Al Bhed

Al Bhed is a language spoken by the Al Bhed tribe in Final Fantasy X. Strictly speaking, Al Bhed is not a language but in fact a cipher: According to the Dictionary, a cipher is "A private alphabet, system of characters, or other mode of writing, contrived for the safe transmission of secrets; also, a writing in such characters." Al Bhed is exactly that, a "secret code" spoken only by the Al Bhed. It is not considered a language, as real languages have their own words, grammar structures and syntax. Al Bhed is just a system of transposing English letters for others so that it seems like a foreign language - but Al Bhed grammar is exactly the same as English and the syntax (word order) has not changed.

Here is how to convert English to Al Bhed

English to Al Bhed


 * A = Y | B = P | C = L | D = T | E = A | F = V | G = K | H = R | I = E
 * J = Z | K = G | L = M | M = S | N = H | O = U | P = B | Q = X | R = N
 * S = C | T = D | U = I | V = J | W = F | X = Q | Y = O | Z = W |

However, certain words are not translated into Al Bhed. These are known as keywords and include proper nouns, nouns and subjects. Names of people, places and things are left untranslated, as shown when the Al Bhed on the ship exclaim "Sin ec lusa" (Sin is come). Sin is a name, so it does not get translated. Subjects of sentences are also not translated. We see this at Baaj Temple, when Tidus is captured by the Al Bhed. One of them says "Y fiend! E risyh teckieca!" (A fiend! In human disguise!) They do not translate 'fiend' as it is the subject of the sentence. Another example is when Rikku's brother Aniki attacks Tidus & Co. in Macalania. He says "Ouin bnaleuic magic yht Aeons yna caymat" (Your precious magic and Aeons are sealed". Magic is the subject of the sentence, while Aeons is a proper noun.

To find out more about the Al Bhed language, such as how to pronounce it, how to translate Japanese into Al Bhed, and more examples of when to translate and when not to translate, visit Al Bhed Kieta