Grineer Language

Grineer text originally started out as simple bar code, and the ultimate goal was to create a written language that could be read easily whether compacted into a small space or plastered on an entire wall. Unlike the Corpus or Tenno alphabet that needs room to flourish, Grineer text can be fit into just about any location without a problem.

—WARFRAME blog post on creation of the language^[1]

The Grineer speak and write in a heavily corrupted form of English, intermixing grunts, simplified terms, and onomatopoeia into their writing and naming conventions as well as a form of substitution that highlights their degenerative speech impediments.

They use their own unique set of barcode letters with dot-matrix-styled 'cuts' made along its edges (left for letters, right for numbers), to various depths. A dot present under each letter's bottom-right corner helps to determine the correct orientation and makes it easy to tell if the text has been flipped or rotated.

In many cases, Digital Extremes did not intend for this script to be translated and read by players. Therefore, many cases of text longer than a few words (such as the readouts on monitors) tend to be random letters strung together and occasionally flipped or rotated. Since the dot-marks are supposed to be on the bottom-right, it is easy to tell when this has been done.

Speech[]

Much like the Corpus Language, Grineer is based on a substitution of letters and letter clusters, generated by feeding English text through a simple program.^[2]^[3] The substitutions used have evolved over time, leading to inconsistency in the spoken Grineer language which is exacerbated by the accents of various Grineer units. A list of substitutions common to most Grineer/Quotes has been determined based on known dialog. Due to the relatively small number of references and the variability of Grineer accents, this list may not be comprehensive.

English	Grineer	Example/Notes	Sample Audio
B	K	Sukjekkt ("subject")
BA	RA	Raf ("back")
BO	BRO	Brogrer ("bored")
C	K, KK	Onke ("once")
CK	F	Kref ("check")
CL	GR	Grear ("clear")
D	R	Spotter ("spotted")
ES	EN	Rentroy ("destroy")
H	R	Rey ("hey")
I	U, HU	Hu'm ("I'm")	"Gry am Hu regre?" - Why am I here? (download, history)
L	D	Dof ("lock") Applied only if L is not preceded by a consonant
LL	S	Khus ("kill")
O	K	Fkr ("for") Outdated substitution; more recent dialogue do not use this
P	G	Gregort ("report") Applied only if P is not flanked by any consonants
R-, -R-	GR	Regre ("here") Applied only if R is not flanked by any consonants
ST	TR	Retrroy ("destroy")
TH	KL	Klem ("them") This substitution is responsible for the Clem meme.
W	R	Rusr ("wish")
WH	GR	Grat ("what")
Z(E?)	OG	Freeog ("freeze")	"Freeog!" - Freeze! (download, history)

These substitutions are the most heavily used, but have not always been employed, and may change again in the future. Some notable dialog that does not follow these rules includes the initial cutscene of Vor's Prize, which among other irregularities features a substitution seen nowhere else: O → K. The Kavor word "sikkhat" is a recent example of a word of unknown derivation that may indicate a rule shift. Known examples of translated text can be found on the Grineer, Captain Vor, General Sargas Ruk, Kuva Guardian, and the Regulator quotes page.

A small number of words are irregular or have special substitution rules: most notably "and", ("na"), "my" ("tu"), and "you" ("gar"). Expletives except for "ramn" ("damn") appear to not follow substitution rules, or are de novo words ("ghutre" "rapatok", "gretesk"). Numbers used in the Orbiter's Radio Scanner audio are also partially irregular and possibly unique to those clips.

Pronounciation[]

“It's taking longer than I calculated.”

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Still have some pronounciation rules unaccounted for.

(A) = short/long A
(B) = see below
(C) = see below
(D) = R
(E) = short/long E
(F) = F
(G) = G
(H) = see below

(I) = see below
(J) = J
(K) = see below
(L) = see below
(M) = M
(N) = N
(O) = short/long O
(P) = see below

(R) = see below
(S) = see below
(T) = see below
(U) = short/long U
(V) = V
(W) = see below
(Y) = long E
(Z) = Z?

