How Did Dumbledore Understand Parseltongue? - Harry Potter Theory

[@stitch3163]

To be fair, “let’s address the Basilisk in the room” was pretty clever.

[@Bilski86]

My thought exactly. Same with squash it like a Cornish pixie 😂

[@thefench1]

Harry didnt summon his firebolt as a natural, he spend a lotso hours in the books working hard on alll that spells a fourth year wouldnt learned yet, to keep up and survive the wizard cup. I always assumed that Dumbledore couldnt understand Parsel but, for he had the memories of someone who does... he gets that stream of mind. Its enough that the owner of the memory understands... but if Rowling said so i guess, than Dumbledore is a Parsel - passive

[@YARIN108]

It always appeared to me that Dumbledore was just asking Harry for confirmation... that he deduced a lot from just seeing the memory (multiple times), not that he really understood parseltoungue. Also, good point about the Accio spell. And I don't think that Dumbledore's family tree is so clear, I have a lot of questions! 😅

[@mainalpha]

There are two points that you didn't consider, one: there had to have been other Parselmouths out there that weren't related to the Slytherin family and two: Dumbledore could've turned to said Parselmouth for a translation at any point while he had the memory before showing it to Harry.

[@DSdemon767]

Harry and other parselmouths hear parseltongue as just regular talking. Dumbledore hears parseltongue the same way others do: phonetic hissing (or just hissing as in the books). But hes so good at reading people that he can get the idea behind parseltongue coversations with 100% accuracy.

[@ConradAster]

Yup. Exactly he probably just listened to it so much that he started to pick up on what the different inflections meant what, then buy using the scientific method, over time he was able to follow a conversation; save the nuisances. Like a foreigner who stays in a country so long that they can speak the language…

[@SeanSinclair821]

There is a possible line of descent from Salazar Slytherin to Albus Dumbledore in JKR's writings. Albus' mother, Kendra Dumbledore, was a Muggleborn witch who, according to Harry in Deathly Hallows, appeared to be Native American. One known descendant of Salazar Slytherin was a Squib named Martha Steward (granddaughter of Rionach Sayre, née Gaunt), who married a non-magical man from the Pocomtuc tribe and lived as a Muggle/No-Maj from then on. JKR has said that Muggleborns will have a witch or wizard ancestor somewhere up their family tree, so Kendra could be descended from Martha Steward. If so, then Kendra and her children, including Albus Dumbledore, would have been descendants of Salazar Slytherin. Please note, I'm not saying it's likely or that I necessarily believe it myself, but it is definitely a possibility based on what we know from JKR's writing. Please don't come at me.

[@YARIN108]

Wow, I never noticed! So cool, I was thinking if Aurelius isn't, in fact, Gaunt, but from his mother's side. Or maybe both? 🤔 😅

[@jacoxnet2]

Observing a memory in the pensieve isn't the same as viewing a recorded video. You are literally seeing something created in the mind of the original observer. It seems entirely plausible that, if that observer understood Parseltongue, French, or any other language being spoken, you as the observer of that memory would understand it as well.

[@Drakonus75]

Exactly! There's nothing expressly saying, at least within the memories being experienced, that the language being spoken wouldn't get automatically understood by the viewer in some way. Even if not directly translated, you should at least feel in their emotional memory what each interaction meant and intuit it from there.

[@loganmosier2935]

If you can't understand a language I think it'd be nearly impossible to commit that to memory. I work with a lot of Spanish speakers and understand 20% of what is said in Spanish. If you pulled out my memory there's no way it'd be anything other than gibberish and a few words and phrases. Human memory is fallible, especially if you don't understand the thing in the first place.

[@jacoxnet2]

@@loganmosier2935 I think your argument would support the idea that a person who didn't understand a language couldn't form a pensieve memory that would be understandable by someone who did. But what we're dealing with here is the reverse. Morphin did understand Parseltongue so his memories would incorporate that understanding.

[@Drakonus75]

@@loganmosier2935 It could be assumed that the understanding of the language would somehow be imprinted upon the memory itself since the original owner of said memory had understood that language already at the time of making that memory.

[@davidkennedy8929]

He also understands and speaks the language of the merpeople 🧜‍♀️

[@mark314158]

Dumbledore was a fantastically gifted wizard. He conducted extensive research in the Ministry of Magic's huge library of forbidden magic books. He uncovered certain spells and incantations which enabled him to understand many obscure and hidden languages. Sometimes completely, sometimes partially, and sometimes only for the merest instant. It is not known how complete his understanding of Parseltongue was. But it was certainly one of the many languages that he could decode...

