New Klingon Words
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 originally compiled and maintained for many years by Will Martin (a.k.a. charghwI'), then it was curated by Alan Anderson (a.k.a. ghunchu'wI'), and has now been handed over to a team of volunteers lead by Tali Smith (a.k.a. tIjey). 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 the team. Send them 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.
Last updated: 2025-04-14
Hajvav
n
weasel-like animal [This is an animal found on Qo'noS that's sort of weasel-like] [Request]
qep'a' 27
Halrov
n
treacle, syrup, jam, jelly, preserves [This is made by boiling the stems of a particular plant. The reult is a thick, sticky, gooey liquid, that is not sweet.]
QelIS boqHarmey
Halrov
n
jam, jelly, preserves
qepHom 2024
Ham
v
be high (in pitch) [as in high voice]
qepHom 17
Hamburgh
N
Hamburg
MiniaturWunderland
Hampong
n
wound, sore [a wound or sore with at least some abrasion, not just a bruise]
qep'a' 25
Han
v
be learned, scholarly, erudite
qepHom 15
HanDI'
n
cell
qep'a' 23
Hanghuq
proper n
Korea [Also choSan. Both terms are used (Klingons are very confused by this). Based on the origin of the name, this refers to South Korea.] [Request]
qep'a' 28
Hap choHwI'
n
replicator [The most frequently heard way to refer to a replicator that produces food is Soj choHwI', but that's slang.]
qepHom 17
HapmaH
n
pea [From chabal tetlh: "Vegetable of the species Pisum sativum; spherical green legumes in a pod".
This is the seed of a Klingon vegetable, the green ball inside of a pod.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
HapQeD
n
physics
qep'a' 26
Haq
v
tinker [slang; fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend, or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner] [Request]
qepHom 2021
Har'ey
n
rainbow
qep'a' 23
HaS
v
squeak [This is not only for animals. It can also be used for the sound an old door or a wooden chest makes when you open it, if it's a sort of high pitch.]
qepHom 17
HaSta jIH
n
television
TN!LK
HaStay'
n
pixel [Maltz had a hunch this was shortened at some point from HaSta 'ay', but that may be a folk etymology.] [Request]
qep'a' 28
Haw
v
be random, arbitrary, unpredictable, fortuitous [For random numbers, as when throwing dice, use the verb 'al float instead of Haw. mI' 'al (a) random number; 'al mI' the number is random. There is also a slang expression Du'Hom mI' random number (literally garden number).] [Request]
qep'a' 26
Hay
n
sound of letter H [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
Hay
n
area beyond [normally used with a point of reference "beyond X"]
qep'a' 24
Hay
v
somersault [a controlled roll, whereas ron applied to a person would mean they are rolling haphazardly]
De'vID Feb 2019 Q&A
HaySIn
n
bucket [Typically, a HaySIn is round (it could be a 'Ib rutlh) and portable (so it's not a qegh).] [Request]
qep'a' 26
Ha'DIbaH ghIH tIr ngogh je
n
burger
TN!LK
Ha'DIbaH ngogh
n
steak [substitute meat type for Ha'DIbaH]
qepHom 2024
Ha'DIbaH qoSta'
n
bacon
qepHom 2024
Ha'DIbaH tIr ngogh
n
ham sandwich [substitute meat type for Ha'DIbaH]
qepHom 2024
Ha'on
n
staple
qepHom 2015 p.18
Ha'on vevwI'
n
stapler
qepHom 2015 p.18
Heghba'
n
ritual suicide
from Sarek, the novel by A. C. Crispin
HelSIngqIy
proper n
Helsinki
qepHom 2023
Hen
v
be experienced [in the sense of involvement in, exposure to, familiarity with, hands-on dealing with a given area of knowledge or type of skill] [Request]
qep'a' 26
Henjun
n
whip [For the verb "whip", make use of Qach wield.]
qep'a' 26
Henjun waq
n
flip-flop, thong, zori
qepHom 2024
Heq
v
hail [A hailstone can be either chuch 'aplom ("ice pellet") or 'aplom chuch ("pellet ice")]
qep'a' 24
HerghQeD
n
pharmacology
qepHom 2024
Her'IS
n
bird with long neck and long legs [was used to translate "flamingo"]
QelIS boqHarmey
Hey
v
battle or fight against one's own group (not the supposed enemy) [STID]
qepHom 12
HeySel
n
atom
qepHom 2015 p.13
HghHghHgh
n
onomatopoetic exclamation for laughing [Both HghHghHgh and HghHgh can be used. There's a some standardization, but also lots of variation and creativity.]
qep'a' 29
HID
v
sweat, perspire
qepHom 17
HIjmeH chaw'
n
stamp
TN!LK
HIjmeH 'ap
n
fee paid when bringing certain commodities into a jurisdiction
qepHom 2020
HIjmeH 'ap pIn
n
customs officer
qepHom 2020
HIjnaj
n
demon [From chabal tetlh: "a class of usually malevolent supernatural entities".
There are supernatural entities besides HIjnajpu'.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
HIl'aD
n
step-by-step instructions [HIl'aD is singular; several sets of instructions is HIl'aDmey.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
HIp
n
suit, business suit [also malja' HIp]
qepHom 2024
HIq mergh
n
cocktail [This was probably shortened from a longer expression in the past since the concoction could have ingredients besides HIq.]
qepHom 2024
HIq'aD
n
drunkard, drunk person
qepHom 2024
HIr
v
be stuck [like a stamp is stuck to an envelope or a spitwad is stuck on a wall]
qep'a' 25
HIS
v
be compressed (as in air)
qep'a' 25
HIt
v
think, have an inner conversation [This means to speak to oneself internally (and not aloud). Grammatically, it's used the same way as jatlh.]
