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: 2026-07-14
gha
v
diaphanous, be see-through [From chabal tetlh: "be transparent or translucent; allowing light to pass through; capable of being seen through, distinct from Dem which also means colorless".]
qep'a' 31
gha'vIq
N
Grafk [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
ghab
v
kill (when on a hunt) [HoH is a general word for kill. ghab means kill as a result of hunting (thus the hunt was a successful one) or when the killing is the result of a planned-out process.]
qep'a' 26
ghach
v
lurk, lie in wait, lie low (ready to ambush, for example, hidden but posing a threat) [STID]
qepHom 12
ghal
v
be jealous (of), envy
HolQeD v8n3p4
ghalmaH
n
splinter, sliver [Like the small, thin piece of wood that might get stuck in your finger.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
gham na'
n
ham [or tera' targh gham na']
qepHom 2024
ghan
v
be hectic, very active, lively
qepHom 15
ghan
v
glance at, take a quick look at
qep'a' 25
ghanHa'
v
be peaceful, calm
qepHom 15
ghanroq
n
basis/foundation [underlying support for an idea, argument, or process, depending on context, could also be meq or qolqoS]
qep'a' 25
ghantoH
n
model, example, pattern [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-15]
qepHom
ghan'Iq
n
police force
qep'a' 25
ghan'Iq yaS
n
police officer
qep'a' 25
ghang
v
end prematurely (an event, voyage, battle, play, opera, story, song, etc.) [The subject of this verb is the person causing an event to prematurely end. The direct object is the event that is ended.]
HolQeD v12n2p8
ghangwI'
n
horizon
HolQeD v11n2p8
ghapqa'
n
jaw [May be used for things that resemble anatomical jaws. In such cases, the plural remains ghapqa'Du'.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
ghaptal
n
equator
qepHom 15
ghaQpey'
n
sex [Biological, this means how a body is originally constructed; male, female, or whatever type of biological sex the species has.] [Request]
qep'a' 29
gharDaq
n
loneliness
qepHom 2024
gharlIq 'oQqar
n
garlic
TN!LK
ghaS
v
indicate, signal [Can be used to express the meaning of a word in another language]
qepHom 2020
ghav
n
carbon
qepHom 2015 p.13
ghav 'uSqan
n
steel
qepHom 15
ghaw
v
excavate, dig (a hole, trench, ditch, etc.) [use ghaw when the object is the resulting hole; use tlhan when the object is the material being removed]
qepHom 2019
ghawran
proper n
Gowron
HolQeD v5n3p15 - S25 & S26
ghay
n
sound of letter gh [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
ghay<!-->
v
spray
TN!LK
ghaytanHa'
adv
unlikely
British television magazine, "Radio Times"
ghay'cha'
excl
general invective
TKD P178
gheb
n
horn (musical instrument)
HolQeD v10n2p9
gheH
v
have a temperature of [typical object is a number of SImyon degrees]
qepHom 17
ghen
v
be operative, in effect, valid [You could also use ghen to say something like "his driver's license is current." The slang term tutlh "be official" may be used instead of ghen.]
qepHom 2024
ghenlan
N
Greenland [country name]
Hamletmachine
ghenraq
n
orchestra [This is for a reasonably large group of instrumentalists. A more general term for a group (of any size) playing music is just QoQ ghom.]
qepHom 17
gher
v.t.
formulate, compile, pull together
Okrand Forum, MSN
gher'ID
n
results, outcome, effect, repercussions, consequence, ramification ["results" with the sense of "score, tally" is mIvwa'mey]
qep'a' 25
ghet
v
pretend [no deception is implied; simply role-playing]
HolQeD, v12n3p8
ghetwI'
n
pretender [no deception is implied; simply role-playing]
HolQeD, v12n3p8
ghevjur
n
shovel
qep'a' 25
ghe'
v
be transformed, transmuted, metamorphosed, totally altered
Marc Okrand email to Lieven January 2018
ghID
v
pierce, perforate
qepHom 2015 p.18
ghIl
v
be the mean, be the average [arithmetic mean]
qep'a' 26
ghIlaSnoS
n
Glasnost - ancient political movement
TKW p186
ghIn
n
monastery, religious community [Marc Okrand email 2010-11-15]
qepHom 9
ghInjaj
n
Saturday [not used for formal occasions]
qepHom 12
ghIp'IS
n
friction [From chabal tetlh: "Friction causes a slowdown in motion of plates rubbing against each other".
