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
Sa
v
rhyme with [For "A rhymes with B", you could say B Sa A or Sachuq A B je (which might be better translated as "A and B rhyme").] [Request]
qep'a' 26
Sach
v
expand [can be used [as an adjective] for: be amplified, fleshed out, elaborated, increased in scope, etc.]
qepHom 17
SaDbIp
num
100 million [as a number-forming element, it is preceded by a digit 1-9] [Request]
qep'a' 27
SaDSaghan
num
trillion [as a number-forming element, it is preceded by a digit 1-9] [Request]
qep'a' 27
SaHa'ra'
proper n
Sahara [loanword]
ta'puq mach
Sam
n
shawm [This is a loanword from Federation Standard]
qepHom 17
San
n
fate, destiny ["fate" is in TKD]
TKD, 1 January 2018 email to Lieven
SanDIy
n
scar (result of a wound received in the course of fighting/battling)
qep'a' 24
SanIDbIp
num
100 million [as a number-forming element, it is preceded by a digit 1-9] [Request]
qep'a' 27
SanIDSaghan
num
trillion [as a number-forming element, it is preceded by a digit 1-9] [Request]
qep'a' 27
SanmIr
n
spore [seen in Klingon subtitles for Star Trek: Discovery "Context is for Kings"]
qepHom 2017
San'emDer
n
plant [This refers to an individual plant, typically with stems, leaves, etc. It is not used for fungi or algae.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
SaqDaq
n
landing site
qepHom 17
Saqjan
n
landing gear
BoP Poster
SaQatvelo'
n
Georgia
qepHom 15
Sat
v
be stuck [like being stuck in a meeting or stuck in trafficalso, for some reason, it be would be for a cat stuck in a tree]
qep'a' 25
Sawlay
n
gesture [Maltz didn't know a verb for this. To use a gesture is Sawlay lo' or else a specific gesture verb (such as SIq, qay, etc.).] [Request]
qep'a' 26
Sawqe'
n
nugget, chunk, clump [There is some overlap between Sawqe' and ngogh.
A ngogh has a more-or-less defined shape, but it doesn't matter whether it was shaped by someone or it just happened naturally. And the shape doesn't have to be perfect.
A Sawqe' probably doesn't have a defined (or even easily describable) shape (though it may come close or sort of resemble one). Sawqe' is generally used for smaller objects, but there's no clear-cut dividing line about size, and there are certainly Sawqe'mey tIn and ngoghmey mach.
Certain items tend to always be referred to by one or the other: your house is probably built out of ngoghmey, and someone seeking gold would most likely find qol'om Sawqe'mey in the wild (though qol'om ngoghmey at Fort Knox). There are, of course, instances where two people might refer to the same thing, especially if they are of ambiguous shape, by different terms.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
Say
n
sound of letter S [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
SayDeq
n
surplus [From chabal tetlh: "an economic situation in which supply exceeds demand".
This means surplus in general, not just in regard to economics.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
Say'moHwI' tlhagh
n
soap
TN!LK
Say'qu'moH
v
sterilize
HolQeD v1n3p9
Sa'Hut
n
ass, rear end, buttocks [This word was revealed during a session of singing and dancing the Hokey Pokey]
qep'a' 9
SeD
v
drive (a land vehicle)
qepHom 15
Segh
n
race (type, sort, class) [tlhIngan Segh]
TKW p13
SeH'e'
n
palm tree [From chabal tetlh: "Taxon of tree-like flowering plants on Kronos with leaves on fronds".
This is the closest Klingon equivalent. For a Terran palm tree, precede with tera'.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
Sen
v
use the thumb [Most commonly used in reference to an adult using a thumb. See also {rIl}.]
HolQeD v10n2p7
SenDeq
n
twin [Identical twins are SenDeqpu' ghuD; non-identical twins are SenDeqpu' tlhIn.
Groups made up of a specific number of members (whether people or otherwise) are referred to idiomatically by using Sonme' (set, group, party) preceded by the number, so wej Sonme' is group of three, party of three, trio, triplet, loSSonme' is quartet, quadruplet, and so on. cha' Sonme' (group of two, duo) could mean twins, but SenDeqpu' is far more common.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
SenwI'
n
thumb [Most commonly used in reference to an adult thumb. See also {rIl}.]
