The Inkling language is a fictional language spoken primarily by Inklings, and other characters as well, such as some Jellyfish. Most, if not all, of the game's graphics and voice clips are in Inkling. In Tentakeel Outpost, Marie will sometimes say, "I'd tell you what's written on this sign, but my Octarian is pretty rusty." which indicates that Octarian is the official Octoling language.
While many have tried to decipher the language, nobody has been able to make any real progress toward this goal. The structure, vocabulary, and grammar of the language are striper like The Legend of Zelda's Hylian, Inkling is not translatable as it is pure gibberish.
Written Inkling appears to be a conglomerate of English, Japanese, Cyrillic script, and sometimes Korean. In fact, some Inkling seems identical to these scripts' letters. For instance, text in some brand logos can be read as the brand's Japanese name, and Inklings sometimes say a phrase phonetically similar to "ready" in battle. In some other cases, Inkling looks just like the English alphabet, with letters that appear to be English and can be read easily.
Readable words
Words around Inkopolis
- The studio where Inkopolis News is filmed has an "On Air" sign.
- The sign at Mahi-Mahi Resort, saying Mahi-Mahi Resort and Spa.
- The banner at Shellendorf Institute resembles the letters "Tho Davon Mujum," which is similar to the stage's name in Japanese, "Devon Oceanographic Museum."
- Two signs in English on Ruins of Ark Polaris.
Brands
- The Forge brand logo resembles the letters "Forリマ", which is similar to the brand's name in Japanese, フォーリマ (fōrima).
- The Splash Mob brand logo resembles the letters "GiMN", which is similar to the brand's name in Japanese, ジモン (jimon). Interestingly, Gimn is a Russian word, meaning Anthem, Canticle, Carol or Hymn.
- The Tentatek brand logo resembles the letters "AROME", which is the brand's name in Japanese, アロメ (arome).
- The Zink brand logo resembles the letters "IArOIC", which vaguely resembles the brand's name in Japanese, アイロニック (aironikku, i.e. "ironic").
All Known Inkling dialogue
The language spoken by Inklings has been altered to have a wavy sound. Many words in their spoken language sound like the English word "squid".
Male
- "Yeddy!" - "Ready!"
- "Week-week!" - "Ready!"
- "Ye-squi-wy!" - "Ready!"
- "NGYES" or "Ngyesh!" - "Booyah!"
- "Iw-wawa-squi-wy!"
- "Iw-wa-wa-week-wy!"
- "I-yes-squeey!"
- ''Ui-yee-squee!''
- "Ngyen-gewy!"
- "Sko-way-no-way!"
- "Rowy-yesh!"
- "Yoo-hee!" - cheer, or when jumping very high
- "Splo-wee!" - cheer, or when jumping very high
- "Yoo-kee!" - cheer, or when jumping very high
- "Uuuuh!" - splatted
- ''Auughuu!''
- "Bluaugh!" - splatted
Lines added in Splatoon 2
- "Wit-swee!" - cheer
- "Yoop-we-weets-sway way be genny!" - "Stupid Vending Machine!"
- "Sedge-we-weh-yadge!"
- "Sed-wedge-ywoo!"
- "Sum-wid-ghees"
- "Swids-sgwei!"
- "Ha-byeh-i-yehs"
- "Byehs!" - cheer
- "Choo-koon!" - hurt?
- "Um-wee!" - hurt?
- "Ng-hglooowrh!" - hurt?
- "Urgh-wreeh" - hurt?
- "Wrarh-wreeh!" - cheer
- "Yee-hoo!" - cheer
- "Squeed- wee!" - cheer
- "Sqoo-dee!" - cheer
- "Ye-i-ngyes!" - "Ready!"
- "Hae-day!" - "Ready!"
- "Aargh!" - splatted
- "Aargh?" - splatted
- "Yee-yeeh?" - splatted
- "This Way"
- "Ahis" ー splatted
Female
- "Hey!'
- "Ge-wy!" - "Ready!"
- "Squeek-week!" - "Ready!"
- "I-bew-wew-squee-weew!"
- "Wo-wew-we-squeew-wee!"
- "Woomy!" - "Booyah!"
- "He-by!" - "Ready!"
- "Yay!"
- "Squi-wi-wi-dee!"
- "Nyu-wee!"
- "Gung-we-wy!" - "Boo-yah!" (known as "Manmenmi" (マンメンミ) in Japanese) (sounds like ”Gangway!”)
