Tiefling... What is a tief?

[Millstone85]

This feels like a dumb question, but it has been bothering me for a while.

Aasimar are called like this because aasimon is another name for D&D angels.

Genasi are called like this because of their connection to genies.

But what is the deal with tieflings? Why not fiendlings? Is there any connection to anything?

[Lalliman]

I've wondered the same for a long time. But Wikipedia has the answer: "The name, pronounced /ˈtiːflɪŋ/, was derived by Wolfgang Baur from German tief meaning "deep, low", and the suffix -ling, "offspring," alluding to their origins in the "lower planes" (in the 2nd and 3rd editions); it may also allude to Teufel, German for "devil.""

[Millstone85]

Ah, well, thank you.

[Yora]

The word "fiend" comes from the German "Feind", which is "the enemy" (of mankind), so The Devil.

But "tief" really just means "deep", so I'll guess the idea might be "spawn from the deep", which would imply "hellspawn". The suffix "-ling" is the same in German as in English, so "tiefling" actually looks like it could be a proper German word. (Though one that doesn't exist in any other context.)

Also, since it's the most common pronunciation error of German words by English speakers, it's "tee", not "tye". Though I don't recall ever hearing someone do that with tiefling.

[hamishspence]

Also, since it's the most common pronunciation error of German words by English speakers, it's "tee", not "tye". Though I don't recall ever hearing someone do that with tiefling.

Because the prefix is exactly like "thief" but with no H, I've always pronounced it as if I was going to pronounce "thief" but leaving the H sound out.

[Anonymouswizard]

But "tief" really just means "deep", so I'll guess the idea might be "spawn from the deep", which would imply "hellspawn". The suffix "-ling" is the same in German as in English, so "tiefling" actually looks like it could be a proper German word. (Though one that doesn't exist in any other context.)

I think we also need to take a couple of other things into account:
1) In D&D demons and devils are different things, but either can generate Tieflings.
2) Tieflings were originally released when D&D had renamed demons/devils.

Hellspawn would have worked, except that D&D was trying to work around certain groups at the time so that was out of the equation. But the planes in question are known as the Lower Planes, thus 'depthling'.

Only in German because everything sounds cooler in German.

[Kraynic]

According to some of my in-game experience, they are mostly odd looking individuals that are rather ignorant and don't know how to spell thief correctly.

[LibraryOgre]

The tief are the mostly white things in your mouth that let you chew and bite and stuff.

[Slipjig]

According to some of my in-game experience, they are mostly odd looking individuals that are rather ignorant and don't know how to spell thief correctly.

And prior to picking their subclass, many of those people were a "rouge"!

[Scots Dragon]

According to some of my in-game experience, they are mostly odd looking individuals that are rather ignorant and don't know how to spell thief correctly.

Could just be Irish people going all phonetic on the spelling.

[Prime32]

Could just be Irish people going all phonetic on the spelling.

You mean taoighdhph?

[Scots Dragon]

You mean taoighdhph?

Didn't wanna scare the poor Anglophones.

[Forevaxp]

In Planescape planar cant, tieflings are sometimes called zu'lings (if they have Baatezu origins), tanar'lings (if they have Tanar’ri origins), or loth'lings (if they have Yugoloth origins)

But it’s easier to just lump these 3 subcategories into one, especially for people unfamiliar with the lore. And that’s just if you go with the official planar lore.

[InvisibleBison]

In Planescape planar cant, tieflings are sometimes called zu'lings (if they have Baatezu origins), tanar'lings (if they have Tanar’ri origins), or loth'lings (if they have Yugoloth origins)

But it’s easier to just lump these 3 subcategories into one, especially for people unfamiliar with the lore. And that’s just if you go with the official planar lore.

It seems to me that lots of tieflings, quite possibly the majority, wouldn't know what kind of fiendish ancestry they had.

[Scots Dragon]

In Planescape planar cant, tieflings are sometimes called zu'lings (if they have Baatezu origins), tanar'lings (if they have Tanar’ri origins), or loth'lings (if they have Yugoloth origins)

But it’s easier to just lump these 3 subcategories into one, especially for people unfamiliar with the lore. And that’s just if you go with the official planar lore.

There's also those descended from gehreleths, rakshasas, night hags, and evil deities.

[Scots Dragon]

It seems to me that lots of tieflings, quite possibly the majority, wouldn't know what kind of fiendish ancestry they had.

One idea I really liked from Pathfinder's tieflings is that they might not have fiendish ancestry per se, but were instead tainted by being born near places where fiendish activity was common, or by fiendish pacts made by their ancestors.

[Millstone85]

One idea I really liked from Pathfinder's tieflings is that they might not have fiendish ancestry per se, but were instead tainted by being born near places where fiendish activity was common, or by fiendish pacts made by their ancestors.

That should work for other planetouched too. An elemental portal, the blessing of an angel... and your bloodline is changed.

