Valonqar (High Valyrian) - Little brother
According to septa Saranella anyway.
But could it mean something else?
I believe it does.
"...What fools we were,who thought ourselves so wise! The error crept in from the translation..." A Feast For Crows Samwell IV
The word Valonqar appears nine times in the story so far. Its used eight times before we find out what it means (to Cersei at least) from Septa Saranella.
"The maegi." The words came tumbling out of her. She could still hear Melara Hetherspoon insisting that if they never spoke about the prophecies, they would not come true. She was not so silent in the well, though. She screamed and shouted. "Tyrion is the valonqar," she said. "Do you use that word in Myr? It's High Valyrian, it means little brother." She had asked Septa Saranella about the word, after Melara drowned. AFFC Cersei IX
The Tyroshi man that brings Cersei what he believes is Tyrion's head uses the word to describe Tyrion,
"Your Grace," the Tyroshi murmured, bowing low, "I see you are as lovely as the tales. Even beyond the narrow sea we have heard of your great beauty, and the grief that tears your gentle heart. No man can restore your brave young son to you, but it is my hope I can at least offer you some balm for your pain." He laid his hand upon his chest. "I bring you justice. I bring you the head of your valonqar." AFFC Cersei VIII
When Cersei confides in Taena Merryweather about Maggi the Frog's prophecy, Taena does not correct her about the word's meaning,
"Tyrion is the valonqar," she said. "Do you use that word in Myr? It's High Valyrian, it means little brother." She had asked Septa Saranella about the word, after Melara drowned.
Taena took her hand and stroked it. "This was a hateful woman, old and sick and ugly. You were young and beautiful, full of life and pride. She lived in Lannisport, you said, so she would have known of the dwarf and how he killed your lady mother. This creature dared not strike you, because of who you were, so she sought to wound you with her viper's tongue." AFFC Cersei IX
With these three examples we assume Cersei is correct that Valonqar means 'little brother' because...
Why would Septa Saranella lie to Cersei about what the word means?
Why would the Tyroshi man call Tyrion 'your Valonqar' if this was not what the word meant?
Why would Taena not correct Cersei if it meant something else?
I believe 'Valonqar' is actually the High Valyrian word for 'Bastard' or more accurately 'Half Brother'
Septa Saranella
So why would a Septa lie to a young Cersei?
When Septa Saranella was asked by a young Cersei what 'Valonqar' meant, she may have been shocked to hear the Old Valyrian word for bastard spoken at Casterly Rock. She may have thought that Cersei had overheard some kitchen gossip about Tyrion possibly being the issue of Mad King Aerys.
Ned would not speak of the mother, not so much as a word, but a castle has no secrets, and Catelyn heard her maids repeating tales they heard from the lips of her husband's soldiers. A Game of Thrones Catelyn II
And not wanting to hurt the child's feelings,told her it meant 'little brother' in the same way Ned told Cat-
"...He is my blood, and that is all you need to know..."
The Tyroshi Man
"I bring you justice. I bring you the head of your valonqar." A Feast for Crows Cersei VIII
Why would the Tyroshi use the word 'valonqar' to describe Tyrion if it meant bastard or half brother?
"King's Landing!" his men cried raggedly, and "Halfman! Halfman!" He wondered who had taught them that. A Clash of Kings Tyrion XIV
When the Tyroshi told Cersei "I bring you the head of your valonqar" he was saying
"I bring you the head of your half brother".
He meant 'half brother' in the same way Tyrion is called 'Halfman' - Halfbrother.
Cersei hears what she thinks is the old Valyrian word for little brother-
The old Valyrian word sent a chill through her, though it also gave her a tingle of hope. "The Imp is no longer my brother.......
If she stopped there, the Tyroshi man may have.....'educated' her (in the most respectful and nicest possible way i'm sure) that the word actually meant 'half brother' but Cersei goes on...
... if he ever was," she declared. "Nor will I say his name. It was a proud name once, before he dishonored it." A Feast for Crows Cersei VIII
Cersei declares Tyrion a possible bastard. The Tyroshi man would have heard this and realized that there was no need for the Queen to be 'educated' in high Valyrian.
Taena Merryweather
"She?"
"The maegi." The words came tumbling out of her. She could still hear Melara Hetherspoon insisting that if they never spoke about the prophecies, they would not come true. She was not so silent in the well, though. She screamed and shouted. "Tyrion is the valonqar," she said. "Do you use that word in Myr? It's High Valyrian, it means little brother." She had asked Septa Saranella about the word, after Melara drowned.
Taena took her hand and stroked it. "This was a hateful woman, old and sick and ugly. You were young and beautiful, full of life and pride. She lived in Lannisport, you said, so she would have known of the dwarf and how he killed your lady mother. This creature dared not strike you, because of who you were, so she sought to wound you with her viper's tongue." A Feast for Crows - Cersei IX
Taena Merryweather seems like a friend to Cersei so if Cersei is wrong about the meaning of 'Valonqar', why wouldn't she tell her that it actually meant 'bastard' or 'half brother' if this is indeed what it meant?
Cersei may believe Taena is her best friend...
"My queen?" said Taena Merryweather. "You have a strange look in your eyes. Are you unwell?"
"I was just . . . remembering." Her throat was dry. "You are a good friend, Taena. I have not had a true friend in . . ."
Someone hammered at the door. A Feast for Crows - Cersei VII
...but I wouldn't trust her as far as i could throw her. She seems to be manipulating Cersei and actually aiding in her descent into madness. If she is and Cersei believes her little brother is the valonqar of Maggy's prophecy, hiding in every shadow and behind every bad thing that happens to her and House Lannister then why correct her?
