Player’s Handbook

The Standard Languages table lists languages that are widespread on D&D worlds. Every player character knows Common, which originated in the planar metropolis of Sigil, the hub of the multiverse. The other standard languages originated with the first members of the most prominent species in the worlds of D&D and have since spread widely.

Standard Languages
1d12LanguageOrigin
—CommonSigil
1Common Sign LanguageSigil
2DraconicDragons
3–4DwarvishDwarves
5–6ElvishElves
7GiantGiants
8GnomishGnomes
9GoblinGoblinoids
10–11HalflingHalflings
12OrcOrcs

The Rare Languages table lists languages that are either secret or derived from other planes of existence and thus less widespread in the worlds of the Material Plane. Some features let a character learn a rare language.

Rare Languages
LanguageOrigin
AbyssalDemons of the Abyss
CelestialCelestials
Deep SpeechAberrations
DruidicDruidic circles
InfernalDevils of the Nine Hells
Primordial*Elementals
SylvanThe Feywild
Thieves’ CantVarious criminal guilds
UndercommonThe Underdark
*Primordial includes the Aquan, Auran, Ignan, and Terran dialects. Creatures that know one of these dialects can communicate with those that know a different one.

Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn

Standard Languages of Faerûn
1d100LanguageOrigin
—CommonSigil
01–03AglarondanAglarond
04–06AlzhedoCalimshan
07–09BothiiUthgardt nomads
10–12ChessentanChessenta
13–15ChondathanChondath
16–18Common Sign LanguageSigil
19–21DamaranDamara
22–26DraconicDragons
27–33DwarvishDwarves
34–40ElvishElves
41–45GiantGiants
46–50GnomishGnomes
51–55GoblinGoblinoids
56–62HalflingHalflings
63–65IlluskanThe North
66–68LantaneseLantan
69–71MidaniBedine nomads
72–74MulhorandiMulhorand
75–77NethereseNetheril
78–82OrcOrcs
83–85RashemiRashemen
86–88ReghedjicReghed nomads
89–91SespechSespech
92–94ThayanThay
95–97TurmicTurmish
98–00UnthericUnther