Khuzdul

Khuzdul is the language of the Dwarves in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. It is presented as a private, ceremonial tongue that dwarves typically keep to themselves, using it in kinship, ritual, and inscriptions rather than in ordinary conversation with other peoples. Outsiders generally learn only a fragment of Khuzdul, and the dwarves are depicted as protective of their linguistic secrets.

Tolkien conceived Khuzdul as a constructed language with Semitic-inspired phonology and a root-based system, though he left much of its grammar undeveloped in published writings. The available material is sparse and comes mainly from names, monuments, and a few quoted phrases in the narratives. Because the corpus is limited, many aspects of Khuzdul—its full phonology, morphology, and syntax—remain the subject of scholarly and fan speculation.

Writing and sounds are described as using dwarven scripts derived from the Cirth, often referred to as Angerthas. Inscriptions on stone, weapons, and sacred objects are common contexts for Khuzdul. The language is noted for a heavy, consonant-rich inventory, with a number of roots and patterns that resemble a Semitic-style word formation. The most famous Khuzdul phrase that has entered popular Tolkien lore is the battle cry Baruk Khazâd, meaning something akin to “Axes of the Dwarves.”

In-universe use emphasizes secrecy; Khuzdul is primarily spoken among dwarves and within their own communities. A communal trade or diplomatic vocabulary tends to be shared through other tongues, such as Westron or Sindarin, rather than through Khuzdul itself. In the broader Tolkien canon, Khuzdul remains one of the most sparsely documented of his languages, celebrated for its mystery as much as for its linguistic flavor.