The Grineer (B) has four possible sounds:
- It uses the English "R" sound (as in row) when it is followed by the vowel (A).
- It uses the compound sound "BR" (as in break) when it is followed by the vowel (O).
- It uses the English "K" sound (as in cat) when it is preceded by the vowel (U)?
- Otherwise, it uses the English "B" sound (as in bat).
The Grineer (C) has three possible sounds:
- It uses the English "F" sound (as in fair) when it is followed by (K).
- It uses the English "G" sound (as in green) when it is followed by (L).
- Otherwise, it uses the English "K" sound (as in cat).
The Grineer (H) has two possible sounds:
- It uses the English "L" sound (as in latch) when it is preceded by (T).
- Otherwise, it uses the English "R" sound (as in row).
The Grineer (I) has two possible sounds:
- It uses the English "U" sound (as in up).
- It uses the compound sound "HU" (as in hut).
The Grineer (K) has two possible sounds:
- It uses the English "F" sound (as in fair) when it is preceded by (C).
- Otherwise, it uses the English "K" sound (as in cat).
The Grineer (L) has four possible sounds:
- It uses the English "S" sound (as in stop) when it is followed by another (L).
- It uses the English "R" sound (as in row) when it is preceded by (C).
- It uses the English "D" sound (as in dog) when it is not preceded by a consonant.
- Otherwise, it uses the English "L" sound (as in latch).
The Grineer (P) has two possible sounds:
- It uses the English "G" sound (as in green) when it is not flanked by consonants.
- Otherwise, it uses the English "P" sound (as in pat).
The Grineer (R) has two possible sounds:
- It uses the compound sound "GR" sound (as in great) when it is not flanked by consonants.
- Otherwise, it uses the English "R" sound (as in row).
The Grineer (S) has two possible sounds:
- It uses the English "T" (as in table) sound when it is followed by (T).
- Otherwise, it uses the English "S" sound (as in stop).
The Grineer (T) has three possible sounds:
- It uses the English "R" sound (as in row) when it is preceded by (S).
- It uses the English "K" sound (as in cat) when it is followed by (H).
- Otherwise, it uses the English "T" sound (as in table).
The Grineer (W) has two possible sounds:
- It uses the English "G" sound (as in green) when it is followed by (H).
- Otherwise, it uses the English "R" sound (as in row).

Unique words[]

The following words do not follow substitution rules (maybe due to accents) or are unique to the Grineer language.

Known translations
Word	Translation/Meaning
Chee	"three"^[4]
Ehught	"eight"^[4]
Fhuve	"five"^[4]
Forr	"four"^[4]
Gar	"you"^[3]
Garr	"your"^[3]
Garkot	"target"
Gutora	"bitch"
Na	"and"^[3]
Nhune	"nine"^[4]
Orre	"over"
Ramn	"damn" or a unique expletive
Sevenk	"seven"^[4]
Shux	"six"^[4]
Sikkhat	An Infested creature
Skoom	"scum"
Tok	"two"^[4]
Tenno	Tenno faction^[3]
Tu	"my"^[3]
Uk	"one"^[4]

Unknown translations
Word/Phrase	Context
Peezporr enkkaagge kraaft	"Sukjekkt secured. Removing from battlefield. Peezporr enkkaagge kraaft!" - Kuva Guardian after killing a Kuva Larvling
Rapatok	"Uhh... we're entering the unresponsive vessel. Huhh, no signs of Infestation so far. Ramn, there are casualties. Mm-hmm, everywhere. It looks like, uhh, blade weapons. Yeah. Rapatok! Uh-huh, Tenno skoom! Yeah, they're all dead. Mark this ship for repopulation." - Radio Scanner
Shashe	"Shashe Tenno!"

Audio examples[]

Main article: Grineer/Quotes

"Gar guis see anykling susphukhuous?" - "You guys see anything suspicious?"

"Or no!" - "Oh no!"

"Warframe spotter!" - "Warframe spotted!"

"Kome groser!" - "Come closer!"

"Ror rur Hu get truff rhukl klus kotr? Sekurhuty agahuntr grat?" - "How did I get stuck with this post? Security against what?"

Numbers[]

First Appearance[]

73grineermessage — Quick flash of a message at 0:0:27

A video released on July 3, 2013 for the Informant Event featured more Grineer text, including the first uses of numbers for the language. A flash before the timer countdown contained the message:

"COMMANDERS, GLORIOUS NEWS, OUR NEW SURVEILLANCE DRONES ARE BEING DEPLOYED AS WE SPEAK. CENTRAL CONTROL WILL NOW BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE LOCATION OF EVERY TENNO OPERATIVE IN THE SYSTEM. ANY ATTEMPTS TO TAMPER WITH THE DRONES WILL BE THWARTED BY THEIR SOPHISITCATED DEFENSE SYSTEMS."

