New Klingon Words

Disclaimer: This list is not current. It was last updated with words revealed in the middle of 2020. It will be brought up to match present knowledge by the end of 2023.

The words listed here were revealed or expanded upon after the publication of The Klingon Dictionary and Klingon for the Galactic Traveler. This list was compiled and maintained for many years by Will Martin (a.k.a. charghwI'). It is now curated by Alan Anderson (a.k.a. ghunchu'wI'). Note that not all of these words are perfectly defined, and the list is subject to additions, deletions, and emendations as our knowledge increases. The choice of what words deserve to be included in this list is up to Alan. Send him suggestions for additional entries, realizing that only words from confirmed Okrand sources will be accepted, and the source must be cited. See the explanation at the bottom of this list for source abbreviation descriptions.

In order not to compete with Dr. Okrand's income via royalties, the vocabulary of TKD and KGT will not be reproduced here. For a complete word list, combine this list with the ones in those two books.

[ 'a | b | ch | D | 'e | gh | H | 'I | j | l | m | n | ng | 'o | p | q | Q | r | S | t | tlh | 'u | v | w | y | ' | all | date added | date modified | source ]

qab
n
face [symbol of identity]
TKW p59
qab jech
n
mask [two words]
Hamletmachine
qach noy
n
landmark (building)
qepHom 15
qaD mIr
n
tournament [literally "challenge chain"]
qep'a' 25
qaghwI'
n
sound of letter ' [alphabet]
qep'a' wa'maH javDIch
qaj
v
soar
HolQeD v10n4p5
qalIvornIya
n
California
qepHom 17
qalmuS
N
color
qep'a' 26
qal'aq
n
frame, framework, supporting structure, skeleton [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
qam Do Duj
n
bicycle
TN!LK
qamchIy
N
Qam-Chee [the city where Kahless and Lukara defeated Molor's army of five hundred soldiers]
paq'batlh
qamerun
n
Cameroon
qepHom 17
qan
v
use the pinky (little finger) [An idiomatic gesture: to point your pinky at someone is to comment that you believe they are old.]
HolQeD v10n2p7
qanraD
n
a bird known for its song
HolQeD v10n4p4
qanwI'
n
pinky, little finger [Pointing with the pinky is an idiomatic gesture indicating that the person being pointed at is old.]
HolQeD v10n2p7
qangtlhIn
n
beliefs, principles, standards, ethics, ideology
PCHC/qep'a' 24
qanQIy loS
N
Cancri IV (planet) [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qappam
n
foundation [supporting under-structure of building]
qep'a' 25
qargh
v
be thick, bulky [usually for inanimate objects]
qepHom 2019
qarghan
proper n
Kargan
HolQeD v4n3p4
qarpal
n
trapezoid [American -- not British -- sense of "trapezoid"; a quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides] [Request]
qep'a' 27
qaryoq
n
bird capable of mimicking speech [Some people pluralize these with -pu', but most use -mey.]
HolQeD v10n4p5
qaryoq'a'
n
bird capable of mimicking speech, larger than qaryoq [Some people pluralize these with -pu', but most use -mey.]
HolQeD v10n4p5
qatra'
n
Katra (vulcan soul)
qepHom 2017
qatru'
n
nerd [This is a common (and nerdier) synonym for venwI'.]
FFN
qatlhDa'
n
water pipe [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-09]
qepHom
qav'ap
n
rent, cost, price, value
Monopoly
qaw
n
memory ["...in the sense of the ability to remember or the power of recall."]
Marc Okrand email to Lieven January 2018
qawHaq
n
memory banks[, data banks (singular)] [It's listed in both TKD and its Addendum with different definitions]
TKD and [Addendum of TKD]
qaw'
v
tip over [what the thing does, falling from approximately vertical to approximately horizontal]
Hamletmachine
qaw'moH
v
tip over, knock over, knock down [i.e. "make something fall over"]
Hamletmachine
qay
v
use the second (middle) finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qay
n
sound of letter q [alphabet]
qep'a' wa'maH javDIch
qaytu'
n
parent (gender-neutral term) [Request]
qep'a' 27
qaywI'
n
middle finger, second finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qa'
v
replace, substitute for
Monopoly
qa'meH
n
replacement ["...something that takes over for or is used instead of something that is gone or that has been lost. It is not used for a temporary substitute or stand-in; the word for that is lIw."]
HolQeD v5n1p10, KGT
qa'meH vIttlhegh
n
replacement proverb
HolQeD v5n1p10
qa'mInar
N
Kaminar [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qa'naDa'
N
Canada
TN!LK
qa'put
n
monkey-like creature [smallish and pretty monkey-like]
qep'a' 26
qa'rI'
n
end (of corridor, tunnel, conduit, Jeffries tube, sewer, road, bridge, long field, etc.) [This is the end of any clearly defined space longer than wide in which people might find themselves.]
HolQeD v12n2p7
qa'rol
n
a really big bird [much larger than a notqa']
HolQeD v10n4p4
qa'vam
n
The Big Bang [Defined as "Genesis" in TKD. Marc Okrand says "qa'vam is perhaps best defined as 'origin of everything' or 'start of it all' or the like."]
FFN
qa'vaQ
n
qa'vak (traditional game); hoop and stick maneuver
KGT; TKW p199
qebeq
n
Quebec
qepHom 17
qebeq veng
n
Quebec City
qepHom 17
qel
v
nod [This means lower the head slightly whether or not the head is again raised. So, among other things, it can refer to nodding to the beat of music or nodding off (falling asleep). The subject might be, for example, nach head (even though this might be considered redundant) or the nodder. It does not take an object.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
qelHay'ya
n
Kal'Hyah [Klingon equivalent of a bachelor party] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qelI'qam
n
kellicam [According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, one kellicam is roughly equal to two kilometers]
TKD
qelpIngan
N
Kelpien [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qelpIya'ngan
N
Kelpien [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qen
adv
recently, a short time ago
NEWS
qenSaS
N
Kansas
OZ
qenya'
