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{{multiple}}
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[[File:Klingon script.png|thumb|The Klingon written language]]
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{{aquote|That sagging old rust bucket is designed like a garbage scow. Half the quadrant knows it. That's why they're learning to speak Klingonese.|Korax|2268|The Trouble with Tribbles}}
  +
'''Klingonese''' (also known more commonly as "'''Klingon'''") was the [[language]] used by the [[Klingon]] [[species]] and throughout the [[Klingon Empire]]. It was boasted that half the [[quadrant]] was learning the language by the mid-[[23rd century]]. ({{TOS|The Trouble with Tribbles}})
   
  +
== History ==
−
[[File:Klingon written language.jpg|thumb|An example of Klingon script reading (in [[English language|English]]): "deck 2, red sector"]]
  
−
[[File:Klingon script.gif|thumb|The Klingon written language]]
 +
[[File:Paq batlh.jpg|thumb|The ''[[paq'batlh]]'', an ancient Klingon scroll]]
−
[[File:Paq batlh.jpg|thumb|The ''[[paq'batlh]]'', an ancient Klingon scroll written in Klingonese]]
 +
[[File:Somraw captain on display with writing.jpg|thumb|Klingon characters on a terminal ([[2151]])]]
−
[[File:Klingon_Characters.jpg|thumb|Klingon characters (Klingonese) on a terminal]]
 +
[[File:T'sang board.jpg|thumb|Handwritten Klingon script on a ''[[t'Sang]]'' board ([[2257]])]]
  +
The Klingon language contained eighty poly-guttural [[dialect]]s constructed on an adaptive [[syntax]]. The first [[Human]] to become fluent in it was [[Hoshi Sato]] in [[2151]], who learned from a [[linguistic database]] provided by the [[Vulcan]]s. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}}) Sato once remarked that a book given to her by [[Tarquin]], written by a civilization over a thousand years dead, was in a language very similar to Medieval Klingon. ({{ENT|Exile}})
−
[[File:Klingon_Characters2.jpg|thumb|Klingon characters (Klingonese) on a terminal]]
  
−
'''Klingonese''' (also known more commonly as "'''Klingon'''") was the [[language]] used throughout the [[Klingon Empire]]. It was boasted that half the [[quadrant]] was learning the language by the mid-[[23rd century]]. ({{TOS|The Trouble with Tribbles}})
  
   
  +
[[Arturis]], who knew over four thousand languages, described Klingon as a robust language. In fact, [[B'Elanna Torres]] stated that she found the language a little too robust for her taste. ({{VOY|Hope and Fear}}) It was not however an immutable language. It was constantly changing to meet the needs and aspirations of the people. In the mid-[[24th century]], the word "peacemaker" appeared for the first time in Klingonese after the negotiations mediated by [[Riva]] between the Klingon Empire and the [[United Federation of Planets]] took place. ({{TNG|Loud As A Whisper}}) Still, as of the late 24th century, there did not seem to be a Klingon word for "jolly". ({{TNG|Parallels}})
−
The Klingon language contained eighty poly-guttural dialects constructed on an adaptive syntax. The first [[Human]] to become fluent in it was [[Hoshi Sato]], who learned from a [[linguistic database]] provided by the [[Vulcan]]s. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}}) Sato once remarked that a book given to her by [[Tarquin]], written by a civilization over a thousand years dead, was in a language very similar to medieval Klingon. ({{ENT|Exile}})
 
   
  +
By the late-23rd century, several [[Federation]] authors wrote books on learning the Klingon language. [[Nyota Uhura|Uhura]] had several on hand aboard the ''Enterprise''-A in [[2293]] when she had to convince a Klingon patrol post that they were the Klingon freighter ''[[Ursva]]'', including ''[[Introduction to Klingon Grammar]]''. ({{film|6}})
−
The Klingon language was not an immutable language. It was constantly changing to meet the needs and aspirations of the people. In the mid-[[24th century]], the word ''peacemaker'' appeared for the first time in Klingonese after the negotiations mediated by [[Riva]] between the Klingon Empire and the [[United Federation of Planets]] took place. ({{TNG|Loud As A Whisper}}) However, as of the late 24th century, there still did not seem to be a Klingon word for ''jolly''. ({{TNG|Parallels}})
  
−  
−
By the late-23rd century, several [[Federation]] authors wrote books on learning the [[Klingon]] language. [[Nyota Uhura|Uhura]] had several on hand aboard the ''Enterprise'' in [[2293]], when she had to convince a Klingon patrol post that they were the Klingon freighter ''[[Ursva]]'', including ''[[Introduction to Klingon Grammar]]''. ({{film|6}})
  
 
{{bginfo|Several of these books were seen in greater detail in the ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition)]]'' DVD special features.|[[Nichelle Nichols]] complained that with the Klingons as the Federation's primary enemy, a good communications officer would be able to speak at least basic Klingon. Director [[Nicholas Meyer]] preferred to keep the scene as it was, for "the laugh."}}
  
{{bginfo|Several of these books were seen in greater detail in the ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition)]]'' DVD special features.|[[Nichelle Nichols]] complained that with the Klingons as the Federation's primary enemy, a good communications officer would be able to speak at least basic Klingon. Director [[Nicholas Meyer]] preferred to keep the scene as it was, for "the laugh."}}
 
''In the [[alternate reality]], {{alt|Nyota Uhura|Uhura}} described her mastery of Klingon as "rusty", but she appeared fluent enough to negotiate with members of the Klingon Defense Force.'' ({{film|12}})
  
''In the [[alternate reality]], {{alt|Nyota Uhura|Uhura}} described her mastery of Klingon as "rusty", but she appeared fluent enough to negotiate with members of the Klingon Defense Force.'' ({{film|12}})
   
  +
=== Non-Klingon speakers of Klingonese ===
  +
====[[Prime reality]]====
  +
* [[Arturis]]
  +
* [[Curzon Dax]]
  +
* [[Ezri Dax]]
  +
* [[Jadzia Dax]]
  +
* [[Emergency Medical Hologram]]
  +
* [[Sito Jaxa]]
  +
* [[Flaherty]]
  +
* [[Elim Garak]]
  +
* [[Gwyn]]
  +
* [[Kathryn Janeway]]
  +
* [[James T. Kirk]]
  +
* [[Melora Pazlar]]
  +
* [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
  +
* [[Quark]]
  +
* [[William T. Riker]]
  +
* [[Hoshi Sato]]
  +
* [[Montgomery Scott]]
  +
* [[Benjamin Sisko]]
  +
  +
==== [[Alternate reality]] ====
  +
* {{alt|Nyota Uhura}}
  +
  +
== Written language ==
  +
[[File:Klingon written language.jpg|thumb|150px|A Klingon [[bulkhead]] reading: "Deck 2, red sector"]]
 
[[Montgomery Scott]] once stated that reading Klingon was hard compared to maintaining [[damage control]] aboard a [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]]. ({{film|4}})
  
[[Montgomery Scott]] once stated that reading Klingon was hard compared to maintaining [[damage control]] aboard a [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]]. ({{film|4}})
   
 
The directory of the [[Promenade]] on [[Deep Space 9]] was written in Klingonese, as well as [[English language|English]], [[Vulcan language|Vulcan]], [[Ferengi language|Ferengi]], [[Bajoran language|Bajoran]], and [[Cardassian language|Cardassian]].
  
The directory of the [[Promenade]] on [[Deep Space 9]] was written in Klingonese, as well as [[English language|English]], [[Vulcan language|Vulcan]], [[Ferengi language|Ferengi]], [[Bajoran language|Bajoran]], and [[Cardassian language|Cardassian]].
   
  +
== Spoken language ==
−
[[Kathryn Janeway]] stated to [[Arturis]] that, while Arturis could speak over 4,000 languages, she could barely speak basic Klingon. [[B'Elanna Torres]] stated that she found the language a little too robust for her taste. ({{VOY|Hope and Fear}})
  
  +
[[Kathryn Janeway]] could barely speak basic Klingon. Despite being half-Klingon, [[B'Elanna Torres]] was only able to speak a few phrases of Klingonese. ({{VOY|Hope and Fear}}) In [[2374]], [[Alexander Rozhenko]] admitted to [[Miles O'Brien]] that he could barely even say his name in Klingon. ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}})
   
  +
=== Words and phrases ===
−
In [[2374]], [[Alexander Rozhenko]] admitted to [[Miles O'Brien]] that he could barely even say his name in Klingon. ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}})
  
−  
−
== Klingon vocabulary ==
  
 
{| class="grey"
  
{| class="grey"
 
|-
  
|-
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| fire! (as in [[torpedo]]es, [[disruptor]]s, etc.)
  
| fire! (as in [[torpedo]]es, [[disruptor]]s, etc.)
 
|
  
|
−
| {{film|1}}
 +
| {{film|1}}; {{TNG|Redemption}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''baktag''
  
| ''baktag''
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|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|Sons and Daughters}}
  
| {{DS9|Sons and Daughters}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[cha'DIch]]''
  +
| an individual who fought for a [[warrior]] challenging a ruling of the [[Klingon High Council]]
  +
|
  +
|{{TNG|Sins of The Father}}
  +
|-
  +
| "CHEGH-chew jaj-VAM jaj-KAK"
  +
| "Today is a good day to die"
  +
| Perhaps a dialectal form of tlhIngan Hol ''Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam''
  +
| {{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Cho'echu''
  +
| "Energize"
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|The House of Quark}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''DaH!''
  +
| Now!
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Redemption II}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''De-lak DOH!''
  +
| Take your stations!
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Soldiers of the Empire}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[d'akturak]]''
  
| ''[[d'akturak]]''
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| {{DS9|Blood Oath}}
  
| {{DS9|Blood Oath}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| '''D'blok'''
 +
| ''d'blok''
  +
| an insult {{bginfo|The {{ste|4|1|174}} identifies ''d'blok'' as a Klingon animal.}}
−
| an insult
  
  +
| In [[2372]], [[Chancellor]] [[Gowron]] compared [[Worf]] to a {{dis|mute|disorder}} ''d'blok'', when Worf didn't answer Gowron's offer to come with him to [[Cardassia Prime]] immediately.
−
{{bginfo|It is unclear what exactly d'blok means.}}
  
−
| In [[2372]] [[Chancellor]] [[Gowron]] compared [[Worf]] to a mute '''d'blok''', when Worf didn't answer Gowron's offer to come with him to [[Cardassia Prime]], immediately.
  
 
| {{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}
  
| {{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Dhak'tah''
  +
| wall/barrier/hull
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[d'k tahg]]''
  
| ''[[d'k tahg]]''
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|
  
|
 
| {{TNG|Devil's Due}}
  
| {{TNG|Devil's Due}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Forshak''
  +
| a substance which smells bad when it [[decomposition|rots]]
  +
| In [[2373]], [[Worf]] insulted [[Thopok]] by suggesting he smelled like a pile of rotting ''forshak''.
  +
| {{DS9|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Ghay'cha{{'}}''
  +
| an expletive
  +
| Said in confusion at seeing an empty bridge in the [[Kobayashi Maru scenario|''Kobayashi Maru'' scenario]].
  +
| {{PRO|Kobayashi}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''ghoptu''
  +
| hand
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Blood Oath}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Ghos!''
  +
| Make it so!
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Redemption|Redemption II}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Gin'tak]]''
  +
| an inductee to a Klingon house
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[gik'tal]]''
  
| ''[[gik'tal]]''
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| {{TNG|Devil's Due}}
  
| {{TNG|Devil's Due}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''he'ymar''
 +
| ''h''e' HImaH
 
| energize (voice command to transporter activation)
  
| energize (voice command to transporter activation)
 
|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|Past Prologue}}
  
| {{DS9|Past Prologue}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Ha'DIbaH!''
  +
| animal
  +
|Worf said of Duras that "This Ha'DIbaH should have been fed to the dogs!"
  +
| {{TNG|Sins of The Father}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Hechu'ghos''
  +
| set course (set a ship's course)
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Unification I}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''HIjol''
  +
| energize (voice command to transporter activation)
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Marauders}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[hur'q]]''
  
| ''[[hur'q]]''
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|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}}
  
| {{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''in'cha''
  +
| begin
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''jagh''
  +
| enemy
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Judgment}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[jak'tahla]]''
  
| ''[[jak'tahla]]''
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|
  
|
 
| {{film|9}}
  
| {{film|9}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Jatlh''
  +
| speak
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Unification I}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''jat'yIn''
  
| ''jat'yIn''
−
| [[ghost|spiritual]] possession, lit. "the taking of the living by the dead"
 +
| [[ghost|spiritual]] possession, literally "the taking of the living by the dead"
 
|
  
|
 
| {{TNG|Power Play}}
  
| {{TNG|Power Play}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Jelik''
  +
| a word, phrase, name, place, or event mentioned by [[Klaang]] to Hoshi Sato in [[2151]]; along with [[Sarin]], [[Rigel]], and [[Tholia]], Sato could not translate the word or understand its meaning
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Broken Bow}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''jinaq''
  
| ''jinaq''
−
| a pendant given to a young Klingon female old enough to take a mate.
 +
| a pendant given to a young Klingon female old enough to take a mate
 
|
  
|
 
| {{TNG|Birthright, Part II}}
  
| {{TNG|Birthright, Part II}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''Jelik''
 +
| ''J'khat bah''
  +
| fusion manifold
−
| a word, phrase, name, place, or event mentioned by [[Klaang]] to Hoshi Sato in [[2151]]; along with [[Sarin]], [[Rigel]], and [[Tholia]], Sato could not translate the word or understand its meaning
  
