Beasts don’t speak any language in DnD 5e, with a few specific exceptions. For example, Giant Eagles speak Giant Eagle, and Giant Elk speak Giant Elk.

Many of these more intelligent beasts can also understand languages, like Giant Eagles understand Common and Auran, while Giant Elk understand Common, Elvish, and Sylvan. However, beasts cannot speak these languages.

Forest Gnomes have the ability to speak with small beasts through sounds and gestures, but this is not a language.

Likewise, the spell Speak with Animals lets you verbally communicate with beast, but this is a function of the spell rather than tapping into a specific beast language.

Matt Zane

Author, DnD Lounge

Matt Zane started DnD Lounge in 2021. Matt began playing DnD 5e in 2015, and has been DMing since 2017. He loves optimization, but also enjoys looking for creative ways to use spells and abilities that follow the spirit and letter of the rules. He also eschews pure optimization in favor of a more balanced approach, where building a character is primarily about serving an interesting story arc and party dynamics rather than maxing out DPR.