- "Bway!"
- "Bwoo-by!"
- "Squoo-by!"
- "Yebby!"
- "Gooby!"
- "Fow, fewibby!"
- "Gwooby!" - cheer, or when jumping very high
- "Yippee!" - cheer, or when jumping very high
- "Squee!" - cheer, or when jumping very high
- "Squibby!" - cheer, or when jumping very high
- "Uwaaaw!" - splatted
- "Awawoo!" - splatted
- "Hewisquiw!" - splatted
- "Aoo-way!" - splatted
- "Aw-dway-squid!" Possibly says when failing, such as in Turf Wars. (sounds like "All-Day Squid", except there being a W in day and all Ls are replaced with W)
- ”WOOMY” This could be a general sound of excitement, such as “Booyah!”.
Lines added in Splatoon 2
- "Hway, hebbi-yoh!"
- "Hey, skee-yo-oh!"
- "Hey, squee-meew!"
- "Hey, hu-looh!"
- "Neks-choo!"
- "Haoh!" - hurt
- "Straa-Fick Shtoul!"
- "Mee-kyu!" - possibly thank you, after getting food at Crusty Sean's truck. Can be sometimes used for a "Booyah!"
- "Si-di-yoh!"
- "Squee-dee!"
- "Skee-bee!"
- "Sam-myooh!" - "Help me!"
- "Um-smyooh!"
- "Zerhf-myooh!"
- "Mee-yooh!"
- "Ngee-dveeh!"
- "Ngam-dvyooh!"
- "Zem-myooh!"
- "Meck-dyooh!"
- "Mee-hooh!" - cheer
- "Behg-glee!" - cheer
- "Meeni wee!" - cheer
- "Wee-glee!" - cheer
- "Hastu wee!" - "Booyah!".
- "Vingee!"
- "Ahns-spoargh?" - splatted
Enemy Octolings
The Octolings, who are somewhat related to the Inklings, speak a similar language.
- "Ha-ha!" - Destroy
- "Ha!"
- "Huhaha!" - Seek and Destroy
- "Ah?"
- "Aoo-wow?"
- "Huh?" - Target Acquired
- "Huh!" -
- "Lee-kow-fuh-mee!" - splatted (sounds like "Look out for me!")
- "Aoo-wow!" - splatted
- "Iwoooow!" - splatted
- "Yeah!"
Lines added in Splatoon 2
- "Nyaow-feeee?!" - splatted
- "Aoo-waaaah!" - splatted
- "Aoo-oooooh!" - splatted
Playable Octolings
Octolings were added as playable characters in the Splatoon 2 paid DLC; Octo Expansion. Female playable Octolings share some voice lines with enemy Octolings from Hero Mode.
Female
- "VEEMO" - "Booyah!"
- "Ai wen-mee"
- "Tulip!"
- "Aw Yeah!"
- "Whoopie!"
- "Wahmey!"
- "Boxie!" - "Booyah!"
- "Mee" or "Mean" - "Booyah!"
- "Oonay!"
- "Oonah"
- "Hey"
- "Oh yo!" - "This Way!" or "Ouch..."
- "Yahoo!" - When super jumping
Male
- "OOMI" or "Omi!" - "Booyah!"
- "Un-nya-gi"
- "Men uni!" - "This way!"
- "Wen mari!" - "This way!"
- "Yoshall!"
- "Jollie!"
- "Bubbol!"
- "Mai, Yo!" or "Weyo" - "Booyah!"
- "Ah so!" - When super jumping
Squid Sisters
- "Su-pres!" - "Stay Fresh!"
- "Say-kyes"
- "A-luh-ska?" - Callie (slightly pronouced "Alaska")
- "Skolt." - Marie
Off the Hook (Splatoon 2 only)
- "Hasha hono heyshea!" - Pearl
- "Heo mene, checcet!" - Pearl
- "Woamo shu!" - Pearl
- "Peemo sheo, tentako!" - “Don’t get cooked, stay off the hook!”
Octo Expansion (Splatoon 2 only)
Sanitized Octarians
Sanitized Octarians share some voice lines with the enemy Octarians from Hero Mode, but with a robotic voice filter to make them sound lifeless.