 
|
  
|
−
| ({{ENT|Broken Bow}})
 +
| {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''k'adlo''
  +
| thank you
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|The Mind's Eye}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''kajunpak't''
  +
| courage
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Blood Oath}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''ka'vek''
  +
| you, there
  +
| a situational term, as it was used either as a challenge or as an interrogative
  +
| {{DS9|Chimera}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''ke'chaw''
  +
| defend yourself
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Chimera}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[kellicam]]''
  
| ''[[kellicam]]''
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|
  
|
 
| {{film|3}}
  
| {{film|3}}
  +
|-
  +
|''kesh''
  +
| an exclamation of frustration or disappointment
  +
|
  +
|{{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''khi-GOSH''
  +
| let's go
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Blaze of Glory}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Kolat chack tabak''
  +
| plasma containment
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''koruts''
  +
| derogatory term
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Sons of Mogh}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''k'pekt''
  +
| an insult
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Blood Oath}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[Kortar]]''
  
| ''[[Kortar]]''
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| {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}
  
| {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''[[kos'karii]]''
 +
| ''[[Kos'Karii]]''
−
| pale, serpent-like creatures from Klingon mythology, who roam the waters of the underworld
 +
| pale, serpent-like creatures from Klingon mythology, who roamed the waters of the underworld
 
|
  
|
 
| {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}
  
| {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[ko'tal]]''
  +
| unknown – possibly "fighter" – K'mtar referred to a holographic Klingon fighter as one
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Firstborn}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[kut'luch]]''
  
| ''[[kut'luch]]''
 
| a traditional knife used by Klingon assassins
  
| a traditional knife used by Klingon assassins
 
|
  
|
−
| {{TNG|Sins of the Father}} {{VOY|Real Life}}
 +
| {{TNG|Sins of The Father}} {{VOY|Real Life}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Kyamo''
  +
| beautiful
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Blood Oath}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Len'mat''
  +
| recess; adjourned
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Sins of The Father|Redemption}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Mak'dar''
  +
| insult
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|The House of Quark}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Maj ram''
  +
| good night
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Mahk-cha!''
  +
| engage
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Soldiers of the Empire}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''mat-LEH''
  +
| loyalty
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Sons and Daughters}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[Mauk-to'Vor]]''
  
| ''[[Mauk-to'Vor]]''
−
| a ritual in which one kills a wrongfully disgraced sibling to restore their honor in ''[[Sto-vo-kor]]''
 +
| a ritual in which one killed a wrongfully disgraced sibling to restore their honor in ''[[Sto-vo-kor]]''
 
|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|Sons of Mogh}}
  
| {{DS9|Sons of Mogh}}
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|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|Sons of Mogh}}
  
| {{DS9|Sons of Mogh}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''mev'yap''
  +
| a stern command to immediately cease an activity
  +
| In 2367, [[Jean-Luc Picard]] shouted this command at Gowron and [[Duras, son of Ja'rod|Duras]] when the two were about to attack each other during the start of the [[Ja'chuq]] ceremony. Two years later, Picard barked this command at Captain[[Nu'Daq]].
  +
| {{TNG|Reunion|The Chase}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''mok''
  +
| begin
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''Mok'tah''
  
| ''Mok'tah''
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|
  
|
 
| {{VOY|Drive}}
  
| {{VOY|Drive}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''movek''
  +
| I lose
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Sons of Mogh}}
  +
|-
  +
|''[[Naj]]''
  +
|"dream before dying"
  +
|
  +
| {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''naDev ghoS!''
  +
| come here
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Redemption}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''nIb'poH''
  
| ''nIb'poH''
 
| ''[[déjà vu]]''
  
| ''[[déjà vu]]''
 
|
  
|
−
| {{TNG|Cause and Effect}}
 +
| {{TNG|Cause And Effect}}
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| ''nuqneH. qaleghnes.''
  +
| A Klingon greeting
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|The Emissary}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''Nuq'nuh''
  
| ''Nuq'nuh''
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| {{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}}
  
| {{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''par'Mach''
 +
| ''Ouee nagah''
  +
| [[impulse drive]]
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[par'Mach]]''
 
| [[love]], but with more aggressive or violent undertones
  
| [[love]], but with more aggressive or violent undertones
 
|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}}
  
| {{DS9|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}}
  +
|-
  +
|''[[par'Mach'kai]]''
  +
| a term of endearment, used to refer to one's mate
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}}; {{VOY|Prophecy}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''petaQ''
  
| ''petaQ''
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| {{TNG|The Defector}}, ''et al.''
  
| {{TNG|The Defector}}, ''et al.''
 
|-
  
|-
  +
|-
−
| ''Qapla'''
  
  +
| ''Po'tajg!''
  +
| well done!
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Firstborn}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''poH qut''
  +
| [[time crystal]]s
  +
|
  +
| {{DIS|Through the Valley of Shadows}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Pu'DaH dak cha''
  +
| photon torpedoes
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Qapla{{'}}''
 
| success
  
| success
 
|
  
|
 
| {{film|3}}
  
| {{film|3}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''[[qhonDoq]]''
 +
| ''qi'von''
  +
| [[knee]]
−
| a type of assassin's blade
  
 
|
  
|
−
| {{TNG|Sins of the Father}}
 +
| {{DS9|Blood Oath}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Quee nagah''
  +
| impulse drive
  +
|
  +
| {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[Qui'Tu]]''
  
| ''[[Qui'Tu]]''
Line 192: Line 447:
 
|
  
|
 
| {{film|5}}
  
| {{film|5}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''qu'vatlh''
  +
| an expletive
  +
| In [[2374]], [[Martok]] said [[Alexander Rozhenko]] and his father [[Worf]] were both "stubborn, tiresome ''qu'vatlh''". In [[2383]], [[Gwyn]] used this curse when the {{USS|Protostar}}'s [[escape pod]]s were ejected before she could access one.
  +
| {{DS9|Sons and Daughters}}; {{PRO|Starstruck}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''shuVak''
  
| ''shuVak''
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| {{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}}
  
| {{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''Soch''
 +
| ''sli'vak''
  +
| someone who sleeps around
−
| the number seven
  
−
|
  
−
| {{incite}}
  
−
|-
  
−
| ''Sli-Vak''
  
−
| whore
  
 
|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|Penumbra}}
  
| {{DS9|Penumbra}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''[[soh-chim]]''
 +
| ''[[Soh-chIm]]''
 
| step-sibling, god parent (roughly); legal guardian assigned by a Klingon warrior prior to battle
  
| step-sibling, god parent (roughly); legal guardian assigned by a Klingon warrior prior to battle
 
|
  
|
 
| {{TNG|Parallels}}
  
| {{TNG|Parallels}}
  +
|-
  +
|''Sonchi''
  +
|"He is dead"
  +
|The phrase confirms the death of the incumbent Klingon Chancellor in the [[Sonchi ceremony]], performed to begin the [[Rite of Succession]].
  +
| {{TNG|Reunion}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''so'wl'chu'''
  +
| engage; activate
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Unification I}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Sowee TAH''
  +
| uncloak
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''[[Sto-vo-kor]]''
  
| ''[[Sto-vo-kor]]''
−
| the afterlife of the honored dead, where [[Kahless the Unforgettable]] resides
 +
| the afterlife of the honored dead, where [[Kahless the Unforgettable]] resided
 
|
  
|
 
| {{TNG|Rightful Heir}}
  
| {{TNG|Rightful Heir}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''SuH''
  +
| ready
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Redemption}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''Suvwl' ''
  
| ''Suvwl' ''
−
| Warrior
 +
| warrior
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|The Icarus Factor|Redemption}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''t'gla''
  +
| an insult
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Invasive Procedures}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''tlhIngan maH taHjaj''
  +
| "Remain Klingon" or "We are Klingon, may we endure"
 
|
  
|
  +
| {{DIS|The Vulcan Hello|Battle at the Binary Stars}}; {{SNW|Under the Cloak of War}}
−
| {{TNG|The Icarus Factor}}{{TNG|Redemption}}
  
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''taHqeq''
  
| ''taHqeq''
Line 227: Line 512:
 
|
  
|
 
| {{TNG|The Mind's Eye}}
  
| {{TNG|The Mind's Eye}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''toduj''
  +
| mettle
  +
|
  +
| {{LD|The Least Dangerous Game|The Inner Fight}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''tohzah''
  
| ''tohzah''
Line 233: Line 523:
 
| {{TNG|The Defector}}
  
| {{TNG|The Defector}}
 
|-
  
|-
  +
|top'a
−
| toruk-doh
  
  +
|an insult
  +
|[[Nu'Daq]] chided one of his officers with "You incompetent top'a".
  +
| {{TNG|The Chase}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''toruk-doh''
 
| an insult
  
| an insult
 
|
  
|
 
| {{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}}
  
| {{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}}
 
|-
  
|-
−
| ''[[tajtiq]]''
 +
| ''vang ghaH!''
  +
| take him!
−
| a long Klingon knife, usually used in pairs
  
 
|
  
|
−
| {{DS9|Apocalypse Rising}}
 +
| {{TNG|Birthright, Part I}}
 
|-
  
|-
 
| ''yan''
  
| ''yan''
 
| a [[sword]]
  
| a [[sword]]
 
|
  
|
−
| {{TNG|Redemption}}; {{DS9|Apocalypse Rising}}
 +
| {{DS9|Apocalypse Rising}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Yej rhin''
  +
| A call to adjourn the Council
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|The House of Quark}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Yih-Ghom-HAH!''
  +
| Dismissed
  +
|
  +
| {{DS9|Sons and Daughters}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''Yintagh''
  +
| an insult
  +
|
  +
| {{TNG|Redemption}}
 
|}
  
|}
   
−
== Klingonese quotes ==
 +
==== petaQ ====
  +
One Klingon term used as an insult on numerous occasions was ''petaQ'' (also spelled "''Pahtak''", "''Pathak''", "''p'tahk''", "''p'takh''", "''patahk''", "''pahtk''", "''p'tak''", or "''p'taq''"). It was also used by the [[mirror universe cultures|Klingons]] of the [[mirror universe]].
−
;bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay': ''Revenge is a dish best served cold'' ({{film|2}})
  
   
  +
According to [[William T. Riker]], petaQ was a {{dis|curse|euphemism|curse word}}. ({{TNG|The Defector}})
−
{{bginfo|Spoken by [[Khan Noonien Singh]].}}
  
  +
  +
* When trapped in a ring of [[fire]] by an exposed well head for a [[deuterium pump]], {{dis|Korok|Captain}} called [[Tessic]] a ''petaQ''. ({{ENT|Marauders}})
  +
* [[Romulan]] [[Admiral]] [[Alidar Jarok]] asked [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker]] how he'd allow "a Klingon ''petaQ'' to walk around in a [[Starfleet]] [[uniform]]" referring to [[Worf]]. ({{TNG|The Defector}})
  +
* [[J'Dan]] called [[Worf]] a ''pahtak'' when he didn't want to help him escape with a [[shuttlecraft]]. ({{TNG|The Drumhead}})
  +
* [[Klingon Chancellor]] [[Gowron]] told [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] that the former was "referring to the filthy ''patahk'' who's using his name" when discussing the [[Clone]] of [[Kahless]]. ({{TNG|Rightful Heir}})
  +
* A [[Duras sisters' Bird-of-Prey personnel|Klingon officer]] aboard the [[Duras sisters' Bird-of-Prey]] called [[Tolian Soran]] a ''petaq'' when the [[El-Aurian]] returned to the bridge of the vessel after torturing [[Geordi La Forge]]. ({{film|7}})
  +
* Governor {{dis|Torak|Governor}} replied to Lt. [[Worf]] calling him a ''lo'Be Vos'': "''At least I do not wear the uniform of the P'tak!''" ({{TNG|Aquiel}})
  +
* After [[Quark]] mentioned [[D'Ghor]], [[Tumek]] told him "that ''pahtak''{{'}}s name is not spoken in this [[House of Kozak|House]]". ({{DS9|The House of Quark}})
  +
* [[Morka]] called several Romulans in [[Quark's]] "filthy ''pahtaks''" in [[2371]]. ({{DS9|Visionary}})
  +
* [[Kor]] called Worf a "traitorous ''p'tak''" when he believed he was going to steal the [[Sword of Kahless]] from him. ({{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}})
  +
* In [[mirror universe history|2372]] in the mirror universe, [[Regent]] {{mu|Worf}} called {{mu|Elim Garak}} "the ''p'tak'' who lost {{mu|Terok Nor}} to the [[Terran Rebellion|rebels]]". ({{DS9|Shattered Mirror}})
  +
* Worf called a [[Dopterian]] a ''p'tak'' after he discovered the [[alien]] had broken into his [[quarters]] and had [[stole]]n several items belonging to him. ({{DS9|Bar Association}})
  +
* [[Martok]] insults Romulan Senator [[Letant]] by calling him a ''p'tagh'' in a military meeting. ({{DS9|Tears of the Prophets}})
  +
* A Klingon stationed on [[Deep Space 9]] called [[Laas]] a ''p'tak'' after the [[Changeling]] told him his hands would have a stench on them if they were "stained with the blood of Klingon warriors", as the Klingon had told him. ({{DS9|Chimera}})
  +
* After [[The Doctor]] added a "daydream" subroutine to his program, and started malfunctioning, B'Elanna Torres reminded him of an old Klingon saying while she was trying to fix it: "''A Doctor that operates on himself has a ''pa'taQ'' for a patient.''" ({{VOY|Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy}})
  +
* The fully-[[Klingon]] [[B'Elanna Torres]] called her separated fully-[[Human]] self a ''petaQ'' several times after rescuing her Human counterpart from a [[Vidiian]] prison barracks. ({{VOY|Faces}})
  +
* B'Elanna Torres used to call [[Max Burke]] ''pahtk'' while they were attending Starfleet Academy. ({{VOY|Equinox}})
  +
* B'Elanna Torres called [[Ensign]] [[Vorik]] a ''petaQ'' when they were both under the influence of Vorik's [[Pon farr]]. ({{VOY|Blood Fever}})
  +
* B'Elanna Torres called [[Tuvok]] a ''petaQ'' during a vivid dream before discovering she was on her way to [[Gre'thor]]. ({{VOY|Barge of the Dead}})
  +
* The Doctor's holographic son, [[Jeffrey]], called his father a ''petaQ'' when he tried to tell Jeffrey to stop hanging out with Klingons. ({{VOY|Real Life}})
  +
* In [[2381]], after watching his pet [[targ]] chew on a soft toy, Captain [[Dorg]] said, "Good boy! That is what we will do to enemy petaQs!" ({{LD|wej Duj}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|As can be seen above, many different spellings of the word have appeared over the years. ''petaQ'' is the official Klingon spelling from [[Marc Okrand]]'s ''[[The Klingon Dictionary|Klingon Dictionary]]''. According to the dictionary, ''petaQ'' literally means something like "weirdo", stemming from the verb "to be weird", but it accumulated so many extra cultural connotations over time that a direct translation is difficult, and it is actually quite a serious insult.}}
  +
  +
=== Examples of spoken language ===
  +
;bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay': "Revenge is a dish best served cold", or literally, "When revenge is served cold, the dish is very good" ({{film|2}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|Mentioned by [[Khan Noonien Singh]], but not in Klingon. The Klingon translation first appeared in [[Marc Okrand|Okrand]]'s second book, ''[[The Klingon Way]]'' (p. 133)}}
 
