Sangheili (language)

"Their language doesn't translate in a literal manner, and each word has multiple meanings."

— Cortana

Sangheili scripture on Sunaion.

This article is part of a series on
Sangheili

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Technology

Starships
Wave-skimmer
Harness
Hut
Personal energy shield
Point defense gauntlet

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History

The Former Age
War of Beginnings
The Rending
Sangheili-Jiralhanae war
Blooding Years

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Culture, Politics & Economy

Colonies
Cities
Language
Mythology
Culture

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To check out information for other sapient species, see here!

v • d • e

Sangheili describes multiple dialects of a language spoken by the species of the same name. Though the member species of the Covenant had their own unique languages, an advanced dialect of Sangheili, known as basic Sangheili, came to serve as the lingua franca throughout the entire Covenant Empire. And as such, many names of member species are derived from the Sangheili. Even after the fragmentation of the Covenant, many former client species of the Covenant continue to use the Sangheili language in lieu of their native tongues; Sangheili has even replaced their native language for many. A specific trade pidgin also existed within the Covenant fringe.

Description

Text, or writing, in Sangheili appears to be mostly triangle shapes and composed almost completely of equilateral triangles. The triangular characters have been seen oriented both in the horizontal left-to-right direction and in a vertical right-to-left direction.

Though originating with the Sangheili, an advanced dialect of their language has come to be the Covenant lingua franca, used to connect the different races and species. Curiously, in several instances of Forerunner-related terminology, the Sangheili appear to use the English translations of the original Forerunner terms, as for "Forerunner", "Requiem", "Reclaimer", "Didact", and "Librarian". During the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War, the San'Shyuum obtained a comprehensive understanding of the Sangheili language by brutally torturing and interrogating prisoners of war. After establishing peace with the Sangheili, the San'Shyuum of the fledgling Covenant relied on translation software built into their anti-gravity chairs to understand the language. The Ussans developed in isolation from other Sangheili, and their language evolved into a different form of the Sangheili dialect. It possessed similarities to Old Sangheili, but the language developed into a new dialect that could not be readily understood by the "average" Sangheili.

Structure

Sangheili words generally consists of simply structured syllables. Most syllables consist of a single consonant (e.g. /s/) or a consonant complex (e.g. /t͡s/) followed by a long vowel or a diphthong or in rarer cases a short vowel or a short vowel followed by "n". Other types of syllables include a moraic "nn", a short vowel, a single diphthong, a triphthong, or a long vowel. Finally, some syllables in the middle or, more commonly, at the end of their word might have their vowel component devoiced.

Intonation

Sangheili generally seems to possess word stress, though the possibility of dialects featuring pitch accent shouldn't necessarily be excluded. Sangheili words usually possess only a primary stress with longer words sometimes possessing a secondary stress in the first syllable. The primary stress usually falls on the penult (second from last syllable). However, in many words the stress might fall on the ultima (last syllable) or antepenult (third from last syllable).

Phonology

The Sangheili language includes 8 main vowels (/ä/, /ɑ/, /i/, /ɪ/, /e̞/, /ɔ/, /o/ and /u/) and 18 main consonants (/s/, /z/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /q/, /ɢ/, /ʈ/, /ɖ/, /f/, /b̪/, /ħ/, /j/, /ɰ^β/, /ɱ/, /ɳ/, /ɴ/, /ɻ/ and /ʔ/). Three more consonants also appear in words borrowed from other Sangheili dialects or alien languages. These are /p̪/, /ɺ^ɽ~ɭ/ and /ʋ/. In certain instances, the sounds /o̞/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /w/ and /ɽ/ can appear as allophones of /ɔ/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /ɰ^β/ and /ɻ/ respectively. Furthermore, /ɯ^β/ and /ʊ/ are allophones of /u/ while /ə/ can serve as allophone of /ä/ and /e̞/ when those two sounds are weakened.