HolQeD v10n2p7
SenwI' rIlwI' je
n
everybody (idiomatic phrase)
HolQeD v10n2p8
Sep
n
country
qepHom 15
SepHa'
v
root, take a root [Not necessarily only square root. Taking a root is the inverse of raising a number to a power.]
qepHom 2024
Serrum
n
earwax
HolQeD, v12n4p9
SetqIn
adv
alternatively, instead, rather
QelIS boqHarmey
Se'mon
n
salmon [loanword]
qepHom 2024
Se'tu'
n
saucepan
TN!LK
Se'vIr
n
publication [The phrase Se'vIr malja' was presented by Marc Okrand directly to Uitgeverij, the publisher of paq'batlh, as meaning "publishing company".]
paq'batlh
SIla'
n
large mirror [larger than neSlo']
HolQeD v10n4p5
SIlovenISqa'
n
Slovakia
qepHom 15
SIlreq
N
Silrek [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
SImmIQ
n
leaf salad
qepHom 2024
SImyon
n
degree (unit of measure for temperature)
qepHom 17
SIntlher
n
ancient extinct animal [non-scientific, general term]
qepHom 2019
SIp
v
infiltrate [From chabal tetlh: "gain gradual surreptitious access, esp. in order to acquire secret information".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
SIq
v
use the index finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
SIqenDInavya'
N
Scandinavia
MiniaturWunderland
SIqnaSwaq
n
elf, gnome, a type of small person
qepHom 2019
SIqotlan
N
Scotland [country]
qepHom 2019
SIqral
N
Skral [the river near Qam-Chee where Kahless slew Molor]
paq'batlh
SIqwI'
n
index finger, first finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
SIQab'el
n
Scrabble (the game) [This is just the Klingon spelling for the copyrighted name of the game.]
qepHom 17
SIrgh raghghan
n
puppet [literally "string doll", the doll that is used in performances]
qep'a' 25
SIrgh 'o'lav
n
snare drum
qepHom 2023
SIrHagh
n
buffoon, laughingstock [An altered form of SIrHugh, used when wanting to be particularly insulting.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
SIrHugh
n
buffoon, laughingstock [The underlying notion here is one of ridicule or derision. When wanting to be particularly insulting, this might be altered to SIrHagh.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
SIrlIy
n
silver
qepHom 2015 p.13
SIrlop
n
constant [a value that never changes]
qepHom 2024
SIryoD
n
body armor (old form) (prefered by Maltz)
qepHom 2015 p.14
SIr'eq
n
unit of radioactive decay [Maltz didn't know how this compared to Becquerel.] [Request]
qep'a' 29
SIr'o'
n
network, web, mesh, lattice, nexus
qepHom 2017
SIS yoD
n
umbrella
TN!LK
SIv
v
wonder
This was omitted from the English-Klingon listing of TKD
SIyech
n
cane, reed
qep'a' 25
SIylaw'
n
hypha [From chabal tetlh: "long branching filamentous structure of fungi and other organisms; the main mode of fungal vegetative growth".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
Soj
n
food [carries the idiomatic sense of "matter, concern, affair", as in {tlhIngan Soj 'oH -- not bIyaj} meaning, "It is a Klingon matter -- you'll never understand."]
HolQeD, v12n3p9
Soj naQmey
n
chopsticks
TN!LK
SolbIS
n
whale, dolphin, porpoise [Any fishlike creature that has to come up to breathe air.] [Request]
qep'a' 28
SolDeS
n
sail
qep'a' 25
Solrogh
n
railing, guardrail, banister [The entire structure, including both railing and support (and other) posts, if any.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
Solrogh tut
n
vertical post which provides support for a railing, guardrail or banister [A vertical post which is part of a Solrogh (railing, guardrail, banister) and provides support for the railing.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
SommI'
n
tool, implement, instrument
qep'a' 25
Sor
n
club (card suit) [DYM]
qepHom 13
Sor
v
speak literally [implied by SorHa' speak metaphorically]
qep'a' 20
Sor DIr
n
bark (of tree)
qepHom 2023
Sor Hap 'awtIr ngoghmey
n
xylophone [From chabal tetlh: "A percussion instrument consisting of wooden bars of varying lengths struck by a mallet; the longer the bar, the deeper the sound".