n
Kenya
qepHom 15
qeng
proper n
Kang
TKD p58; TOS [Day of the Dawn]; TKD p11
qengHoD
n
treasure, booty, plunder, swag, loot [context determines the best translation. If there's a lot of stuff, the plural form qengHoDmey is often but not necessarily used. The resemblance to "Captain Kang" is coincidental, but, even so, Kang's crew was careful to never say qengHoDmey when he was around]
qep'a' 25
qeQ
n
fecal matter
qep'a' 23
qerjIq
n
fireplace [specific place in a house for heating/food preperation]
qep'a' 25
qev
n
crowd [possibly a mistake]
HolQeD v4n4p11
qevaS
n
kevas [An unspecified commodity. In the TOS episode "Errand of Mercy" Spock poses as a Vulcan trader in kevas and trillium. Thus, both appear in TKD. Star Trek Encyclopedia lists them as a gemstones, established in DS9 "Trials and Tribble-ations".]
TKD
qew
v
use the ring (third) finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qewwI'
n
ring finger, third finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qey
v
be in vain, futile
qep'a' 25
qeylar
N
K'Ehleyr [Request]
qep'a' 27
qeylIS
proper n
Kahless
TKD p58
qeylIS mInDu'
n
Eyes of Kahless, a guessing game with dice where the winner receives a punch.
KCD
qey'Hav
n
vagina
qepHom 17
qe'rot 'oQqar
n
carrot
TN!LK
qImroq
n
season
qep'a' 23
qInut
n
scythe, sickle, falx [This is a tool resembling a sickle. It's for agriculture, but, of course, it could be used as a weapon. If it has a long handle, "scythe" may be a better translation, though it's not quite either of them.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
qIrq
proper n
Kirk
HolQeD v8n4p12
qIr'a'
n
continuum [Request]
qep'a' 26
qIt
n
a big, fat bird native to Kronos, which is able to fly, but not for a long time
Smithsonian Klingon skit
qI'
v
register, sign up for (an account) ["register for an account" is mab qI']
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
qoch
v
squeeze into (a space) [The object is the space into which the subject is squeezing itself.]
qepHom 2015 p.18
qoch'uq
n
rubber [The gummy material]
qep'a' 26
qol
v
pronounce [refers to articulation]
January 2019 email to De'vID
qol
N
Kol [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qolqoS
n
core, essense [pun: John Colicos played Kor]
qep'a' wa'maH loSDIch
qol'om
n
gold
qepHom 2015 p.13
qoq De'wI' Dojmey
n
botnet (computer jargon)
qepHom 2015 p.21
qorgh
v
stop up, fill (a hole) [Marc Okrand interview with Lieven Litaer October 2013]
qepHom
qorghwI'
n
pacifier
qep'a' 23
qortar
N
Kortar [the first Klingon, and the ferryman on the Barge of the Dead]
paq'batlh
qoSqa'rIy
n
Kos'Karii [Pale, serpent-like creatures which inhabited the waters crossed by the Barge of the Dead on its way to Gre'thorThis word is inherently plural. A singular one is 'angwIl.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qoSta'
n
tape, ribbon
TN!LK
qovIj
n
canine-like creature (smaller than a ngavyaw') [a smaller animal, similar to Kruge's pet] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qo'la' 'awje'
n
cola
TN!LK
qo'qaD
n
phlegm
HolQeD, v12n4p8
qo'qa' qo'la'
n
Coca-Cola [transliteration]
Hamletmachine
qo'qo
n
coconut [This is a borrowing, not a native Klingon word.]
qep'a' 26
qo'rIn
n
chromium salts [used in tanning]
qep'a' 26
qo'rIn DIr
n
leather [Since this is removed from a body and then altered, it is considered a material, not a body part. The phrase is used in constructions like qo'rIn DIr qogh leather belt.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qo'rob
n
puppet [this is as in "puppet state" or "puppet government"]
qep'a' 25
quba'
n
Cuba
qepHom 15
qubbID
n
span, run, stretch (between) [There are two ways to say "between", depending on meaning. (1) "between A and B" means "at some (perhaps unknown) point between A and B". In this case, A and B are the extremes of a range. The construction makes use of rav minimum and 'aqroS maximum: rav A 'aqroS B... For example, rav cha' 'uj(mey) 'aqroS loS 'uj(mey) 'ab has a length between two and four ujes (it's at least two ujes long and no more than four). (2) "between A and B" means the full stretch of time (or distance or whatever), from one end of the span to the other. In this case, the noun qubbID is used: DaSjaj buqjaj (je) qubbID maleng we travel Monday to Friday or we travel between Monday and Friday. Compare: DaSjaj buqjaj (je) qubbID maghom we meet between Monday and Friday, we meet Moday to Friday and rav DaSjaj 'aqroS buqjaj maghom we meet between Moday and Friday, we meet at some point between Monday and Friday. ] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qughDo
n
cruising speed
BoP Poster
quH
v
slice, carve
qep'a' 25
qul naQmey
n
matches
TN!LK
qul tuq
n
"House (family, ancestral unit) of Fire" name of an opera
KCD
qulHuD
n
volcano
Marc Okrand email to Lieven January 2018
qunI'
n
adverb(ial) [The noun for the grammatical term.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
qung
n
hole in a musical instrument [This is to change pitch in a wind instrument; apparently not a soundhole for stringed instrument.]
HolQeD v10n2p8
qurme'
n
ingredient [Request]
qep'a' 26
qur'ep
n
wig
qepHom 17
quSlab
n
couch, bench, chair for multiple people
qep'a' 23
qut
v
predict [fraudulent or suspected to be fraudulent, or if it's a carnival act or the like]
qep'a' 24
qut na'
n
salt (culinary, halite) [also, sometimes, Do'ol na', presumably depending on the exact form of the substance.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qutluch
n
type of hand weapon
from the Addendum of TKD, TKW p103
quv
n
honor [personal honor, earned by one's behavior]
HolQeD, v12n3p9
quv bey'
n
honor display
KCD
quvamaq
n
Kuvah'magh [Request]
qep'a' 27
quvHa'ghach mIr
n
losing streak
qep'a' 25
quvyaH
n
habit [Request]
qep'a' 26
quy'Ip
n
vomit [Spelled backwards, {pI'yuq} is a phonetic spelling of the English "puke".]
HolQeD, v12n4p8
qu'vu'
n
pyramid with three-sided base [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
Count:117

