T'au Lexicon

Tau Portal

This article collects all known sentences, expressions, terms, and words of the Tau language and their respective translations and meanings.

Tau alphabet

Note: the Tau alphabet doesn't have letters for "Q" or "Z", and uses the same letters for the sounds "C/K" and "I/Y".

Time and length units

Tau time unit	composed by	Imperial equivalent	conversion	source
Tau'cyr	6 Kai'rotaa	year	297.74 Terran days	[1]
Kai'rotaa	80 Rotaa	month	50 Terran days	[1]
Rotaa	10 Decs	day	15 Terran hours	[1]
Dec	unknown	hour	1.5 Terran hours	[1]
Microdec	unknown	unknown	unknown	[3]
Rai'kor	unknown	likely: minute	unknown	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.15
Rai'kan	unknown	likely: second (this creates a conflict with the next entry)	unknown	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.134
Dec’taa	unknown	more than likely: second	unknown	Front line report (accessed 2007.11.23)
Mor'tek-rai'kan	unknown	likely: micro second	unknown	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.344

Tau length unit	composed by	Imperial equivalent	conversion	source
Tor'kan	unknown	kilometer?	unknown	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.308, p.153
Tor'lek	unknown	meter?	unknown	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.44, p.306
Tor'il	unknown	centimeter?	unknown	Fire Warrior (Novel) p. 160, p.188, p.300

Basic military organization

name of unit	composed by	leader	rough Imperial equivalent	notes
La'rua - team	6 to 12 fire warriors	1 Shas-ui	Imperial Guard squad	specialized teams are referred to as mission groups, and answer to a coalition command
Kau'ui - cadre	from a few fire warrior teams to a larger force with a wide variety of vehicles and specialised units	cadre commander	Imperial Guard company	may include detachments from the other arms (i.e.: the navy) and allies
Tio've - contingent	three to six cadres	most senior cadre commander or contingent commander	Imperial Guard regiment	Contingents are either led by the most senior cadre commander present or by a separate contingent commander
Kavaal - commune	a temporary grouping of contingents	unknown	unknown	(although unknown it is safe to assume that a commune is led by the most senior contingent commander or by a separate commune commander as this would follow the logic of the rest of Tau military structure)
Uash'o - command	all forces of a given caste in a given location (usually a planet but could be a whole star system)	in the case of the Fire caste: High commander	unknown
Shan'al - coalition	all Tau forces of a given world or star system (sept)	a council of Ethereals, or a particular Ethereal	unknown

• Note: this is the paper strength and ideal paper organization. In the chaos of war everything largely depends upon the circumstances.

Caste System

caste	trainee rank - SAAL	lowest rank - LA[1]	second lowest rank - UI[1]	middle rank - VRE[1]	second highest rank - EL[1]	highest rank - O[1]
Fire - Shas[1]	unknown	warrior[1]	veteran[1]	hero[1]	noble/knight[1]	commander[1]
Earth - Fio[1]	unknown	worker[1]	senior[1]	overseer[1]	engineer[1]	planner[1]
Water - Por[1]	unknown	bureaucrat[1]	envoy[1]	magister[1]	diplomat[1]	ambassador[1]
Air - Kor[1]	unknown	messenger[1]	carrier[1]	pilot[1]	captain[1]	admiral[1]
Etheral or Celestial - Aun[1]	unknown	prince[1]	prelate[1]	king[1]	holy(?)[1]	highest(?)[1]

Notes

• Although Kor'vre translates as pilot, the lower ranks of Kor'la and Kor'ui are also sufficient enough to pilot.^{[Needs Citation]}
• The Aun'O is also known as the Ethereal Supreme.^{[Needs Citation]}

