World building: Slang terms of the Lupine System

A while back, I described a system that I created when I was 12.  By system, I mean star system.  I’ve been expanding on it, considering that each race in the system would have their own language and even their own slang terms.  This is a list of commonly heard slang.

The Lupine system boasts six, major races, and therefore, the use of slang terms will vary from race to race. Some, however, are interchangeable, and some are known throughout the system. Using the different races, this will explore most of the more commonly used forms of slang.

Critain

The Critainian people all appear as larger, slow moving, very strong, herbivores. All stand about 9 feet tall, have thick, leathery skin, and the most distinguishing feature is the three horns on their head. Two at the temples and one on their snout. Many of the Critainian slang terms are based on the horns or on their own eating habits.

May your garden dry up. This is a curse more than a slang term, but it has evolved over the course of centuries to be considered something said when you wish for bad luck upon another person.

Believed her roses twice as big as they should be. Roses are prized on Critain. The petals are used in spices and flavouring for soups and broths. Many Critainians will work hard to grow the biggest and best roses for trade and sale. This curse can be translated as “she wanted more than what it was worth”.

Filed his own horn off. Critainians have horns, and they are very proud of their horns. A Critainian with a broken horn is sometimes seen as a hero of war or conflict, and many of the veterans of the Critainian Fleet have one or two broken or chipped horns. This curse basically equates a Critainian, or equated to someone, has done something to try and promote their stature in society. This can be expanded to “filed off his horn to spite himself”.

As stupid as a snout ring. Critainians will go so far as to decorate their horns, either with intricate carvings, or even piercing them with rings. The two horns on their temples, that is. It’s considered taboo to decorate the snout horn.

To young to remember the crossing. The crossing is the great trek Critainian people took to escape their doom on their home planet, before arriving in the Lupine system. They kept records of the trek, which are held in sacred trust in their massive library in the capital of Critain. To say this is to say a person is to young to remember certain events, or not learned enough in history.

Flesher and Eater. There is one rather horrifying legend in Critainian lore. The herbivore population wasn’t the only ones to escape their doomed planet. There was another race, distantly related, and very carnivorous, if not incredibly intelligent. More intelligent than the Vulpine. These creatures became known as the Eaters, while the Critainians were called Fleshers. It’s recorded in Critainian history that the true name of the race of carnivores was called The Raptory. Several slang terms have been created from this historical lore.

Sharp as an eater’s teeth. Self explanatory.

An eater’s smile. Usually described someone who was deceptive and cruel.

Lazy Flesher. For the longest time, fleshers were seen as lazy by the eaters. This curse was mostly used by the Raptory, but became popular in Critainian slang as well.

Leave the slowest flesher for the fastest eater. A saying, meaning let the weak be taken to save the rest.

Cunning as an eater. Self explanatory.

Speed of an eater, memory of a flesher. This curse in particular revolves around the two species. Eaters were considered fast, while the flesher’s had long memories, and could learn faster than the eaters.

Vulpine

The Vulpine are a fox like race of beings. They pride themselves on their great intelligence and resourcefulness. A very religious race, they believe they were given their lives by The Great Mother. While intelligent and very devote, they have on flaw; vanity. They are incredibly vain about their tails and their fur. To the point where custom will not allow them to touch or be touched by another race. Many of their curses revolve around these three things.

Great Mother. A common slang term among the Vulpine, equal to saying God damn.

Motherless sons and daughters. While it is rare in Vulpine society, there are atheists. Many of the extremely devote will use this to describe anyone who is either a non believer, or of another race.

To big for his own tail. This describes what someone might say of another who they find egotistical.

He’d bath with Jackai. A double curse, reflecting that someone is too careless with their own personal space, and considers them as low as the lowest life form. Which, much of the Lupine system think of the Jackai.

Chasing tail. Not what one thinks. Used by the Vulpine Authority, these bounty hunters use the term as a description that they are on the hunt for a dangerous bounty.

As dim as dirt. Self explanatory.

Too barren to have kits. Having children is another very important thing in Vulpine society. When a female, or even a male sometimes, cannot have children, this is often said about them. It can have double meaning, one being that is used for pity, the other to ostracize.

Wiry tail. This refers to the condition a Vulpine keeps his or her tail in. Wiry means rough and course. Not something favoured by the Vulpine.