Sangheili consonant phonemes

	Labiodental	Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatal	Dorsal	Glottal
Nasal	ɱ		ɳ		ɴ
Flap	(ʋ)		( ɺɽ ~ ɭ )
Plosive	(p̪)		ʈ		q	ʔ
	b̪		ɖ		ɢ
Fricative	f	s	ʂ			ħ
		z	ʐ
Approximant			ɻ	j	ɰβ

Sangheili vowel phonemes

	Front	Central	Back
High	i		u
Near-high	ɪ
High-mid			o
Mid	e̞	(ə)
Low-mid			ɔ
Low		ä	ɑ
Diphthongs	e̞ɪ äɪ äu ɔɪ ou

Consonants /ɳ/, /ɱ/ and /ɴ/ can in some cases be moraic, in which case they are geminated and pronounced as /ɳ:/, /ɱ:/ and /ɴ:/. In addition some consonant complexes can be formed. These are /ʈ͡ʂ/, /ʈ͡ɕ/, /ɖ͡ʐ/, /ɖ͡ʑ/, /t͡s/, /ʈɰ^β/, /ɖɰ^β/, /ɳɰ^β/ and /ɳɱ/.

/ɳɱ/, /ɳ:/ and /ɱ:/ appear only when /ɳ:/ precedes a labiodental /b̪/ or /ɱ/ resulting in /ɳ:/ being pronounced as either /ɳɱ/, /ɳ:/ or /ɱ:/ for phonological reasons.

When followed by /i/, consonants /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /ʈ͡ʂ/ and /ɖ͡ʐ/ can be pronounced as /ɕi/, /ʑi/ /q^ji/, /ɢ^ji/, /ħ^ji/, /ʈ͡ɕi/ and /ɖ͡ʑi/ respectively.

When followed by /i/, consonants /q/, /ɢ/ and /ħ/ can be pronounced as /q^ji/, /ɢ^ji/ and /ħ^ji/ respectively. When followed by /e̞/, consonants /q/, /ɢ/ and /ħ/ can be pronounced as /q^je̞/, /ɢ^je̞/ and /ħ^je̞/ respectively.

/ɴ/ and /ɴ:/ appear before or after the uvular consonants /q/ and /ɢ/ in place of /ɳ/ and /ɳ:/. /ɺ^ɽ~ɭ/ can sometimes be heard as either ɺ^ɽ or ɭ but is generally an intermediate sound. The sound /ɺ^ɽ~ɭ/ itself has no human equivalent. /ɻ/ and /ɽ/ allophones of the same consonant. In reality they are only approximates of the Sangheili r sounds which has no human equivalent. Most users prefer to use /ɻ/. /ä/ is near front and closer to the Japanese /ä/ but some speakers pronounce it as a central vowel like the Italian /ä/. Some speakers use /ä/ insead of /ɑ/. /e̞/ and /i/ are near front vowels and not front vowels. /ɔ/ and /o̞/ are allophones of the same vowel. As such their use depends on the speaker’s preference. /ʊ/ can be used instead of /u/ when /u/ is short only. /ɯ^β/ can be used instead of /u/ regardless of whether /u/ is short or long. The sound itself is compressed and neither rounded nor fully unrounded. It is pronounced like the Japanese u. /ɰ^β/ is a compressed labiovelar approximant. It can also be symbolized as /w^β/. It is pronounced like the Japanese w.

Sometimes /ɖ͡ʐ/ can be pronounced as /ʐ/ or /ɖ͡ʐ~ʐ/.

Sangheili also makes use of the following diphthongs:

/e̞ɪ/, can be pronounced as /e̞j/ before vowels

/ou/ also pronounced as /oɯ^β/, /oʊ/, /o̞u/, /o̞ɯ^β/ or /o̞ʊ/

/äɪ/

/ɔɪ/ also pronounced as /o̞ɪ/ and sometimes pronounced as /ɔj/ or /o̞j/ before vowels.

