WARFRAME Wiki
Register
Advertisement
WARFRAME Wiki
Sgt Nef AnyoIcon
“Orokin secrets cannot remain secret forever! Start talking!”
The following article/section is conjecture. Content is subjected to change/removal as the game progresses. Please do not use this article for critical in-game information.

Much like how the Corpus and Grineer written language is very much representative of each faction’s attitudes, the Tennobet was created to help create a better visual balance between Tenno brute force and elegance. The process began with taking a full list of English consonants and vowels, breaking down which sounds are most often used in our day-to-day speech. [...]

Creating the Tennobet was a challenge of finding which letters, or consonant pairings, could be eliminated to create a more free-flowing written language. Once the base consonants and vowels were established we could then work out a script that incorporated this new lettering in a way that represented the visual aesthetics of Tenno culture.
—WARFRAME blog post on creation of the language[1]

The Orokin Script, or Tennobet, is largely based upon English but apparently also contains extra characters for certain phonemes including diphthongs ("io") and digraphs ("th" and "sh"). Consonants are diagonally slanted and are written left to right, while vowels and accents are written above. Some vowels and numbers resemble polarity symbols. There is also a thematic undertone to the letter construction reminiscent of Bushido calligraphy; the straight segments suggest power sword strokes and the arcs suggest fencing flourishes where each letter represents a lesson in movement. There are no live excerpts of the Orokin script to demonstrate how it is spoken.

There is frequent variation in both the direction of writing as well as the vertical orientation, this variation may likely be an artifact of texture placement or simply the mirroring of textures commonly used in the video game industry.


Alphabet[]

Tennobet2

Official cipher.

Tennobet1

Official examples of deciphered script.

Officially referred to as the "Tennobet," the alphabet is a featural alphabet with a pattern between the shape of the letter and the sound represented, making it similar in that respect to the Korean alphabet as well as the Elvish script used by J.R.R. Tolkien. In this type of alphabet, characters become more complex as they build off of the characters of related sounds. Orokin letters are built upon a stem structure using the "M" character Tenno M as the most basic form, and a set of modifiers are attached to the stem to change it into a different letter.

Consonants and Compound Sounds[]

Pairs of sounds that differ from one another in only one way will typically have only one difference between the characters, such as "T" Tenno T and "TH" Tenno TH (both produced right behind the teeth, but one is produced with a short burst of air while the other is produced with prolonged friction). As a result, "TH" resembles "T" with the simple addition of a small vertical stroke Tenno OO in the middle of the stem. Other pairs that differ from one another, in the same way, are P Tenno P / "F" Tenno F, "B" Tenno B / "V" Tenno V, "D" Tenno D / "DH" Tenno DH, and "K" Tenno K / "KH" Tenno KH. Note that this pattern changes for the S Tenno S / "SH" Tenno SH, Z Tenno Z / "ZH" Tenno ZH, "M" Tenno M / "N" Tenno N, and "H" Tenno H / "L" Tenno L pairs, where the same dash does not indicate adding friction but instead indicates that the sound is produced with the tongue moved further back into the mouth. The only pair distinguished by a vertical dash that does not follow either pattern is "J" Tenno J / "CH" Tenno CH, which are different only in whether or not they feature the use of the vocal cords.

Most of the other sound pairs that are differentiated only through the use of vocal cords share a similar general shape. These include "T" Tenno T / "D" Tenno D, "TH" Tenno TH / "DH" Tenno DH, "S" Tenno S / "Z" Tenno Z, "SH" Tenno SH / "ZH" Tenno ZH, and "K" Tenno K / "G" Tenno G. The pairs that seem to defy this pattern are "P" Tenno P / "B" Tenno B and "F" Tenno F / "V" Tenno V, suggesting that this connection is not as consistent. However, it can be noted that "K" Tenno K, "G" Tenno G, "KH" Tenno KH, and "NG" Tenno NG, which are all produced in the throat, also all feature a similar shape. This leaves the only consonant character without any phonetic matches to be the one representing "R" Tenno R. Also, the "W" and "Y" sounds are not included among consonants, but are instead considered to be variants of "OO" Tenno OO and "EE" Tenno EE respectively, and are therefore listed among the vowels.

