Mechanical Design

Languages: Dungeons & Dragons System Reference Document

Your race indicates the languages your character can speak by default, and your background might give you access to one or more additional languages of your choice. Note these languages on your character sheet.

 

 

Choose your languages from the Standard Languages table, or choose one that is common in your campaign. With your DM’s permission, you can instead choose a language from the Exotic Languages table or a secret language, such as thieves’ cant or the tongue of druids.

 

Some of these languages are actually families of languages with many dialects. For example, the Primordial language includes the Auran, Aquan, Ignan, and Terran dialects, one for each of the four elemental planes. Creatures that speak different dialects of the same language can communicate with one another.

 

Standard Languages [pg 59]

Language Typical Speakers Script
Common Humans Common
Dwarvish Dwarves Dwarvish
Elvish Elves Elvish
Giant

Ogres, Giants

Dwarvish
Gnomish Gnomes Dwarvish
Goblin Goblinoids Dwarvish
Halfling Halflings Common
Orc Orcs Dwarvish

Exotic Languages [pg 59]

Language

Typical Speakers

Script

Abyssal

Demons

Infernal

Celestial

Celestials

Celestial

Draconic

Dragons, dragonborn

Draconic

Deep Speech

Aboleths, cloakers

-

Infernal

Devils

Infernal

Primordial

Elementals

Dwarvish

Sylvan

Fey creatures

Elvish

Undercommon

Underworld traders

Elvish

Written by
Jayden King

Professional Storyteller - Dungeon Master, Writer, and Actor Black ✊🏾 Queer 🏳️‍🌈

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