<p>After some researches on the wiki, i found something interesting :</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p>Even if they both are Eldians, Ymir was part of the cult of Ymir (It's also the reason why she was condamned to be changed into a titan). It could be there she learned the language on the can, and this language is probably linked to Ymir Fritz herself. However it is pure speculation since we have no way to really know.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Source : Chapter 89 (p. 8-13), Eren is reading Ymir's letter which tells us about her past.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-28T09:01:44.830Z
2017-04-28T09:01:44.830Z
Nevios
<p>There is <strong>an official answer</strong> to this question.</p>

<hr>

<p><em>This post contains <strong>spoilers</strong>. Make sure to be caught up with the manga (currently <strong>Chapter 110</strong>).</em></p>

<hr>

<p>First, let us lay the <a href="https://attackontitan.fandom.com/wiki/Eldian_(Language)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">groundwork</a> for the answer:</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> <em>Eldian</em> is the official language of Eldia, Marley, and many other nations around the world.
<br>
<br>
 As a result of the old Eldian Empire's imperialism, Eldian is a known language <em>throughout the world</em>. It is spoken both inside and outside the Walls, although their <em>writing systems</em> differ. Ambassadors from across the globe used it to communicate with Willy Tybur during his pre-party.
<br>
<br>
<br>
 There are <em>three</em> known writing systems for Eldian:
<br>
<br>
<br>
 <strong>Ancient Eldia</strong>
<br>
<br>
 An archaic version of Eldian is found in ancient manuscripts and texts
 that were sent by Eren Kruger to the Eldia Restorationists. The
 language appears to include <em>a lot of visuals</em> and was used by the
 Eldians from a long time ago.  Although it was unreadable to the
 Grisha Yeager and Restorationists, he and his fellow patriots assumed
 that the texts confirm their beliefs that Ymir Fritz had brought
 wealth to mankind, and that the Subjects of Ymir are the <em>chosen
 children of God</em>.
<br>
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0D0m3.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0D0m3.png" alt=""></a>
<br>
<br>
 <strong>Inside the Walls</strong>
<br>
<br>
 This system of writing is found only inside the Walls. The writing is
 composed by <em>short, straight strokes and sharp corners</em>, and <em>written
 horizontally</em>.
<br>
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/F3b2b.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/F3b2b.png" alt=""></a>
<br>
<br>
 <strong>Outside the Walls</strong>
<br>
<br>
 Another system of writing is found when the Survey Corps settled in
 <em>Utgard Castle</em> after searching for a supposed breach in Wall Rose. They
 found supplies that were left behind by unknown occupants, but the
 labels found on them were unreadable to most of the soldiers. When
 Ymir went off to find food, she found a can with a herring label on it
 which she proceeded to read out loud. She gave the can to Reiner
 Braun, who was shocked to find out that she could read the writing. It
 is later revealed that both Reiner Braun and Ymir came from Marley,
 <em>confirming that the writing is the system used by the Marleyans and
 the Eldians living outside the Walls</em>.
<br>
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EJ9x8.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EJ9x8.png" alt=""></a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Now regarding your question: According to the <a href="https://attackontitan.fandom.com/wiki/Attack_on_Titan_Guidebook" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Attack on Titan Guidebook</a>,</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> Reiner Braun could read the herring can like Ymir, but <strong>he lied</strong> in order to protect his own identity while forcing Ymir to reveal hers.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-04T21:41:57.903Z
2018-11-04T21:41:57.903Z
Ryota
<p>The previous answer is a good one, but I have another hypothesis.</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> Reiner does indeed know the language, but pretends not to, in order to keep his identity safe. He acted in shock because he realized who Ymir was (the titan who ate his friend). </p>
</blockquote>