Vowels[]

Vowels are smaller than consonants and placed above the consonants as though they are diacritics or accent marks. In this way, the alphabet is similar to the Arabic alphabet.

Each vowel is written based on its sound rather than how it is written in English. However, it can be noted that the sounds which are commonly associated with English letters E and I feature vertical lines ("EE" Tenno EE, "IH" Tenno I, "EH" Tenno EH, and "AYE" Tenno AYE), while those associated with the English letter A seem to favor diagonal lines ("AH" Tenno A, "AE" Tenno AE, and "AW" Tenno AW), and those associated with English letters O and U feature more pronounced curves ("OO" Tenno OO, "OH" Tenno O, "UH" Tenno U, and "OW" Tenno OW).

Character Similarities[]

Other interesting visual similarities between characters that are not necessarily part of the featural patterns:

  • "H" Tenno H is simply an "M" Tenno M but only half as long.
  • "T" Tenno T is an "M" Tenno M with an "R" Tenno R added at the left end.
  • "Z" Tenno Z is a "D" Tenno D using the right end of the lower loop of a "D" with an "R" Tenno R tacked onto the left end.
  • "P" Tenno P is a "Z" Tenno Z with the right upper bar (which makes up the "M" Tenno M) removed.
  • "B" Tenno B is a "D" Tenno D with a single hook added to the end of the "lower loop."

Writing[]

All writing in the Orokin alphabet is either written in correct American English or closely written phonetically in the English language with some exceptions due to missing sounds.

  • "W" sound (as in win) and "WH" sound (as in what) are converted to Tenno OO ("OO")
  • "Y" sound (as in yes) is converted to Tenno EE ("EE")

Examples[]

  • Warframe is written as WarframeOrokinScript ("OOor-freym")
  • Evolution is written as HydroidOrokinScript2 ("Ev-uh-loo-shuhm")
    • Odd substitution of "N" with "M" for unknown reasons (possibly a typo by the developers)
  • Guide is written as GuideOrokinScript ("Guhyd")
  • Flight is written as FlightOrokinScript ("Flihyt")
    • An example of a word written letter-by-letter from English if treating Tenno I ("IH") as an "I"
    • Notice how the pronunciation differs from English if spelt this way: "Flihyt" vs. "Flahyt"
  • Observatory is written as ObservatoryOrokinScript ("Uh b-ser-vah-tawr-aye")
  • Secret is written as SecretOrokinScript ("Seh-kreht")

Tabulated Ciphers[]

Matching Orokin alphabet to International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for English pronunciations.

English Consonants
IPA Tenno
Alphabet
Equivalent
English
Examples
p Tenno P pen, tip
b Tenno B but, web
t Tenno T take, cut
d Tenno D dad, do
Tenno CH chat, nature
Tenno J joy, giant, edge
k Tenno K cat, kite, queen
g Tenno G go, get, gutter
f Tenno F off, fate
v Tenno V voice, of, favorite
θ Tenno TH thing, teeth
ð Tenno DH that, soothe
s Tenno S same, city, sass
z Tenno Z zoo, rose
ʃ Tenno SH she, sure, emotion
ʒ Tenno ZH genre, pleasure
h Tenno H hat, heaven
m Tenno M man, jam
n Tenno N no, brain
ŋ Tenno NG ringer, sing, drink
l Tenno L loss, please
r Tenno R run, very
w No equivalent win, we
j No equivalent yes, yawn
hw No equivalent what, when
x Tenno KH loch
English Vowels
IPA Tenno
Alphabet
Equivalent
English
Examples
Tenno AE day, gate, date
ɒ Tenno AW clock, yacht*
ɔ: Tenno AW door, board*
æ Tenno A pat, bat
ɜ No equivalent bird, curt
ɪ Tenno I pit, in, fish
ɛ Tenno EH pet, bed
i Tenno EE bee, need
ʌ Tenno U run
ʊ Tenno U put
u Tenno OO food, dude, through
Tenno AYE bye, night, my
Tenno O tow, woe, dough
Tenno OW now, foul
Numbers and Punctuation
Symbols Tenno
Alphabet
Equivalent
0 Tenno 0
1 Tenno 1
2 Tenno 2
3 Tenno 3
4 Tenno 4
5 Tenno 5
6 Tenno 6
7 Tenno 7
8 Tenno 8
9 Tenno 9
. (period) Tenno Period
? (question mark) No equivalent
! (exclamation mark) No equivalent
, (comma) Tenno M
: (colon) No equivalent
' (apostrophe) No equivalent
- (hyphen) Tenno Hyphen
@ (at sign) No equivalent
# (pound sign) No equivalent