She gave a bitter laugh. "Whatever they call him, he is my brother's catspaw. Tyrion has friends amongst the Dornish. The Imp planned this all along. It was Tyrion who betrothed Myrcella to Prince Trystane. Now I see why."
"You see Tyrion in every shadow."
"He is a creature of the shadows. He killed Joffrey. He killed Father. Did you think he would stop there? I feared that the Imp was still in King's Landing plotting harm to Tommen, but he must have gone to Dorne instead to kill Myrcella first." Cersei paced the width of the cell. "I need to be with Tommen. These Kingsguard knights are as useless as nipples on a breastplate." She rounded on her uncle. "Ser Arys was killed, you said." A Dance with Dragons - Cersei I
So if the word Valonqar does mean Bastard or Half Brother what does that mean for theories on the prophecy?
Well actually it doesn't really mean anything for the main candidates in the fandom- Tyrion and Jaime
As I've said, Tyrion can be seen as the 'half brother'
Jaime could also been seen as a half brother.
Cersei refers to Jaime as her other half,
"I love you too, sweet sister."
How could I ever have loved that wretched creature? she wondered after he had gone. He was your twin, your shadow, your other half, another voice whispered. Once, perhaps, she thought. No longer. He has become a stranger to me. A Feast for Crows - Cersei III
"I am surrounded by enemies and imbeciles," she said. She could not even trust to her own blood and kin, nor Jaime, who had once been her other half. He was meant to be my sword and shield, my strong right arm. Why does he insist on vexing me? AFFC Cersei VII
For me personally, neither Jaime or Tyrion is the Valonqar. I think Taena Merryweather was right about Maggy the Frog,
Taena took her hand and stroked it. "This was a hateful woman, old and sick and ugly. You were young and beautiful, full of life and pride. She lived in Lannisport, you said, so she would have known of the dwarf and how he killed your lady mother. This creature dared not strike you, because of who you were, so she sought to wound you with her viper's tongue." AFFC Cersei IX
Maggy wanted to poison Cersei's life with fear. If Cersei believed that she and her children were destined to die at the hands of this valonqar, it would fill her with mistrust her whole life. And it did,
"Forever. See that they sleep forever, ser. I will not suffer guards to sleep on watch." He is in the walls. He killed Father as he killed Mother, as he killed Joff. The dwarf would come for her as well, the queen knew, just as the old woman had promised her in the dimness of that tent. I laughed in her face, but she had powers. I saw my future in a drop of blood. My doom. Her legs were weak as water. Ser Boros tried to take her by the arm, but the queen recoiled from his touch. For all she knew he might be one of Tyrion's creatures. "Get away from me," she said. "Get away!" A Feast for Crows - Cersei I
Cersei's belief in Maggy's power to see her future has haunted her whole life since she walked out of that tent. The threat of the Valonqar hangs over Cersei like the sword of Damocles. Its made her distrust, fear and despise Tyrion when she was told the word meant little brother. Making her believe he was behind everything bad that happened to her,causing her spiral into madness and where she is now in the story.
Tyrion cocked his head sideways. "Did you mean to answer your damned riddle, or only to make my head ache worse?"
Varys smiled. "Here, then. Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less."
"So power is a mummer's trick?"
“A shadow on the wall,” Varys murmured, “yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow. A Clash of Kings - Tyrion II
Having said all that...
I believe that when the story is finally finished, GRRM will have shown us, the readers, a situation that fulfills the words of the valonqar prophecy.
Prepare for tinfoil
"And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you."
Either way If the Valonqar means Little brother like Cersei believes or Half brother/ bastard like I believe, there is someone who could fulfill the prophecy-
Aurane Waters the Bastard of Driftmark
Margaery was dancing with her cousin Alla, Megga with Ser Tallad the Tall. The other cousin, Elinor, was sharing a cup of wine with the handsome young Bastard of Driftmark, Aurane Waters. It was not the first time the queen had made note of Waters, a lean young man with grey-green eyes and long silver-gold hair. The first time she had seen him, for half a heartbeat she had almost thought Rhaegar Targaryen had returned from the ashes. It is his hair, she told herself. He is not half as comely as Rhaegar was. His face is too narrow, and he has that cleft in his chin. The Velaryons came from old Valyrian stock, however, and some had the same silvery hair as the dragonkings of old. A Feast for Crows - Cersei III
Aurane Waters is a Bastard member of house Velaryon and the half brother of Monford Velaryon Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark.
The Bastard of Driftmark has abandoned Cersei and taken all her new ships with him.
I'm not saying that he will kill Cersei by wrapping his hands about her neck but he could use his stolen fleet(and any other ships he may have acquired) to blockade the Gullet like his ancestor Corlys Velaryon did during the Dance of the Dragons,
Even as he spoke, the Dance began. On Driftmark, the Sea Snake’s ships set sail from Hull and Spicetown to close the Gullet, choking off trade to and from King’s Landing. The Princess and the Queen
As for the hands around this 'gullet'
The flagship of Aurane's stolen fleet is a huge drummond he named Lord Tywin,
Her flagship would dip twice as many oars as King Robert's Hammer. Aurane had asked her leave to name her Lord Tywin, which Cersei had been pleased to grant. AFFC Cersei VI
"...What fools we were,who thought ourselves so wise! The error crept in from the translation..." A Feast For Crows Samwell IV
Swords of Ice and Fire
Male And Female In The Vale Of Arryn
Who's Looking Through The Black Gate?
The Trident Has Three Heads.
Aerys, Tywin and a Bride for Rhaegar
Davos's Thumb
Coin Well Spent
Brandon's Bastards