In clear contexts, Sor Hap or 'awtIr (or even both) may be omitted; -mey is always there.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
Sor 'IventoH
n
pine cone [lit. tree pineapple; the proper term is qet'uy]
qepHom 2020
Sorghmang
n
sabotage [The request was for "a criminal term with the morpheme -mang". Maltz said you can't stick mang freely onto any verb (except, of course, in wordplay); it's not a nominalizing suffix.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
SorHa'
v
speak metaphorically
qep'a' 20
Sorpuq
n
copper
qepHom 2015 p.13
SoSbor
n
motherboard
BoP Poster
SoSbor'a'
n
main core
BoP Poster
Soy'
v
be awkward [For "awkward" in the sense of "not graceful", use Soy'.]
qepHom 2024
So'
v
encrypt
qepHom 13
So'Ha'
v
decrypt [done with permission, by an authorized party]
qepHom 13
SubmaH
n
fraction, ratio [can be used to mean "frequency" in such constructions as wanI' SubmaH "frequency, occurrence ratio" or yay SubmaH" victory ratio" or "frequency of victories"]
qep'a' 25
Suchtuv
n
dream, hallucination [like when you're sleeping, not like "dreams for the future" or "dreams of happiness" — that is, not "hope, goal, desire"]
2019 email to pagh
Sumlugh
n
definition [By meaning or definition, I assume you mean how a Klingon word would be defined in Klingon (or a Toki Pona word defined in Toki Pona) - that is only one language is involved. Is that correct? The word for definition (as in a monolingual dictionary) is Sumlugh. To say "X means Y" (where X is a word and Y is its meaning or definition or gloss), use ghaS, sometimes along with mu' for clarity: Y ghaS X (mu'). A colloquial (or perhaps slang) way of expressing the definition of a word within the same language - not when translating - is to use 'ang instead of ghaS: Y 'ang X (mu'). X could, of course, be a phrase. If so, it can be followed by either mu' or mu'mey, more frequently the former.]
qep'a' 29
Suntay'
n
pollen
qep'a' 23
SupDIng
n
cotton-like plant [a Klingon plant, parts of which are used to make cloth] [Request]
qep'a' 27
Suq
v.t.
gain [The HolQeD article misspells it as Soq, but the word on the Skybox card is clearly Suq.]
HolQeD v6n2p9 S33
SuqSIv
n
core (of an apple, planet, sun, but not a group)
qepHom 2015 p.12
SuqwIl
n
hiss [This is a noun referring to the sound (from an animal or otherwise). Used with tlhen, e.g. SuqwIl tlhen "(it) produces a hiss sound".] [Request]
qep'a' 28
Sur
v
rinse [From chabal tetlh: "wash with clean water to remove soap, detergent, dirt, or impurities".
This can also be used for irrigate.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
SurIna'ma
N
Suriname
qep'a' 26
Surya'
n
Syria
qepHom 15
SuS mIjDang
n
fan, handheld fan
QelIS boqHarmey
Sut DeSwar
n
wardrobe, clothing closet
qep'a' 23
Sut HabmoHwI'
n
iron
TN!LK
Sut veragh
n
button (clothing) [If the context is clear, this can be shortened to veragh.]
QelIS boqHarmey
Sutra'ber naH
n
strawberry
TN!LK
Suverya'
N
Sweden
TN!LK
SuwISya'
n
Switzerland
qepHom 15
SuwomIy
N
Finland
TN!LK
SuynIj
n
sweat, perspiration
qepHom 17
Su'ghar qutmey
n
sugar cubes
TN!LK
Su'ghar Sawqe'
n
candy [This is not really a Klingon thing, but they've seen others (particularly Terrans) enjoy candy. Most of the terminology used for candy consists of loanwords. The general term for a piece of candy is Su'ghar Sawqe' ("sugar clump"). This phrase is used in the names of many Terran candies.] [Request]
qepHom 2023
Su'ghar SIrghmey
n
cotton candy [Klingons find this particular Terran confection to be rather pointless.]
qepHom 2023
Su'nIm
n
raised profile, ridges, pattern (as in fingerprints, tires, shoe tread)
qepHom 2015 p.20
Su'roq chab
n
cake with layers, tart
qepHom 2024
Su'SIy
n
sushi (loanword) [loanword]
qepHom 2024
Su'wan ghew
n
butterfly [This is a large Klingon insect with very large wings.]
ta'puq mach
Su'wIn
n
large whistle with a deep sound
qepHom 2023
Count:139
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.