----
  
----
 
;bangwI' : "My beloved"
 
;bangwI' : "My beloved"
Line 259: Line 597:
 
;matlh! jol yIchu'!: "Maltz! Activate beam!" ({{film|3}})
  
;matlh! jol yIchu'!: "Maltz! Activate beam!" ({{film|3}})
   
−
{{bginfo|Kruge when beaming the crew of the ''Enterprise'' to his [[HMS Bounty|Bird of Prey]], and when Kirk beams up with Spock after defeating Kruge.}}
 +
{{bginfo|Kruge when beaming the crew of the ''Enterprise'' to his [[HMS Bounty|Bird-of-Prey]], and when Kirk beams up with Spock after defeating Kruge.}}
 
----
  
----
−
;taH pagh taHbe': ''to be or not to be'' ({{film|6}})
 +
;taH pagh taHbe': "to be or not to be" ({{film|6}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|Spoken by [[General]] {{dis|Chang|General}} during diplomatic dinner on board the ''Enterprise''. As explained in the foreword of ''[[The Klingon Hamlet]]'', the phrase uttered by chancellor [[Gorkon]], "''You have not experienced Shakespeare, until you have read him in the original Klingon,''" inspired members of the KLI to translate ''Hamlet'' into Klingon.}}
 
----
  
----
−
;nuqneH, qaleghneS: ''What do you want? I am honored to see you'' ({{TNG|The Emissary}})
 +
;nuqneH, qaleghneS: "What do you want? I am honored to see you" ({{TNG|The Emissary}})
 
----
  
----
  +
;jIlajneS. ghIj qet jaghmeyjaj.: "I accept [with honor]. May your enemies run with fear." ({{TNG|Sins of The Father|Redemption}})
−
;naDev ghoS: ''come here'' ({{TNG|Redemption}})
  
   
−
;jIlajneS. ghIj qet jaghmeyjaj: "I accept [with honor]. May your enemies run with fear" ({{TNG|Redemption}})
 +
{{bginfo|Literally: I am honored to accept. May enemies be scared and run.}}
  +
----
  +
[[Discommendation]]:
   
  +
;tlhIH ghIj jIHyoj: "I fear your judgement"
−
{{bginfo|Lit: I accept your honor. He is scared, the scattered around enemies' day run.}}
  
  +
;{{visible anchor|biHnuch|biHnuch}}: "coward" ({{TNG|Sins of The Father}})
 
----
  
----
  +
;naDev ghoS: "come here" ({{TNG|Redemption}})
−
A [[Klingon drinking songs|drinking song]]:
  
  +
----
  +
A [[Klingon drinking song]]:
   
−
;'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw: ''And the blood was ankle deep''
 +
;'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw: "And the blood was ankle deep"
−
;'ej Doq SoDtaH ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtIq: ''And the River Skral ran crimson red''
 +
;'ej Doq SoDtaH ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtIq: "And the River Skral ran crimson red"
−
;'e' pa' jaj law' mo' jaj puS: ''On the day above all days''
+
;'e' pa' jaj law' mo' jaj puS: "On the day above all days"
−
;jaj qeylIS molar mIgh HoHchu'qu': ''When Kahless slew evil Molor dead'' ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}; {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}})
 +
;jaj qeylIS molar mIgh HoHchu'qu': "When Kahless slew evil Molor dead" ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}}; {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}})
   
 
{{bginfo|As with many other Klingon quotations, this song is grammatically ill-formed according to [[Marc Okrand]]'s dictionary. A close equivalent of the given English translation might be something similar to:
  
{{bginfo|As with many other Klingon quotations, this song is grammatically ill-formed according to [[Marc Okrand]]'s dictionary. A close equivalent of the given English translation might be something similar to:
 
;'ej ngIb Saw', vI', Dech je 'Iw;
  
;'ej ngIb Saw', vI', Dech je 'Iw;
−
;'ej Doq, SoDtaH, ghoStaH SIQal bIQtIq;
 +
;'ej Doq, SoDtaH, ghoStaH SIqral bIQtIq;
 
;ngugh, jaj nIv law' Hoch nIv puS,
  
;ngugh, jaj nIv law' Hoch nIv puS,
−
;molor mIgh HoHchu'qu'DI' qeylIS.
 +
;molor mIgh HoHchu'qu'DI' qeylIS.}}
−
}}
  
 
----
  
----
−
;Mok'Ta vor, kash a'VEH: ''You are an enemy of my House'' ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}})
 +
;Mok'Ta vor, kash a'VEH: "You are an enemy of my House" ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}})
 
----
  
----
−
;wIy cha': ''show tactical display'' ({{film|1}})
 +
;wIy cha': "show tactical display" ({{film|1}})
 
----
  
----
  +
;Chak wa kah Deesh paklah! Kah Deesh paklah 'kiV Duj Duj-to!: "We've been attacked by an unknown ship, designation {{EnterpriseNX}}! Any warships in range, respond!" ({{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}})
−
;SoHvaD pagh vIjatlh, Human!: ''I have nothing to say to you, Human!''
  
  +
−
;'ay'vamDaq nuHmey tIQeq: ''target weapons on this section'' ({{ENT|Affliction}})
  
  +
;QonoS Thrott! Nej jos mIch ka Xanant 'ach pagh: an extract from a [[captain's log]] entry ({{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}})
  +
  +
;Heh Cho'mruak tah: "Death before dishonor" ({{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}})
  +
----
  +
;Gorat kA!: "This way!" ({{ENT|Marauders}})
  +
{{bginfo|The definition of this phrase comes from the final draft script of "Marauders".}}
  +
----
  +
;Qi-yah!: basically means "Holy shit!" ({{ENT|Borderland}})
  +
{{bginfo|The definition of this phrase comes from the final draft script of "Borderland". Using Okrand's orthography, the two lines would be spelled "QI'yaH!", per the Klingon Dictionary.}}
  +
----
  +
;SoHvaD pagh vIjatlh, Human!: "I have nothing to say to you, Human!"
  +
;'ay'vamDaq nuHmey tIQeq: "target weapons on this section" ({{ENT|Affliction}})
 
----
  
----
−
;quv lughaj Archer HoD beqDaj je: ''Captain Archer and his crew are honorable people'' ({{ENT|The Augments}})
 +
;quv lughaj Archer HoD beqDaj je: "Captain Archer and his crew are honorable people" ({{ENT|The Augments}})
 
----
  
----
−
;maj ram: ''"Good night", as said by both Jadzia Dax and Kor as the former headed for bed.'' ({{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}})
 +
;maj ram: "Good night", as said by both Jadzia Dax and Kor as the former headed for bed. ({{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}})
 
----
  
----
−
;Du'cha: In [[2371]], the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} arrived at [[Veridian III]] and hailed the [[cloaking device|cloaked]] [[Duras sisters' Bird-of-Prey|Bird-of-Prey]] used by [[Lursa]] and [[B'Etor]]. A Klingon officer told B'Etor of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s hailing, but B'Etor responded with "Du'cha. ''We're still cloaked. They can't see us.''" ({{film|7}})
 +
;Du'cha: In [[2371]], the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} arrived at [[Veridian III]] and hailed the [[cloak]]ed [[Duras sisters' Bird-of-Prey|Bird-of-Prey]] used by [[Lursa]] and [[B'Etor]]. A Klingon officer told B'Etor of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s hailing, but B'Etor responded with "Du'cha. ''We're still cloaked. They can't see us.''" ({{film|7}})
   
  +
{{bginfo|According to the {{ste|4|1|222}}, this was a term meaning "to put an audio signal "on speakers"".}}
−
== petaQ ==
  
  +
----
−
One Klingon term used as an insult on numerous occasions was ''petaQ'' (also spelled "''Pahtak''", "''Pathak''", "''p'tahk''", "''p'takh''", "''patahk''", "''pahtk''", or "''p'tak''"). It was also used by the [[mirror universe cultures|Klingons]] of the [[mirror universe]].
  
  +
;{{dis|Klag|Lieutenant}}: "''yI-Har-Qo! nep-we' ghaH!''" ("''Do not believe him! He lies!''")
  +
;[[Kargan]]: "''Hol-chaj yI-jatlh.''" ("''Speak in their language.''") ({{TNG|A Matter Of Honor}})
   
  +
{{bginfo|This dialogue obeys the vocabulary and grammar described in ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' by [[Marc Okrand]], albeit with a slightly different transcription. Using Okrand's orthography, the two lines would be spelled "yIHarQo'! nepwI' ghaH!" and "Holchaj yIjatlh", respectively.}}
−
According to [[William T. Riker]], petaQ was a [[Colorful metaphor|curse word]]. ({{TNG|The Defector}})
  
  +
----
  +
;mevyap!: "That is enough!" ({{TNG|Sins of The Father}}); "Stop!" ({{TNG|Reunion}})
  +
{{bginfo|The definition of this phrase comes from the scripts of "Sins of the Father" and "Reunion".}}
  +
----
  +
;naDev ghoS!: "Come here!" ({{TNG|Redemption}})
  +
----
  +
;Gagh Tek Or?: "What'll it be?" ({{DS9|Melora}})
  +
----
  +
;P'kar tel Durg Le Frakn'l?: "You call this live?"
  +
;Dug a bul, rah'tar!: "What's your problem, lady?"
  +
;D'tel klop a bul!: "This slop you call food is the problem!"
  +
;Pak't pol!: "If you don't like it, don't eat it!"
  +
;D'kar tel G'denna!: "I want to see the blood running through the veins!" ({{DS9|Melora}})
  +
----
  +
;Ak un lach'tel?: "A new boyfriend?"
  +
;Doko, doko, un Koliay Trill: "no, no, my student" ({{DS9|Playing God}})
  +
----
  +
; batlh Daqawlu'taH; DaH Hegh!: "You'll be remembered with honor; now die!"
  +
; chay' pen Aha'bA?: "What's going on?" ({{DS9|Blood Oath}})
  +
----
  +
;Bet'ala nog'tor: "Look at this" ({{TNG|Firstborn}})
  +
----
  +
;Du'cha Kovah! Estah!: "Leave me alone! Let me go!" ({{DS9|Visionary}})
  +
----
  +
;Ach'cho korvak batah!: "A warrior's program!"
  +
;Karagh, abeh!: "Let's eat!" ({{DS9|Visionary}})
  +
----
  +
;Lohd Zoss-lee chaw-KU sohk jaTAL?: "Does your mother let you talk to men?" ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}})
  +
{{bginfo|The spelling according to ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' for this sentence is "loD SoSlI' chaw'qu' SoH jatlh'a'".|However, the proper grammatical way to convey the intended meaning in Klingon should be "loD Dajatlh 'e' chaw'{{'}}a' SoSlI'".}}
  +
----
  +
;A TLING-on kaogh.: ''They fight like Klingons.''
  +
{{bginfo|The spelling according to ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' for this sentence is "tlhIngan Hargh"}}
  +
;Zo a TLING-on HEGH-lah. YOD-weeKAW. TIG-mang-RUP.: "Then they can die like Klingons. Destroy their shields. Prepare boarding parties."
  +
{{bginfo|The spelling according to ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' for this sentence is "tlhIngan HeghlaH. yoDwI' Qaw'. tIj mangrup"}}
  +
;Jee-YAJ. DUJ-va, YOD-wee-KAW: "As you recommend. All ships, concentrate fire on their shield generators" ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}})
  +
{{bginfo|The spelling according to ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' for this sentence is "jIyaj. Duj vay', yoDwI' Qaw'"}}
  +
----
  +
;CHEGH-chew jaj-VAM jaj-KAK: "It is a good day to die" ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}})
  +
{{bginfo|The spelling according to ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' for this sentence is '''cheghchu' jajvam. jaj QaQ'''}}
  +
----
  +
;chah-Veh: "Yes, sir" ({{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}})
  +
{{bginfo|The translation of this quote was from the {{ste|4|1|129}}.}}
  +
----
  +
;MoVas ah-kee rustak!: "Today was a good day to die!"
  +
;Kosh tomah ehpaq Lukara kaVeir: "The day is not yet over, Lukara"
  +
;Ish-tovee chuCH thling nuq?: "Would you kill me too?"
  +
;Besh gee urchun omaH te-doQ maugh-shta: "No, but I would gladly die by your hand if you will not mate with me this day"
   
  +
Later, in the episode, when Worf and Dax fight, they add new lines after the third line above.
−
=== Usage ===
  