"OUR GRIP IS TIGHTENING. SOON OUR DOMINANCE WILL BE UNCHALLENGED. YOUR MAJESTIES, THE TWIN KWUEENS"

The timer displayed in the background begins at 48:00:00 and begins counting down, ending at 47:59:51 when the view changes. As a result, the symbols for numbers were determined by the community.

It can be seen that the numbers have indentations on the right sides of the blocks, unlike the letters which have indentations on the left sides. The indentations on the numbers progressively rise as the numbers increase. Even numbers have shallower indentations, while odd numbers have deeper ones.

Pronunciation[]

The official pronunciation of numbers are as follows^[4]:

One (1) = Uk
Two (2) = Tok
Three (3) = Chee
Four (4) = Forr
Five (5) = Fhuve
Six (6) = Shux
Seven (7) = Sevenk
Eight (8) = Ehught
Nine (9) = Nhune

Writing[]

All writing in the Grineer alphabet is written in either correct American English (with exceptions) or phonetically in the English language, with some substitutions due to missing characters:

"X" is converted to (KS).
"Q" is converted to (KW).

Examples[]

Queen is written as ("Kween").
Conquer is written as ("Conkwuer").

Proper Nouns[]

List of proper nouns and names of Grineer origin.

Names

Boril
Cressa Tal
Dhurnam
Dok Thul
Garesh
Gharn^[5]
Gral
Olka Harkonar
Jarka
Kahl
Kela De Thaym
Leekter
Lech Kril
Nok
Reth
Sargas Ruk
Shik Tal
Sprag
Tengus
Tyl Regor
Vay Hek
Vay Molta
Veytok^[6]
Vem Tabook
Ven'kra Tel
Vor
Zek
Zura
Any Kuva Lich name
Any Railjack Crewmember from Steel Meridian
Any rescued Grineer during Break Narmer missions.

Proper nouns

Akkalak
Balor Fomorian
Bolkor
Boloket^[7]
Brokk
Caggro^[7]
Dargyn
Draga
Drahk
Dreg
Drekar
Firbolg
Glacik
Grustrag
Hyekka
Laddak^[8]
Lektro
Kavor
Kosma
Maggor^[8]
Manticore
Mordda
Nox
Ogma
Pyr
Rahk
Rathuum
Sikula
Tantu^[7]
Taktis
Tusk
Vaykor^[9]
Vruush
Zeplen
Any Grineer weapon with some exceptions (e.g. Dual Cleavers)

Tabulated Ciphers[]

“It's taking longer than I calculated.”

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Unfinished and needs confirmation

Matching Grineer alphabet to International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for English pronunciations.

English Consonsants
IPA	Grineer Alphabet Equivalent(s)	English Examples
p	(P) & (G)*	pen, tip
b	(B)	but, web
t	(T)	take, cut
d	(D) & (G)†	dad, do
tʃ	(CH)	chat, nature
dʒ	(J)	joy, giant, edge
k	(C) & (K)	cat, kite, queen
g	(G)	go, get, gutter
f	(F)	off, fate
v	(V)	voice, of, favorite
θ	No equilvalent	thing, teeth
ð	No equilvalent	that, soothe
s	(S)	same, city, sass
z	(Z)	zoo, rose
ʃ	(SH)	she, sure, emotion
ʒ	No equilvalent	genre, seige, pleasure
h	(H)	hat, heaven
m	(M)	man, jam
n	(N)	no, brain
ŋ	(NG)	ringer, sing, drink
l	(L)	loss, please
r	(D) & (H) & (R) & (W)	run, very
w	(W)	win, we
j	(Y)	yes, yawn
hw	No equilvalent	what, when
x	No equilvalent	loch

English Vowels
IPA	Grineer Alphabet Equivalent	English Examples
eɪ	??	day, gate, date
ɒ	??	blockade, pot
ɔ:	No equilvalent	paw, thought
æ	(A)	pat, bat
ɜ	No equilvalent	bird, curt
ɪ	(I)	pit, in, fish
ɛ	(E)	pet, bed
i	(Y) & (EE)	bee, need
ʌ	(I)	run
ʊ	??	put
u	(U)	food, dude, through
aɪ	(AY)	bye, night, my
o	(O)	tow, woe, dough
aʊ	No equilvalent	now, foul