[@kestrelwings]

He might have had a book that explained parseltongue. Maybe the ministry didn't like the idea of people learning parseltongue, so he kept the book secret. Hermione found Horcrux books in his office after he died.

[@grec.]

I think maybe, some parselmouth could have written a book about it and maybe Dumbledore had a hold on it. But since only Slytherin descendants could speak it, one could learn to understand the words but not be able to speak it.

[@FAM0US-M0NSTERS-]

If Dumbledore understood parseltounge, how come he never heard the Basilisk that lived in the castle for centuries?

[@cheesesniper473]

He heard it, but rowlings idea was potter heard parseltongue without realizing it, as if it was going through a universal translator before potter heard anything. The idea of it being rare is still asinine however.

[@ScottishLad]

Hearing people speak parseltongue vs hearing a snake hiss. People could hear harry speak parseltongue to the snake during the duel but no one else could hear snakes at any other point through the entire series. Anyone who isn't a parseltongue, just hears a snake hiss. Otherwise this would imply literally anyone and everyone could become a parceltongue simply by learning from snakes. Being parceltongue is a combination of naturally being gifted the ability to speak the language fluently, understanding the language, but the more notable point which they do mention during the movies is being to communicate directly with snakes. Unless you have the magical ability of parceltongue, you can't speak to snakes it'll just hiss. Ron verifies this. He learns parseltongue from Harry and uses it to open the chamber. He still only hears the snake hissing, which is verified in the deathly hallows when he confronts Nagini. He just hears the snake hiss and not parseltongue. This would directly apply to dumbledore, he could learn and understand the people speaking, afterall that isjust people speaking a foreign language. Albeit a magical foreign language.

[@piusdoe8984]

Well with how they demystified and made Parseltongue lame by making Ron able to do it by freaking listening to Harry talk in his sleep. It's not a big mystery that Dumbledore could do it. Feels like you could just hope down to Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley and by yourself a book that will teach you!

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

I really don't know how slytherin blood is so rare among noble families who kept marrying each others for centuries. I always like to imagine Black family had it too. Also there is nothing directly proving parseltongue is really evil, perhaps Salazar only wanted freedom for his basilisk friend and even created a language for same reason? But its freedom was rejected by other prejudiced and evil founders! Joking aside there are really so many magical creatures in HP universe who faced even persecution for centuries. It isn't really far fetched Salazar was perhaps villainized same as those magical creatures..

[@didreams969]

agree , this trait could easily be out there, and unless that person deliberately spoke to a snake, how would one know..

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

@@didreams969 Yep, as far as i can remember even Harry had no idea until he spoke to a snake. So they might not even know they can do it. Tried it with AI and went to see the basilisk as Regulus Black. The basilisk doesn't accept him as the true heir even if he can speak parseltongue lol. Apparently his blood is not pure enough but it didn't like Tom neither, claiming he lied and forced it. I wonder what in the story makes AI think this way.

[@jakeferreira1211]

I have never read that section and took it to mean Dumbledore could understand them. Harry definitely could, but there's no indication Dumbledore knew what they were saying. Only that he knew what happened after.

[@Finnspin_unicycles]

And even if he needs to know what is said - there is always the possibility of someone translating it for him. To assume that he can speak the language just because he knows what is said in one conversation seems very strange.

[@alphadante5764]

While i'm not sure if i'm sold on any of the theorys, but I do want to correct you on something, Harry wasn't a natural at summoning the Firebolt. He actually had to practice the spell with Hermione, and even when he was decent at the spell before the First Task, he was still nervous on the spell working. Even Hermione had to tell him that the Distance didn't matter.

[@thmills26]

I love the breakdowns and how deep into the lore you go into almost all the time so just saying “he was bloody brilliant” is so fair on this occasion 😂

[@chrisheath1480]

Alternate theory: He was such a powerful occlumens, that he could understand the language even through the Pensieve. Or, he used occlumency on Morfin Gaunt whilst interrogating him, and saw the conversation almost translated when he saw into Morfin's memories.

[@yannickramouillet3742]

I think you mean Legilimens, occlumency is the practice of closing one's mind to attempts of legilimency. (Think of the Latin root "occlu-" which means to close that gave "occlusion"

[@slamtilt01]

I reckon he may have collected a memory from someone who had nascent parseltongue ability. So when he dipped into the pensive to view the memory of that person. There may have been some snakes around the person at the time and that person was listening in on their conversation. Dumbledore would’ve have picked up what was being said from what was trapped in the memory.

[@ColtonRMagby]

Maybe he learned it from a maledictus friend.