  +
;Meklo boH ka Mech.: "I amell the burning of your blood."
−
* [[Romulan]] [[Admiral]] [[Alidar Jarok]] asked [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker]] how he'd allow "a Klingon ''petaQ'' to walk around in a [[Starfleet]] [[uniform]]" referring to [[Worf]]. ({{TNG|The Defector}})
  
  +
;Te-doQ roos ka... Mech-TOH: "The fire is your doing."
−
* [[J'Dan]] called [[Worf]] a ''pahtak'' when he didn't want to help him escape with a [[shuttlecraft]]. ({{TNG|The Drumhead}})
  
  +
({{DS9|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}})
−
* [[Klingon]] [[Chancellor]] [[Gowron]] told [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] that the former was "referring to the filthy ''patahk'' who's using his name" when discussing the [[Clone]] of [[Kahless]]. ({{TNG|Rightful Heir}})
 
  +
----
−
* A [[Unnamed Klingons (24th century)#Klingon Officer (Generations)|Klingon officer]] aboard the [[Duras sisters' Bird-of-Prey]] called [[Tolian Soran]] a ''petaq'' when the [[El-Aurian]] returned to the bridge of the vessel after torturing [[Geordi La Forge]]. ({{film|7}})
  
  +
;Legh SoH va Gre'thor: "See you in Gre'thor" ({{VOY|Barge of the Dead}})
−
* Governor {{dis|Torak|Governor}} replied to Lt. [[Worf]] calling him a ''lo'Be Vos'': " ''At least I do not wear the uniform of the P'tak!'' " ({{TNG|Aquiel}})
  
  +
----
−
* After [[Quark]] mentioned [[D'Ghor]], [[Tumek]] told him "that ''pahtak''{{'}}s name is not spoken in this [[House of Kozak|House]]". ({{DS9|The House of Quark}})
  
  +
;Martok degh, to-Duj degh, bat-LEH degh, mat-LEH degh: "Badge of Martok, badge of courage, badge of honor, badge of loyalty"
−
* [[Morka]] called several Romulans in [[Quark's]] "filthy ''pahtaks''" in [[2371]]. ({{DS9|Visionary}})
  
  +
;Martok degh: "Badge of Martok"
−
* [[Kor]] called Worf a "traitorous ''p'tak''" when he believed he was going to steal the [[Sword of Kahless]] from him. ({{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}})
  
  +
;Alexander, vih-nob dok-tog: "Alexander, give him your dagger"
−
* In [[mirror universe history|2372]] in the mirror universe, [[Regent]] [[Worf (mirror)|Worf]] called [[Elim Garak (mirror)|Garak]] "the ''p'tak'' who lost [[Terok Nor (mirror)|Terok Nor]] to the [[Terran Rebellion|rebels]]". ({{DS9|Shattered Mirror}})
  
  +
;Mat-LEH gih-Hegh!: "I will be faithful even beyond death!"
−
* Worf called a [[Dopterian]] a ''p'tak'' after he discovered the [[alien]] had broken into his [[quarters]] and had stolen several items belonging to him. ({{DS9|Bar Association}})
  
  +
;DAH!; "Now!" ({{DS9|Sons and Daughters}})
−
* A Klingon stationed on [[Deep Space 9]] called [[Laas]] a ''p'tak'' after the [[Changeling]] told him his hands would have a stench on them if they were "stained with the blood of Klingon warriors", as the Klingon had told him. ({{DS9|Chimera}})
  
  +
{{bginfo|A line omitted from the episode was ''Wachk ihw, wachk kkor-duh.'' ("One blood, one house.") This line was repeated two more times.}}
−
* After [[The Doctor]] added a "daydream" subroutine to his program, and started malfunctioning, B'Elanna Torres reminded him of an old Klingon saying while she was trying to fix it: "''A Doctor that operates on himself has a ''pa'taQ'' for a patient.''" ({{VOY|Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy}})
  
  +
----
−
* The fully-[[Klingon]] [[B'Elanna Torres]] called her separated fully-[[Human]] self a ''petaQ'' several times after rescuing her Human counterpart from a [[Vidiian]] prison barracks. ({{VOY|Faces}})
  
  +
[[File:They are coming.jpg|thumb|ghoSlI' chaH ("They are coming") written in Klingon]]
−
* B'Elanna Torres used to call [[Max Burke]] ''pahtk'' while they were attending Starfleet Academy. ({{VOY|Equinox}})
  
  +
;ghoSlI' chaH: "They are coming." ({{DIS|The Vulcan Hello}})
−
* B'Elanna Torres called [[Ensign]] [[Vorik]] a ''petaQ'' when they were both under the influence of Vorik's [[Pon farr]]. ({{VOY|Blood Fever}})
  
  +
----
−
* B'Elanna Torres called [[Tuvok]] a ''petaQ'' when during a vivid dream before discovering she was on her way to [[Gre'thor]]. ({{VOY|Barge of the Dead}})
  
  +
;N'Gos tlhogh cha!: "Our marriage is done." ({{DS9|The House of Quark}})
−
* The Doctor's holographic son, Jeffrey, called his father a ''petaQ'' when he tried to tell Jeffrey to stop hanging out with Klingons. ({{VOY|Real Life}})
  
  +
----
−  
  +
;Bosh-ta-JaH Veridian: "Set course for Veridian." ({{film|7}})
−
{{bginfo|As can be seen above, many different spellings of the word have appeared over the years. ''petaQ'' is the official Klingon spelling from [[Marc Okrand]]'s ''[[The Klingon Dictionary|Klingon Dictionary]]''.}}
  
  +
----
−  
  +
;Louk, a jeek CHIM-ta law: "Yeah, but I'm a lot better looking than he was." ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}})
−
== Non-Klingon speakers of Klingonese ==
  
  +
----
−
* [[Arturis]]
  
  +
;Ach Gowron, yay chol: "But Gowron, victory is near." ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}})
−
* [[Curzon Dax]]
  
  +
----
−
* [[Ezri Dax]]
  
  +
;Do-MACH ah chee ghos eh-PAGH: "Can you be a victor of the heart as well as the sword?" ({{DS9|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}})
−
* [[Jadzia Dax]]
  
  +
----
−
* [[Emergency Medical Hologram]]
  
  +
;Ros-te-ka cha'Domak ootha Trill?: "Did you think her spots were going to bite you?" ({{DS9|Soldiers of the Empire}})
−
* [[Sito Jaxa]]
  
  +
----
−
* [[Flaherty]]
  
  +
;Tug son bosh mok A'Beh, Sirella koH. E'Gagh vet moh.: "Enter my home and be welcome, Mistress Sirella. May you find it worthy."
−
* [[Elim Garak]]
  
  +
{{bginfo|In a line cut from the episode, Sirella responded, "Eck'taH roh masa qee'Plok." (May this be the first of many visits.)}}
−
* [[Kathryn Janeway]]
  
  +
----
−
* [[James T. Kirk]]
  
  +
;Jadzia Dax Vond Shoo-vwee Dun Mahh-kekh Huh-Koo-Vahm Jeh Yin-Moj Mah-Mukh. Sto-vo-kor Pah-Dahkh-tin Baht-leh el-eegh-cha yay-moj.: "We dedicate this mission and our lives to the memory of a great warrior, Jadzia Dax. Through our victory, she will enter the sacred halls of Sto-vo-kor." ({{DS9|Shadows and Symbols}})
−
* [[Melora Pazlar]]
  
  +
----
−
* [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
  
  +
;YuWee-modge. Baht-leh-modge. Yay-Dodge.: "Blood. Honor. Glory." ({{DS9|Shadows and Symbols}})
−
* [[Quark]]
  
  +
----
−
* [[William T. Riker]]
  
  +
;Jadzia pay-lodge pah-dock-Lih Dun. Shoo-vwee-vahm baht-leh pay-lodge. Pay-lodge Poh-Hokh-Vahd Sto-vo-kor.: "Welcome Jadzia to your halls... welcome this honored warrior... welcome her, Sto-vo-kor, for all eternity." ({{DS9|Shadows and Symbols}})
−
* [[Hoshi Sato]]
  
  +
{{clear}}
−
* [[Montgomery Scott]]
  
−
* [[Benjamin Sisko]]
  
−
* ''{{alt|Nyota Uhura}}''
  
   
 
== Appendices ==
  
== Appendices ==
  +
=== Appearances ===
  +
<div class="appear">
  +
* {{Star Trek films}}
  +
** {{film|1}}
  +
** {{film|3}} (by [[Commander]] [[Kruge]] and crew)
  +
** {{film|5}}
  +
** {{film|6}}
  +
** {{film|9}}
  +
** {{film|11}} (Deleted Scene, by the Klingon guards of [[Rura Penthe]])
  +
** {{film|12}}
  +
* {{TNG}}
  +
** {{e|Heart of Glory}}
  +
** {{e|The Icarus Factor}}
  +
** {{e|Emissary}}
  +
** {{e|Sins of The Father}}
  +
** {{e|Reunion}}
  +
** {{e|The Mind's Eye}}
  +
** {{e|Redemption}}
  +
** {{e|Cause And Effect}}
  +
** {{e|Birthright, Part II}} (sung by the Klingons in the Romulan prison camp after Worf returns from "the hunt")
  +
** {{e|Rightful Heir}}
  +
** {{e|Parallels}} (by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[bridge]] crew, at [[Worf]]'s birthday party)
  +
** {{e|Lower Decks}}
  +
* {{DS9}}
  +
** {{e|Playing God}}
  +
** {{e|Blood Oath}}
  +
** {{e|The Way of the Warrior}}
  +
** {{e|Apocalypse Rising}}
  +
** {{e|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}}
  +
** {{e|Blaze of Glory}}
  +
** {{e|Sons and Daughters}}
  +
** {{e|You Are Cordially Invited}}
  +
** {{e|Tears of the Prophets}}
  +
** {{e|What You Leave Behind}}
  +
* {{VOY}}
  +
** {{e|Real Life}} (by [[Jeffrey]])
  +
** {{e|The Killing Game, Part II}}
  +
** {{e|Hope and Fear}} (by [[Arturis]])
  +
** {{e|In the Flesh}} (by [[Valerie Archer]])
  +
** {{e|Barge of the Dead}}
  +
** {{e|Dragon's Teeth}}
  +
** {{e|Endgame}} (by [[Miral Paris]])
  +
* {{ENT}}
  +
** {{e|Broken Bow}} (by [[Klaang]], [[Hoshi Sato]] and the leader of the [[Klingon High Council]])
  +
** {{e|Sleeping Dogs}}
  +
** {{e|Marauders}}
  +
** {{e|The Augments}}
  +
** {{e|Observer Effect}} (by Hoshi Sato)
  +
** {{e|Affliction}} (by the unnamed [[Klingon 22nd prisoner 001|Klingon prisoner]])
  +
* {{DIS}}
  +
** {{e|The Vulcan Hello}}
  +
** {{e|Battle at the Binary Stars}}
  +
** {{e|The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry}}
  +
** {{e|Choose Your Pain}}
  +
** {{e|Lethe}}
  +
** {{e|Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum}}
  +
** {{e|Into the Forest I Go}}
  +
** {{e|Despite Yourself}}
  +
** {{e|The Wolf Inside}}
  +
** {{e|Will You Take My Hand?}}
  +
** {{e|Point of Light}}
  +
** {{e|An Obol for Charon}}
  +
** {{e|Perpetual Infinity}}
  +
** {{e|Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2}}
  +
* {{LD|Envoys}}
  +
* {{PRO|Kobayashi}}
  +
</div>
  +
 
=== Background information ===
  
=== Background information ===
−
The Klingon language was originally called "Klingonese" in the episode {{e|The Trouble with Tribbles}} (by [[Korax]]) and again in {{e|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}} (by [[Quark]]). Most later episodes refer to the language simply as "Klingon," and non-canon names include Klingonaase and ''tlhIngan Hol''. Some people assert that [[Michael Pataki]] actually said "Klingoni" in "The Trouble with Tribbles", possibly a result of his character's drunken state, but this conflicts with the script and the ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]''.
 +
The Klingon language was originally called "Klingonese" in the episode {{e|The Trouble with Tribbles}} (by [[Korax]]) and again in {{e|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}} (by [[Quark]]), and is spelled in the script and the {{ste|4|1|430}}. The term was also used in the script of {{film|1}} noted whenever the Klingons were speaking. Most later episodes refer to the language simply as "Klingon," and non-canon names include Klingonaase and ''tlhIngan Hol''.
   
