How's Your Simlish? Trivia Quiz

Answer: It was easier than using English

As designer Will Wright and his team were creating a game without any warfare or defined goals, they realized that interaction was the most important aspect of their task. Using real language would have not only been impossible both financially and logistically, the game would have quickly become repetitive and limiting.

They felt that an artificial language would draw users into intense observation and spur their imaginations. Now each user can create a unique relationship with their Sims. Simlish would not be easier than using English, because English is not the only native language of Sims users.

As of 2011, "Sims" games appear in thirty-three languages in over sixty countries. A version of each would have had to have been created.

Answer: World War II Navajo code talkers

Will Wright was originally inspired by the famous Native American code talkers who used Navajo over the radio to send messages the Japanese couldn't understand. After initially experimenting with Navajo, he and linguist Marc Gimbel decided that a mix of many languages, including Ukrainian, Finnish, Tagalog, English and Latin, would be preferable.

In that way, nobody could really understand everything that was said.

Answer: Simlish is a combination of improvised sounds and key words and phrases

Although Simlish is not a real language in that it has no grammar or syntax, it does have a lot of vocabulary. The actors who provide the voices improvise as well. Stephen Kerin and Gerri Lawlor were the first Sim voices and they were the ones responsible for creating the overall 'sound' of the language.

As of "Sims 3", Simlish consists of more than 40,000 audio samples to create the language. It has developed rapidly over time with the emergence of new "Sims" versions and expansions. In fact, the term 'Simlish' now refers to similar 'language' in other games as well.

Answer: Elvis Presley

As over 100 solo artists and bands (as of "Sims 3") have recorded hits in Simlish, it's difficult to find someone who hasn't done (or won't do in the future) a Simlish song, so Elvis was a safe bet. As they generally re-record a Simlish track on existing songs, it's not as difficult for them to project emotion while singing nonsense words.

Answer: Logos

For the most part, the only readable Simlish shows up as logos (EA, H&M, Maxis, etc.). If you try reading Sim license plates you know that numbers and letters look pretty much the same, as do street signs. Written Simlish appears in Comic Sans MS and unless you look carefully, is easy to miss.

Answer: 'When you're a baby, you don't drink smart milk.'

Of course. Only toddlers can drink smart milk.

Sim baby vocabulary seems particularly standardized. 'Nubu' (or nooboo) means baby and 'Lalo' is milk. A Sim mother might croon 'Ye tu mamas tush' (It's your mommy's kiss'?) to her baby. One thing I really don't understand is this. When your baby becomes a toddler, it asks for 'Lalo'. But after it learns to talk, it still asks for 'Lalo'. Logically, your toddler would have dropped the baby talk and would be using the right word, no?

Answer: Someone's singing a nursery rhyme

"The Sims 2 Free Time" expansion introduced the ability to teach your toddler a nursery rhyme. Not only is it just darling, but your toddler gains charisma while singing it. The meaning? That you'll have to make up by yourself. The Wikipedia entry for 'Frère Jacques' cites it as the inspiration for the "Sims" rhyme, which could be considered highly debatable.

Answer: Getting engaged

Engagement talk is not consistent and in "Sims 3", the engaged woman seems just to jump around and make little noises. 'Ty mostia', however, seems to be a fairly regular reaction in "Sims 2" and probably means something like 'OMG check the rock!' 'Wee bo' is definitely 'I do'.

Answer: The Yummy Channel (food)

According to one of quite a few websites with Simllish dictionaries, 'Gona spegando' might have something to do with turning on your oven. I'm more inclined to think it means 'now we're ready to start'. "The Sims 3" chef bears a striking vocal resemblance to the Swedish Chef from "The Muppet Show".
Watching The Yummy Channel will gain your Sim a cooking skill point.

The four channels listed here are basic to "Sims 2" games, but with the "Sims 2 Weather and Seasons" expansion you get a Weather channel.

Answer: Your look

'Elicanto' is usually a compliment, and probably comes from 'elegant',while 'Ravasheen' is definitely 'ravashing' and used when your Sim woman is talking about herself. Basically, they both mean that you're looking good.

Answer: Greeting someone

Sim teens, like teens in real life, are less formal than their parents. Boys are more inclined to 'hooba noobie' or 'goo scavoney, while girls prefer 'coo teeka lo' or 'bloo bagoo'. Adults will greet each other with something like 'Ahh van vesua cummuns nalay', which probably means something like, 'Hello, how are you?'

Answer: Anger and/or frustration

'Nib' and 'Frabbit' and 'Frabenag' are probably something like 'drat' (or worse) and can usually be heard when a Sim male is trying to repair something. 'Halloo' is often an attempt to get someone's attention while 'Hora!' is used specifically when a Sim is trying to get your attention.

Answer: Pizza

Simlish food language is fairly regular and a Sim might comment 'MMMM...lakava' (it's tempting) when smelling food. They might say 'Yamyamyam' while eating, which is pretty easy to understand.

Answer: Chess

Chess is pretty neat in "Sims" games because the characters actually play a game. The conversation doesn't vary much, just as in reality. 'Lam navezhnavav' could be almost anything, but 'Lai ikwan' seems to indicate something like 'I see the problem' and 'Deesh, deesh, deesh!' almost certainly means 'Think! Think! Think!'

Playing chess can raise your Sim's Logic points, build friendships and make them happy. This doesn't often happen in real life.

Answer: 'Sulsul' and 'Dagdag'

'Sulsul' is the first word you hear when you open up your game and 'Dagdag' is just everywhere. 'Ahoj' and 'Nazdar' are from Czech; 'Helo' and 'Hwyl' are Welsh, and 'Yá'át'ééh' and 'Hágoónee' are, in honour of Will Wright and his original idea, in Navajo.