/äu/ also pronounced as /äɯ^β/ or /äʊ/ (rare)

Phonetic transcription

In order to phonetically transcribe Sangheili, 343 Industries uses the following transliteration system:

• a e correspond to /ä/ and /e̞/ respectively. Both can correspond to /ə/ if the syllable is weakened.
• i corresponds to /ɪ/.
• ah corresponds to /ɑ:/. Some speakers pronounce it as /ä:/ though.
• eh corresponds to /e̞:/
• o corresponds to /ɔ/ and /o̞/ depending on the speaker's preference.
• oh corresponds to /ɔ:/ and /o̞:/ depending on the speaker's preference.
• u corresponds to /u/. Some speakers might also pronounce it as /ɯ^β/ or /ʊ/.
• uh corresponds to /u:/. Some speakers might pronounce it as /ɯ^β:/.
• aa corresponds to /ɑ:/. Some speakers pronounce it as /ä:/ though.
• ee corresponds to /i:/ but can be pronounced as /ɪ:/ or /i~ɪ:/
• uu corresponds to /u:/. Some speakers might also pronounce it as /ɯ^β:/.
• oo corresponds to /u:/. Some speakers also pronounce it as /ɯ^β:/ or /o:/.
• y corresponds to /j/ when it is between two vowels, or at the beginning of a word. When it is at the end of a word or before a consonant or after any consonant except nn it corresponds to /ɪ/.
• t corresponds to /ʈ/.
• d corresponds to /ɖ/.
• k corresponds to /q/ or /k~q/, but is pronounced as /q^j/ when followed by /i/ or /e̞/.
• g corresponds to /ɢ/or /g~ɢ/, but is pronounced as /ɢ^j/ or /g~ɢ^{j/ when followed by /i/ or /e̞/.}
• gh corresponds to /ɢ/ or /ɢ^h/ depending on the speaker's preference. When followed by e (thus forming ghee) the resulting sounds will be /ɢ^je̞:/ and /ɢ^he̞:/. When followed by ei (thus forming ghei) the resulting sounds will be /ɢ^je̞ɪ/, /ɢ^he̞ɪ/, /ɢ^ji:/ and /ɢ^he:/.
• r corresponds to /ɻ/ and /ɽ/ depending on the speaker's preference.
• w corresponds to /ɰ^β/. Sometimes some speakers can pronounce it as /w/.
• f corresponds to /f/
• b corresponds to /b̪/
• ch corresponds to /ʈ͡ʂ/, but can be pronounced as /ʈ͡ɕ/ when found before /i/.
• sh corresponds to /ʂ/, but can be pronounced as /ɕ/ when found before /i/.
• j corresponds to /ɖ͡ʐ/, but can be pronounced as /ɖ͡ʑ/ when found before /i/. The sounds /ɖ͡ʐ/ and /ɖ͡ʑ/ can be pronounced as /ʐ/or /ɖ͡ʐ~ʐ/ and /ʑ/ or /ɖ͡ʑ~ʑ/, respectively.
• s corresponds to /s/.
• z corresponds to /z/.
• ts corresponds to /t͡s/.
• n corresponds to /ɳ/. When n is followed or preceded by the uvular consonants /q/ and /ɢ/ it corresponds to /ɴ/ and when followed by any labiodental consonant ( /ɱ/, /b̪/, /p̪/, /f/, /ʋ/) it corresponds to /ɳ^ɱ/ or /ɳ~ɱ/.
• nn corresponds to /ɳ:/. When n is followed by the uvular consonants /q/ and /ɢ/ it corresponds to /ɴ:/ or /ɳɴ/ or /ɳ:/ and when followed by any labiodental consonant ( /ɱ/, /b̪/, /p̪/, /f/, /ʋ/) it corresponds to /ɱ:/ or /ɳɱ/ or /ɳ:/.
• m corresponds to /ɱ/.
• h corresponds to /ħ/, but is pronounced as /ħ^j/ when followed by /i/.
• tw_, dw_, nw_ correspond to /ʈɰ^β/, /ɖɰ^β/ and /ɳɰ^β/, respectively. The symbol [_] represents any vowel.
• ' corresponds to /ʔ/
• - is used after h to eliminate confusion by separating syllables. For instance is pronounced as uh-eh as /u:i:/ while uheh as /uħe:/
• ae corresponds to /äə/ or /äe̞/ or /e̞:/. In the latter two cases it is not a diphthong.
• ai corresponds to /äɪ/ or /e̞ɪ/ but is usually pronounced /äɪ/.
• au corresponds to /äu/, /äɯ^β/ or /äʊ/ depending on the speaker's preference.
• ay corresponds to /e̞ɪ/. When followed by a vowel it corresponds to /e̞j/. It may rarely be pronounced as /äj/ and not be a diphthong when y is part of a different syllable but that is unknown.
• ei corresponds to /e̞ɪ/ or /i:/ (rarely) depending on the speaker's preference.
• ey corresponds to /e̞ɪ/. When followed by a vowel it corresponds to /e̞j/.
• ie corresponds to /äɪ/.
• ou corresponds to /ou/, /oɯ^β/, /oʊ/, /o̞u/, /o̞ɯ^β/ or /o̞ʊ/ depending on the speaker's preference.
• oy corresponds to /ɔɪ/ or /o̞ɪ/ depending on the speaker's preference. When followed by a vowel it corresponds to /ɔj/ and /o̞j/ respectively.
• eay corresponds to /ɪe̞ɪ/. In this case the diphthong is /e̞ɪ/ and /ɪ/ is syllabic.
• l corresponds to /ɺ^ɽ~ɭ/. It can sometimes be pronounced as ɭ or ɺ^ɽ ɺ^ɽ by the same speaker due to phonological reasons. Most of the times though l is pronounced identically to r.
• p corresponds to /p̪/.
• v corresponds to /ʋ/.