  +
[[File:D7-class signage as designed by Matt Jefferies.jpg|thumb|Jefferies' Klingon emblem and script design]]
−
The Klingon language was developed by [[James Doohan]] for {{film|1}}, and expanded for {{film|3}} by [[Marc Okrand]], who enlarged the lexicon and created a grammar around the original dozen words Doohan had created. It has spawned several [[reference works]], beginning with ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]''. [[Montgomery Scott|Scotty]] once remarked, "''reading Klingon, that's hard.''" ({{film|4}})
  
  +
A few characters of Klingon script were first devised by [[Matt Jefferies]], also responsible for the very first visual representation of the definitive Klingon emblem, for use on the [[D7 class model]] as used in the ''Original Series''. ({{STTM|2|6|70}}) Additional letters were created by [[Magicam]] for {{film|1}}. (''[[Star Trek Sticker Book]]'', pg. 17)
   
−
[[Michael Okuda]], who led the [[TNG]]-era art departments in creating Klingon language graphics, has admitted they are randomly arranged symbols, which he based on the small number of Klingon writings visible in [[TOS]] and the {{Star Trek films}}. These graphics and writings do not reflect any possible spellings or translations in what Okrand's non-[[canon]] works call ''pIqaD'', the native Klingon writing system. ''(NOTE: An unofficial guide to ''pIqaD'' is included on the box insert of the ''[[Star Trek Klingon Edition Monopoly]]'' game.)''
 +
[[Michael Okuda]], who led the {{s|TNG}}-era art departments in creating the Klingon language graphics, starting from {{film|4}} onward, has admitted they are randomly arranged symbols, which he based on the small number of Klingon writings visible in {{s|TOS}} and the first three {{Star Trek films}}. These graphics and writings do not reflect any possible spellings or translations in what Okrand's non-[[canon]] works call ''pIqaD'', the native Klingon writing system. (Note: An unofficial guide to ''pIqaD'' is included on the box insert of the ''[[Star Trek Klingon Edition Monopoly]]'' game.)
  +
  +
The Klingon language as spoken was originally developed by UCLA dialectician [[Hartmut Scharfe]], [[James Doohan]], and [[Jon Povill]] for {{film|1}}. Doohan, who had expertise with various dialects, became involved in developing the Klingon language after he had a discussion with [[Gene Roddenberry]] over lunch. Decades later, Doohan remembered, "''[Roddenberry] didn't like what [the dialectician] created. I said, 'Well, I'll do it for you after lunch.' I was doing something close to Mongolian.''" Povill has related in more detail, "''When we switched from TV to motion picture, we had decided to make sure that the Klingons weren't speaking English, so we now asked our language expert, Hartmut, to help us construct a Klingon language. Whereas he had given us just what we needed for the [[Vulcan]]s, his Klingonese didn't sound alien enough. Hartmut is Indian ''[sic: Scharfe was of German descent, but a languages specialist as spoken on the Indian subcontinent]'', and he was using it as a combination of Sanskrit and Germanic, it sounded in some ways recognizable, so we were not completely satisfied. Jimmy Doohan has always been good at just kind of making up dialects and languages, so he volunteered his services to help us. After Hartmut had done his thing and worked it all out logically, Jimmy and I just sat down one day and made up stuff. We created the Klingonese by using some of what Hartmut had done and then combining it with our own: we strung together [[nonsense]] syllables, basically, totally made up sounds with clicks, and grunts, and hisses. Jimmy actually taught it to Mark Lenard and the others just prior to the shooting of that scene, which didn't take place until many months later.''" At the time, Doohan told his co-workers, "''We have to cut out vowels as much as possible.''" (''[[Return to Tomorrow - The Filming of Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'', pp.&nbsp;260–261; {{STM|80|16}})
  +
  +
At that time the language was first featured, it essentially consisted of only a few exclamations, and the Klingon language was expanded for {{film|3}} by [[Marc Okrand]], who enlarged the lexicon and created a grammar around the original dozen words Doohan had created. It has spawned several [[reference works]], beginning with ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]''.
  +
  +
Netflix offered Klingonese subtitles for their broadcast of {{s|DIS}}. As well, they put out a press release about the show written in Klingonese. {{twitter|jqbilbao/status/912731705039052801}}
  +
  +
One of the questions raised by a lawsuit against the creators of the fan film ''Star Trek: Axanar'' involved specifically identifying who owned the Klingon language and could therefore use it in that production and other unofficial films. {{el|theguardian.com/culture/2016/apr/29/star-trek-fan-film-klingon-paramount-cbs-lawsuit}}
  +
  +
To aid the Klingon-playing actors in {{s|DIS}} to learn Klingonese, a tape of the language was prepared by a speaker of Klingon, and two voice coaches also assisted the performers. ({{AT|O Discovery, Where Art Thou?}}) [[Robyn Stewart]] oversaw the Klingonese on the show. {{el|indiewire.com/2017/09/star-trek-discovery-klingon-language-translation-1201880882}} One of the actors who found these provisions especially helpful was T'Kuvma actor [[Chris Obi]], who was at first worried that he would struggle to learn all of his character's Klingon lines but was helped to overcome his anxiety regarding the language. He recalled, "''Immediately, we were told, 'Make it your own,' because it's not just making it Human, because you don't want it to be Human. You want it to represent the relationship with the word, with the sound.{{'}}''" In addition to the other helpers, Obi was helped by [[Sonequa Martin-Green]], who advised him that the Klingon language was deep inside the person speaking it, which he subsequently found to be true. ({{AT|O Discovery, Where Art Thou?}})
  +
  +
The teasers for {{e|Will You Take My Hand?}} and {{e|Point of Light}} both open with [[L'Rell]] providing voice over in Klingon: "''Hov leng: DISqa'vI'rIy - lut 'ay' vorgh.''" ("''Previously on ''Star Trek: Discovery''.''")
  +
  +
According to ''Guinness World Records'', Klingon is the most widely spoken fictional language in the world. {{el|https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/9/star-trek-at-50-ten-records-that-go-beyond-the-final-frontier}}
  +
  +
==== Deleted scenes ====
  +
The word for sex in Klingonese was "''seloh''". It appeared in the {{st-minutiae|resources/scripts/165.txt|script}} for {{e|Sins of The Father}} and was mentioned in the ''Star Trek Encyclopedia'' (3rd ed., p.&nbsp;436). Another phrase in the script, but not heard in the episode, was ''tam'' (''be quiet!'')
  +
  +
The term for "well done" in Klingonese was "''maj-Kkah''", according to the ''Star Trek Encyclopedia'' (4th ed., vol. 2, p. 13). The [[reference work]] stated that this term came from the episode {{e|Sons and Daughters}}.
  +
  +
The term for "no problem" in Klingonese was "''Qay'be''", according to the ''Star Trek Encyclopedia'' (4th ed., vol. 2, p. 192). The reference work stated that this term came from the episode {{e|Real Life}} and explained, "''The expression was devised by Klingon language consultant Marc Okrand at the request of {{film|3}} visual effects supervisor [[Ken Ralston]], and was subsequently incorporated into the Klingon lexicon. It became a catchphrase for Ralston and his [[ILM]] crew, whenever they faced an unexpected problem or a last-minute change during the production of the movie. No matter how difficult the problem or how unusual the request might be, the proper [[warrior]]'s response was a firm ''Qay'be''!"''
  +
  +
The Klingon language is spoken in two [[deleted scene]]s from the film {{film|11}}. As translated into English in [[subtitle]]s which accompany those scenes, the following statements are said:
  +
  +
:''Trespassing vessel: you have entered the jurisdiction of the Klingon Empire. Power down and prepare to be boarded or you will be destroyed.''
  +
  +
:''We found these papers, hidden in your cell. Who? Tell us &ndash; or you will die. Tell us! Who do they belong to?!'' ("Klingons Take Over Narada" & "Prison Interrogation and Breakout", {{DVD|Star Trek|Special Edition|(Special Edition)}} [[DVD]]/{{DVD|Star Trek|Three disc Blu-ray|(Three disc Blu-ray)}}/''[[Star Trek: The Compendium]]'' [[Blu-ray]] special features)
  +
  +
{{bginfo|As scripted, more Klingon dialogue was to be spoken in the second of the two deleted scenes than is said in the final edit of that scene. In the script, the extra dialogue stated, "''I have come far to meet you. '[[Nero|The One Who Does Not Speak]].' Ten years is a long time to maintain silence. Perhaps you simply do not speak <u>Klingon</u>, just as I do not speak [[Romulan language|Romulan]].''" ''{{el|imsdb.com/scripts/Star-Trek.html}}''}}
  +
  +
====Lyrics====
  +
[[Composers]] have also used Klingon lyrics in their leitmotifs for the films. [[Cliff Eidelman]], who composed {{film|6}} used ''<nowiki>taH pagh taHbe'</nowiki>'', a translation of "to be or not to be", for the choral parts for the score on [[Rura Penthe]], in reference to {{dis|Chang|General}}'s love of [[William Shakespeare]]. {{el|patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2013/05/music-for-klingons-part-three-eidelman-giacchino.html}}
  +
  +
For {{film|12}}, music editor [[Alex Levy]] incorporated Klingon lyrics into [[Michael Giacchino]]'s score, mainly using Klingon insults to represent their fury at {{alt|James T. Kirk|Kirk}}'s intrusion of their planet. {{el|wqxr.org/#!/programs/movies/2013/may/04}}
  +
  +
==== ''The Klingon Dictionary'' ====
  +
The ''tlhIngan Hol'' dialect is featured most prominently in the ''Star Trek'' movies and intermittently in the series. Some writers on the television series followed ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' fairly closely, while others did not. {{st.com|article/qapla-klingon-language-creator-marc-okrand-part-2}} [[Ronald D. Moore]], noted for his major contributions to developing the Klingon culture, commented "''Whether or not we use the language as spelled out in Marc's dictionary is up to the individual writer. I personally find the dictionary cumbersome and usually find it easier to make it up phonetically.''" {{AOLchat|Ronald D. Moore|ron073|1997}} Marc Okrand noted that despite these departures, "''[A]ny Klingon spoken during TNG counts as legitimate Klingon, whether I made it up or not, and I've incorporated all of it into the language.''" {{st.com|article/qapla-klingon-language-creator-marc-okrand-part-2}}
  +
  +
Such departures from Okrand's version included the following:
  +
* The writers made up their own Klingon words: e.g ''kuva'magh'' or ''pfiots'', against Okrand's pronunciation rules of standard ''tlhIngan Hol''
  +
* They used established Klingon words but in such a way that they were strung together without following Okrand's grammar rules, for example ''<nowiki>SoH batlh jI'</nowiki>'' for "you honor me", even though this sentence means something like "I am a honor you are". The correct translation of "you honor me" would be ''choquvmoH'' or ''tuquvmoH'', depending on whether ''you'' referred to one person or multiple people.
  +
* They gave new or extended meaning based on the English translation of a word, for example ''pu'DaH'' (pronounced poo-dakh) &ndash; phasers and ''cha'' (pronounced chah) &ndash; torpedoes, becomes ''pu'Dah dak cha'' (pronounced puh-dar dack chah) meaning photon torpedoes, when Okrand had already devised ' ''otlh cha''.
  +
* Okrand specified that Klingons do not have any rituals for ending conversations, since courtesy was not part of their culture. A conversation simply ends when either participant leaves. However, ''Qapla''' ("success") is often used in dialogue where English-speaking Humans would say, "good-bye".
   
−
==== Sounds ====
 +
===== Sounds =====
−
The sounds of the Klingon language as developed by Marc Okrand are harsh and guttural. This transliteration system was used in preparing scripts and phrases when Okrand supplied dialog and coached pronunciation.
 +
The sounds of the Klingon language as developed by Marc Okrand are harsh and guttural. This transliteration system was used in preparing scripts and phrases when Okrand supplied dialogue and coached pronunciation.
   
−
Below is a table providing a rough guide on how to pronounce Klingon and the standard transliteration of the sounds of Klingon. Please note that this table corresponds to the sounds of the standard dialect used when Okrand created the language; other writers have introduced other sounds and concepts into the language.
+
Below is a table providing a rough guide on how to pronounce Klingon and the standard transliteration of the sounds of Klingon, corresponding to the sounds of the standard dialect used when Okrand created the language. Other writers have introduced other sounds and concepts into the language since.
   
 
{| class="grey"
  
{| class="grey"
Line 395: Line 910:
 
|-
  
|-
 
| '''H'''
  
| '''H'''
−
| as in Scottish lo'''ch''' or German Ba'''ch'''
 +
| as in Scottish lo'''ch''' or German Ba'''ch'''
 
| '''t'''
  
| '''t'''
 
| as in '''t'''ops
  
| as in '''t'''ops
Line 426: Line 941:
 
| '''ng'''
  
| '''ng'''
 
| as in si'''ng''', never like the "ng" in fi'''ng'''er
  
| as in si'''ng''', never like the "ng" in fi'''ng'''er
−
| ''''''
 +
| ''''''<nowiki/>'''''
 
| {{w|glottal stop}}, as in uh'''-'''oh or cockney bo'''(tt)'''le
  
| {{w|glottal stop}}, as in uh'''-'''oh or cockney bo'''(tt)'''le
 
|}
  
|}
   
−
==== Basic phrases ====
 +
===== Basic phrases =====
−
Below is a short list of some useful basic phrases in the ''tlhIngan Hol'' dialect, the most commonly-heard dialect used in the [[Klingon Empire|Empire]].
+
Below is a short list of some useful basic phrases in the ''tlhIngan Hol'' dialect, the most commonly-heard dialect used in the [[Klingon Empire|Empire]].
 
{| class="grey"
  
{| class="grey"
 
|-
  
|-
−
! English (''Human Hol'', ''DIvI' Hol'')
 +
! English (''tera'ngan Hol'', ''DIvI' Hol'')
 
! Klingonese (''tlhIngan Hol'')
  
! Klingonese (''tlhIngan Hol'')
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Do you speak Klingon?
 
| Do you speak Klingon?
−
| ''tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a'''
 +
| ''<nowiki>tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a'</nowiki>''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| I don't speak Klingon.
  
| I don't speak Klingon.
−
| ''tlhIngan Hol vIjatlhbe'''
 +
| ''<nowiki>tlhIngan Hol vIjatlhbe'</nowiki>''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Do you speak English?
  
| Do you speak English?
−
| ''DIvI' Hol Dajatlh'a'''
 +
| ''<nowiki>DIvI' Hol Dajatlh'a'</nowiki>''
  +
|-
  +
| I am a Klingon.
  +
| ''tlhIngan jIH''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| I understand.
 
| I understand.
Line 456: Line 974:
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Buy or die!
  
| Buy or die!
−
| ''bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh!
 +
| ''bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Pay now!
 
| Pay now!
 
| ''DaH yIDIl''
  
| ''DaH yIDIl''
 
|-
  
|-
−
| I am a ...
+
| I am a …
−
| ''... jIH''
 +
| ''&hellip; jIH''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Klingon, Romulan, Human
  
| Klingon, Romulan, Human
Line 468: Line 986:
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Vulcan, Ferengi, Cardassian
  
| Vulcan, Ferengi, Cardassian
−
| ''vulqangan'', ''verengan'', ''qarDaSngan/qarDaSya'ngan''
 +
| ''vulqangan'', ''verengan'', ''qarDaSngan''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Visual!
  
| Visual!
Line 476: Line 994:
 
| ''cha yIghuS''
  
| ''cha yIghuS''
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| Ready…
−
| Ready...
  