<p>In the anime Reiner does not say "I don't know the language". This is only mentioned in the manga chapter 38.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-06T08:57:24.403Z
2017-05-06T08:57:24.403Z
mjeshtri
<p>Well, I can't answer your question directly but you also have to consider that Ymir has been wandering as a titan for about 60 years, thus making her a lot more "older" than Reiner or Berthold.
Then again, it is highly unlikely that a language can change so drastically over the course of 60 years…</p>

<p>In this regard I'd like to refer to <strong>Chapter 47</strong> of the manga:</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/irWUj.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/irWUj.png" alt=""></a> </p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-31T12:49:03.337Z
This premise might actually be the answer. Ymir was born 60 years earlier than reiner, so it might be an 'older' language as a lot has happened in their home town in those years... I should reread with that in mind. Thanks.
Peter Raeves
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-02T22:49:25.523Z
Glad I could help!
Ryota
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-05-24T06:46:08.783Z
2018-11-09T18:11:14.073Z
2018-11-09T18:11:14.073Z
Ryota
<p>All of the other answers are wrong.</p>

<p><em>SPOILER ALERT</em></p>

<p>Reiner deals with a dissociate personality disorder. This is because he had developed his persona of a Eldian soldier while actually being a Marleyan enemy, to ease his sense of guilt and overall trauma of causing thousands of deaths. This soldier persona is unaware of Reiner's true identity of being an enemy from another nation (the language is in Marleyan), so this fabricated, soldier part of Reiner's self-consciousness couldn't recognize the language. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-11T13:52:21.060Z
Can you provide sources to support your claim? As it stands, this is just purely speculation with no basis from manga or anime information. I am updated on both manga and anime and I can't see how this is even possible at all.
W. Are
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-07T07:29:34.900Z
2019-01-07T07:29:34.900Z
Jay Park
<p>While watching episode 29, we saw that Ymir could read the letters on the can, but Reiner could not. Why?</p>

<p>Manga spoiler:</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> As far as I remember, both Ymir and Reiner are Eldians. So should they not both be able to read the letters on the can? What language is supposed to be on it? Why can Ymir read it, but Reiner could not?</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-27T21:53:55.517Z
I wondered the same. May be the anime is different than the manga? I didnt read the manga but I readed a synopsis in a wiki
Pablo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-27T22:27:11.267Z
Related: [What is the language used on food can?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/40040/what-is-the-language-used-on-food-can)
Memor-X
<attack-on-titan>
Why could Ymir read the can, but Reiner could not?
# Why could Ymir read the can, but Reiner could not?
Posted by: username_0 on 2017-04-27
While watching episode 29, we saw that Ymir could read the letters on the can, but Reiner could not. Why?

Manga spoiler:

> As far as I remember, both Ymir and Reiner are Eldians. So should they not both be able to read the letters on the can? What language is supposed to be on it? Why can Ymir read it, but Reiner could not?
**Tags:** attack-on-titan
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I wondered the same. May be the anime is different than the manga? I didnt read the manga but I readed a synopsis in a wiki  
> **username_2**: Related: [What is the language used on food can?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/40040/what-is-the-language-used-on-food-can)  
---
## 5 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2017-04-28. Score: 6
After some researches on the wiki, i found something interesting :

> Even if they both are Eldians, Ymir was part of the cult of Ymir (It's also the reason why she was condamned to be changed into a titan). It could be there she learned the language on the can, and this language is probably linked to Ymir Fritz herself. However it is pure speculation since we have no way to really know.

Source : Chapter 89 (p. 8-13), Eren is reading Ymir's letter which tells us about her past.
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2018-11-04. Score: 4
There is **an official answer** to this question.