[@alexgreentea771]

It would make sense for him to even want to seek out someone to teach him..if he knew there was some possibility that there was a secret language that is connected to a dark wizard it would be in his best interest to know what they are saying if he ever came across it. More so when voldermort was on the rise. It just would make sense he either just that guy or he went out of his way to learn it for safety

[@thatc0vidgirl]

Thankyou! Love your videos. I've been watching since I came out of a coma and almost died. I was left permanently disabled, bedridden, disfigured and on an oxygen machine at age 34. I'm now 39, I'm still here and I still find comfort in these videos. I'm also from the UK. Thankyou for these videos, they have been there for me in times of loneliness, despair and pain, in the obscure hours, and when even friends or family have not. Thankyou. Escaping into a fantasy world helps me cope with my real one. ❤

[@HarryPotterTheory]

I’m truly moved to hear that my videos have been a source of comfort for you during such incredibly challenging times. Your strength is inspiring, and I’m so glad the world of Harry Potter has provided some solace. Sending you all my best wishes and support from afar.

[@thatc0vidgirl]

@@HarryPotterTheory Thankyou so much, it's incredibly kind of you to reply, and with such kind words✨️ bless you🪄

[@mecahhannah]

I'm disabled as well I have CP and I hope things get better for you I wish I had a way to connect and help just know you're not alone!

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

​@@thatc0vidgirl I'm really sorry to hear that! I know how it feels because i'm 36 and living with a degenerative disease for years. Everything slowly looses its meaning really but fantasy worlds hold on especially if they have a way to heal everything. I'm also spending most my time with fantasy stories. Also began writing spin-off stories to them with AI support and playing in it like a text game. It is so much fun, they helped me a lot in last 6 months and greatly improved my spirit. You should definitely try it as well if you aren't doing already. For example in one such spin-off 5th grade Ginny finds Riddle's diary and we as her friend are catching her while stealing from Dumbledore's office. We are controlling her friend alone while AI controls Ginny and all other characters including writing about the world, in this case Hogwarts. You can help her in any way you wish, try to destroy the diary yourself, ask Dumbledore or Hemione's help or even silly things like chaining Ginny so Tom can't commit crimes lol. AI comes up with all kinds of ideas and fun things and challenging us. While it is also possible to completely change HP story and fight against Voldemort yourself etc, everything is possible really. And it isn't hard to set it up, you only need to be careful about a few things. Let me know if you need any help, God bless you!

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

@@thatc0vidgirl I'm really sorry to hear that! I know how it feels because i'm 36 and living with a degenerative disease for years. Everything slowly looses its meaning really but fantasy worlds hold on especially if they have a way to heal everything. I'm also spending most my time with fantasy stories. Also began writing spin-offs to them with AI support and playing in it like a text game. It is so much fun, they helped me a lot in last 6 months and greatly improved my spirit. You should definitely try it as well if you aren't doing already.

[@KA-dx2kz]

Aways thought they he could have learned it from a past slytherin heir. Possibly from a friend, a memory or that one wrote down a translation. Anything is possible if Ron was able to open the chamber of secerts by faking it.

[@KaptainKrusty]

I think you got it right with your final conclusion. Well Done!👍

[@Davefacestation]

I always liked the idea that he actually learned it, through dedicated study.

[@enka4337]

Didnt Harry practice Accio For days? and couldnt get it? until he found out he had to use it for the dragon....practisted in McGonagall's classroom with Hermione

[@jthekaiser]

Dumbledore having a secret connection to the Gaunts would be a huge plot twist

[@balrighty3523]

We know non-Parselmouths can figure out bits of the language by context just from Ron in book 7. Over the years, Ron has heard Harry say “open” to both the Chamber of Secrets door and Slytherin’s locket, and he even spoke it himself to get through when they were gathering basilisk fangs. So either Ron is also secretly a Slytherin descendent, or Parseltongue is automatically known by Parselmouths and still learnable by anyone else.

[@laughingvampire7555]

the scarcity of parsel tongue in the world of Harry Potter makes no sense, because after thousand years at least all the pure bloods should've had a parsel tongue ancestor that passed the trait to all of them so all of them should talk, and then what about the rebels in the pure blood families like Sirius Black who would've married a muggle or a muggle born and pass the tongue to them as well.

[@davidriley7086]

That is one of the ridiculous things about the book. Take a small community of pure bloods. There is no way that each one didn't have a common ancestor 1000 years back to each of the founders and every other pure blood family at that time.

[@icefarrow7959]

It makes perfect sense if you consider the only family full of parseltongues were massively inbred, only marrying their own family members. Siring children with other families obviously reduced the odds of birthing a child with the gift.