Vocabulary

Note: All words in the following list should not be pronounced as if they were English. Please refer to the phonetic transcription system above.

Ancient words, names, and words of extinct or other Sangheili languages.

Unggoy - Grunt

Kig-Yar - Jackal

Sangheili - Elite

Yanme'e - Drone

Jiralhanae - Brute

Lekgolo - Hunter

San'Shyuum - Prophet

Huragok - Engineer (taken from the Forerunner name "Huragok")

Fohranah/Fohran - Forerunner

Neru Pe 'Odosima - Servants of the Abiding Truth

A'ul - Lump of wood

Kel - Light (that dances on the waves)

Silket - Spear

Laqil - New Llanelli

Sqala - Venezia

Quillick - Small hunter

QezoY'asabu - Obsidian Wing

Dohmayinn - Domain

Leevrukah - Guardian

Wort - Go

Nishum - Intestinal parasite; a common insult towards humans

Jir'a'ul - Lump of wood; a common insult towards Jiralhanae

Rakoi - Carrow

Saban'amnsir - Red Fang

Nalsaban - Crimson

Modern words with known or assumed meanings based on context.

Sangayri - Sangheili

Kigyaa - Kig-Yar

Kaydon - Clan leader

Ossoona - Eye of the Prophet

Dohmoh'Eenngahnehnn - Human

Dohmoh - Human

Eenngahnehnn - Human

Eenngaynehnn - HumanSpartan Ops

Oochahns - Shipmaster

Chohkah - Shipmaster Spartan Ops

Rutah-shiboh - Shipmaster?Spartan Ops, E3 Catherine

Jeeneh - Soul

Nou - Cognate with English "no", as a negative response

Ey - Cognate with English "No" and "not, also used as an interjection

Eedah-yook/eedah-ookoh/eedook-yoo - Brother

Ehnteh-yookoh - Loyal friendHalo 4 - Terminal 1

Me-hoh - refers to a group in which the speaker is a part of.

Tahshee - refers to a third group, which the speaker is not part of. Also means different.

Kuhtahshee - refers to something that is very different, like an alien or in some cases human.

Kohyahkuhmoh - Vector

Mahgahchee - Approach

Eennah - Like/who/whoever Meaning varies significantly depending on context.