[Squire Doodad]

One idea I really liked from Pathfinder's tieflings is that they might not have fiendish ancestry per se, but were instead tainted by being born near places where fiendish activity was common, or by fiendish pacts made by their ancestors.

"In exchange for your powers, I give you my first-born child!"
"Honestly, you can keep the kid. The dark taint from our foul covenant will give your line, like, leathery wings and fire breath and stuff within a few generations."
"So do you...not get anything from this?"
"It's called a "long-term investment"."

[TinyMushroom]

I always thought of a butchered version of "Teufel" which is just Devil in german

[Eldan]

One idea I really liked from Pathfinder's tieflings is that they might not have fiendish ancestry per se, but were instead tainted by being born near places where fiendish activity was common, or by fiendish pacts made by their ancestors.

Planescape did that one too, but it's only mentioned kind of off-handedly. But it mentions that one assumption why Tiefligns are relatively common on the Planes is that the parents might have lived on a lower plane for a while.

[Zombimode]

I always thought of a butchered version of "Teufel" which is just Devil in german

I wouldn't call it "butchered". Just like in english with a bit playing arround you get from "Tiefling" to "Thiefling", you get from "Tiefling" to "Teufling" in german, as Yora mentioned above. Both instances I find quite nice, actually :-)

[Psyren]

Also, since it's the most common pronunciation error of German words by English speakers, it's "tee", not "tye". Though I don't recall ever hearing someone do that with tiefling.

Because the prefix is exactly like "thief" but with no H, I've always pronounced it as if I was going to pronounce "thief" but leaving the H sound out.

On of my favorite and very minor features in D&D Beyond is that the races have official pronounciation guides now just click the speaker icon next to their name.

"TEE-fling"

[BisectedBrioche]

I just remember it with a joke:

"A martial focused tiefling bloodline should have a free manoeuvrer which allows them to throw a hot beverage with deadly precision; the tea fling!"

[Eldan]

On of my favorite and very minor features in D&D Beyond is that the races have official pronounciation guides now just click the speaker icon next to their name.

"TEE-fling"

Eh.

I don't like WotC pronunciation guides. Especially for planar stuff, which is directly taken from Roman, Greek, middle Eastern, Nordic etc. mythology, but Anglicized and then Americanized so far, the original word is barely recognizeable.

[Batcathat]

I don't like WotC pronunciation guides. Especially for planar stuff, which is directly taken from Roman, Greek, middle Eastern, Nordic etc. mythology, but Anglicized and then Americanized so far, the original word is barely recognizeable.

Considering the concepts the words describe are frequently just as mangled, doing the same to the pronunciation seems kinda fitting.

[KorvinStarmast]

The word "fiend" comes from the German "Feind", which is "the enemy" (of mankind), so The Devil.

But "tief" really just means "deep", so I'll guess the idea might be "spawn from the deep", which would imply "hellspawn". The suffix "-ling" is the same in German as in English, so "tiefling" actually looks like it could be a proper German word. (Though one that doesn't exist in any other context.)

Also, since it's the most common pronunciation error of German words by English speakers, it's "tee", not "tye". Though I don't recall ever hearing someone do that with tiefling.

Thanks for that, my German recedes the longer I don't use it. (I assumed a Teufel link which you seem to have dispelled).

One idea I really liked from Pathfinder's tieflings is that they might not have fiendish ancestry per se, but were instead tainted by being born near places where fiendish activity was common, or by fiendish pacts made by their ancestors.

Also means you can dump the horns and tail. They are not necessary.

I just remember it with a joke:

"A martial focused tiefling bloodline should have a free manoeuvrer which allows them to throw a hot beverage with deadly precision; the tea fling!"

:) Barroom brawl, or a tea fight.

Considering the concepts the words describe are frequently just as mangled, doing the same to the pronunciation seems kinda fitting.

Aye. (Which is pronounced 'eye' not 'aay!'

[LibraryOgre]

Halfling... what's a half? ;-)

Personally, I miss 2e's tieflings. While I appreciate that they're getting more play, I want weird-ass tieflings with bizarre features.

[Scots Dragon]

Also means you can dump the horns and tail. They are not necessary.

The fourth edition redesign was so bloody boring.

[Prime32]

The fourth edition redesign was so bloody boring.

Yeah, I like it more when tieflings don't have a consistent appearance (especially the PF version which doesn't even have consistent abilities). Partly because there's a large number of sources for tieflings and it's weird for them all to look the same, partly because it plays better to the "distrusted outcast" themes when they don't have anyone similar to turn to.
But also if they had to pick a consistent appearance, the 4e one isn't the one I'd go with.

[KorvinStarmast]

Yeah, I like it more when tieflings don't have a consistent appearance {snip} Partly because there's a large number of sources for tieflings and it's weird for them all to look the same

That's a part of my thematic objection.