Music in Inkling
Squid Sisters
- Calamari Inkantation
- Tide Goes Out (Marie's theme)
- Bomb Rush Blush (Callie's theme)
- Now or Never! (Originally written by Squid Squad)
- City of Color
- Maritime Memory
- Ink Me Up
- Fresh Start (Splatoon 2)
- Spicy Calamari Inkantation (Splatoon 2)
- Low Tide (Splatoon 2's Hero Mode)
- Calamari Inktantion 3Mix (Splatoon 3)
- Wave Goodbye (Splatoon 3)
The Chirpy Chips
- Shelfie
- Quick Start
Squid Squad
- Splattack!
- Ink or Sink
- Seascape
- Kraken Up
- Metalopod
- Now or Never!
Off The Hook
- Ebb & Flow
- Muck Warfare
- Acid Hues
- Nasty Majesty
- Now or Never! (Originally written by Squid Squad)
- Color Pulse
- Inkopolis News
- Zest Fest
- Fly Octo Fly ~ Ebb & Flow
- Shark Bytes
- Into The Light
Marina
Pearl
Wet Floor
- Inkoming!
- Rip Entry
- Undertow
- Don't Slip
- Endolphin Surge
- Now or Never! (originally written by Squid Squad)
- Turf Master
- Ink Another Day
Turquoise October
- Eight-Legged Advance
- Tentacular Circus
- Cephaloparade
- Inkstrike Shuffle
- Octoweaponry
- The Girl From Inkopolis
- Octo Eight-Step
- Buoyant Boogie
- Shooting Starfish
- Octarmaments
DJ Octavio
- Bomb Rush Blush feat. Callie
- Tidal Rush feat. Callie & Marie
Grizzco Industries
- Happy Little Workers
- Even Further
Chirpy Chips
- Split and Splat
- Blitz It!
- Wave Prism
Bottom Feeders
- Shipwreckin'
- Fins & Fiddles
- Seafoam Shanty
Diss-Pair
- Seasick
- Kinetosis
SashiMori
- Chopscrewey
- Entropical
Mizuta Ahato (aka DJ Dedf1sh)
- Splattack! (Octo)
- #0 shell
- 1 progress
- 2 ripped
- 4 dunno
- 5 thirsty
- 6 frisk
- 8 regret
- 9 party
- 11 above
- 12 awake
- 13 shade
- 14 crush
- 16 salty
- 19 bless
Deep Cut
- Now or Never! (Deep Cut Remix)
- Anarchy Rainbow
- Fins in the Air
- Till Depth Do Us Part
- Raid under Storm and Stress
Front Roe
- Sea Me Now
C-Side
Damp Socks Feat. Off the Hook
Gallery
Trivia
- Booyah Base's name is based on the cheer "Boo-yah!" and the Provençal fish stew bouillabaisse.
- "Ngyes" and "Woomy" (Wowee), dialogue from Inkling boys and girls (respectively), have become well-known memes among the Splatoon fandom, as both of them were heard frequently. "Woomy" may also refer to the Inkling girl, while "Ngyes" refers to the Inkling boy.
- The Japanese-language equivalent of "Wowee" is "Manmenmi" (マンメンミ, what "Gung-we-wy" sounds like in Japanese), which is also based on a quote by the Inkling girl. She usually says this after defeating a boss or when saying "Boo-yah!".
- "Veemo" dialogue form playable Octoling girls has also become a well-known meme, however "Oomi" and "Omi" from Octoling boys have not because people have a hard time figuring out what they’re actually saying.
- Although "Woomy" may be a meme, the actual phrase is actually pronounced as "Wowee"
- Some fans have dubbed Inkling language "Inklish", a fusion of the words “Inkling” and “English”.
- The Japanese lyrics of the Squid Sisters' songs (or their Calamari County dialect) may suggest that Inkling is a syllabic language, like Japanese.
- Some voice files have the same dialogue by male and female Inklings, except with their voices being set in a higher pitch. They may have been used at some point for a weapon that was able to shrink other Inklings, as it is common in other games to raise the pitch of a character's voice when they are shrunken.
- Furthermore, some voice files in Splatoon 2 also have an echoing sound.
External links
- Inkling boy voice files
- Inkling boy voice files with Splatoon 2 lines
- Inkling girl voice files
- Inkling girl voice files with Splatoon 2 lines
- Octoling voice files
- Octoling voice files with Splatoon 2 lines
- Sanitizied Octoling voice files
- Squid Sisters voice files
- Off the Hook voice files
- Octoling boy voice files
- Playable Octoling girl voice files