Your race indicates the languages your character can speak by default, and your background might give you access to one or more additional languages of your choice
Some of these languages are actually families of languages with many dialects. For example, the Primordial language includes the auran, Aquan, Ignan and Terran dialects, one for each of the four elemental planes. Creatures that speak different dialects of the same language can communicate with one another.
Standart Languages
| Language | Typical Speakers | Script |
| Common | Humans | Common |
| Dwarvish | Dwarves | Dwarvish |
| Elvish | Elves | Elvish |
| Giant | Ogres, giants | Dwarvish |
| Gnomish | Gnomes | Dwarvish |
| Goblin | Goblinoids | Dwarvish |
| Halfling | Halflings | Common |
| Orc | Orcs | Dwarvish |
Exotic Languages
| Language | Typical Speakers | Script |
| Abyssal | Demons | Infernal |
| Celestial | Celestials | Celestial |
| Deep Speech | Mind flayers, Beholders | — |
| Draconic | Dragons, Dragonborn | Draconic |
| Infernal | Devils | Infernal |
| Primordial | Elementals | Dwarvish |
| Sylvan | Fey creature | Elvish |
| Undercommon | Underdark traders | Elvish |