House of the Dragon is gearing up for an even more intense Season 3, and Matt Smith has dropped a tease that’s got fans talking. The actor, who plays Daemon Targaryen, says viewers can expect “a lot of High Valyrian” in the upcoming episodes. That means more of the ancient, regal language of House Targaryen—adding weight and authenticity to the show’s already fiery political drama.
During the cast’s appearance at the Omelete Stage at CCXP MX 2026, Smith talked about his experience speaking High Valyrian in the series and confirmed that we’re hearing more of it in Season 3:
I wish I could remember some to be really honest with you. I mean, it’s such a hard language to learn because it’s sort of a mix of about 10 different languages. So as soon as you learn it, you sort of forget it really because it’s so sort of tricky to keep in your brain. But there’s a lot of that this year. We’ve got a lot of High Valyrian. I can tell you that.
High Valyrian language is commonly spoken between members of the Targaryen family. With the civil war deepening the rift between the Blacks and the Greens, we’ll most likely hear them using it more often in tense exchanges, private councils, and emotionally charged confrontations.
Matt Smith Is One of GOT Universe’s Best High Valyrian Speakers
Matt Smith in House of the Dragon / Credits: HBO
Smith is one of the actors who had to learn how to speak High Valyrian, and despite his admission that the task is difficult, he’s actually one of the best natural-sounding speakers in the show.
During his interview with GQ, the English actor revealed some profound reflections on speaking High Valyrian as his on-screen character. He compared the language to Latin and Arabic and said that the experience of learning it was challenging yet rewarding.
I really enjoyed those scenes. I found there was something really revealing about Daemon. To me in those scenes, I could access this other, exotic part of his personality where it almost felt more natural to him, on some level.
Daemon often speaks in the said language whenever he discusses important matters with Rhaenyra, giving the situation more weight and intimacy. Smith notably delivers High Valyrian with confidence and a sense of authenticity, even when the dialogue is entirely in a fictional tongue. As a result, he’s often considered one of the most convincing High Valyrian speakers in the franchise.
High Valyrian Matters More Now in House of the Dragon Season 3
When we look closely at the split between the Blacks and the Greens, High Valyrian stops being a mere language and becomes a linguistic border wall. It is weaponized to prove who is a “true dragon.”
The show has emphasized this in several subtle scenes, such as King Aegon II struggling to form a coherent sentence in the said language. It raises a pointed question about how he can assert his legitimacy and authority when he’s detached from his Valyrian roots.
High Valyrian is also reserved for critical moments. As the war tears House Targaryen apart, speaking in the language provides the characters a sense of emotional sanctuary where they can finally drop their stoic public masks to express their most vulnerable emotions. Rhaenyra and Daemon exemplified this during their Harrenhal scene, where they expressed their most honest feelings toward each other in front of a crowd.
Series:House of the DragonShowrunner:Ryan CondalBased on:George R.R. Martin’s Fire & BloodRotten Tomatoes (As of May 24, 2026):87% | 77%
Would you like to hear more High Valyrian in Season 3? Let us know in the comments!
House of the Dragon Season 3 will premiere on June 21, 2026, on HBO.
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