Thinking about the stars. For many Vulpine, entering the Academy is a major dream, cherished by all. This dream is one that many Vulpine will pine for, and often this saying is said of them. Basically means to daydream.

Passed himself around enough. Common phrase said about male Vulpine. Equals calling someone a slut.

Lupine

The Lupine are a nomadic people, wolf-like in appearance. Their communities are packs and they have developed an intricate communication system, and an intricate irrigation system for their desert planet. Their religion surrounds the natural world around them, and many of their curses revolve around that.

Miss the great hunt. A warning to young pups, that if they don’t take care, they will miss the calling they are bound to take up.

By the great wolf. Similar to God damn.

Song of mourning. Not so much a curse as an actual communication. However, because death does happen, Lupine will offer a song of mourning, or a howl. Other packs will hear and often respond in kind, offering sympathy. This can also be used to describe someone who is bemoaning their own luck.

Song of joy. Like the song of mourning, the song of joy is one that is celebrated, and similar to the song of mourning, a howl is offered, and responded to by nearby packs as they will congratulate the singer. This is also said in close quarters like Eureka!

Don’t act like you know how to wield a spear. A comment said about a know it all. Lupine hunt using their teeth and claws, but also use spears when chasing down prey.

Flithy Jackai. This is the worst comment a Lupine could make about a person. Their level of respect for their Jackai cousins is, well they actually don’t have any respect for the Jackai. A great number of curses revolve around the Jackai. Traitorous Jackai. Worse than Jackai spit. Would be rejected by a Jackai pack. May the Jackai pass you over in their hunt. This last one means that so little of a person is thought of, that even the scavengers Jackai wouldn’t stop to look him or her over. Cackling Jackai. This one describes the calls the Jackai make, which are rather much like unsettling laughter.

Jackai

The Jackai are jackal or hyena like creatures, scavengers for the most part who take particular joy from attacking Lupine packs. Their slang terms target every other race in the system.

Luppie or Luppies. A simple term, which they use to describe the Lupine. Other terms for other races. Vulp or Vulppie for Vulpine. The first they equate to a belch. Lilies, Li Li or Pretty kitty for Lionids. Stones for Critainians, which describes their size. Pathers for Pantherans.

Thinks himself a Vulpine. Calling someone out for thinking themselves intelligent.

Would you like me to get you a spear? A slap in the face term to any Jackai, as the spear is the common weapon of Lupine.

Acting like a Vulppie’s tail. Calling someone out for being soft, or for showing emotion.

As lazy as a li li. The Jackai consider the disciplined meditations of the Lionids to just them being lazy.

Many of the curses and slang of the Jackai are borrowed from the Lupine, so it’s not uncommon to hear them say things like song of mourning, though they say it in more mocking tones. If ever a Jackai says something like By the great wolf, it’s usually followed by laughter, showing their contempt for the Lupine beliefs. Jackai also think very little of females except for breeding purposes. They will often use slang terms that compare an opponent or someone they have little respect for to a female.

Lionids

These lion like creatures are rather tranquil, and really don’t have many curses or slang terms. They are a devote group that holds wisdom in high regard. So if anything, they speak in terms that could be considered proverbs.

A still tongue reveals no secrets.

Roar, moan and carry on. A sure way to alert your quarry.

Rage and anger only make one careless.

He left his pride for his own self. This refers to the village and towns that Lionids live in. Called prides, to say someone has left a pride in such a manner means they left for selfish reasons.

You lack patience. The one who lacks patience, misses the best opportunity.

You may attack first, but I shall stand victorious.

Panthera

These tiger and panther like creatures do think the same way Lionids do in some ways. Many of their curses and slang sound more like proverbs, but they also have many which cut to the quick.

Go back to your pride and cower. This calls out someone who shows fear. Panthera also call their villages and towns prides, and saying this is equal to telling someone to crawl under their bed and hide.

Meditate on that. Usually said after a long speech of disgust to an underling, it refers to the common practice of Lionids. So it’s meaning has a double edge, as the Panthera only see the Lionids as inferior.

By claw and by fang. Said as though making a promise. As in By claw and by fang, I will see you put in your grave.

Many of the things Panthera say as slang terms are spoken of only to other races, and only in rather demeaning tones. Unless that individual is one in authority.

Many of the slang terms have traversed the system, and it’s not uncommon to hear a Lionid call a Panthera a “filthy Jackai” or to hear a Critainina say “to big for his own tail”.