This key is used for transcribing Phyrexian to more common characters.

For the creatures that use this language, see Phyrexia#Phyrexian life forms.

The Phyrexian language is a complete written, and spoken language, constructed and developed for Scars of Mirrodin block.

[1][2][3] Proposed syntax tree synthesizing information from several posts.

It uses a novel alphabet, with primary glyphs attached to a central line that runs continuously to the end of a sentence, save for line breaks. Both the beginning and end of sentences are explicitly marked. It is written vertically, and read top to bottom.[4] These features lend it an appearance similar to a real-world script such as traditional Mongolian which is written vertically, and the the early Irish Ogham due to the use of a stemline along the characters. Horizontally written variants exist, often when mixed with English text, and notably including the Elesh Norn promo.

Translation [ edit ]

[5] Proposed partial consonant chart

A fragmentary understanding of the Phyrexian language has been acquired by the study of those cases where an English translation exists, and a transcription key developed. Transcription efforts are hindered by the low resolution of many samples, which can lead to confusion between similar diacritics. In particular, it is possible that ' and ` are equivalent.

The art for Dominaria's Phyrexian Scriptures, shared by its artist in high resolution, renewed interest in translation.[6] The text in that artwork appears to be the flavor text of Dark Ritual (Urza's Saga). That translation effort also yielded a proposed syntax tree for the language.[1]

In the study of pronunciation, the most recent theory proposes that the main glyph determines the manner of articulation, while diacritics determine the place of articulation.[7] A further theory suggests that the vowel glyphs are determined by their articulation, rather than being arbitrary. Each vowel is composed of three lines on one side of the staff, one line longer than the other two, sometimes with a "hook" on the long line. The height of the long line indicates closed to openness, the side of the staff indicates front or back vowels, and the presence of a hook indicates roundedness. These can be further modified by diacritics. The same effort produced a partial association of consonant sounds with Phyrexian characters.[5]

Samples [ edit ]

Elesh Norn Promo [ edit ]

Phyrexian is used for the card text of Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (Judge Gift).

Dark Discoveries [ edit ]

Phyrexian can be found in the speech bubbles of Dark Discoveries Part 3.[9]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent Page 5 'XxLXxXx T^LX*T TFV^ET^M:.

OX*'XvL| OV^T^LX^HAx| M:OX*Z^M:X:GFZ".

'X*L~XvL| Z^^XvNxLV^XxD^| 'XxOVHL^T.[10] Page 6 NxOO'ZHNxTT"E| Z^^TH'ZHNx| VAxXxOAxAx.[10]

All Will Be One [ edit ]

Phyrexian can be found in each scene of All Will Be One.[11]

According to Doug Beyer, there is a system for pronunciation, and the speech heard in this promotional video is accurately pronounced spoken Phyrexian.[4] It is uncertain if the spoken phrases are pronunciations of the corresponding writing.

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent Scene 1

N*E| X^O| 'ZOX:GD^N*T^L~X:GT| N*E| V^T^E~X:HT[8] (present tense) Our perfect work(now?) [flesh/is flesh/made flesh][8] We are perfection made flesh.[11] Scene 2+3

N*E| N*QXxMxLN



X^O| 'ZQC`FAx| N*E| X:OT^'ZGZ"| N*EN*O| 'N'X:EE'ZN*| MxOX:~NxLFEX:[8] (present tense) (?) Our voice (to) (now) lost broken creatures [calls out][8] Our voice calls out to the lost and broken (creatures)[11] Scene 4+5

N*E| NxQX^N*| N*VFN*GAx



Z^_^FX:| N"VFON*'XxENxQX^N*| 'ZQZ"'ZONxV[8] (present tense) Death [they fear] even as immortality [we offer][8] They fear death even as we offer immortality[11] Scene 6+7

'X:L'X:L| Z^OX:ENxOZ^N`| ZGXxX:Xx N*GMx| N"JM^LZ^



N*E'ZQT| MxHX:D^LX:~X:GD^N"X:ENxGZ^N`| T^LXx_^GAx| X:D^EX:GZ^[8] (We must/will) this world's false skin flay (to now/in future) new Perfect world face reveal[8] We will flay the false skin of this world to reveal the face of a new Phyrexia[11] Scene 8

'ZQ| MxNxL'ZNxT^L'X:T| 'ZFFN*XxNvQ'ZE&[8] (perfect tense) Great Work [has begun][8] The Great Work has begun[11]

