Really erks me... when im on oblivion and i hear any of the words I'm like " wtf how do i become that race? " or if i hear it on here i keep assuming it's on a different PC version... Why do they call those 3 races different names then on character customization and that im used to?


ooh lol by that i meant im not used to: Bosmer Dunmer and Altmer

quote Twilight

Dun - Dark

Bos - Wood

Alt - High

?

if thats so then it should sound like

Dark men
High men <-- lol
and
Wood Men

quote Platypusburger

Mer doesn't mean 'man', it means 'elf'. And the first halves are from latin/ancient elf dialect. Alt means 'high', dun means 'dark', and bos means 'forest' or 'wood'.

So, you have Altmer = High Elf, Dunmer = Dark Elf, Bosmer = Wood Elf.

Alright now that makes sense thanks!

quote Daho

Dwemer, Orismer, Chimer

Dwemer: Deep folk so if mer means elf how come dwemer are deep ones?

Chimer: Changed folk (i think)

Aldmer: Elder folk

Orsimer: Pariah Folk/Corupt Elves

Falmer: Snow Elves

Ayleid: Wild Elves/ Heartland High Elves


just for future reference

all this stuff was from UESP btw

Yeah GAH I just checked UESP and realized that they explained all this, so much for trying to use UESP before posting .

quote Leut

quote Wolf of Light

I presume it's derived from another tongue, much like our Latin. I know Mer somehow means Men in some ancient dialect in Tamriel, and so I guess the "alt"-"dun"-"bos" parts mean different things.

Mer means elf.

Mer refers to all races of elf, including orcs(somehow)
Men refers to the rest: imperials, nords, redguards, bretons.


edit: oops...sorry didnt realize it was answered already.

I like how sometimes you either answer questions really well and thoroughly, don't answer questions but just be funny, or both .

Thanks guys i get it now happy day happy day!

Wait a second.

So Alyied Ruins means Wild Elves Ruins?

Then how come there aren't any elves there .

quote TheFallenOne

If I remember my Lore correctly.
Some of the Ruins would be for burial usage and prisons, the others would be their living spaces.
That is why you can find some beautiful Ruins if you find them.

Ive never seen any prisons/prisoners in the aylieds ruins though...

Lol good points! You think bethesda should've added more scenery?