[@tjmak1307]

I'd say there would also be plenty out there that never find out they are pastle tounge? How often do you come face to face with a snake

[@deadcell66]

Parseltongue seems to be a genetic trait. So I'd say as genetics get watered down, the trait can be lost over time, skip whole generations, or become dormant. This happens irl as well, I got green eyes, yet neither my parents not grandparents do. As for the House of Gaunt all speaking parseltongue, they were more inbred than the house of Habsburg.. And the Gaunt's we see in the books are basically the purest of the purest of Gaunt's so it's safe to assume they haven't had much in the sense of outside genetics. And since Wizard physiology is somewhat different from muggles the effects of inbreeding might be different as well, which would also explain why most big ancient wizarding families can be so closely related without being so deformed and whatnot.

[@seanking6184]

The global wizard population is very small relative to Muggle World So factor in a very small population plus an even smaller population of individuals that speak Parseltongue Also genetics doesn’t work like that dude, you only inherent 50% of them from each parent and what you inherent is very random… so to inherent Parseltongue would in itself not be guaranteed amongst the already small population that speaks it But Rowling has already confirming that Parsltongues exist around African countries as well so likely it’s not as rare as we think… it’s just super rare in Britain

[@tyler4418]

I think the explanation that he learned how to understand a good amount (or all) of the language through repeated exposure (like through the Pensive memories), combined with the fact that he is brilliant, makes the most sense.

[@alis3656]

I get super happy when I see a notification from you. Your videos are entertaining but you have a very calming and soothing voice that makes me feel calm and ready for bed so thank you for the videos and I hope you never stop making them

[@BoomerTelly]

Would have been cooler of Dumbledore used Harry's ability to decipher the speech in the memories

[@seanking6184]

One thing most fans miss is that not all Parselmouths are descendants of Slytherin Newt Scarmander’s famous book (written by Rowling) mentions that most of the information on Snake species comes from African Parselmouths who kept them as pets. Meaning there are families or even tribes across Africa that speak the language independently Herpo the Foul was Greek and if has descendants it’s possible that they could speak it via his genes Also most snake related charms originated in Ancient India (Snake Summoning Charm) and Snake Charming was a common albeit illegal practice in the East… it’s possible such charmers could speak Parseltongue too (my theory not confirmed) Also remember the man who actually coined the term “Parseltongue” and discovered it was a language was Paracelsus (European)… meaning he would have had to have seen snake-human interactions to define it as a magical language to begin with

[@DefileOdds]

Could you imagine dumbledore pulling a darth vader.. no tom, I, am your father. Then Voldemort gives one his famously terrible draco hugs.

[@Arterexius]

I subscribe to the pensieve memory learning too. I come from a family which is very strong in understanding and learning languages. To the point where we have no problem in picking up those same common phrases you mentioned in a few hours rather than several months. It would still be super rough then, but give us a couple months of education and we're plenty capable of holding a semi-fluent conversation in that language. Languages are all about their structure. I don't speak Polish, but last time I was in Poland I visited Warszawa and after 1½ days of using their transit network I had figured out enough of the instructions inside the trams to understand what they were telling me. No translator apps or dictionaries, just observing my surroundings while riding the trams and utilizing common sense as a lot of these instructions are really just standard emergency guides as well as information on how to reach your desired destination and understanding where you're at. That's why I always look for something like public transport instructions in the language of the country I'm visiting, as most of the time it's just standard information that you most likely can guess your way to from instructions you've read in your own language, so once you've read similar instructions in a foreign language, you can deduct what means what and start reading and understanding the signs and other common, logically displayed information in this country you're visiting. Once you've gotten to understand enough common words, you can start reading something more abstract and ask locals for help with pronunciation and words you haven't seen before. The structure of the language will come to you naturally with this.

[@Lollaksyotuube]

He understood the context.

[@DSdemon767]

Dumbledore just reads subtitles.

[@KironKabir]

Congratulations on 700k subscribers so far!

[@Gor85]

I completely agree. It's 2 and 3 theory. He looked Pansieve memories few times and he picked up few sentences. And he was just that brilliant. He was genius. In every sence. So,he just knew. I'm a linguist too. I speak english,some spanish,french words. I pick up quickly. I spoke decent german. I could learn wizard languagesm,and other languages they use. Great comment on basilisk in the room. Great message in the end😊

[@ahsan92farooq]