* ɒ and ɔː are British English (RP) vowels and are not represented in American English (GA). They are replaced with the 'ah' and 'oh' sounds in GA.

For example:
RP GA
Clock klɒk klak
Yacht jɒt jat
Door dɔ: dɔr
Board bɔ:d bɔrd

Weapon Resemblance[]

There are several weapons of Tenno and Orokin origin that take on the look and design of several Tennobet letters, it is yet unknown as to whether or not their design resemblance has any significant value to the lore behind the weapon.

These include but are not limited to:

Known Deciphered Scripts[]

Warframes[]

Excalibur

ExcaliburIcon272 Excalibur's helmet

ExcalHelmetOrokinScript
"[148-H] [T eh n o] [H ae d eh n] [2100N] [S eh r ee a l] [148-H]"
 → 
148-H Tenno Hayden 2100N Serial 148-H
—Translated

Excalibur's shoulder

ExcalShoulderOrokinScript
"[H ae d eh n] [T eh n o]" → Hayden Tenno
—Translated
Rhino's Back Armor Piece

RhinoIcon272 Rhino's back armor piece

DangerOrokinScript
"[. D ih n j ih r .]" → ".Dinger." → .Danger.
—Translated
Volt's Chest Piece

VoltIcon272 Volt's chest piece

DangerOrokinScript
"[. D ih n j ih r .]" → ".Dinger." → .Danger.
—Translated
Hydroid

HydroidIcon272 Hydroid's front shoulders

HydroidOrokinScript
"[T r aye b]" → Tribe
—Translated

Hydroid's shoulder blades

HydroidOrokinScript2
"[EH v o l oo sh uh m]" → Evolution
—Translated
Trinity's Helmet

TrinityIcon272 Trinity's helmet script

HelmetOrokinScript
"[148-H] [T eh n o] [M aw d eh l] [2100N] [S eh r ee a l] [148-H]"
 → 
148-H Tenno Model 2100N Serial 148-H
—Translated
Loki's Thigh

LokiIcon272 Loki's thigh

HelmetOrokinScript
"[148-H] [T eh n o] [M aw d eh l] [2100N] [S eh r ee a l] [148-H]"
 → 
148-H Tenno Model 2100N Serial 148-H
—Translated
Nekros' Shoulder

NekrosIcon272 Nekros' shoulder

Ishiaj3-lr
HydroidOrokinScript2
"[EH v o l oo sh uh m]" → Evolution
—Translated
Vauban's Shoulder

VaubanIcon272 Vauban's shoulder

Vauban's Shoulder
HydroidOrokinScript
"[T r aye b]" → Tribe
—Translated
Mag's Back

MagIcon272 Mag's upper back

Mag's Back
ExcalShoulderOrokinScript
"[H ae d eh n] [T eh n o]" → Hayden Tenno
—Translated

Orokin Tower Tileset[]

Orokin Void Room

Orokin Void room script

ExcalShoulderOrokinScript
"[H ae d eh n] [T eh n o]" → Hayden Tenno
—Translated
Orokin Void Hallway

Orokin Void hallway script

HydroidOrokinScript2
"[EH v o l oo sh uh m]" → Evolution
—Translated

Orokin Moon Tileset[]