−
| '''eHHH...''
 +
| '''eH…''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Evasive!
  
| Evasive!
−
| ''juntaH!''
 +
| ''juntaH''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Surrender or die!
  
| Surrender or die!
−
| ''bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh!''
 +
| ''bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh''
 
|-
  
|-
 
| It is a good day to die!
  
| It is a good day to die!
 
| ''Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam''
  
| ''Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam''
  +
|-
  +
| You follow me.
  +
| c''hoghoS''
  +
|-
  +
| Come!
  +
| ''HIghoS''
  +
|-
  +
| Stop!
  +
| ''yImev''
  +
|-
  +
| What's going on?
  +
| ''qastaH nuq''
  +
|-
  +
| Well done!
  +
| ''majQa'''
  +
|-
  +
| Let's go.
  +
| ''maghoS''
 
|}
  
|}
   
−
==== Inconsistencies ====
 +
=== Apocrypha ===
−
The ''tlhIngan Hol'' dialect is featured most prominently in the ''Star Trek'' movies and intermittently in the series. Some writers on the television series followed ''[[The Klingon Dictionary]]'' fairly closely, while others did not. {{st.com|qapla-klingon-language-creator-marc-okrand-part-2||article}} [[Ronald D. Moore]], noted for his major contributions to developing the Klingon culture, commented "''Whether or not we use the language as spelled out in Marc's dictionary is up to the individual writer. I personally find the dictionary cumbersome and usually find it easier to make it up phonetically.''" {{AOLchat|Ronald D. Moore|ron073|1997}} Marc Okrand noted that despite these departures, "''[A]ny Klingon spoken during TNG counts as legitimate Klingon, whether I made it up or not, and I've incorporated all of it into the language.''" {{st.com|qapla-klingon-language-creator-marc-okrand-part-2||article}}
  
−  
−
Such departures from Okrand's version included the following:
  
−
*The writers made up their own Klingon words: e.g ''kuva'magh'' or ''pfiots'', against Okrand's pronunciation rules of standard ''tlhIngan Hol''
  
−
*They used established Klingon words but in such a way that they were strung together without following Okrand's grammar rules, for example ''SoH batlh jI''' for "you honor me", even though this sentence means something like "I am a honor you are". The correct translation of "you honor me" would be ''choquvmoH'' or ''tuquvmoH'', depending on whether ''you'' referred to one person or multiple people.
  
−
*They gave new or extended meaning based on the English translation of a word, for example ''pu'DaH'' (pronounced poo-dakh) - phasers and ''cha'' (pronounced chah) - torpedoes, becomes ''pu'Dah dak cha'' (pronounced puh-dar dack chah) meaning photon torpedoes, when Okrand had already devised ' ''otlh cha''.
  
−
*Okrand specified that Klingons do have any rituals for ending conversations, since courtesy was not part of their culture. A conversation simply ends when either participant leaves. However, ''qapla''' ("success") is often used in dialog where English-speaking humans would say, "good-bye".
  
−  
−
====Lyrics====
  
−
[[Composers]] have also used Klingon lyrics in their leitmotifs for the films. [[Cliff Eidelman]], who composed {{film|6}} used ''taH pagh taHbe''', a translation of "to be or not to be", for the choral parts for the score on [[Rura Penthe]], in reference to [[Chang (General)|Chang]]'s love of [[William Shakespeare]]. [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2013/05/music-for-klingons-part-three-eidelman-giacchino.html]
  
−  
−
For {{film|12}}, music editor [[Alex Levy]] incorporated Klingon lyrics into [[Michael Giacchino]]'s score, mainly using Klingon insults to represent their fury at {{alt|James T. Kirk|Kirk}}'s intrusion of their planet. [http://www.wqxr.org/#!/programs/movies/2013/may/04/]
  
−  
−
==== See also ====
  
 
* ''[[The Klingon Hamlet]]''
  
* ''[[The Klingon Hamlet]]''
   
  +
===External links===
−
=== Episodes in which Klingonese is spoken ===
  
  +
*{{mbeta|Klingonese}}
−
<div class="appear">
  
−
* {{Star Trek films}}
 +
*{{mbeta|Klingonaase}}
−
** {{film|1}}
 +
*{{mbeta|tlhIngan Hol}}
  +
*{{el|wiki.qephom.de/En|Klingon Language Wiki}} &ndash; a wiki to teach and learn Klingon
−
** {{film|3}} (by [[Commander]] [[Kruge]] and crew)
  
  +
*[[w:c:klingon|The Klingon Encyclopedia]] (only in Klingon)
−
** {{film|5}}
  
  +
*[[w:c:mughom:tlhIngan Hol mu'ghom:ghItlh'a'|The Klingon Dictionary]]
−
** {{film|6}}
  
  +
*{{el|kli.org|Klingon Language Institute}}
−
** {{film|9}}
  
  +
*{{wikipedia|Klingon language}}
−
** {{film|11}} (Deleted Scene, by the Klingon guards of [[Rura Penthe]])
  
  +
*{{el|google.com/intl/xx-klingon|Klingon portal|google.com|Google}} &ndash; Kloogle?
−
** {{film|12}}
  
  +
*{{el|klingonska.org|Klingonska Akademien}} &ndash; Swedish Klingon Academy
−
* {{TNG}}
  
  +
*{{el|translate.com|Translate.com}} &ndash; a website that translates Klingon
−
** {{e|The Icarus Factor}}
  
−
** {{e|Reunion}}
  
−
** {{e|The Mind's Eye}}
  
−
** {{e|Redemption}}
  
−
** {{e|Cause and Effect}}
  
−
** {{e|Birthright, Part II}} (sung by the Klingons in the Romulan prison camp after Worf returns from "the hunt")
  
−
** {{e|Rightful Heir}}
  
−
** {{e|Parallels}} (by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[bridge]] crew, at [[Worf]]'s birthday party)
  
−
** {{e|Lower Decks}}
  
−
* {{DS9}}
  
−
** {{e|Playing God}}
  
−
** {{e|Blood Oath}}
  
−
** {{e|The Way of the Warrior}}
  
−
** {{e|Apocalypse Rising}}
  
−
** {{e|Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places}}
  
−
** {{e|Blaze of Glory}}
  
−
** {{e|Sons and Daughters}}
  
−
** {{e|You Are Cordially Invited}}
  
−
** {{e|Tears of the Prophets}}
  
−
** {{e|What You Leave Behind}}
  
−
* {{VOY}}
  
−
** {{e|Real Life}} (by [[Jeffrey]])
  
−
** {{e|Hope and Fear}} (by [[Arturis]])
  
−
** {{e|Barge of the Dead}}
  
−
** {{e|Dragon's Teeth}}
  
−
** {{e|Endgame}} (by [[Miral Paris]])
  
−
* {{ENT}}
  
−
** {{e|Broken Bow}} (by [[Klaang]], [[Hoshi Sato]] and the leader of the [[Klingon High Council]])
  
−
** {{e|Sleeping Dogs}}
  
−
** {{e|Observer Effect}} (by Hoshi Sato)
  
−
** {{e|Affliction}} (by the unnamed [[Unnamed Klingons (22nd century)#Klingon Prisoner|Klingon prisoner]])
  
−
</div>
  
−  
−
=== External links ===
  
−
* [[w:c:klingon|The Klingon Encyclopedia]]
  
−
* [[w:c:mughom:tlhIngan Hol mu'ghom:ghItlh'a'|The Klingon Dictionary]]
  
−
* [http://www.kli.org Klingon Language Institute]
  
−
* {{wikipedia|Klingon language}}
  
−
* {{NCwiki}}
  
−
* [http://www.google.com/intl/xx-klingon/ Klingon portal] at [http://www.google.com Google] - Kloogle?
  
−
* [http://klingonska.org/ Klingon Academy]
  
   
 
[[de:Klingonische Sprache]]
  
[[de:Klingonische Sprache]]
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[[sv:Klingonska]]
  
[[sv:Klingonska]]
 
[[eo:Klingonlingvo]]
  
[[eo:Klingonlingvo]]
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[[ca:Klingon (idioma)]]
  +
[[uk:Клінґонська мова]]
 
[[Category:Klingonese| ]]
  
[[Category:Klingonese| ]]

Latest revision as of 18:29, 2 November 2023

Multiple realities
(covers information from several alternate timelines)
Klingon script

The Klingon written language

"That sagging old rust bucket is designed like a garbage scow. Half the quadrant knows it. That's why they're learning to speak Klingonese."

Klingonese (also known more commonly as "Klingon") was the language used by the Klingon species and throughout the Klingon Empire. It was boasted that half the quadrant was learning the language by the mid-23rd century. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")

History

Paq batlh

The paq'batlh, an ancient Klingon scroll

Somraw captain on display with writing

Klingon characters on a terminal (2151)

T'sang board

Handwritten Klingon script on a t'Sang board (2257)

The Klingon language contained eighty poly-guttural dialects constructed on an adaptive syntax. The first Human to become fluent in it was Hoshi Sato in 2151, who learned from a linguistic database provided by the Vulcans. (ENT: "Broken Bow") Sato once remarked that a book given to her by Tarquin, written by a civilization over a thousand years dead, was in a language very similar to Medieval Klingon. (ENT: "Exile")

Arturis, who knew over four thousand languages, described Klingon as a robust language. In fact, B'Elanna Torres stated that she found the language a little too robust for her taste. (VOY: "Hope and Fear") It was not however an immutable language. It was constantly changing to meet the needs and aspirations of the people. In the mid-24th century, the word "peacemaker" appeared for the first time in Klingonese after the negotiations mediated by Riva between the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets took place. (TNG: "Loud As A Whisper") Still, as of the late 24th century, there did not seem to be a Klingon word for "jolly". (TNG: "Parallels")

By the late-23rd century, several Federation authors wrote books on learning the Klingon language. Uhura had several on hand aboard the Enterprise-A in 2293 when she had to convince a Klingon patrol post that they were the Klingon freighter Ursva, including Introduction to Klingon Grammar. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Several of these books were seen in greater detail in the Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition) DVD special features.
Nichelle Nichols complained that with the Klingons as the Federation's primary enemy, a good communications officer would be able to speak at least basic Klingon. Director Nicholas Meyer preferred to keep the scene as it was, for "the laugh."

In the alternate reality, Uhura described her mastery of Klingon as "rusty", but she appeared fluent enough to negotiate with members of the Klingon Defense Force. (Star Trek Into Darkness)

Non-Klingon speakers of Klingonese

Prime reality

Alternate reality

Written language

Klingon written language

A Klingon bulkhead reading: "Deck 2, red sector"

Montgomery Scott once stated that reading Klingon was hard compared to maintaining damage control aboard a Klingon Bird-of-Prey. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

The directory of the Promenade on Deep Space 9 was written in Klingonese, as well as English, Vulcan, Ferengi, Bajoran, and Cardassian.

Spoken language

Kathryn Janeway could barely speak basic Klingon. Despite being half-Klingon, B'Elanna Torres was only able to speak a few phrases of Klingonese. (VOY: "Hope and Fear") In 2374, Alexander Rozhenko admitted to Miles O'Brien that he could barely even say his name in Klingon. (DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited")

