High Gothic
High Gothic is the hieratic tongue of the Imperium, used in the titles of ancient institutions and organisations (such as the Adeptus Terra). It represents an older language and is regarded as holy.[1]
Overview
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High Gothic is the official language of the Imperium and used by Imperial officials, nobility, members of the Ecclesiarchy, and those involved in high-level negotiations.[4]
High Gothic is a version of the language in which technical manuals and ancient works are recorded. This developed during the Dark Age of Technology. It derives from the common tongue of the time, an assimilation of English, European and Pacific languages, and developed in the Merican/Pacific region of Terra. This was the universal medium of written record until the Age of Strife, and was spoken as a first language by many and as a second language by almost everyone. Its idioms and vocabulary now appear archaic and mystic, and many of its words have acquired religious significance over the years.[1]
Low Gothic, a bastardised version of High Gothic, is the common tongue of the present Imperium.[1]
Known Terms
- Aditus salutis nostrae - Our salvation approaches[5]
- Ave - Hail[3a]
- Carpe - Seize[3b]
- Dominus - Lord[3a]
- Imperator[2] - Emperor
- Imperium[2]
- Mendax - Liar[5]
- Nox, Noctum - Night[3b]
- Taras[6]
Trivia
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- High Gothic was called Tech in the first edition.
- Represented by Latinised English, it has a status akin to that of Latin or French during the real-life Middle Ages.
See also
Related Videos
An Imperial hymn of the Imperial Creed being sung in High Gothic.[2]
High Gothic lyrics of the hymn:[2]
Druvata Imperator dux noster;
in eman sua firmissimus.
Sacrificium eius illuminare fecit;
Druvata nostrae puritas
Nos kandu electa eius
Egredere facem mahsemo.
Renuntiatio eius helel;
Per tenebras et pólemos.
Nam qui eius ma’or.
Azar mundans iacet.
Hostes Imperium,
Da veniam irae.
Ora Imperator, praebe nobis tuam fortitudinem
Ut simus tui justi khang.
Omnis ut efches,
Nullus furor sanctum eius effugiat.
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000 3rd Edition Rulebook, pg. 268 Languages
- 2: Warhammer-Community: Praise the Emperor with the first ever official Imperial Hymn (posted 19 Dec 2024) (archived 5 March 2025, last accessed 26 July 2025)
- 3: Soul Hunter (Novel):
- 4: Dark Heresy Second Edition: Core Rulebook, pg. 107
- 5: Carcharodons: Outer Dark (Novel), Chapter 7
- 6: Blood Reaver (Novel), Chapter XXI: Defiance
| Imperium | Low Gothic • High Gothic • Cant Mechanicus • Sign Language |
|---|---|
| Chaos | Dark Tongue • Scrap Code |
| Xenos | Ork • Eldar • Hrud • Tau • Necron • Squat |