A video made for video's sake. 1. Dumbledor telling Harry what happened after the events of memory does not explain the memory. 2. Harry was the only one given the extra homework to practice ACCIO charm by Flitwick. Later had to get help for Hermoine to learn the charm properly. 3. Just like any language, I presume it can be learned. 4. The innate ability of the parseltongue is to be able to control and talk to snakes. Learning the language may not give you that ability. Learning will only make you understand when humans make hissing sounds. This can be supported when Harry realizes that parseltongue is being spoken he could also start discerning hissing noises. But initially he was confused as to ,why Ogden didn't understand what was being said. "“Er - good morning. I’m from the Ministry of Magic -” “You’re not welcome.” “Er - I’m sorry - I don’t understand you,” said Ogden nervously. Harry thought Ogden was being extremely dim; the stranger was making himself very clear in Harry’s opinion, particularly as he was brandishing a wand in one hand and a short and rather bloody knife in the other. “You understand him, I’m sure, Harry?” said Dumbledore quietly. “Yes, of course,” said Harry, slightly nonplussed. “Why can’t Ogden?”" and Later Ogden pointed his wand at his own nose, which was still issuing large amounts of what looked like yellow pus, and the flow stopped at once. Mr. Gaunt spoke out of the corner of his mouth to Morfin. “Get in the house. Don’t argue.” This time, ready for it, Harry recognized Parseltongue; even while he could understand what was being said, he distinguished the weird hissing noise that was all Ogden could hear. 5. Also saying Albus is brilliant is not a theory.

[@daniels7907]

Don't forget that the old wizarding families were pretty heavily inbred, most especially purebloods. Dumbledore could have had Slytherin ancestors scattered throughout his genealogy. Note that being a pureblood is *not* required in order to be a Parselmouth. Tom Riddle/Voldemort was a half-blood with a muggle father and he could still speak and understand it. Dumbledore might not be an actual Parselmouth, but he may have enough of the correct ancestry to be able to hear and understand it sufficiently that he could puzzle it out even with a limited sample of memories from which to decode it.

[@1400atoz]

Wait what? It's written in the books that he doesn't understand it... where is this coming from?

[@maxniemand975]

Yeah , I was a bit confused too. Especially the line he copies from the book summarizing what happens at the end does not need to understand Parsel

[@darrellperrine7604]

Well, if you go by the movies, he probably learned it from somebody. And I can use the example of Ron, opening up the chamber of secrets, using parcel tongue, and the words he learned from Harry when Harry was sleeping and talking in his sleep. So based on the movies, if it easily be that Dumbledorelearned it from somebody.

[@PeterWhite-q1k]

Having just read all of the books again I say let's use Occam's razor on this: the simple solution is usually the correct one. Dumbledore was amazingly gifted and understood it the way you outlined it. QED, Fini, that's all folks!

[@d.williams2389]

I’ll have to read this section in the book again but I don’t ever remember hearing dumbledore could understand or speak parseltongue. He might can understand it through occlumens and context clues. I figured for this memory, he just replayed it so many times plus investigation he just figured what it meant. And harry understanding was just the confirmation. This is why dumbledore was showing harry the memories because his connection to Voldemort is what made dumbledore’s guesses confirmation.

[@DSdemon767]

what i always believed is: Harry never realized he was speaking Parseltongue cuz in his pov, hes still speaking normally, so Parseltongue is an intinctive (as well as genetic) laguage skill. Its not something a parselmouth can initially do on command like how one could switch between speaking languages. Also, Parseltongue seems to only happen when the parselmouth is speaking directly to a snake, snakelike object, or other parselmouths. The entrace to the chamber has a snake etched onto the bathroom sink to help the parselmouth speak. Makes you wonder: How is Ominis able to speak Parseltongue when hes been blind since birth? An actual snake would need to speak to him first and He wouldnt know what a snake looks like.

[@dakotalange2858]

What if Tom Riddle the basilisk into a horcrux when he was at school

[@magicamadeye]

funny thing is. as both Volde and harry are decendants of the peverells it means they're both cousins and harry is STILL a descendant of slytherin

[@cathygrandstaff1957]

Yeah that sounds about right, the man could talk to mermaids so at least somewhat understanding snakes seems fair. To be fair the books never say that Parseltongue was exclusive to descendants of Salazar Slytherin, just that he was the most famous wizard with the ability, and also that in general wizards with that ability tend to be evil. Or possibly second famous next to Asclepius, a figure from Greek mythology who was said to have learned medicine from snakes that he could speak to and probably counts as a wizard in the Harry Potter universe. So even if the Dumbledore family tree did not contain any of Slytherin’s descendants it might have contained a parselmouth from a different family. Alternatively we know that wizarding families routinely remove muggles who marry into their families from the family trees as well as squibs born into the family lines, it’s entirely possible Dumbledore’s ancestry had such removed names, in which case he could have had Slytherin ancestry through a shameful squib or halfblood descendant.