Names

complete Tau name	word for word translation	short form	notes	source
Aun'o' T'au Acaya'Va'Denta	Ethereal caste Highest of the sept T'au the Master of the Undying Spirit	Aun'Va - ???	the given translation is puzzling and quite unclear	Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition), p.42
Aun'el' T'au Kovash	Ethereal caste of the sept T'au Worthy Cause			Kill Team (Novel), p.26
Aun ??? Vior'la Shi	Ethereal caste ??? of the sept Viorla Victory	Aun'shi - ???	his homesept is given at page 53, "Shi" means victory (perhaps: Victorious Ethereal?)	Codex: Tau (3rd Edition) p.52, 53
Por'o Bor'kan Aloh Sha'is	Water caste ambassador of the sept Bor'kan Coldwind ???	O'Aloh - Ambassador Coldwind		Kill Team (Novel), p.163
Shas'o T'au Shi'ur	Fire caste commander of the sept T'au Strong Triumph	O'Shi'ur - Commander Strong Triumph		Fire Warrior (Novel), p.14
Shas'la T'au Kais	Fire caste warrior of the sept T'au Skilled	La'kais - Warrior skilled (i.e.: skilled Warrior)		Fire Warrior (Novel), p.11
Shas'o Vior'La Shovah Kais Mont'yr	Fire caste commander of the sept Vior'La Farsighted Skilful Blooded	O'Shovah - Commander Farsight	"Kaius" - which is given at page 50 is without any doubt a spelling mistake, see page 56	Codex: Tau p.50 p.56, Codex: Tau Empire p.44
Shas'o ??? Shassera	Fire caste commander ??? Shadowsun	O'Shassera - Commander Shadowsun	her homesept is unknown, very likely to have more given names (Sept could possibly be Tau'n judging by sept colour markings.)	Codex: Tau Empire, p.46
Shas'o ??? Var	Fire caste commander ??? Brightsword	O'Var - Commander Brightwsord	very unclear, his full name is supposed to be Shas'o Tash'var Ol'nan B'kak and translated as fire caste commander from the world Tash'var Brightsword Sandherder. However this is contradicted at the page 169 where the short form is given as O'Var - Commander Brightsword. It is more than likely that the author of the novel misunderstood/mixed up the rules of Tau names.	Kill Team p.167, p.168, p.169

All Tau names give basic information:^[1]

1. The first part tells us which caste the Tau individual belongs to and also which rank he holds.
2. The second part tells the homesept of the Tau individual.
3. The third and final part is the given personal name of the individual Tau. Such titles are given in recognition of some achievement and highly remarkable individuals can have several of these given names. Commonly such individuals are spoken to in a short manner: rank, 1st given personal name (e.g.: O'Shovah - translated as "Commander Farsight"). More than one individual can have the same title/given name.^[1]

The correct way to address a Tau individual also depends upon the relationship between the two persons. Friends and relatives may use the short 1st given name (e.g.: "Shadowsun"). Strangers and colleagues are expected to be polite and to use caste and rank (e.g.:"Fire caste commander"). This acknowledges the place of the individual in question and seems to be common in battle communications.^[1]

Sentences and expressions

Tau sentence or expression	translation	notes	source
se'hen che lel	Riding the lightning.	refers to being in a pod as it is propelled at very great velocity (i.e.: traveling at insane speeds)	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.168
	Seeking a t'repa in a gerosh'i.	Similar to "looking a needle in a haystack".	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.328
	We can run with our tail between our legs, like an anxious ui't.	Similar to "run with the tail between ones legs".	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.144, p.402
Aur'ocy shath'r'i tskan sha Tau'va.	Unity comes to all things, in time.	A saying that defines the necessity element of the Greater Good.	Xenology p.17