Stealth Test Banner

Stealth Test banner

StealthTestBanner
"[S t eh l th]" → Stealth
—Translated

Clan Dojo[]

Dojo Observatory Console

Dojo Observatory console

InformationOrokinScript
"[IH n f aw r m a sh uh m]" → Information
—Translated
Dojo Research Lab Consoles

Dojo Research Lab consoles

ControlOrokinScript
"[K aw n t r o l]" → Control
—Translated
Grineer Research Lab Door

Grineer Research Lab door

GrineerOrokinScript
"[R eh s ee r ch] [G r ih n ee r]" → Research Grineer
—Translated
Corpus Research Lab Door

Corpus Research Lab door

CorpusOrokinScript
"[R eh s ee r ch] [K aw r p uh s]" → Research Corpus
—Translated
Infested Research Lab Door

Infested Research Lab door

InfestedOrokinScript
"[R eh s ee r ch] [IH n f eh s t eh d]" → Research Infested
—Translated
Tenno Research Lab Door

Tenno Research Lab door

TennoOrokinScript
"[R eh s ee r ch] [T eh n o]" → Research Tenno
—Translated
Great Hall Door

Great Hall door

HallOrokinScript
"[G r ee t] [H a l]" → Great Hall
—Translated
Dojo Observatory Door

Dojo Observatory door

ObservatoryOrokinScript
"[AW b s eh r v a t aw r aye]" → Observatory
—Translated
Dojo Barracks Door

Dojo Barracks door

BarracksOrokinScript
"[B a r a k s]" → Barracks
—Translated
Dojo Garden Door

Dojo Garden door

GardenOrokinScript
"[G a r d eh n]" → Garden
—Translated
Dojo Elevator Door

Dojo elevator door

ElevatorOrokinScript
"[EH l eh v a t aw r]" → Elevator
—Translated
Dueling Room Door

Dueling room door

DuelingOrokinScript
"[D uh eh l ih ng]" → Dueling
—Translated
Trophy Room Door

Trophy room door

TrophyRoomOrokinScript
"[T r aw p h aye] [R oo m]" → Trophy Room
—Translated
Drydock Doors

Drydock doors

Drydock
"[D r aye d aw kh]" → Drydock
—Translated
Bridge
"[B r i d j ]" → Bridge
—Translated

Relays[]

Relay Lobby Message
Warframe0066

Message board in the Relay's lobby

InformationOrokinScript
"[IH n f aw r m a sh uh m]" → Information
—Translated
Floating Text in Relays

Floating text in Relays

Hopinfyoochur
"[Y oo h] [Aw r] [Dh uh h] [H oh p] [A n d] [F ee oo ch oo r]" → You are the hope and future
—Translated
Welcome sign

Welcome sign

W2
"[Oo eh l kh uh m]" → Welcome
—Translated
Lotus Is Our Friend Signs

"Lotus is our friend" signs

W3
"[Th u h] [L aw t uh s] [Ih s] [Oo r] [F r aye n d,] [L ee d eh r] [A n d] [G uh a d]" → The Lotus is our friend, leader and guide
—Translated
Tenno Uphold Balance Signs

"Tenno uphold balance" signs

W4
"[A] [T eh n o] [Ih s] [S oo aw r n] [T o] [M ae n t ae n] [Th uh h] [B a l a n k]" → A Tenno is sworn to maintain the balance
—Translated
Tenno Protector Signs

"Tenno Protector" signs

W6
"[A] [T eh n o] [Ih s] [Th uh h] [S oo aw r n] [P r aw t eh k t aw r] [Aw f] [Th uh h] [Aw r] [Ih g ih n] [S ee s t eh m]" → A Tenno is the sworn protector of the our[sic] Origin System
—Translated
Tenno Shadow/Light Signs

"Tenno Is The Shadow And Light" signs

W7
"[A] [T eh n o] [Ih s] [B aw th] [Th uh h] [S h a d oo aw] [A n d] [Th uh h] [L ih g h t]" → A Tenno is both the shadow and light
—Translated
Tenno Void Signs

