The idea of Bilbo and learning Khuzdul intrigues me.
On the one hand, I love the idea of Bilbo being that type of language nerd to be fascinated by Khuzdul. 🤓 (Dude learns and teaches Frodo elvish in canon, so that checks out.) But on the other, I respect the idea of closed languages and cultural practices, and I feel like Bilbo would, too. 🤔
So, as a compromise: Bilbo never being taught Khuzdul, but absorbing and kind of learning bits and pieces of it through vibes.
(I talked about Bilbo and Khuzdul in another post, but it's a fun idea, so I wanted to expand on it.)
(I don't know of a good place to find Khuzdul translations, or if all the words I'll use are ones we have Khuzdul for. **word**= that word in Khuzdul)
Early on, when they trust him less, the dwarves speak in Khuzdul whenever they don't want him to know what they're saying. Sometimes because they're talking about him, sometimes just because they're secretive. Maybe a little to press his buttons. 😅
They have the good sense to not use his name when they're talking about him, they're not entirely stupid.
Except, one night sittjng around the fire, when they're all tired and wet and annoyed from travel, a dwarf says something snippy about the halfling in Khuzdul.
Bilbo, shouty from being exceedlingly tired of this nonsense: Well, this **halfling** would rather you not talk about him as if he's not right here next to you!
Cue all 13 dwarves looking at Bilbo in confusion. If Gandalf is there, he looks silently smug.
Dwarf who was talking about him, mortified: Do you understand Khuzdul?
Bilbo, still miffed, but now also a little proud of himself: Of course not. You said that's just for your people, and as it is very obvious, I am not a dwarf.
But when you speak in your tongue and look my way, and repeatedly use the same word, I can make some guesses. I do hope that word means "halfling" and not something ruder, though I wouldn't be surprised with you lot.
The word they said did mean "halfling." However, there had been worse things called of him, that Bilbo hadn't caught on to. Yet.
This gained Bilbo a little more respect from the dwarves. They had less Khuzdul only conversations, though whether it was out of kindness or so Bilbo wouldn't catch on to more words, it varied. The few times someone did speak only in Khuzdul, out of habit or malice, one of those who warmed up to Bilbo first, Ori or Bofur or the Durin boys, would quietly find Bilbo and translate.
Bofur is used to translating for his brother anyway. Bifur, for his part, tries to make himself understood by Bilbo, even if they can't speak the same language. Even if he has mixed success, Bilbo appreciates that he tries.
Gradually, Bilbo acclimates to being around dwarves, and even somewhat acts like them a bit. That includes picking up their words, unconsciously for the most part.
Hears some of the more battle-hardened dwarves use war-cries in Khuzdul as they fight, and uses one of them the next time there is a skirmish. Has to be told not to use that one, gently. Because not only is he not a dwarf, he does not have an ax.
(Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu! is straight from LotR, Gimli's battle cry in Helm's Deep. Means "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!")
Bilbo mutters something like: "I know that, but **sword of the halfling** doesn't sound as impressive in a fight. And anyway, I wanted to join in with you all. Silly, I know."
The dwarf who speaks with him takes pity on Bilbo and teaches him a different battle cry that doesn't allude to axes or dwarves directly.
Bilbo, eyes sparkling, with emotion and with mischief alike: **Thank you.**
And the next time there is a fight, one more voice is heard with that particular cry, a little shriller than the rest, but still strong.
During later peace, Bilbo doesn't press about learning Khuzdul, tries to walk the line of respecting his friends' culture despite his own curiosity. He picks up a few words, ideas important to his friends: mountain, dragon, forge, gold.
Friends. Family. Love. Home.
(Of course, knowing the company Bilbo keeps, he also picks up on a few swears/curses/insults. 🤣 The dwarves refuse to directly translate them, and fight over who Bilbo learned them from. ("Who taught the hobbit how to say ___?" "Oops." 😆) Bilbo gets the vibes of these despite their best efforts, but only uses them when he is Very Very Cross.)
Around dwarves not of or close to the Company, Bilbo makes sure not to use Khuzdul, knowing his friends are more lenient about his knowledge than others. But amongst just them, Bilbo is proud to call them **friend**, and to hear himself called the same.