QelIS boqHarmey
HIvje'He
n
piano in a piano bar
qepHom 2020
Hoch
n
everyone, all, everything [In HolQeD v5n2p11: If noun following Hoch is explicitly plural, it means "all". If it is singular, it means "each".]
TKW p33 - first in noun-noun pair
Hoghjaj
n
anniversary in weeks [Any unit of time can be used, though some are only used as wordplay.]
ta'puq mach
HolQeD
n
the KLI journal
from HolQeD
Hom
v
use the second toe
HolQeD v10n2p10
HommaH
n
appendix (of a book)
qepHom 2020
HomwI'
n
second toe
HolQeD v10n2p7
Hong boq chuyDaH
n
impulse fusion thrusters
BoP Poster
Hongghor
n
impulse drive
BoP Poster
Hoq
v
pull [As in pulling a child's wagon (by its handle) or for a train engine to pull the train along or to pull an electrical plug out of the wall] [Request]
qepHom 2020
HoQ
v
be honored falsely, be falsely honorable [deception is implied]
HolQeD, v12n3p8
HoS choHwI'
n
transtator
veS QonoS, HolQeD, v1n3p9
Hov tut
n
telescope [This is the everyday term. There is a more technical term, but Marc didn't remember what it was.]
ta'puq mach
HovHom
n
sequin, spangle [From chabal tetlh: "small flat piece of sparkling metallic or metal-like material with a hole which is sewn onto a garment etc. for decoration".
Slang version of paQjen.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
Hovje'voH
n
evolution (Darwinian) [technical or scientific term]
qepHom 2020
HovQeD
n
astronomy
ta'puq mach
Hovtej
n
astronomer
ta'puq mach
HoyHa'
v
be awkward (slang) [as in feeling awkward, an awkward situation or awkward silence.]
qepHom 2024
Ho'
n
cog/sprocket teeth
qep'a' 25
Ho' rutlh
n
cog/sprocket wheel
qep'a' 25
Ho' SIryoD
n
dental braces [like the braces on someone's teeth]
qepHom 2021
Ho' teywI'
n
toothbrush
TN!LK
Ho'DoS
n
system, method, manner, technique
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
Ho'Du' Say'moHwI' tlhagh
n
toothpaste
TN!LK
Ho'yI'
n
bow (for arrows)
qepHom 2020
Hu
n
zoo
missing from E-K section of TKD
Huch chaw'
n
credit card
TN!LK
Huch jengva'
n
coin [literally "money plate"; often, not always, followed by -Hom .]
qep'a' 25
Huch ngop
n
coins [literally "money plates"; often, not always, followed by -Hom]
qep'a' 25
HuchQeD
n
economics [This is slang with no non-slang counterpart]
KGT p148
HuDngech
n
sine (curve) [used to describes waves or curves and also in trigonometry] [Request]
qep'a' 28
HuDyar
n
shed, shack [Maltz was asked for a "weather shelter" and said that this was a very Terran sort of thing and he wasn't aware of a Klingon word for it ("Why would anyone need a thing like that?" he asked.) The best he could come up with was HuDyar ("shed", "shack").]
qep'a' 24
HuH
n
PK: bile TKW: gall KCD/KGT: slime
PK
Huj
v
be strange, unfamiliar
TKD, qepHom 2017
HujlIw
n
needle [From chabal tetlh: "a long thin, sharp implement usually for piercing, as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body-piercing, medical injections, sutras, etc."] [Request]
qep'a' 31
Humlaw'
n
like a ghargh, but with lots of wiggly legs
qepHom 17
Hun
n
type of animal, Khrun [qep'a' wa'maH chorghDIch (KRAD's A Burning House)]
paq'batlh
HuqmeH 'ap
n
excise tax, sales tax, VAT
qepHom 2020
HuQ'am
n
gender [Identity, this might different from the anatomical sex of a being, and refers to the gender that person identifies with.] [Request]
qep'a' 29
Hur
v
pull, tug [Refers to the action of pulling back the string of the bow but also to pulling the handle on a door to open or close the door or to pulling on someone's suspenders.]
qepHom 2020
HurDagh chuHwI'
n
bow (for arrows) [not a Klingon device, lit. "stringed-instrument hurler"]
qepHom 2020
Hurgh Duj
n
submarine, blimp [To clarify the meaning, a submarine can be called bIQ Hurgh Duj and a blimp can be called muD Hurgh Duj.]
qepHom 2019
HurwI'
n
bow (for arrows) [not a Klingon device, short form of HurDagh chuHwI']
qepHom 2020
HuS
v
hang [HuS takes an object. If your shoes are hanging on a wall it's because somebody hung them there. HuS is not used to mean "lynch" or "execute by hanging." That's a different word: jIb.]
TKD, Hamletmachine
HutmaH
n
sexual climax (slang) [Literally "90". Maltz didn't know how 90 got to be associated with climaxing.]
qepHom 2020
Hutvagh
n
too many people or things in a place at once [Disclosed during a congested drive on Interstate 95.]
HolQeD v11n3p13
Hutvav
n
nerve (anatomy, physiology)
qepHom 15
Hutvav rarwI'
n
neural synapse
qepHom 15
Hut'In
n
nail [Marc Okrand email to Qov August 2012]
misc
Hut'In vIl
n
screw [Marc Okrand email to Qov August 2012]
misc
Huy
v
hum [can be used both for singing without words and for the sound a (not huge) engine makes. Used also for the sound of a cat: purr.]
qepHom 17
Hu'ma
excl
uh, umm [Sometimes Hu'mI and sometimes shortened to Hu. Another pause vocalization is just a low-toned ghghgh.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
Hu'tegh
excl
general invective
TKD p178
Count:123
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.