Words and phrases

Word Meaning Usage Source
adanji a type of incense used only for Mauk-to'Vor DS9: "Sons of Mogh"
baH fire! (as in torpedoes, disruptors, etc.) Star Trek: The Motion Picture; TNG: "Redemption"
baktag an insult TNG: "Redemption II"
bat'leth sword of honor; a two-handed sword-like Klingon melee weapon TNG: "Reunion"
Bekk an enlisted rank in the Klingon Defense Force DS9: "Sons and Daughters"
cha'DIch an individual who fought for a warrior challenging a ruling of the Klingon High Council TNG: "Sins of The Father"
"CHEGH-chew jaj-VAM jaj-KAK" "Today is a good day to die" Perhaps a dialectal form of tlhIngan Hol Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"
Cho'echu "Energize" DS9: "The House of Quark"
DaH! Now! TNG: "Redemption II"
De-lak DOH! Take your stations! DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire"
d'akturak ice-man DS9: "Blood Oath"
d'blok an insult
The Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 174) identifies d'blok as a Klingon animal.
In 2372, Chancellor Gowron compared Worf to a mute d'blok, when Worf didn't answer Gowron's offer to come with him to Cardassia Prime immediately. DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"
Dhak'tah wall/barrier/hull ENT: "Sleeping Dogs"
d'k tahg a traditional Klingon warrior's knife Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Fek'lhr the demonic guard of Gre'thor, according to Klingon mythology TNG: "Devil's Due"
Forshak a substance which smells bad when it rots In 2373, Worf insulted Thopok by suggesting he smelled like a pile of rotting forshak. DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places"
Ghay'cha' an expletive Said in confusion at seeing an empty bridge in the Kobayashi Maru scenario. PRO: "Kobayashi"
ghoptu hand DS9: "Blood Oath"
Ghos! Make it so! TNG: "Redemption", "Redemption II"
Gin'tak an inductee to a Klingon house DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"
gik'tal to the death TNG: "Lower Decks"
Gre'thor the mythological place where souls of the dishonored go after death TNG: "Devil's Due"
he' HImaH energize (voice command to transporter activation) DS9: "Past Prologue"
Ha'DIbaH! animal Worf said of Duras that "This Ha'DIbaH should have been fed to the dogs!" TNG: "Sins of The Father"
Hechu'ghos set course (set a ship's course) TNG: "Unification I"
HIjol energize (voice command to transporter activation) ENT: "Marauders"
hur'q outsider DS9: "The Sword of Kahless"
in'cha begin DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"
jagh enemy ENT: "Judgment"
jak'tahla Klingon time of adolescence Star Trek: Insurrection
Jatlh speak TNG: "Unification I"
jat'yIn spiritual possession, literally "the taking of the living by the dead" TNG: "Power Play"
Jelik a word, phrase, name, place, or event mentioned by Klaang to Hoshi Sato in 2151; along with Sarin, Rigel, and Tholia, Sato could not translate the word or understand its meaning ENT: "Broken Bow"
jinaq a pendant given to a young Klingon female old enough to take a mate TNG: "Birthright, Part II"
J'khat bah fusion manifold ENT: "Sleeping Dogs"
k'adlo thank you TNG: "The Mind's Eye"
kajunpak't courage DS9: "Blood Oath"
ka'vek you, there a situational term, as it was used either as a challenge or as an interrogative DS9: "Chimera"
ke'chaw defend yourself DS9: "Chimera"
kellicam a Klingon measurement of distance Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
kesh an exclamation of frustration or disappointment DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach"
khi-GOSH let's go DS9: "Blaze of Glory"
Kolat chack tabak plasma containment ENT: "Sleeping Dogs"
koruts derogatory term DS9: "Sons of Mogh"
k'pekt an insult DS9: "Blood Oath"
Kortar in Klingon mythology, the first Klingon created by the gods and who destroyed them VOY: "Barge of the Dead"
Kos'Karii pale, serpent-like creatures from Klingon mythology, who roamed the waters of the underworld VOY: "Barge of the Dead"
ko'tal unknown – possibly "fighter" – K'mtar referred to a holographic Klingon fighter as one TNG: "Firstborn"
kut'luch a traditional knife used by Klingon assassins TNG: "Sins of The Father" VOY: "Real Life"
Kyamo beautiful DS9: "Blood Oath"
Len'mat recess; adjourned TNG: "Sins of The Father", "Redemption"
Mak'dar insult DS9: "The House of Quark"
Maj ram good night DS9: "The Sword of Kahless"
Mahk-cha! engage DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire"
mat-LEH loyalty DS9: "Sons and Daughters"
Mauk-to'Vor a ritual in which one killed a wrongfully disgraced sibling to restore their honor in Sto-vo-kor DS9: "Sons of Mogh"
mek'leth a Klingon blade weapon DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"
mevak a traditional knife used for Mauk-to'Vor DS9: "Sons of Mogh"
mev'yap a stern command to immediately cease an activity In 2367, Jean-Luc Picard shouted this command at Gowron and Duras when the two were about to attack each other during the start of the Ja'chuq ceremony. Two years later, Picard barked this command at CaptainNu'Daq. TNG: "Reunion", "The Chase"
mok begin DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places"
Mok'tah bad match VOY: "Drive"
movek I lose DS9: "Sons of Mogh"
Naj "dream before dying" VOY: "Barge of the Dead"
naDev ghoS! come here TNG: "Redemption"
nIb'poH déjà vu TNG: "Cause And Effect"
nuqneH. qaleghnes. A Klingon greeting TNG: "The Emissary"
Nuq'nuh A traditional greeting. DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach"
Ouee nagah impulse drive ENT: "Sleeping Dogs"
par'Mach love, but with more aggressive or violent undertones DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places"
par'Mach'kai a term of endearment, used to refer to one's mate DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin..."; VOY: "Prophecy"
petaQ an insult See below TNG: "The Defector", et al.
Po'tajg! well done! TNG: "Firstborn"
poH qut time crystals DIS: "Through the Valley of Shadows"
Pu'DaH dak cha photon torpedoes ENT: "Sleeping Dogs"
Qapla' success Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
qi'von knee DS9: "Blood Oath"
Quee nagah impulse drive ENT: "Sleeping Dogs"
Qui'Tu the place where all life began, according to Klingon mythology Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
qu'vatlh an expletive In 2374, Martok said Alexander Rozhenko and his father Worf were both "stubborn, tiresome qu'vatlh". In 2383, Gwyn used this curse when the USS Protostar's escape pods were ejected before she could access one. DS9: "Sons and Daughters"; PRO: "Starstruck"
shuVak a servant DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach"
sli'vak someone who sleeps around DS9: "Penumbra"
Soh-chIm step-sibling, god parent (roughly); legal guardian assigned by a Klingon warrior prior to battle TNG: "Parallels"
Sonchi "He is dead" The phrase confirms the death of the incumbent Klingon Chancellor in the Sonchi ceremony, performed to begin the Rite of Succession. TNG: "Reunion"
so'wl'chu' engage; activate TNG: "Unification I"
Sowee TAH uncloak DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"
Sto-vo-kor the afterlife of the honored dead, where Kahless the Unforgettable resided TNG: "Rightful Heir"
SuH ready TNG: "Redemption"
Suvwl' warrior TNG: "The Icarus Factor", "Redemption"
t'gla an insult DS9: "Invasive Procedures"
tlhIngan maH taHjaj "Remain Klingon" or "We are Klingon, may we endure" DIS: "The Vulcan Hello", "Battle at the Binary Stars"; SNW: "Under the Cloak of War"
taHqeq a being known for telling lies; used as an insult when questioning another's honesty TNG: "The Mind's Eye"
toduj mettle LD: "The Least Dangerous Game", "The Inner Fight"
tohzah an insult TNG: "The Defector"
top'a an insult Nu'Daq chided one of his officers with "You incompetent top'a". TNG: "The Chase"
toruk-doh an insult DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited"
vang ghaH! take him! TNG: "Birthright, Part I"
yan a sword DS9: "Apocalypse Rising"
Yej rhin A call to adjourn the Council DS9: "The House of Quark"
Yih-Ghom-HAH! Dismissed DS9: "Sons and Daughters"
Yintagh an insult TNG: "Redemption"

petaQ

One Klingon term used as an insult on numerous occasions was petaQ (also spelled "Pahtak", "Pathak", "p'tahk", "p'takh", "patahk", "pahtk", "p'tak", or "p'taq"). It was also used by the Klingons of the mirror universe.

According to William T. Riker, petaQ was a curse word. (TNG: "The Defector")

As can be seen above, many different spellings of the word have appeared over the years. petaQ is the official Klingon spelling from Marc Okrand's Klingon Dictionary. According to the dictionary, petaQ literally means something like "weirdo", stemming from the verb "to be weird", but it accumulated so many extra cultural connotations over time that a direct translation is difficult, and it is actually quite a serious insult.

Examples of spoken language

bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay'
"Revenge is a dish best served cold", or literally, "When revenge is served cold, the dish is very good" (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
Mentioned by Khan Noonien Singh, but not in Klingon. The Klingon translation first appeared in Okrand's second book, The Klingon Way (p. 133)
bangwI'
"My beloved"
Spoken by Valkris to Kruge shortly before her vessel was destroyed.
matlh! jol yIchu'!
"Maltz! Activate beam!" (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
Kruge when beaming the crew of the Enterprise to his Bird-of-Prey, and when Kirk beams up with Spock after defeating Kruge.
taH pagh taHbe'
"to be or not to be" (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
Spoken by General Chang during diplomatic dinner on board the Enterprise. As explained in the foreword of The Klingon Hamlet, the phrase uttered by chancellor Gorkon, "You have not experienced Shakespeare, until you have read him in the original Klingon," inspired members of the KLI to translate Hamlet into Klingon.
nuqneH, qaleghneS
"What do you want? I am honored to see you" (TNG: "The Emissary")
jIlajneS. ghIj qet jaghmeyjaj.
"I accept [with honor]. May your enemies run with fear." (TNG: "Sins of The Father", "Redemption")
Literally: I am honored to accept. May enemies be scared and run.

Discommendation:

tlhIH ghIj jIHyoj
"I fear your judgement"
biHnuch
"coward" (TNG: "Sins of The Father")
naDev ghoS
"come here" (TNG: "Redemption")

A Klingon drinking song:

'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw
"And the blood was ankle deep"
'ej Doq SoDtaH ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtIq
"And the River Skral ran crimson red"
'e' pa' jaj law' mo' jaj puS
"On the day above all days"
jaj qeylIS molar mIgh HoHchu'qu'
"When Kahless slew evil Molor dead" (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"; VOY: "Barge of the Dead")
As with many other Klingon quotations, this song is grammatically ill-formed according to Marc Okrand's dictionary. A close equivalent of the given English translation might be something similar to:
'ej ngIb Saw', vI', Dech je 'Iw;
'ej Doq, SoDtaH, ghoStaH SIqral bIQtIq;
ngugh, jaj nIv law' Hoch nIv puS,
molor mIgh HoHchu'qu'DI' qeylIS.
Mok'Ta vor, kash a'VEH
"You are an enemy of my House" (DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited")
wIy cha'
"show tactical display" (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
Chak wa kah Deesh paklah! Kah Deesh paklah 'kiV Duj Duj-to!
"We've been attacked by an unknown ship, designation Enterprise NX-01! Any warships in range, respond!" (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs")
QonoS Thrott! Nej jos mIch ka Xanant 'ach pagh
an extract from a captain's log entry (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs")
Heh Cho'mruak tah
"Death before dishonor" (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs")
Gorat kA!
"This way!" (ENT: "Marauders")
The definition of this phrase comes from the final draft script of "Marauders".
Qi-yah!
basically means "Holy shit!" (ENT: "Borderland")
The definition of this phrase comes from the final draft script of "Borderland". Using Okrand's orthography, the two lines would be spelled "QI'yaH!", per the Klingon Dictionary.
SoHvaD pagh vIjatlh, Human!
"I have nothing to say to you, Human!"
'ay'vamDaq nuHmey tIQeq
"target weapons on this section" (ENT: "Affliction")
quv lughaj Archer HoD beqDaj je
"Captain Archer and his crew are honorable people" (ENT: "The Augments")
maj ram
"Good night", as said by both Jadzia Dax and Kor as the former headed for bed. (DS9: "The Sword of Kahless")
Du'cha
In 2371, the USS Enterprise-D arrived at Veridian III and hailed the cloaked Bird-of-Prey used by Lursa and B'Etor. A Klingon officer told B'Etor of the Enterprise's hailing, but B'Etor responded with "Du'cha. We're still cloaked. They can't see us." (Star Trek Generations)
According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 222), this was a term meaning "to put an audio signal "on speakers"".
Klag
"yI-Har-Qo! nep-we' ghaH!" ("Do not believe him! He lies!")
Kargan
"Hol-chaj yI-jatlh." ("Speak in their language.") (TNG: "A Matter Of Honor")
This dialogue obeys the vocabulary and grammar described in The Klingon Dictionary by Marc Okrand, albeit with a slightly different transcription. Using Okrand's orthography, the two lines would be spelled "yIHarQo'! nepwI' ghaH!" and "Holchaj yIjatlh", respectively.
mevyap!
"That is enough!" (TNG: "Sins of The Father"); "Stop!" (TNG: "Reunion")
The definition of this phrase comes from the scripts of "Sins of the Father" and "Reunion".
naDev ghoS!
"Come here!" (TNG: "Redemption")
Gagh Tek Or?
"What'll it be?" (DS9: "Melora")
P'kar tel Durg Le Frakn'l?
"You call this live?"
Dug a bul, rah'tar!
"What's your problem, lady?"
D'tel klop a bul!
"This slop you call food is the problem!"
Pak't pol!
"If you don't like it, don't eat it!"
D'kar tel G'denna!
"I want to see the blood running through the veins!" (DS9: "Melora")
Ak un lach'tel?
"A new boyfriend?"
Doko, doko, un Koliay Trill
"no, no, my student" (DS9: "Playing God")
batlh Daqawlu'taH; DaH Hegh!
"You'll be remembered with honor; now die!"
chay' pen Aha'bA?
"What's going on?" (DS9: "Blood Oath")
Bet'ala nog'tor
"Look at this" (TNG: "Firstborn")
Du'cha Kovah! Estah!
"Leave me alone! Let me go!" (DS9: "Visionary")
Ach'cho korvak batah!
"A warrior's program!"
Karagh, abeh!
"Let's eat!" (DS9: "Visionary")
Lohd Zoss-lee chaw-KU sohk jaTAL?
"Does your mother let you talk to men?" (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
The spelling according to The Klingon Dictionary for this sentence is "loD SoSlI' chaw'qu' SoH jatlh'a'".
However, the proper grammatical way to convey the intended meaning in Klingon should be "loD Dajatlh 'e' chaw''a' SoSlI'".
A TLING-on kaogh.
They fight like Klingons.
The spelling according to The Klingon Dictionary for this sentence is "tlhIngan Hargh"
Zo a TLING-on HEGH-lah. YOD-weeKAW. TIG-mang-RUP.
"Then they can die like Klingons. Destroy their shields. Prepare boarding parties."
The spelling according to The Klingon Dictionary for this sentence is "tlhIngan HeghlaH. yoDwI' Qaw'. tIj mangrup"
Jee-YAJ. DUJ-va, YOD-wee-KAW
"As you recommend. All ships, concentrate fire on their shield generators" (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
The spelling according to The Klingon Dictionary for this sentence is "jIyaj. Duj vay', yoDwI' Qaw'"
CHEGH-chew jaj-VAM jaj-KAK
"It is a good day to die" (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
The spelling according to The Klingon Dictionary for this sentence is cheghchu' jajvam. jaj QaQ
chah-Veh
"Yes, sir" (DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach")
The translation of this quote was from the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 129).
MoVas ah-kee rustak!
"Today was a good day to die!"
Kosh tomah ehpaq Lukara kaVeir
"The day is not yet over, Lukara"
Ish-tovee chuCH thling nuq?
"Would you kill me too?"
Besh gee urchun omaH te-doQ maugh-shta
"No, but I would gladly die by your hand if you will not mate with me this day"

Later, in the episode, when Worf and Dax fight, they add new lines after the third line above.

