The dwarves have three dialects of their language: Core, Foundry, and Battle. Dwarven Core is their version of the 'common tongue', and is spoken throughout the lands of dwarves, unchanged in tens of millennia.

Dwarven Foundry language is a more technical language that has changed somewhat over time, involving as it does the subtle aspects of smithing and metal-working, and even stone-working. The Foundry tongue is a separate dialect, allowing the dwarves to keep it a secret language of sorts, while advancing their own abilities in that realm.

The Dwarven Battle dialect is a shortened form of Core, consisting of no words longer than two syllables, and many shortened to one syllable. Those familiar with the Core language might find the Battle dialect considerably difficult to follow, but would recognize some aspects of it.

Dwarven numbers play an important part of their heritage. Their numbering system is in base eight, though the eighth number is held sacred – and so many outsiders think that the numbering system is in base seven. The first number is the Core word for 'shovel', indicating the first of the mining tasks a dwarf learns.