Reh - make/made

Deedah - gift Spartan Ops, E3 Catherine

Kooay - Bring (command form)Spartan Ops, E3 Catherine

Musuyano - Rest/Remains/Remnant

gahkaboonoh - travel/go at

Gah - It, this, He, him

Woh - He, him

Jah - I, me, we

Wah - You (2nd person)

Nohkoh - Keep (verb,command form)

Se - away from/from

Rugee-ee - Rise (command form)

Runah-udoh - Progress

Eedahyoh-ahyoh - After him (command form)

Jahn-rayn-chay - Intruder

Rohyahyah - Faster (command form)

Gah raykoh - This is

Kahnoh - TreasureHalo 4 - Terminal 1

Ree-oh - will/will be, ~is, areHalo 4 - Terminal 1

Cheennsay - Warrior

Cheenoh - LifeSpartan Ops, E3 Catherine

Keeoh-eesay - Death

Geeoh neechuh - Forever vigilant

Sunaion - Westward temple of the sea

Igzuk - An insulting descriptor of some kind.

Transliterated Sangheili

—Nnse-kooree-koocha nee-ey-mawoo.

Dieduckt gahkaboonoh Liebuh-Rahrian musuyano. Kaboonzaywah wohchitah kneekohsoh woorumahtwo.

Nntahbonwon sayoh. Gah-eymayoh Reecleymah toymeh-ushou zosuerohkoh!

Nnkahchee kahnohmoh keenoh ruh-ehnahsheewah cheeruh-eh tayruh-ah. Wahshahteh rohneeahkeh nohkoh wahnahkohroh neeoh-yohnoh sahgahkay. Tahgee wahkeetoh ruhnehdah-ee nnkah-ee tahgee tahruh-yah. Promethean wahzeguhkah kahjee mah.

Neetohmoh neekohnoh.

Cheenoh-ee. Keeoh-eesay. Geeohneechuh.

Cheennsay rehmah-oh. Cheennsay nnteh-hahdeh.

Kaidon sohruh kaysuhtah.

Neeshoh eesah Aabeetah tay shee shoh hyuhmahnn. 'Mdama wooeeee kehnndoh.

Nnrah kahwah ahkeeteh yoh-uh yoh-uh.

Sheennshee roh-ehtahmahnay. Kraken bayoh-hoh.

Promethean ee-hahshee-hoo 'Mdama eerayrah cheennshee. Wahrahtsuah uhtohkah nohkoh eekahtahtah rohkehmah.

Ruhnahshuh ee-hah sheewoo Sangheili ruh-ahnee. Prophet ruh-ah-ee.

Suhrahnahkah sohkuhfoo sohruhsuh.

Gay uhsoh. 'Mdama zurahnahkahgah zohkuh-oh beechee.

Nn-ee eeseh kaysah.

Nn-nee nnseh shuhkohroh.

Didact sah-ee nay.

Non-native speakers of Sangheili

Several species, including humans, Mgalekgolo, Unggoy, and Kig-Yar are able to speak Sangheili. Not all races can speak the same language due to evolutionary design restrictions; for example, the Yanme'e could only communicate through a cacophony of high-pitched clicks and screeches. To facilitate easier communications between member species, translation software is used on Covenant ships to decipher words. During and after the Human-Covenant War, several humans were able to understand Sangheili :

• Catherine Halsey
• Evan Phillips
• Luther Mann
• Melody Azikiwe
• Mike Spenser
• Olympia Vale
• Jacob Keyes

Symbol types

There are four known written types of the Sangheili language.

Triangle type (original cipher)

This triangle variant of the written language has a few key features. They are a big triangle surrounded by numerous smaller triangles. These smaller triangles are known to be closer to the corners of the bigger triangle, and can either be floating above the corner, or very close to it. The direction of the bigger triangle is not set, leading to there being numerous possibilities to what one symbol could mean. The bigger triangle is also known to have semi-circles cut out of the middle of its sides, sometimes filled with circles. Sometimes the triangles points are not there and are replaced by a circle. Sometimes rectangles are involved in the symbols. There is also thinner and longer triangle symbols in this type of symbols. These can have a smaller triangle at its smaller side or not.