---

*This post contains **spoilers**. Make sure to be caught up with the manga (currently **Chapter 110**).*

---

First, let us lay the [groundwork](https://attackontitan.fandom.com/wiki/Eldian_(Language)) for the answer:

> *Eldian* is the official language of Eldia, Marley, and many other nations around the world.
>   
>   
> As a result of the old Eldian Empire's imperialism, Eldian is a known language *throughout the world*. It is spoken both inside and outside the Walls, although their *writing systems* differ. Ambassadors from across the globe used it to communicate with Willy Tybur during his pre-party.
>   
>   
>   
> There are *three* known writing systems for Eldian:
>   
>   
>   
> **Ancient Eldia**
>   
>   
> An archaic version of Eldian is found in ancient manuscripts and texts
> that were sent by Eren Kruger to the Eldia Restorationists. The
> language appears to include *a lot of visuals* and was used by the
> Eldians from a long time ago. Although it was unreadable to the
> Grisha Yeager and Restorationists, he and his fellow patriots assumed
> that the texts confirm their beliefs that Ymir Fritz had brought
> wealth to mankind, and that the Subjects of Ymir are the *chosen
> children of God*.
>   
> [![](https://i.sstatic.net/0D0m3.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/0D0m3.png)
>   
>   
> **Inside the Walls**
>   
>   
> This system of writing is found only inside the Walls. The writing is
> composed by *short, straight strokes and sharp corners*, and *written
> horizontally*.
>   
> [![](https://i.sstatic.net/F3b2b.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/F3b2b.png)
>   
>   
> **Outside the Walls**
>   
>   
> Another system of writing is found when the Survey Corps settled in
> *Utgard Castle* after searching for a supposed breach in Wall Rose. They
> found supplies that were left behind by unknown occupants, but the
> labels found on them were unreadable to most of the soldiers. When
> Ymir went off to find food, she found a can with a herring label on it
> which she proceeded to read out loud. She gave the can to Reiner
> Braun, who was shocked to find out that she could read the writing. It
> is later revealed that both Reiner Braun and Ymir came from Marley,
> *confirming that the writing is the system used by the Marleyans and
> the Eldians living outside the Walls*.
>   
> [![](https://i.sstatic.net/EJ9x8.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/EJ9x8.png)

Now regarding your question: According to the [Attack on Titan Guidebook](https://attackontitan.fandom.com/wiki/Attack_on_Titan_Guidebook),

> Reiner Braun could read the herring can like Ymir, but **he lied** in order to protect his own identity while forcing Ymir to reveal hers.
---
### Answer by username_5 on 2017-05-06. Score: 3
The previous answer is a good one, but I have another hypothesis.

> Reiner does indeed know the language, but pretends not to, in order to keep his identity safe. He acted in shock because he realized who Ymir was (the titan who ate his friend).

In the anime Reiner does not say "I don't know the language". This is only mentioned in the manga chapter 38.
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2017-05-24. Score: 1
Well, I can't answer your question directly but you also have to consider that Ymir has been wandering as a titan for about 60 years, thus making her a lot more "older" than Reiner or Berthold.
Then again, it is highly unlikely that a language can change so drastically over the course of 60 years…

In this regard I'd like to refer to **Chapter 47** of the manga:

> [![](https://i.sstatic.net/irWUj.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/irWUj.png)
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2017-05-31): This premise might actually be the answer. Ymir was born 60 years earlier than reiner, so it might be an 'older' language as a lot has happened in their home town in those years... I should reread with that in mind. Thanks.  
> **username_4** (2017-06-02): Glad I could help!  
---
### Answer by username_6 on 2019-01-07. Score: 0
All of the other answers are wrong.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Reiner deals with a dissociate personality disorder. This is because he had developed his persona of a Eldian soldier while actually being a Marleyan enemy, to ease his sense of guilt and overall trauma of causing thousands of deaths. This soldier persona is unaware of Reiner's true identity of being an enemy from another nation (the language is in Marleyan), so this fabricated, soldier part of Reiner's self-consciousness couldn't recognize the language.
> **Comments:**
> **username_7** (2019-03-11): Can you provide sources to support your claim? As it stands, this is just purely speculation with no basis from manga or anime information. I am updated on both manga and anime and I can't see how this is even possible at all.  
---
