How do you pronounce "fhtagn" and what does it mean?

[333 Dave]

I just got CoC (what I've read so far is cool, very good tips on running the game), and I've seen in a couple of places the word fhtagn. What does it mean and how is it pronounced?

 

[Holy Bovine]

fhtagn is a single word from the larger phrase

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

Which translated into english means;

In his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming

I am unsure what language Lovecraft meant it to be in besides some 'unknowable' dead language I also have no clue how it could be pronounced in english maybe 'Fah - tag'?. I have always assumed (although this is by no means accuate just my interpretation) that fhtagn meant either dead or dreaming. The phrase is from the Lovecraft story Call of Cthulhu (and stragely enough this is the second time tonight i have replied to a messageboard about this particular Lovecraft tale). It is my favourite and one of Lovecraft's best.

 

[skulrik]

you can check this site, he have a .wav, pronouncing the phrase in the dead language, and in english.

http://www.gizmology.net/lovecraft/cd/index.htm

 

[Spiteful Dwarf]

Lovecraft initially made up the words to be unpronounceable to humans. Just another way of illustrating how truly alien the Old Ones, etc. were.

 

[Epametheus]

I generally pronounce it "fah-taug-en.." I'd approximate "Cthulhu ftaghn" as "Cthulhu awaits".. or ftaghn as the "waits" in the translation of the whole sentence.

 

[Aaron L]

I pronounce it : feh-TAUG-en. It is also used in the shortened expression "Cthulhu fhtagn", meaning "Cthulhu dreams".

(cuh-THOO-loo feh-TAUG-en)

CTHULHU FHTAGN!
CTHULHU FHTAGN!

 

[hong]

Under no circumstances do you pronounce the silent K.

 

[The Crimster]

Aiiiiieeeee!!

Say it no more! Or you shall summone up ye livlieste awfullness!

 

[Eryx]

For some reason, I've always pronounced it as "far-TARN".

 

[madriel]

Aiiiiieeeee!!

Say it no more! Or you shall summone up ye livlieste awfullness!

No that's only with He Who Shall Not Be Named.

You know; Hastur (say it three times and he can appear).