Terms and words

Alphabetical order	Tau term	literal translation	common translation, usual meaning, notes	source
A	Aloh		Coldwind, a personal name	Kill Team (Novel), p.163
	Aun		Ethereal, Celestial, Ethereal caste	[1]
	Aun'ar'tol		Ethereal caste high command	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Aun'bork'an'retha		A combined Temple/university on Bork'an dedicated to the Ethereal caste and their wisdom.	[1]
	Aun'chiagor		A ceremonial gathering on a round table of the senior representatives of the 5 castes. The first round table was called Chia'gor.	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.138
	Aun't'au'retha		unclear, "the council within the Aun't'au'retha has been reluctant to antagonize the gue'la...". The sentence hints the Aun't'au'retha to be a kind of parliament or senate-like assembly of Aun.	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.145
B	Be'gel		Ork(s), "insane, green-skinned Be'gel" (incapable of integration with the tau'va)	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.74 Codex: Tau Empire (7th Edition), Cadre Fireblades
	Bentus'la	wise-gifted ones	Demiurg	Battlefleet Gothic 2010 Compendium, T'au Kor'or'vesh - The Armada, pg. 155
D	D'yanoi	twin moons	also the name of a Tau sept	Codex:Tau (3rd Edition), p.64
	Da'noh		Mystery not yet unraveled by the Earth Caste	[2]
E	Erijabirds		Birds found in the orchards of the Aun'bork'an'retha	Codex:Tau (3rd Edition), p.12
	Eur'ii		unclear: tears? sweat?, salty?, stinging?	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.65
F	Fio		Earth, earth caste	[1]
	Fio'dr		unclear: uniform or fabric	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.65, p.76
	Fio'shas	worker-warrior	a nickname	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.16
	Fio'tak		unclear: machine?, console? mechanical? electronic? metal?	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.134, p. 140, p.300, p.403
	Fu'llasso	cursed mind knot	Political mess, Overly complicated situation	[2] War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
G	Gal'leath		Explorer, also a ship class of the Tau Navy	To Unite the Stars PDF (accessed 2007.11.24)
	Ghoro'kha		Death hail	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Gue'la		Human	[1]
	Gue'ron'sha	engineered human warriors	Space Marines	[2] War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Gue'vesa	human helper(s)	Human auxiliary troops which are loyal to the Tau empire	Tau Human Auxiliaries (accessed 2007.03.29)
	Gue'vesa'la		Soldier of the Gue'vesa	Tau Human Auxiliaries by Andy Hoare (accessed 2007.03.29)
	Gue'vesa'ui		Sergeant of the Gue'vesa	Tau Human Auxiliaries by Andy Hoare (accessed 2007.03.29)
H	Ho'or-ata-t'chel		Sympathetic ghostpains which can be felt by pilots whose battlesuits have been damaged, extreme cases can be crippling.	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.307
I	Il'fannor		Merchant, also a ship class of the Tau Navy	To unite the Stars PDF (accessed 2007.11.24)
	Iur'tae'mont		Burnout, war madness, shell shock	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.259
J	J'karra		Mirror .	[1]
	Juntas		Side (also direction) of a ship (text is unclear if it is port, starboard, left, or right)	Fire Warrior (Novel)]] p. 47, p.170, p.200
K	Kais		Skilful.	[1]
	Kass'l		Orca, a star-fighter class	To unite the Stars PDF (accessed 2007.11.24)
	Kauyon	Patient Hunter	Oldest of the two main war strategies of the Tau military (see below: Mont'ka), in the Tau language the words for hunter and patience are derived from the same root	[1] Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition) p.12
	Kavaal	battle	also a basic military organization (see above tables)	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Kir'qath		Defender, also a ship class of the Tau Navy	To unite the Stars PDF (accessed 2007.11.24)
	Kles'tak		A high-density explosive.	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.195,
	Ko'vash	a worthy cause	To strive for.	[1] Fire Warrior (Novel) p.23
	Kor		Air, air caste.	[1]
	Kor'shuto		Orbital City.	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Kor'vattra		T'au Space Fleet, T'au Navy	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Kor'ves/Kor'vesa	faithful helper	Tau drone	[1] War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Ky'husa		An alcoholic beverage, is drunk preferably in a single gulp and while it is warm	Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), p.61
L	Lar'shi		Hero, also a ship class of the Tau Navy	To unite the Stars PDF (accessed 2007.11.24)
	Lhas'rhen'na	shattered jade	Noble sacrifice (also a euphemism for one)	[2] War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
M	M'yen		Unforseen.	[1]
	Mal'caor		Spider.	[1]
	Mal'kor		Vespid.	Codex: Tau (4th Edition), p.39
	Malk'la		Ritual discipline meted out to leaders who fail the T'au'va	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Mesme		Combination.	[1]
	Mon'wern'a		Deceptive assault (a battle-scheme)	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.53
