Original artwork, not a still
Opening lyric of "Dragonborn", the Skyrim theme sung in the dragon tongue
Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin.
— The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim · 2011
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
A chant in a language invented for the game told players before they had seen a dragon that this was a bigger, older world than the one they knew. Fans learned the dragon words, and Dovahkiin became the name players give themselves. The theme and the tavern bards' song share a title word and are mixed up so often that the fan wiki carries a warning about it.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimShow the scene
This is not spoken dialogue but the opening lyric of the Skyrim theme, "Dragonborn", from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011). The score is by Jeremy Soule, and the theme's lyrics are written in the language of the dragons. "Dovahkiin" is that language's word for Dragonborn, the title of the player character, who can learn and use the dragons' words of power. It is a different piece from "The Dragonborn Comes", the English-language song bards sing in Skyrim's taverns, which the fan wiki flags as easy to confuse with the theme.
Sources (3)
- Elder Scrolls Wiki: Skyrim Official SoundtrackIntroReference checked
- Elder Scrolls Wiki: Dragon LanguageLexicon; OverviewReference checked
- Elder Scrolls Wiki: The Dragonborn ComesIntroReference checked
Context reviewed