There are a few different translations for these types of symbols. They are seen often in transmissions and on control panels. These have been in use as early as February 4th 2531 in transmissions during the Harvest Campaign.

Triangle alphabet 1

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  Covenant alphabet used in several systems and consoles.

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  A Covenant system over Harvest that uses this alphabet.

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  A control panel with the symbols on it. The words "Activated Shild" appear on this.

Triangle alphabet 2

• Halo 2 Wallpaper UNSC.png

  A Halo 2 wallpaper with Covenant symbols.

• Halo 2 Wallpaper.png

  A Halo 2 wallpaper with Covenant symbols.

• Halo wallpaper translations.png

  Translations of the two Halo 2 wallpapers.

Other triangular characters

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  Symbols for the Covenant vehicles in Halo 2's Prima Guide.

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  The Halo 3 campaign Sangheili combat harness triangle symbols.

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  Sangheili combat harness HUD magnification system with these symbols on it in Halo 3.

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  Glyph patterns that change one by one on Assembly in Halo 3.

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  All symbols that appear in Halo: Uprising.

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  The Covenant speech in Halo: Uprising.

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  Most of the known countdown of an antimatter charge in The Package.

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  From left to right: Assumed Covenant numbers 0,1,3, 4, and 5.

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  Symbol used on the Halo Reach project page.

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  The symbol of the Covenant.

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  The Sangheili scripture for the word Covenant. First seen on Sunaion. Notice that it is a mirrored version of the previous image. The image is a Photoshop recreation.

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  Horizontal version of the Symbol of the Covenant.

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  Symbols that appear on the armor of Sangheili in Halo Reach's campaign.

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  The Halo Reach Sangheili combat harness compass. Big triangle with the point up is North, big triangle with the point down is South.

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  The Halo Reach Sangheili combat harness zoom.

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  Symbol at the back of Jackals in Halo Reach.

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  Symbol that appears on the shoulder armor of Skirmishers in Halo: Reach.

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  Symbols on weapons in Halo: Reach.

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  Symbols on vehicles in Halo: Reach.

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  Triangle type around a Forerunner type symbol in Halo: Reach.

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  Another look at the previous symbols.

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  Triangle type seen on a Covenant communication node in Halo: Reach.

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  needle rifle]] zoom.

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  Triangle type symbols seen on a Covenant vehicle fuel storage unit in Halo: Reach.

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  Triangle type symbols seen on a Covenant supply case in Halo: Reach.

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  One of Doctor Halsey's attempt to understand the Covenant language, documented in her journal.

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  Energy sword triangle symbols.

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  Jul 'Mdama contacting Doctor Halsey in Spartan Ops.

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  Casket for a dead Arbiter in Halo 2: Anniversary's Terminals.

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  Rizsheda-pattern Shade symbols in Halo 5: Guardians.

Bumped triangles type

These triangle symbols are similar to the base triangle type. They are big triangles with a spike coming out near the corners. Smaller triangles, unlike the triangle type symbols, are closer to the middle of the sides, touching the spike coming out near the corner.

There is sometimes a smaller triangle taken out the sides of the bigger triangles, and sometimes triangle taken out the middle of them also.

These are often seen in transmissions and also on control panels. These have been in use as early as April 26, 2526 in transmissions during the Battle of Circinius IV.

Normal use

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  Covenant Alhanumercal Forms

• Carbine numbers.png

  Numbers 00 to 18 that appear on the Mosa-pattern carbine in Halo 4.

• Bumbed Covenant Alphabet.png
• Covenant glyphs H4FUD.png

  Bumped triangle type used prior to the battle of Circinius IV in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. From right to left written vertically: 7 Reclamation.

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  Bumped triangle type used prior to the battle of Circinius IV in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

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  Another view of the code prior to the battle of Circinius IV in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

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  Mark VI soft patch for Covenant armor abilities in Halo 4. From left to right it writes: 1, 2, 3, Covenant armor Camouflage, 117.

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  A control panel with the symbols on it in Halo 4.

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  Bumped triangles in numerous Halo 4 and Halo 2: Anniversary marketing.