Meklo boH ka Mech.
"I amell the burning of your blood."
Te-doQ roos ka... Mech-TOH
"The fire is your doing."

(DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places")

Legh SoH va Gre'thor
"See you in Gre'thor" (VOY: "Barge of the Dead")
Martok degh, to-Duj degh, bat-LEH degh, mat-LEH degh
"Badge of Martok, badge of courage, badge of honor, badge of loyalty"
Martok degh
"Badge of Martok"
Alexander, vih-nob dok-tog
"Alexander, give him your dagger"
Mat-LEH gih-Hegh!
"I will be faithful even beyond death!"
DAH!; "Now!" (DS9
"Sons and Daughters")
A line omitted from the episode was Wachk ihw, wachk kkor-duh. ("One blood, one house.") This line was repeated two more times.
They are coming

ghoSlI' chaH ("They are coming") written in Klingon

ghoSlI' chaH
"They are coming." (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello")
N'Gos tlhogh cha!
"Our marriage is done." (DS9: "The House of Quark")
Bosh-ta-JaH Veridian
"Set course for Veridian." (Star Trek Generations)
Louk, a jeek CHIM-ta law
"Yeah, but I'm a lot better looking than he was." (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
Ach Gowron, yay chol
"But Gowron, victory is near." (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
Do-MACH ah chee ghos eh-PAGH
"Can you be a victor of the heart as well as the sword?" (DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places")
Ros-te-ka cha'Domak ootha Trill?
"Did you think her spots were going to bite you?" (DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire")
Tug son bosh mok A'Beh, Sirella koH. E'Gagh vet moh.
"Enter my home and be welcome, Mistress Sirella. May you find it worthy."
In a line cut from the episode, Sirella responded, "Eck'taH roh masa qee'Plok." (May this be the first of many visits.)
Jadzia Dax Vond Shoo-vwee Dun Mahh-kekh Huh-Koo-Vahm Jeh Yin-Moj Mah-Mukh. Sto-vo-kor Pah-Dahkh-tin Baht-leh el-eegh-cha yay-moj.
"We dedicate this mission and our lives to the memory of a great warrior, Jadzia Dax. Through our victory, she will enter the sacred halls of Sto-vo-kor." (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")
YuWee-modge. Baht-leh-modge. Yay-Dodge.
"Blood. Honor. Glory." (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")
Jadzia pay-lodge pah-dock-Lih Dun. Shoo-vwee-vahm baht-leh pay-lodge. Pay-lodge Poh-Hokh-Vahd Sto-vo-kor.
"Welcome Jadzia to your halls... welcome this honored warrior... welcome her, Sto-vo-kor, for all eternity." (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")

Appendices

Appearances

Background information

The Klingon language was originally called "Klingonese" in the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles" (by Korax) and again in "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places" (by Quark), and is spelled in the script and the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 430). The term was also used in the script of Star Trek: The Motion Picture noted whenever the Klingons were speaking. Most later episodes refer to the language simply as "Klingon," and non-canon names include Klingonaase and tlhIngan Hol.

D7-class signage as designed by Matt Jefferies

Jefferies' Klingon emblem and script design

A few characters of Klingon script were first devised by Matt Jefferies, also responsible for the very first visual representation of the definitive Klingon emblem, for use on the D7 class model as used in the Original Series. (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 6, p. 70) Additional letters were created by Magicam for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. (Star Trek Sticker Book, pg. 17)

Michael Okuda, who led the Star Trek: The Next Generation-era art departments in creating the Klingon language graphics, starting from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home onward, has admitted they are randomly arranged symbols, which he based on the small number of Klingon writings visible in Star Trek: The Original Series and the first three Star Trek films. These graphics and writings do not reflect any possible spellings or translations in what Okrand's non-canon works call pIqaD, the native Klingon writing system. (Note: An unofficial guide to pIqaD is included on the box insert of the Star Trek Klingon Edition Monopoly game.)

The Klingon language as spoken was originally developed by UCLA dialectician Hartmut Scharfe, James Doohan, and Jon Povill for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Doohan, who had expertise with various dialects, became involved in developing the Klingon language after he had a discussion with Gene Roddenberry over lunch. Decades later, Doohan remembered, "[Roddenberry] didn't like what [the dialectician] created. I said, 'Well, I'll do it for you after lunch.' I was doing something close to Mongolian." Povill has related in more detail, "When we switched from TV to motion picture, we had decided to make sure that the Klingons weren't speaking English, so we now asked our language expert, Hartmut, to help us construct a Klingon language. Whereas he had given us just what we needed for the Vulcans, his Klingonese didn't sound alien enough. Hartmut is Indian [sic: Scharfe was of German descent, but a languages specialist as spoken on the Indian subcontinent], and he was using it as a combination of Sanskrit and Germanic, it sounded in some ways recognizable, so we were not completely satisfied. Jimmy Doohan has always been good at just kind of making up dialects and languages, so he volunteered his services to help us. After Hartmut had done his thing and worked it all out logically, Jimmy and I just sat down one day and made up stuff. We created the Klingonese by using some of what Hartmut had done and then combining it with our own: we strung together nonsense syllables, basically, totally made up sounds with clicks, and grunts, and hisses. Jimmy actually taught it to Mark Lenard and the others just prior to the shooting of that scene, which didn't take place until many months later." At the time, Doohan told his co-workers, "We have to cut out vowels as much as possible." (Return to Tomorrow - The Filming of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, pp. 260–261; Star Trek Monthly issue 80, p. 16)

At that time the language was first featured, it essentially consisted of only a few exclamations, and the Klingon language was expanded for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock by Marc Okrand, who enlarged the lexicon and created a grammar around the original dozen words Doohan had created. It has spawned several reference works, beginning with The Klingon Dictionary.

Netflix offered Klingonese subtitles for their broadcast of Star Trek: Discovery. As well, they put out a press release about the show written in Klingonese. [1]

One of the questions raised by a lawsuit against the creators of the fan film Star Trek: Axanar involved specifically identifying who owned the Klingon language and could therefore use it in that production and other unofficial films. [2]

To aid the Klingon-playing actors in Star Trek: Discovery to learn Klingonese, a tape of the language was prepared by a speaker of Klingon, and two voice coaches also assisted the performers. (AT: "O Discovery, Where Art Thou?") Robyn Stewart oversaw the Klingonese on the show. [3] One of the actors who found these provisions especially helpful was T'Kuvma actor Chris Obi, who was at first worried that he would struggle to learn all of his character's Klingon lines but was helped to overcome his anxiety regarding the language. He recalled, "Immediately, we were told, 'Make it your own,' because it's not just making it Human, because you don't want it to be Human. You want it to represent the relationship with the word, with the sound.'" In addition to the other helpers, Obi was helped by Sonequa Martin-Green, who advised him that the Klingon language was deep inside the person speaking it, which he subsequently found to be true. (AT: "O Discovery, Where Art Thou?")

The teasers for "Will You Take My Hand?" and "Point of Light" both open with L'Rell providing voice over in Klingon: "Hov leng: DISqa'vI'rIy - lut 'ay' vorgh." ("Previously on Star Trek: Discovery.")

According to Guinness World Records, Klingon is the most widely spoken fictional language in the world. [4]

Deleted scenes

The word for sex in Klingonese was "seloh". It appeared in the script for "Sins of The Father" and was mentioned in the Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed., p. 436). Another phrase in the script, but not heard in the episode, was tam (be quiet!)

The term for "well done" in Klingonese was "maj-Kkah", according to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 2, p. 13). The reference work stated that this term came from the episode "Sons and Daughters".

The term for "no problem" in Klingonese was "Qay'be", according to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 2, p. 192). The reference work stated that this term came from the episode "Real Life" and explained, "The expression was devised by Klingon language consultant Marc Okrand at the request of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock visual effects supervisor Ken Ralston, and was subsequently incorporated into the Klingon lexicon. It became a catchphrase for Ralston and his ILM crew, whenever they faced an unexpected problem or a last-minute change during the production of the movie. No matter how difficult the problem or how unusual the request might be, the proper warrior's response was a firm Qay'be!"

The Klingon language is spoken in two deleted scenes from the film Star Trek. As translated into English in subtitles which accompany those scenes, the following statements are said:

Trespassing vessel: you have entered the jurisdiction of the Klingon Empire. Power down and prepare to be boarded or you will be destroyed.
We found these papers, hidden in your cell. Who? Tell us – or you will die. Tell us! Who do they belong to?! ("Klingons Take Over Narada" & "Prison Interrogation and Breakout", Star Trek (Special Edition) DVD/Star Trek (Three disc Blu-ray)/Star Trek: The Compendium Blu-ray special features)
As scripted, more Klingon dialogue was to be spoken in the second of the two deleted scenes than is said in the final edit of that scene. In the script, the extra dialogue stated, "I have come far to meet you. 'The One Who Does Not Speak.' Ten years is a long time to maintain silence. Perhaps you simply do not speak Klingon, just as I do not speak Romulan." [5]

Lyrics

Composers have also used Klingon lyrics in their leitmotifs for the films. Cliff Eidelman, who composed Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country used taH pagh taHbe', a translation of "to be or not to be", for the choral parts for the score on Rura Penthe, in reference to Chang's love of William Shakespeare. [6]

For Star Trek Into Darkness, music editor Alex Levy incorporated Klingon lyrics into Michael Giacchino's score, mainly using Klingon insults to represent their fury at Kirk's intrusion of their planet. [7]

The Klingon Dictionary

The tlhIngan Hol dialect is featured most prominently in the Star Trek movies and intermittently in the series. Some writers on the television series followed The Klingon Dictionary fairly closely, while others did not. [8] Ronald D. Moore, noted for his major contributions to developing the Klingon culture, commented "Whether or not we use the language as spelled out in Marc's dictionary is up to the individual writer. I personally find the dictionary cumbersome and usually find it easier to make it up phonetically." (AOL chat, 1997) Marc Okrand noted that despite these departures, "[A]ny Klingon spoken during TNG counts as legitimate Klingon, whether I made it up or not, and I've incorporated all of it into the language." [9]

Such departures from Okrand's version included the following:

  • The writers made up their own Klingon words: e.g kuva'magh or pfiots, against Okrand's pronunciation rules of standard tlhIngan Hol
  • They used established Klingon words but in such a way that they were strung together without following Okrand's grammar rules, for example SoH batlh jI' for "you honor me", even though this sentence means something like "I am a honor you are". The correct translation of "you honor me" would be choquvmoH or tuquvmoH, depending on whether you referred to one person or multiple people.
  • They gave new or extended meaning based on the English translation of a word, for example pu'DaH (pronounced poo-dakh) – phasers and cha (pronounced chah) – torpedoes, becomes pu'Dah dak cha (pronounced puh-dar dack chah) meaning photon torpedoes, when Okrand had already devised ' otlh cha.
  • Okrand specified that Klingons do not have any rituals for ending conversations, since courtesy was not part of their culture. A conversation simply ends when either participant leaves. However, Qapla' ("success") is often used in dialogue where English-speaking Humans would say, "good-bye".
Sounds

The sounds of the Klingon language as developed by Marc Okrand are harsh and guttural. This transliteration system was used in preparing scripts and phrases when Okrand supplied dialogue and coached pronunciation.

Below is a table providing a rough guide on how to pronounce Klingon and the standard transliteration of the sounds of Klingon, corresponding to the sounds of the standard dialect used when Okrand created the language. Other writers have introduced other sounds and concepts into the language since.

Letter Sound Letter Sound
a as in father or balm o as in go or close
b as in ball; in some dialects it is pronounced mb as in amber or m as in mess p as in pass
ch as in chess q similar to "k" but pronounced further back in the throat
D as in dead but with the tongue rolled further back; also like "nd" or "n" in some dialects Q pronounced like q but choked, a very raspy sound, very forceful,very similar to the initial "cr" phoneme in croissant.
e as in bed r as in rotary, but trilled
gh similar to "g" but softly gargled, sounds a bit like the French "r" S half-way between "s" and "sh", like "s" but with the tongue rolled back
H as in Scottish loch or German Bach t as in tops
I as in in or lift tlh like tl in bottle or Aztec tetl
j as in jump u as in snooze but shorter
l as in land v as in valve
m as in mole w as in walker or where
n as in nostril y as in young
ng as in sing, never like the "ng" in finger ' glottal stop, as in uh-oh or cockney bo(tt)le
Basic phrases

Below is a short list of some useful basic phrases in the tlhIngan Hol dialect, the most commonly-heard dialect used in the Empire.

English (tera'ngan Hol, DIvI' Hol) Klingonese (tlhIngan Hol)
Do you speak Klingon? tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a'
I don't speak Klingon. tlhIngan Hol vIjatlhbe'
Do you speak English? DIvI' Hol Dajatlh'a'
I am a Klingon. tlhIngan jIH
I understand. jIyaj
Beam me aboard! HIjol
Fire thrusters! chuyDaH
Buy or die! bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh
Pay now! DaH yIDIl
I am a … … jIH
Klingon, Romulan, Human tlhIngan, romuluSngan, tera'ngan
Vulcan, Ferengi, Cardassian vulqangan, verengan, qarDaSngan
Visual! HaSta
Ready torpedoes! cha yIghuS
Ready… 'eH…
Evasive! juntaH
Surrender or die! bIjeghbe'chugh vaj bIHegh
It is a good day to die! Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam
You follow me. choghoS
Come! HIghoS
Stop! yImev
What's going on? qastaH nuq
Well done! majQa'
Let's go. maghoS

Apocrypha

External links

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