfling* Halfling Dwarven, Gnoll, Goblin, Halfling, Halruaan, Shaaran, Untheric.
Moonsea Damaran Chondathan, Chessentan, Draconic, Giant, Goblin, Midani, Orc.
Moonshae Isles Illuskan or Waelan (Ffolk) Aquan, Chondathan, Elven, Giant, Orc, Sylvan.
Mulhorand Mulhorandi Aglarondan, Chessentan, Draconic, Durpari, Goblin, Tuigan, Untheric.
Narfell Damaran Goblin, Orc, Rashemi, Tuigan, Uluik.
Nelanther Isles Chondathan Alzhedo, Goblin, Illuskan, Lantanese, Orc, Shaaran.
The North (Sword Coast, Savage Frontier) Illuskan Chondathan, Dwarven, Elven, Halfling Giant, Goblin, Orc, Uluik.
Rashemen Rashemi Aglarondan, Damaran, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Tuigan.
The Ride Damaran Chondathan, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Rashemi.
Sembia Chondathan Chessentan, Damaran, Gnome, Halfling, Mulhorandi, Shaaran, Turmic.
The Shaar Shaaran Alzhedo, Dambrathan, Dupari, Dwarven, Gnoll, Halruuan, Mulhorandi, Tashalan, Untheric.
The Silver Marches Chondathan Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Illuskan, Midani, Orc, Sylvan.
Tashalar Tashalan Alzhedo, Chultan, Draconic, Illuskan, Orc, Shaaran, Sylvan, Yaunt-ti.
Tethyr Chondathan Elven, Goblin, Illuskan, Lantanese, Shaaran, Sylvan.
Thay Mulhorandi Chessentan, Damaran, Infernal, Rashemi, Tuigan, Unteric.
Thesk Damaran Aglarondan, Chondathan, Giant, Gnoll, Mulhorandi, Rashemi, Tuigan, Turmic.
Turmish Turmic Chessentan, Chondathan, Draconic, Dwarven, Ignan, Shaaran.
Unther Untheric Chessentan, Draconic, Mulhorandi, Orc, Shaaran.
Vaasa Damaran Abyssal, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Uluik.
The Vast Damaran Aglarondan, Chondathan, Dwarven, Giant, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Orc, Rashemi, Tuigan, Turmic.
Vilhon Reach (Chondath, Sespech) Chondathan Chessentan, Damaran, Draconic, Elven, Goblin, Shaaran, Turmic.
Waterdeep Chondathan Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Illuskan, Orc.
Western Heartlands Chondathan Elven, Giant, Goblin, Illuskan, Midani, Orc.

Racial and Common Languages

These are supplemental racial tongues to the ones listed in the Pathfinder RPG reference:

  • Deep Drow: Drow Elves. Also called Low Drow or Drowic, this is the common language of the drow. Each community has its own dialect, but can reasonably understand one another. Written in Espruar.
  • Duergan: Duergar. Originally descended from Dwarven, this language has been deeply affected by the duergar’ time in the Underdark. Written in Dethek.
  • High Drow: Drow Elves. A complex language with its own runic alphabet, it is primarily used by priestesses in ritual context and nobles when they wish to communicate above the heads of the rabble. Written in High Drow.
  • Jannti: Geniekind. The language of the janni serves as a sort of Common language for geniekind, who are notoriously suspicious about those seeking to learn their individual languages. Jannti can be written in Thorass or Draconic.
  • Yipyak: Kobolds. A debased form of Draconic that serves as a common tongue for kobolds. Written in Draconic.

Beyond Faerun

Other common tongues from far flung reaches of Toril:

  • Kao te Shou: Shou Lung. The official language of the Shou Lung empire, by custom and imperial edict. Viewed as the model that all other dialects ought to strive for. Written with Shou Chiang, although may also be written with Draconic in communication with Faerûn.
  • Khazari: Khazari. Official language of the Khazari peoples of Kara-Tur. Written with Shou Chiang, although may also be written with Draconic in communication with Faerûn.
  • Koryo: Koryo. Han-descended language of the people of Koryo. Written using the Han alphabet.
  • Kozakuran: Kozakura. Han-descended language spoken by Kozakurans. Written in Han alphabet.
  • Kuong: Malatra. Language of the Kuong people of Malatra, Kara-Tur. Believed to be unique and so considered specially blessed. Highly complex, following very little logic, and so difficult to learn.
  • Nexalan: Maztica. Written with Nexalan.
  • Shou: Kara-tur. Written with Shou Chiang.
  • The Trade Tongue: Kara-Tur. A common language devised long ago to facilitate trade among the peoples of Kara-Tur. Often referred to as Kara-Turan by those from outside the region.