[@mariannejensen349]

From what I got from reading the book, was the acio-spell an extra session of lessons and extra training and practices with Hermione..... so that's one of the things where the films are breaking it, compared to the books

[@theanystrom2882]

Harry DID spend hours practicing summoning things so he could summon his broom. It wasnt shown in the movie but he did do it in the book.

[@Vorloccapture]

6:50 he practices it for hours in the book but on other objects

[@DanielRossellSolanes]

just point one little thing. Ron managed to open the chamber of secrets (in seventh year/book) by repeating what harry said five years prior (in second year/book) and we all know Ron isn't precisely as wise and skilled as dumbledore nor he had studied any language other than english. yes. it's 200% possible that dumbledore made educated guesses of some parseltongue words/sentences. I doubt he could speak it properly but I'm confident he could use context to understand a bit of it.

[@Redpoppy80]

I think this might be a combination of Dumbledore spending time in pensives and his mind for linguistics. Think about it. Parsaltounge is supposed to be impossible to understand if you aren't versed in it already. But a pensive gives the intent behind the memory so while you are watching one and the memory is speaking Parsaltounge, the viewer is being given the translation in real time so Dumbledore could learn it but never speak it.

[@mecahhannah]

Awesome as always thanks ❤️

[@josephvoorhees1418]

I always thought that there may have been a written record of the language hidden away in the restricted section.

[@ryu433]

To be fair, with how interconnected all of the pure blood families are. The possibility of having a gaunt in the family tree isn't that unlikely.

[@deadcell66]

I definitely think he simply learned it. We already know it's a language that can technically be learned, since that's exactly what Ron did.

[@bailatwerski2951]

My grandson who's only 11 from the age of 5 years old and moved into another location within 6 months he weren't another language other than the given language of English. There are plenty of people that are very good at learning different languages they don't speak it they understand it and a lot of them get government jobs to help them decipher what's being said by potential terrorists. It's like having a knack for learning how to play chess it There are people that are very good at cards they have a knack for it they can see the patterns I've seen people that are children that can be adults that have practiced for years and beat them because it makes sense to them it's something that they're innately able to do and then there are people that study to see if people are lying and other people that just figure it out without ever taking a class or a course they have an intuition they're not Sears they're not magical they were just given this gift everybody's good at something I have a son that never took an art class and he draws better than those that study drawn It just comes to him He's artistic that way but gets normal grades isn't a straight a student. Certain subjects be excels at and others he's barely passing.

[@hunterkiller1440]

He learned it from Grindelwald who speaks in his sleep.

[@denmakenlo890]

1:56 "Gryfindor's man through and through"

[@dutchhc-4eva270]

He's just THAT clever.

[@davidpumpkinsjr.5108]

Obviously, Dumble learned the language the same way anyone learns any language, by studying it. Ron was able to speak parseltongue by listening to Harry and mimicking the sounds, but no one suspects him of being a secret slytherin.

[@miikayak]

Well if Ron and Hermione could open the Chamber of Secrets by imitating parsel tongue, of course it's possible to learn more of it.

[@DOCTORHEINOUS]

You know what would be a good video if the information is out there? Who put up the best fight against Voldemort other than Harry and Dumbledore. Definitely not Lilly or James without their wands. Maybe a list of people who actually put up a fight and wasn’t instantly blown away.

[@man_named_AGGiE]

PLEASE DEBUNK ME. 1). He has the Elder Wand. Parseltongue is magic language. The wand was known to perform magic that was considered impossible. The wand has also been mastered by a number of dark wizards, who may have been able to talk Parseltongue so the wand may have adapted in order to remain the most powerful wand. Yes imagine being able to cast spells using Parseltongue, which most wizards could not understand meaning the counter spells are some what null & void. So would it be a bit of a reach that the elder wand was the reason he could understand Parseltongue? Keep in mind wand never loses, it always end up on the winning side. 2). If we are watching a memory, would the memory not be auto translated. Surely only snakes think in Parseltongue. So the wizard speaking it is by default translating their thoughts into Parseltongue. Especially when Harry was talking to the one at the zoo in philosopher's stone. Where Harry heard english in his head, not a lousy attempt at "white noise & static" (Which is how it sounded like in the movies). Hence would it not be a safe assumption that memory would be saved in "english" not Parseltongue?? Im 51% sure I am spouting nonsense, genuinely trying to think out the box.

[@uweengelmann3]

I think legimens can help to learn Parseltongue. If you can read other peoples mind perhaps you feel how they think in normal language what they say in Parseltongue.