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  Bumped triangles in Halo: Escalation. The door panel reads: Opens.

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  Sangheili data pad in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Control panels with the symbols on them on the map Truth in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Control panels with the symbols on them on the map Truth in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Closer look on a couple of the symbols on a control panel.

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  Sunaion control panel.

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  Covenant symbol for the Commendations in Halo 5: Guardians.

Weapons and vehicles

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  In normal symbols for weapon status in Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Kelos'vaarda-pattern storm rifle temperature symbol in Halo 4.

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  Zubo-pattern beam rifle zoom symbols in Halo 4.

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  Type-51 carbine zoom symbols in Halo 4.

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  Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun zoom on off target and on target symbols in Halo 4.

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  Ghost patterns related to this type of symbols in Halo 4.

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  Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich control panel with these symbols on it in Halo 4.

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  Covenant symbols on a plasma grenade.

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  Type-26 Shade symbols in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Gespu-pattern fuel rod gun zoom symbols in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Logogram that indicates that a target is inside the weapon's reticule.

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  From left to right: temperature and energy/battery level/battery sigils. The temperature one can also be found upside down when zoomed.

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  All base Halo 5: Guardians Covenant weapon symbols

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  Covenant symbols on a storm rifle, notice the temperature symbol glowing red.

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  Covenant symbol found on weapon variants in Halo 5: Guardians.

Armor

These are all the symbols and patterns related to them.

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  Sangheili Storm symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Sangheili Zealot symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Sangheili Warrior symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Commander symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Sangheili Ranger symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Kig-Yar Storm symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Kig-Yar Heavy symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Unggoy Storm symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Unggoy Heavy symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Unggoy Ranger symbols and patterns in Halo 4.

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  Unggoy armor symbol in Halo 5: Guardians.

Forerunner symbol type

These symbols are often borrowed or adapted from actual Forerunner symbols for use in speech, on Sangheili armor, and even on Covenant technology.

External

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  Covenant Forerunner symbols as seen on Halo2.com.

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  Forerunner small line type symbols as seen on a Halo 2 marketing poster.

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  Mark of Shame.

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  Sangheili speech represented by Forerunner glyphs.

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  Symbol pattern used by the Covenant for Harvest.

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  Cyan symbol that appears on a switch in Halo Reach.

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  The Glyph of Faith.

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  Two Forerunner type glyphs appearing on a Covenant communication node.

Armor

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  The non-glowing cyan symbol is found on the back of Stealth Sangheili and Sangheili Zealots.

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  Sangheili Minor harnesses emblazoned with Forerunner glyphs.

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  White symbol that appears on the Sangheili armor in Halo Reach.

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  White symbol that appears on Grunts in numerous games.

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  Two symbols painted on Sangheili armor.

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  Symbol used on the Prophets' anti-gravity chairs.

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  Symbols imprinted on the combat harness of a Sangheili Minor.

Weapons and vehicles

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  Green Anskum-pattern plasma grenade symbol in Halo CE.

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  Green plasma grenade symbol in Halo 2.

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  Green plasma grenade symbol in Halo 3.

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  Energy sword hilt with Forerunner symbols on it.

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  Green plasma grenade symbol in Halo: Reach.

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  Weapons in Halo Reach with Forerunner symbols on them.

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  Symbol that appears on the Ru'swum-pattern Phantom in Halo Reach.

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  A symbol that appears in the inner workings of the Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet that closely resembles that of the Iris artifact glyphs.

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  Energy sword symbols in Halo 4.

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  Green Anskum-pattern plasma grenade symbol projecting the symbol for Installation 04.

Sunaion and Sangheili ruins symbols

Ancient Sangheili triangle type

An ancient version of the Sangheili script appears in Sangheili ruins and ceremonial curveblades. Symbols similar to the modern triangular symbols appear. They can also be seen on modern Swords of Sanghelios flags.

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  Ancient Sangheili on the Halo 5: Guardians animated poster.

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  Ancient Sangheili on Vadam flags in the Halo 2: Anniversary Terminals.