	Monat	Freedom of One/lone warrior	Title for a single Battlesuit working without a team; solo operative (i.e.: a lone warrior)	White Dwarf 263 (US), Battlesuit configurations (accessed 2007.12.06) War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Mont'au		The Terror, the Tau race's worst nightmare, the time before the coming of the Ethereal caste when the other castes were set against one another. A barbaric time of war that the Tau fear could return should any Tau put themselves before the Greater Good. Can also be an individual case of: "a state-of-being without progress, without unity or altruism, without direction or purpose or strength", in other words: an individualistic Tau which is simply unable to work in a team (read the novel Fire Warrior).	[1] Fire Warrior (Novel), p.81
	Mont'ka	Killing Blow	One of the two main war strategies of the Tau military (see above: Kauyon)	[1] Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition) p.12
	Mont'yr	seen battle	Blooded.	[1]
	Mor'tonium		Highly reactive alloy used as key element of ion weaponry.	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
N	Nont'ka		Time of Questioning (concept used by Ethereal caste only)	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
O	O'res'la		Ork	Battlefleet Gothic 2010 Compendium, T'au Kor'or'vesh - The Armada, pg. 155
	Or'es		Powerful.	[1]
P	Pech'vesa	kroot helper(s)	Refers to those members of the Kroot that are allied with the T'au.	War of Secrets (Novel), Chapter Seventeen
	Por		Water, water caste.	[1]
	Por'hui		unclear: News or something similar (cited are: porhui media, por'hui journalists, por'hui channels)	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.14, p.58
	Por'sral		Propaganda campaign	[2]
R	Rinyon	Circle of Blades	T'au metastrategy of envelopment (see: Kauyon/Mont'ka)	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Rip'yka	Thousand Daggers	T'au metastrategy of cumulative strikes (see: Kauyon/Mont'ka)	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Run'al		Small observation post or hide, hidden bunker	[1] Codex: Tau empire (4th Edition) p. 12
S	Saz'nami		Ethereal honour guard, enforcer of the T'au'va	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Sept		A star system of the Tau which becomes a individual cultural entity	Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), p.7
	Shas		Fire, fire caste.	[1]
	Shas'ar'tol		Fire caste military high command.	[1]
	Shas'len'ra		Cautious warrior	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.34
	Shaserra		Shadowsun, a personal name	Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition), p.46
	Shi		Victory.	[1]
	Shi'ur		Strong Triumph, a personal name	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.14
	Shio'he		Olfactory chasm, t'au scent organ equivalent	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Sho'aun'or'es	source of power	the heart of the reactor of a power plant	Kill Team (Novel) p.142, Fire Warrior (Novel) p.132, p.134
	Sho'kara		Lens or window to the Warp used by Tau vessels (perhaps: Warp-jump point?). It is commented that the Tau are unable to create an artificial one.	Kill Team (Novel), p.144
	Shoh		Inner light, a personal name	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Shovah		Farsighted.	[1]
	Sio't		always refered to as "Sio't meditation" (several kinds). Unclear: mantras, prayers?	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.74
	Skether'quan		Messenger, also a ship class of the Tau Navy	To unite the Stars PDF (accessed 2007.11.24)
	Snae'ta		unclear: "A snae'ta gue'la cauterised" the wound of a Tau prisoner. A (Tau) mighty general and a powerful fighter, but a snae'ta nonetheless.	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.76, p.402
T	Tau'kon'she		a Tau festival during which a ceremonial clonebeast is hunted by Shas'ui	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.160, p.189
	Tau'fann		age-old address for members of alternate castes	Fire Warrior (Novel), p.140
	Ta'lissera		Communion, marriage, bonding ritual (perhaps also: "sworn brotherhood"?).	[1]
	Ta'ro'cha	three minds – one purpose/three minds as one	a Tau battlesuit configuration (i.e.: three battlesuits which work as a team)	Battlesuit configurations (accessed 2007.12.06) War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Ta'shiro		Fortress station (spacebound)	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Tau'va	Good Greater	The Greater Good	[1] War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Tsua'm		Middle.	[1]
U	Ua'sho	command	also a basic military organization (see above tables)	War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Ukos		Spoon.	[1]
	U'it		an animal with a tail, similar to a dog. "We can run with our tail between our legs, like an anxious ui't."	Fire Warrior (Novel) p.144, p.402
V	Vash'aun'an		Warp space	Kill Team (Novel), p.144
	Vash'ya	between spheres	Focused on more than one thing, also the name of a Tau sept	[1] War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)
	Ves'ron		Robotic being	[2]
	Vior'la	hot blooded	also the name of a Tau sept	[1]
	Vral/V'ral	undercut	Undercut, a personal name	[1]
	Var		Brightsword, a personal name	Kill Team (Novel), pg. 169
Y	Y'eldi	winged one	Air caste name for a particularly gifted pilot, a personal name	[1]
	Y'he	ever-devouring	Tyranid(s), "ever-devouring Yhe" (incapable of integration with the tau'va)	Fire Warrior (Novel), pg. 74 War of Secrets (Novel), T'au Xenolexicon (after Epilogue)

See also

• Tau Quotes

Sources

• 1: Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), pgs. 56-57 - Thoughts on Tau Language
• 2: Codex: Tau Empire (8th Edition), pg. 28
• 3: Blades of Damocles (Novel), Chapter One