Numbers and Punctuation
Symbols	Grineer Alphabet Equivalent
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
. (period)
? (question mark)
! (exclamation mark)	No equilvalent
, (comma)
: (colon)	No equilvalent
' (apostrophe)	No equilvalent
— (hyphen)	No equilvalent
@ (at sign)
# (pound sign)

*When not flanked by consontants
†Applied only if not preceded by a consonant

Translation Examples[]

The simplest example is the text on the image to the right, which just says , "GRINEER".
The words , "FLAK 1.8" appears on both sides of the Drakgoon
The words , "NOT TOUC" are written on both sides of the Gorgon.
The words ,"BIG HURT FP4337" is written on the side of the Gorgon's Barrel near the end.
The word , "GASER" is written all over the Regulators.
The word , "VIPER" appears on the side of the Viper. In earlier builds, the word was originally , "SERBERUS", presumably an earlier name for the gun.
The word , "CUTFACE" is written on the saw of the Miter.
The words on the Twin Gremlins' magazines are , "BULLETS FOR YOUR FACE".
The word , "ARMOR" also appears on the top of all Alloy Plates.
The word , "UBER" appears on the Commander's helmet.
The word , "OBEY" is written on the Acrid near the barrel.
The word , "BOOM" is inscribed on both sides of the Kuva Zarr.
A large amount of Grineer writing is present all over both the Grineer Galleon and Grineer Asteroid tilesets. Translating some of the text painted on the walls yields the following words and phrases:
- - "FLOOR"
- - "DEATH TO REST"
- - "DISOBEDIENCE LEADS TO DEATH"
- - "OBEY ALL SIGNS"
- - "WANT TO KNOW MORE?"
- - "BE GOOD OR BE GONE"
- - "KEEP CLEAR"
In the next two phrases, the 'K' appears to be a typo, since a distinct letter for 'C' also exists.
- - "SUPREMAKY IS DUTY"
- - "IF OUR ENEMIES DESERVED PEAKE, THEY WOULD HAVE DEFEATED US"
The following appears on the doorways of the Grineer Galleon tileset:
- - "VICTORY IS PROOF OF DESTINY"
- - "OUR STRENGTH IS OUR JUSTIFICATION"
- - "GRINEER DEFENSE ASSET GROUP AUGUST"
The following provides more proof that the Grineer alphabet may lack a 'Q', replacing it with a 'KW':
- , "ATTACK. CONKWUER. RULE."
And the largest coherent text sample in the game so far:
- - "SYSTEMS ACCESS
- - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
- - THIS AREA CONTAINS HIGHLY SENSITIVE MATERIALS. ONLY GRINEER WITH PROPER ACCESS CREDENTIALS MAY ENTER THIS AREA. ALL OTHERS WILL BE TERMINATED."

Trivia[]

The audio language for the Grineer was added in Update 10.
It would seem some of the speeches are a similar blend with the languages on Earth before it was converted to Grineer such as English, German, and French. This is reasonable as the idea that the Grineer used to be humans before their repeated industrial cloning made them as they are.
The Grineer Alphabet abstains from the letter use of "Q" and "X". They are substituted using "KW" and "KS" respectively.^[1]
The Grineer script is made by running English words and sentences through a script before being voiced.^[10] Some of them, on the other hand, seemed to be garbled.
There is evidence to suggest that certain Grineer may have differing accents from other members of their faction. For example, in "The Call" trailer, the unnamed Grineer leader of the excavation puts no emphasis on the "H" in "moh'ne" when saying "Huh'ris moh'ne!" ("He's mine!"). Vor, however, is heard doing so later in the trailer.
On the small white machine/device, a text is found on the left side, vertically written: "KO, SYSTEM WIDE"
Sometimes, the words "is duty" ( ), can be found with the Grineer symbol in front of it, clearly saying: "GRINEER IS DUTY".
Generally, the larger writings have a meaning, as where smaller texts usually do not.
The Grineer Explosive Barrels carry the following message: "DEATH IS REAL" ( ), a crude indicator of the barrel's volatile contents.
The phrase "WANT TO KNOW MORE?" is a reference to the movie Starship Troopers. In it, a series of short propaganda videos promoting the Federation's war on the Arachnids are played, all ending in the phrase "Would you like to know more?"