[@jjj-q2g]

To sum up the video, he just kinda figured it out. Cant speak it but can understand. Gotcha thanks

[@danrollings5153]

i think it far more likely he learned it from his legimacy interogations of morfin before he died when viewing morfins memories

[@Ravenblack42]

JK Rowlings responses to fans inquiries about this franchise may consistently be received as cryptic and un-conclusive but then again so were Dumbledore's. The shared ability of these two to put something in plain sight before the recipient without it being immediately visible and understood by them is a testament to the brilliance and core nature of their characters. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." -- Arthur Conan Doyle.

[@travelninja6527]

I don’t think Dumbledore can speak or understand parseltongue. In the chapter where they go into Ogden’s memory, Dumbledore presumes Harry can understand it. He also mentions in the same book that there are other people who speak parseltongue, not all of them dark wizards. It’s much more likely that Dumbledore had the memory translated for him. If Dumbledore could understand parseltongue, he would have a lot to answer for when the chamber of secrets opened and he didn’t stop the basilisk.

[@SkeletalCommissar]

It's pretty important in the book where Dumbledore asks harry what they were saying...

[@frankbauerful]

Dark wizards even wrote about Horcruxes. Surely they would have written books about Parseltongue, which isn't actually forbidden. You can probably buy a Parseltongue dictionary on the open market.

[@iaincook5835]

Why couldn't there be an arcane spell or deep-knowledge potion from the dawn of time, clearly accessible to one so gifted as Dumbledore, that could allow the user to understand parseltongue?

[@hcoman]

Just commit to learning parsletounge and drink felix felicis.

[@MilosJsWizard]

Regardingn Heir of Slytherin theory. Dumbldore searched for chamber of secrets its said, he would have found it and opened it if he knew parsle. So 0 sense. Other thing, no one can can know for sure linneage that far, as Hermionne stated to Harry that he might be have been Heir, Salazr lived many years ago. And ofcrouse since his departure from Hogwars not much is known, same as Tom Riddle, he could have had kids around the world.

[@MavenWalsh]

He understood Parseltongue yet failed to get gain entry into the Chamber of Secrets for over 30+ years? Rowling either had help with the books or she just winged it as she went. She didn't give a direct answer because she couldn't think of one. But, as usual, she bluffed her way out of it.

[@rodneyhaney3157]

Witches and Wizards intermarried for centuries. Who says none of his ancestors were Gaunts or Syltherins. I believe, tho I may be wrong, someone before Salazar spoke Parsaltongue.

[@darknessblades]

Ironically with Voldemort being muggle born, which is something the wizarding world doesn't know, or doesn't speak about, maybe dumbledore is the same. Harry [and us the viewer] understood what the merpeople said, even without speaking it/understanding it.

[@manonthemoon692]

I think the whole idea of parcel mouth is weird because if snakes have their own language then why not cats and dogs and horses and dragons and every other magical and non magical creature there is.

[@R.me_strong]

Albus Dumbledore understood Parseltongue through his exceptional intellect, extensive study of magical languages, and deep knowledge of Voldemort and ancient magic.

[@cjay880]

isn't the dumble of doors a legitemence or how ever you spell it. kinda helps to understand a language when you can read minds too.

[@ronbuckner8179]

How’bout an unknown ancient magic for language? A spell for deeper understanding?

[@the_speed_attack9345]

I think legilimency and reading the room

[@CARLHPMA]

Reading Tom riddles mind to steal the language 😂

[@ratdude747]

@@CARLHPMA Or reading Harry's mind while Harry's viewing the pensive...

[@More_Row]

People feel the legillimency being done

[@timmellor2599]

If I can understand some Italian dialects because I was exposed to them, yet not have the confidence to speak them, why can't Dumbledore do the same? He is portrayed as not just a brilliant wizard but also an incredibly intelligent one, it would be child's play to someone like him to do what I have done!

[@CynthiaRockroth]

I would suggest that Dumbledore was GIFTED IN MAGICAL CREATURES LANGUAGES.

[@alexanderthurman214]

If we all remember Ron Weasley spoke parcel-mouth in the Deadly Hollows 2, to get into the Chamber of Secrets, he looked at Hermine, and said Harry talks in his sleep! May God bless everyone ✝️🇺🇸!

[@MavenWalsh]

So why was it such a big deal in the 2nd book if anyone could mimic it? Book 7 was a rushed, half-finished mess.

[@woutnoynaert107]

⁠​⁠Ron could indeed MIMIC Harry, but he didn’t truly understand what he was saying. In theory, everyone can speak parseltongue, but only parselmouths can truly understand parseltongue as it is like a native language to them.