New Phyrexia [ edit ]

Phyrexian can be found in each scene of New Phyrexia.[12] Presumably, the non-English speech heard is also accurately pronounced Phyrexian.[4]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent Scene 1

'ZQ|MxHX:D^ X:Xx ~X:GD^N" X:ENxOZ^N` MxNxL'ZNxT^'X:FT| 'Xv_^ T^L~X:ET[8] (perfect tense) Great New Perfect world Work [was made?][8] The Great Work of New Phyrexia is complete.[12] Scene 2

N*E| V^J'ZZ"'ZO'ZVZ"VOVV| TL'ZT^| MxHX:D^LX:Xx'ZT^T^EN*FN* N^F_^Q'ZENv[8] (present tense) Machine Orthodoxy mana? new sources power[8] New sources of mana power the Machine Orthodoxy[12] Scene 3

N*ETD^HZ^T^| 'ZOZO'ZGV| ~XvGD^N* Xv_^XxN*E N*GMx| OMxX^TT^GD^GN*[8] (present tense?) Mirrodin heart Perfect race? skin [(beneath?) burns][8] Beneath Phyrexian skin, the heart of Mirrodin burns[12] Scene 4

N*E| X:N*OT^T^T^| N"EX^FXx 'ZFA`EE'ZXx| XxOYFD^Xx N^FAxX:LT^'ZEZ"[8] (present tense) Body whole is (but /present tense/) whispers mind splinter[8] The body is whole, but whispers splinter the mind[12] Scene 5+6

V^JJ'ZZ"| TH'ZGNx| THAxEX^| 'X:L'X:L[8] Machines Father come [will][8] The Father (of Machines) is coming[12] Scene 7

T^L'X:TON*'Xv_^Z^FX^HMx[8] Work unmaker (or 'Making undoer')[8] Destroyer.[12]

Phyrexian Scriptures [ edit ]

Phyrexian can be found in the artwork for Phyrexian Scriptures.[13]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent Top row: Z'QMxZxL Main text:

~XvGD^N*X*ENxOZ"N*| N"V"OFN*FVV |MvOZ*NxZ^FMvMv.

MxNxLZ'Nx | V^J'Z"Z_HZ'Nx | V^JJZ'Z"THZ'GNx | V^T^_L_~Z*_ET | N^FD^QN*ET.

N*V"HZxMv | MxNxLZ'NxZ^FMvMv | Z'FFN*ZxNvQZ'EZx[14] Top row: ?? Main text:

Phyrexia from void evolved.

Great Yawgmoth ?? Great Machine Father perfection saw.

Thus Grand Evolution began.[1] Top row: ?? Main text:

From void evolved Phyrexia. Great Yawgmoth, Father of Machines, saw its perfection. Thus The Grand Evolution began.[1]

Phyrexian Altar [ edit ]

Phyrexian can be found in the artwork for Phyrexian Altar (Ultimate Masters).[15]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent ON*XxN*Mx +negative-skin[2] Unskin[2] ~ZQM^XxL

Yawgmoth's Testament [ edit ]

Phyrexian can be found in the artwork for Yawgmoth's Testament.

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent Columns from left to right: Column 1: Testament (of) Yawg- Column 2: -moth Column 3: Can that in-exile +present Column 4: face(up) +present-and cards Column 5: (this)turn play. Column 6: If-would cards Column 7: to-graveyard Column 8: to-exile-or Column 9: (this)turn put Column 10: instead library Column 11: bottom (of) put. Column 12: 2 [unknown phoneme] Sorcery[3] Yawgmoth's Testament

Until end of turn, you may play face-up cards you own from exile.

If a card would be put into your graveyard or exile from anywhere this turn, put it on the bottom of your library instead.

2B Sorcery[3]

Phyrexian Swamp [ edit ]

Phyrexian is used for the card text of Swamp (Jumpstart, #58) and the lore blurb describing the Swamp.[16]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent Card name XxLMxX*T Swamp Type line N"K'XvF'ZXxNxOZ^N^ XxLMxX*T Basic Land - Swamp Lore blurb XxLMxX*T

[...]

??? Swamp

[...]

Sheoldred, Maker of Whispers[2] Swamp

[...]

Sheoldred, Whispering One[2]