"Void Is Blood Of Tenno" signs

W8
"[Eh n eh r g aye] [Aw f] [Th uh h] [V o ih d] [Ih s] [Th uh h] [L aye f eh b l oo d] [Aw f] [A] [T eh n o]" → Energy of the Void is the lifeblood of a Tenno
—Translated
You Are The Future Signs

"You Are The Future" signs

W10
"[Ee oo h] [Aw r] [Th uh h] [H o p] [A n d] [F ee oo ch oo r] [Aw f] [Th uh h] [T eh n o]" → You are the hope and future of the Tenno
—Translated
Prime Kiosk

Kiosk for turning in Prime parts

W9
"[P r l mm] [P aye r t s]" → Prime payments
—Translated

Weapons[]

Nikana Sheath

Nikana Nikana sheath

CutOrokinScript
"[K uh t]" → Cut
—Translated
Orthos Prime Blades

OrthosPrime Orthos Prime blade

ReachOverGraspOrokinScript
"[R ee kh] [AW v eh r] [G r zh p]"
 → 
Reach Over Grasp
—Translated

Orthos Prime's other blade

LawOrokinScript
"[TH uh h] [L aw n j ih s t] [A r m] [IH s] [TH uh h] [L aw]"
 → 
The Longest Arm is the Law
—Translated
Magnus Barrel

Magnus Magnus barrel

ForceOrokinScript
"[A n s oo eh r] [OO ih th] [S oo p eh r ih aw r] [F aw r k]"
 → 
Answer With Superior Force
—Translated
Latron

Latron Latron barrel

FutureOrokinScript
"[EE oo h] [AW r] [TH uh h] [H aw p] [A n d] [F oo t oo r]"
 → 
You Are The Hope And Future
—Translated

Latron butt

SecretOrokinScript
"[S eh k r eh t]" → Secret
—Translated
Strun Stock

Strun Strun stock

DangerOrokinScript
"[. D ih n j ih r .]" → ".Dinger." → .Danger.
—Translated
Boar Stock & Drum

Boar Boar stock

DangerOrokinScript
"[. D ih n j ih r .]" → ".Dinger." → .Danger.
—Translated

Boar Boar drum

WarframeOrokinScript
"[EH v o l oo sh uh m]" → Evolution
—Translated
Tigris Stock

Tigris Tigris stock

HydroidOrokinScript
"[T r aye b]" → Tribe
—Translated
Cedo Barrel

Cedo Cedo Barrel

CedoBarrelScript
"[Eh eh k oo sh un eh r]" → Executioner
—Translated

Warframe Cosmetics[]

Guide of the Lotus Shoulder Armor

Guide of the Lotus shoulder armor (Mantle of the Lotus)

GuideOrokinScript
"[G uh aye d]" → Guide
—Translated
Izvara Syandana

Izvara Syandana

FlightOrokinScript
"[F l ih g h t]" → Flight
—Translated
TennoCon Syandana and Chestplate

TennoCon Syandana and Chestplate

RiseOrokinScript
"[OO n aye t eh d] [OO] [R aye s]"
 → 
United We Rise
—Translated

During Quests[]

Chains of Harrow Blood Messages
CastOutOrokinScript
"[K a s t] [O uh t]" → Cast Out
—Translated
SuffersOrokinScript
"[H eh] [S uh f f eh r s]" → He Suffers
—Translated
BlindedOrokinScript
"[B l a n d eh d]" → Blanded (Blinded)
—Translated
RejectedOrokinScript
"[R eh j eh k t eh d]" → Rejected
—Translated
The Sacrifice
Stone tablet mimic
HonourInBattle
"[H o n oo r] [i n] [B a t l]" → Honor in Battle
—Translated

Miscellaneous[]

Lotus Symbol

Lotus symbol

Icon LotusClean Black
WarframeOrokinScript
"[OO o r f r ae m]" → Warframe
—Translated
Founder T-shirt

Founder T-shirt script

WarframeOrokinScript
"[EH v o l oo sh uh m]" → Evolution
—Translated
The War Within Site Background