Works Cited

CK
Okrand, Marc. (1992). Conversational Klingon (audio cassette). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 5-022-73903-6391
FFN
Festival of the Spoken Nerd (2015). Full Frontal Nerdity DVD. Laughing Stock. ISBN: 0-671-79739-5
Hamletmachine
Translation by Lieven Litaer of Heiner Müller's 1977 play Die Hamletmaschine. (link)
HolQeD
(1992 to present). The quarterly journal of the Klingon Language Institute. Assorted interviews with and articles by Marc Okrand. ISSN: 1061-2327
KCD
Okrand, Marc. (1992). Star Trek: Klingon, CD-ROM. New York: Simon & Schuster Interactive. ISBN: 0-671-52873-4
Monopoly
(2011). MONOPOLY® – Star Trek Klingon Limited Edition, board game. USAopoly/Hasbro.
OZ
'aS 'IDnar pIn'a' Dun, Jackson Bradley's translation of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
PCHC
Chase Masterson (2016). Pop Culture Hero Coalition message. Facebook. (link)
PK
Levine, Barry & Okrand, Marc. (1993). Power Klingon: Master the Language of Warriors (audio cassette). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 0-671-87975-8
qepHom
An annual meeting of Klingonists in Germany. The first such qepHom took place in 2002. (The word can refer to any minor gathering, but this list uses it exclusively for the organized German meeting.)
qep'a'
The annual conference of the Klingon Language Institute. Marc Okrand is often in attendance. qep'a' wa'DIch was held in 1994. (The word can refer to any convention or conference, but this list uses it exclusively for the KLI's annual meeting.)
TKD
Okrand, Marc. (1985 & 1992). The Klingon Dictionary, 2nd ed. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 0-671-74559-X
TKW
Okrand, Marc. (1996). Star Trek: The Klingon Way: A Warrior's Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 0-671-53755-5
TN!LK
(2011). Talk Now! Learn Klingon. EuroTalk, Ltd. ISBN: 1-846-06606-9
veS QonoS
(1990). Newsletter of Mortas-Te-Kaase, a defunct Klingon club. Some new words from Marc Okrand appeared, and a subset of these were later used in CK. The entire list was reprinted by permission of both Okrand and the club in HolQeD 1:3.