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  Ancient Sangheili on a curveblade.

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  Ancient Sangheili on Sangheili ruins.

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  This appears throughout Sunaion.

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  These appear on barriers throughout Sunaion.

Ancient Sangheili circle type

Usually next to ancient Sangheili triangle types on ancient Sangheili scriptures.

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  Numerous circles found on several scriptures.

Mural type

This type is numerous symbols and images.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili ruins.

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  A mural found in Sangheili burial ruins.

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  Murals on a console that can be used.

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  Symbols and murals throughout Sunaion and Sangheili ruins.

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  Symbols and murals throughout Sunaion and Sangheili ruins.

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  A big mural on Sunaion.

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  A mural that has a version of the Guardian symbol on it.

Production notes

Deleted material: Elite speech from Deliver Hope
Trouble with the audio sample?

Before the release of Halo 2, the official website at Halo2.com was made to look like a Covenant computer complete with the Sangheili language. This language was a simple cipher with the triangular characters. In addition to Halo2.com, a released wallpaper contained triangular characters that made use of this cipher. After the Halo2.com site, the cipher changed. Two wallpapers were released with an entirely new cipher still using the triangular characters. Neither this cipher or the previous one have been used subsequently, though the triangular characters are still commonly used.

The Covenant speech in Halo: Reach is actually able to be translated. A common useful word to understand in gameplay is "awugapu," which is used to announce that a grenade is being thrown.

The languages in their original form are heard in Halo: Combat Evolved. In Halo 2, their words are translated for the convenience of the player. Elites in Halo: CE spoke a deep, warbling tongue. This was achieved by reversing the voice acting of David Scully. The ever-popular "Wort, wort, wort!" shouted by many Elites during gameplay is actually Sergeant Johnson’s famous "Go, go, go!" reversed and sped up. The hissing-like language of the Jackals is actually the English language reversed. This, and the other Covenant languages (Drones, Hunters), have remained the same since Halo 2.

According to voice actor David Sobolov, who played Ripa 'Moramee in Halo Wars and Jul 'Mdama in Halo 4, the fictional language spoken by the Elites in Halo 4 was a "made-up language that was based on Japanese," that started out as being improvised by the voice actors. Except due to legal concerns, the voice lines and language were intentionally scripted instead. Because of the complexity of the fictional language, "it took almost ten minutes per line to record" and required extra time to record than usual.

In Halo 5: Guardians, Sangheili hieroglyphics were inspired by Islamic, Mongolian, and Indian art, as well as Egyptian and Mayan hieroglyphics.

A Covenant language was created by David Peterson, creator of the Dothraki language used in Game of Thrones, for Halo: The Television Series. Peterson posts transcripts for the words and their translations in a series of posts on Archive of Our Own, accessible here.

Gallery

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  Sangheili vowels as pronounced in the games and live action films by Sangheili.

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  Concept art of control panels with Sangheili symbols on it.

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  Emblem of a Covenant symbol in Halo 4.

List of appearances

Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance) Halo: Combat Evolved Halo: First Strike Halo 2 Halo Graphic Novel Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Halo: Landfall Halo: Arms Race Halo: Combat Halo: Last One Standing Halo: Uprising Halo 3 Halo: Contact Harvest Halo: The Cole Protocol Halo Wars: Genesis Halo Wars Halo 3: ODST Halo Legends The Package Origins Halo: Blood Line

Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss Blunt Instruments The Mona Lisa The Return Halo: Reach Halo: Glasslands Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Halo: The Thursday War Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Halo 4 Terminals Spartan Ops Halo: Mortal Dictata Halo: Broken Circle Halo: Nightfall Halo 2: Anniversary Halo: Hunters in the Dark Hunt the Truth Halo 5: Guardians Halo: Shadow of Intent Halo: Tales from Slipspace Hunting Party Knight Takes Bishop Halo: Bad Blood (Mentioned only) Halo: The Television Series Contact Unbound Emergence Homecoming Transcendence Halo: The Rubicon Protocol