D&D 5E Official™ Languages

In the rich tapestry of Dungeons & Dragons, communication is key! Whether you’re negotiating with a stern dwarven king, deciphering an ancient elven script, or trying to understand what that grumpy goblin is muttering, the languages your character knows can open up a world of possibilities.

But how do you choose languages? How does your hero learn them? If you’ve been a bit fuzzy on the details, don’t worry! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about D&D 5th Edition languages, helping your character become a master communicator.

Understanding D&D 5e Languages: Standard & Exotic List

In D&D 5e, languages are generally divided into two main categories, which you’ll often see presented in tables in the Player’s Handbook:

1. Standard Languages: These are the common tongues spoken by many of the everyday peoples and civilized races found in most D&D worlds. Knowing these can be very handy!

   • Typical Speakers: Humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, etc.
   • Examples: Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling, Orc.

2. Exotic Languages: These are rarer languages, often spoken by specific monsters, ancient or isolated cultures, or beings from other planes of existence. Learning these can unlock unique secrets or interactions.

   • Typical Speakers: Dragons, celestials, fiends, elementals, specific aberrations.
   • Examples: Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic, Deep Speech, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, Undercommon.

Each language also has a Script – the written form of the language. If your character knows a language, they can typically also read and write in its script. For example, Elvish and Sylvan both use the graceful Elvish script, while Dwarvish and Giant use the runic Dwarvish script.

How Your Character Actually Learns Languages in D&D 5e

Characters in D&D 5e acquire languages through several specific mechanics – it’s not usually a case of picking a new one every level by default. Here are the main ways:

1. At Character Creation:

   • Race: This is the primary source of your starting languages. Most races grant knowledge of Common (the lingua franca in many D&D worlds) plus one or more other languages specific to their heritage. For example:
     • Elves know Common and Elvish.
     • Dwarves know Common and Dwarvish.
     • Humans typically know Common and one extra language of their choice.
     • Tieflings know Common and Infernal.
   • Background: Some character backgrounds provide proficiency in one or more additional languages. For instance, the Sage or Acolyte backgrounds often grant extra languages.
   • Class (Sometimes): While less common, certain classes or subclass features might grant language proficiencies. For example, a Knowledge Domain Cleric gains two bonus languages. Some Ranger features related to favored enemies might also involve understanding certain creature languages implicitly or explicitly.

2. During the Game (Leveling Up & Downtime):

   • Feats: The “Linguist” feat (if your DM allows feats) is a fantastic way to expand your linguistic horizons. It increases your Intelligence score by 1 and allows you to learn three additional languages of your choice.
   • Training (Downtime Activity): This is the most common way to learn new languages after character creation. According to the Player’s Handbook (Chapter 8, “Adventuring,” under “Downtime Activities”) and often expanded upon in books like Xanathar’s Guide to Everything:
     • A character can spend downtime and gold to learn a new language (or a tool proficiency).
     • This typically requires 250 days of dedicated study and 250 gold pieces (gp) to cover the cost of tutors, materials, and living expenses. The DM may adjust this time based on your Intelligence modifier (often reducing the days by a number equal to your modifier) or the availability and cost of a tutor for the desired language (especially for very rare or exotic tongues).
   • Special Story Awards/Boons: A Dungeon Master might grant knowledge of a new language as a special reward for completing a significant quest, discovering an ancient artifact, or through divine intervention or a magical boon.

Important Clarification: Unlike some older game systems or common misconceptions, D&D 5e characters do not automatically gain a new language every time they level up by default. Language acquisition is tied to the specific features and rules mentioned above.

Choosing Your D&D 5e Languages Wisely

So, with all these options, how do you pick the best languages for your character?

• Consider Your Campaign: Talk to your DM! What cultures and creatures are prominent in their world? Knowing the languages of key allies or potential foes can be invaluable. If the campaign heavily features devils, Infernal would be a great pick. If you’re exploring ancient ruins, Draconic or Giant might unlock secrets.
• Roleplay Your Character Concept: Does your character have a burning desire to study ancient history? Draconic or Celestial might fit. Were they raised in the Underdark? Undercommon would be essential. Let your backstory guide you.
• Party Synergy: What languages do your fellow adventurers know? Covering a wider range of languages as a group can be strategically advantageous. If no one speaks Goblin, and you’re expecting to deal with goblins, it could be a useful choice for someone.
• Utility and Commonality:
  • Standard Languages like Elvish, Dwarvish, Goblin, and Orc are often useful for interacting with common adventuring races and “monsters.”
  • Exotic Languages like Draconic (used in magic and by dragons), Celestial (spoken by good outsiders), Abyssal or Infernal (spoken by demons and devils respectively), and Undercommon (a trade language of the Underdark) can open up unique roleplaying, puzzle-solving, or combat interaction opportunities.
• The “Linguist” Feat: If your character concept involves being a master of tongues, or if you find your party consistently hampered by language barriers, this feat is an excellent investment.

The Dungeon Master’s Role with Languages

While players choose languages based on their character’s abilities and features, the DM plays a crucial role:

• Worldbuilding: The DM decides which languages are prevalent in their specific campaign setting and which are rare or forgotten.
• NPC Knowledge: They determine which languages NPCs speak, creating opportunities (or barriers) for interaction.
• Facilitating Learning: If a player wants to learn a language through downtime, the DM will determine the availability and cost of a tutor, especially for rare or exotic languages. They might even weave the search for a tutor into a mini-adventure!
• Story Integration: A good DM will use player language choices to create interesting plot hooks or provide unique information. Knowing a rare dialect might be the key to an ancient puzzle!

While a player can typically choose any language granted by a racial trait or feat (e.g., a Human choosing “any one extra language”), discussing these choices with the DM, especially for very exotic or campaign-specific languages, is always a good idea. It helps ensure the choice is relevant and might lead to exciting story developments.

Conclusion:

Languages in D&D 5e are more than just a list on your character sheet; they are tools for adventure, keys to unlocking secrets, and bridges for understanding (or misunderstanding!) the diverse inhabitants of the D&D multiverse. By understanding how languages are acquired and by making thoughtful choices, you can greatly enrich your roleplaying experience.