[@cheesesniper473]

Ron himself said "i just mimiced what you did when we opened it. Had to have a few goes, but got there in the end."

[@harel251]

I think it is possible to learn it, it is just very difficult, nearly impossible, but it can be taught, and second, since only decendents of slytherin know it from birth they viewed it as a gift that is unique to them and refuse to teach it to anyone Maybe even start the rumor that it is impossible to teach, to keep it special for them only And since most people already viewed it as a bad skill no one even tried to learn it And if someone did and were caught by slytherin's decendents would kill or threaten them to stop In the end it is probably like any other language, except some wizards are born with it and others need to learn it

[@Unbakedtoast42]

My theory is that anyone can learn it but they can only learn it from a human. The fact that so few humans speak it and it’s associated with being a dark wizard makes it almost impossible to learn.

[@rsk6929]

Its like teaching your self french vs being born french

[@neondemon5137]

He gained the ability via osmosis.

[@jetfire1153red]

If Ron (Who is a jock who academically Is it idiot) could learn to speak the language of snakes well enough to break into the chamber of secrets in the deathly Hallows then you can bet your ass A genius like Dumbledore could have learned it on his own.

[@drw650]

Yeah boiiii. Thanks for another great vid

[@LotusPleiades]

Can Harry Potter speak parselmouth after the Voldemort portion was 💀!?

[@wickerman2817]

This is a good question but for me it’s probably a no since it’s meant to be his voldy’s soul that allowed him to speak it!

[@LotusPleiades]

@wickerman2817 But then again, Ron spoke it, hearing Harry talk in his sleep. 🤷🤔

[@wickerman2817]

@@LotusPleiades the wonderful world of plot holes

[@tamaravince9001]

I think parseltongue can be learned as any other languages, if you are a language genius and have a lot of free time. Speaking of language geniuses: Barty Crouch Sr. could speak about 200 languages. Can parseltongue be one of them? This could be an interesting topic: list the languages Barty Crouch Sr. could speak.

[@TkacDavid]

I just hope the art of parseltongue didn´t get lost and Harry´s children inherited it.

[@dominiquewild3823]

So... he can understand snakes, and... what? Ignored the one living under the castle while students were in danger? Did he just pretend poor Myrtle's death never happened? He might not have been able to speak the language, but it wouldn't have killed him to talk to Myrtle and then keep an eye on the bathroom.

[@born2biscuit]

you're forgetting ron used parseltongue to open the locket horcrux to destroy it and when questioned as to how he did it he said he heard harry speaking parseltongue a lot in his sleep and somehow learned at least the 1 word for open. which implies its a language that can be learned like any other except theres almost zero people alive to teach the language to others so it remains a lost dead language that people probably make up rumors about and whatever. Also voldemorts snake nagini was once a human woman but apparently her people are cursed to turn into snakes eventually in their lifetime and im betting the parseltongue language originated with her people, which were asian of some sort idk the specifics.

[@crawdaddy1234]

He can sound it out and mimic it. It doesn’t mean he had any idea what he was saying. 😂 I learned all of the lyrics to “Suki Yaki,” a 1960’s Japanese song. I couldn’t tell you what the translation is.

[@mellchiril]

Just the thumbnail of 'he lied to Harry' made me go 'which time, exactly?' Rita Skeeter's book title was fully correct 'the life and lies of Albus Dumbledore'. Dude probably didn't even know when he was speaking the truth anymore, and when he was lying, with all the people he had to tell only minor bits of (mis)information to. We all still love him, and he did what he had to do, but he's a grade A liar. Also, I always assumed that he learned the language from studying it, rather than being born with the ability to understand it. I assumed it was like learning English as a native Dutch speaker, which is the case for me. If you hear words, sentences, and sentence structure enough then eventually you'll gain enough knowledge to understand it on (at least) a basic level. He speaks Mermish, which is likely a taught skill, and probably the closest to something like Parseltongue. I never really thought of it as much of an issue. Even Ron, at the end of book 7 is able to open the Chamber by using a butchered version of Parseltongue (though not because Harry talks in his sleep, like in the movie... probably) so it's not something that can't be taught or used by others. What does annoy me is the fact that he can apparently at least understand Parseltongue, but never heard the Basilisk in the school... which still makes no sense to me.

[@JinnWorld]

Can anyone actually point me to anywhere I the 7 books that dumbledore is actually confirmed to understand parseltongue rather then just be able to identify it when it's spoken like say every child that was at the duelling club during the chamber of secrets?

[@Goodiesfanful]

Maybe Dumbledore was just an amazing linguist. But where would he learn Parseltongue with so few speakers around? There were plenty of goblins and mermaids, but how many Parselmouths?