The War Within site background writing

EvilOrokinScript
"[OO h a t] [IH s] [D aw n] [OO t] [AW f] [L aw v] [A l oo o ee s] [T ae k eh s] [P l ae k] [B eh ee aw n d] [G oo d] [A n d] [EH v ih l]"
 → 
What Is Done Out Of Love Always Takes Place Beyond Good And Evil
—Translated
Devstream 90 Teaser

Devstream 90 poster

33rdOrokinScript
"[B eh h o l d] [TH uh h] [TH ih r t aye] [TH ih r d] [H eh] [IH s] [K aw m ih ng]"
 → 
Behold The Thirty Third He Is Coming
—Translated
U18 Patch Notes

Update 18.0 (2015-12-03) patch notes

OldOrokinScript
"[EH m b r ae k] [TH uh h] [OO o ee s] [AW f] [O l d]"
 → 
Embrace The Ways Of Old
—Translated
Red Veil Symbol

Red Veil symbol

RedVeilOrokinScript
"[. N eh t oo ih r k .]" → ".Netwirk." → .Network.
—Translated
Mind Control Flashing

Flashing near MindControl130xWhite Mind Controlled enemies

ObeyOrokinScript
"[AW b eh aye]" → Obey
—Translated
Operation Scarlet Spear Flotilla Signs
OpScarletSpearRailjackScript
"[R eh l j a k] [Aw p uh r eh sh n s]" → Railjack Operations
—Translated
OpScarletSpearGroundScript
"[G r ow m d] [Aw p uh r eh sh n s]" → Ground Operations
—Translated
Mysterious Loading Screen (Teaser for The Second Dream)

The Script

VoidLinkSevered

"[V o ih d] [L ih n k] [S eh v eh r eh d]

[R ee s aw n] [f aw r eh ih g n] [k a r aye r] [d eh t eh k t eh d].
[AW r ih g ih n] [uh n k n ow n].
[S uh s p eh k sh u m] [t r a k ih ng] [s ih g n a l].

[R eh ih n ih t ee a t ih ng] [d ih p o l a r] [k aw n eh k sh uh m] [aw n] [n aw v eh l] [k a r aye r].
[B ih o] [ih n] [s t a n d b aye] [f aw r] [ch eh k] [a n d] [s ee n k].

 [M aw sh uh m] [k aw m p eh n s a sh uh m] [k aw m p l eh t eh].
 [S eh l eh n ih k] [l eh n s ih ng] [l aw k eh d].
 [S aw m a t ih k] [k aw n t r o l] [eh s t a b l ih sh eh d].
 [M a r g oo l ih s] [ih m p l a n t a sh uh m] [ih n t a k t].
 [EH v m] [s t a t uh s] [n aw m ih n a l].
 [OO o r] [p l a t f aw r m] [aw ae t ih ng] [s ee n k].

[IH n ih t ee a l ih z ih ng] [s ee n a p t ih k] [aw v eh r l ae]
...
[G oo d] [n ih g h t], [s oo ee t] [a n j ih l]."

 → 

Void Link Severed

Reason: foreign carrier detected. Origin: unknown. Suspection: tracking signal.
Reinitiating dipolar connection on novel carrier. Bio in standby for check and sync.

 Motion compensation complete.
 Selenic lensing locked.
 Somatic control established.
Margulis implantation intact.
 EVM status nominal.
 War platform awaiting sync.

Initializing synaptic overlay... Good night, sweet angel.
—Translated
Original Prime Access Banner

Original Prime Access banner

SecretOrokinScript
"[S eh k r eh t]" → Secret
—Translated
Zariman Mission Insignia
TheHoldfastsIcon
"[Z a r ih m a n] [M ih sh ih o n]" → Zariman Mission
—Translated
Secret History Replica
SecretHistoryReplica
SecretHistoryScript
"[I n d i j e n t] [J u j m e n t]" → Indignant/Incident? Judgement
—Translated

Media[]

References[]

External Links[]

See Also[]

Advertisement