This term is used only for the physical sense of friction, not for discord and the like.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
ghIq
adv
then, subsequently
HolQeD v8n3p4
ghIrep naH
n
grapes
TN!LK
ghIS
v
wriggle, squirm [a word you might use when describing a good bowl full of qagh]
qep'a' 24
ghIt
v
flow (e.g., water), gush, spout
qepHom 15
ghItlh
v
mark (upon) ["'To mark (upon)' something is ghItlh. This isn't just writing; it's any kind of marking. (Note that ghItlh, 'to write,' refers to the physical act of writing. It doesn't mean 'to create a composition.')"]
Okrand's notes, HolQeD v2n4p18
ghItlhjaj
n
Wednesday
qepHom 12
ghItlhmeH Ho'DoS
n
writing system [pIqaD is just one of many in the world/galaxy]
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
ghItlhwI'
n
stylus
KGT p79
ghItlhwI' 'echlet
n
chalk board, flip chart [Most general term, can be used for any type of chalk board, flip chart, whiteboard etc.]
qepHom 2020
ghItwI'
n
geyser [this is just "gusher, spouter"; if steam is emitted, say SeS ghItwI']
qep'a' 25
ghIv
n
limb (of a person) [qep'a' wa'maH SochDIch]
paq'batlh
ghI'neS
N
Guinness [Klingon spelling for the company name]
MiniaturWunderland
ghI'van
n
gryphon [an animal from Terran mythology, loanword]
QelIS boqHarmey
gho paq
n
binder, notebook (something you can add and remove pages from)
qepHom 2015 p.19
gho SubmaH
num
pi [Sometimes shortened to ghomaH. Note also bav circumference. For "diameter," make use of juch have a width of]
qep'a' 27
gho tut
n
cylinder [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
gho 'Impey'
n
cone [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
ghobchuq loDnI'pu'
proper n
The Brothers Fight One Another - famous statue
KCD
ghochwI'
n
the constellation "Tracker"
from KCD lab
ghogh HablI'
n
telephone
HolQeD v5n2p20
ghogh'ot
n
bill, payment request, something you must pay
qepHom 2015 p.18
ghojmeH ghItlhwI'
n
pencil
TN!LK
ghojmeH mIw
n
lesson [like in a textbook -- Lesson 1, Lesson 2, etc.]
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
ghojmeH taj
n
boy's knife
KCD
gholeqmey
n
cereal, like a breakfast cereal [This has been generalized to all types of breakfast cereals, even those that are not flakes.]
qepHom 2024
ghom DIp
n
plural [Dol and ghom can be used to indicate singularity and plurality in grammar: Dol DIp, ghom DIp]
qep'a' 29
ghommeH yotlh
n
plaza, courtyard
qepHom 15
ghom'oH
n
slot
qep'a' 28
ghom'oH
n
slit, slot [Adds the meaning of "slit". This is a thin opening, not used for things like a place on a schedule or organizational chart.] [Request]
qep'a' 29
ghon
v
sparkle, glitter
qep'a' 25
ghong
v
exploit [This word can be translated "exploit" or "abuse"; it does not refer to physical abuse.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
ghop 'etlh
n
type of blade weapon [displayed on nuH bey]
qepHom 2019
ghopDap mIch
n
asteroid belt [The two variants are used interchangeably.]
qep'a' 33
ghopDap SIr'o'
n
asteroid belt [The two variants are used interchangeably.]
qep'a' 33
ghoqchuy
n
(data) stream, feed
qepHom 2024
ghoQ
v
be most recent [slang]
qepHom 2019
ghormaghenDer
n
gormagander ["Gormaganders are a non-atmospheric organism capable of living in the vacuum of space. Not technically a fish, but described as essentially a "space whale", as of 2256, they were on the Endangered Species List." (Memory Alpha)]
qepHom 2017
ghor'In
n
Gorn
qep'a' 25
ghotI'
n
fish, most general word for fish-like creature
HolQeD v10n4p5
gho'lIv
n
golf [Loanword. There is also a somewhat similar Klingon game called cha'DaSvI'. Maltz wasn't clear on the rules, though he said that, like golf, it involves precisely aiming a projectile. For the Terran game, the loanword gho'lIv is most common. Maltz thought Terran golf was far too tame to be referred to as tera' cha'DaSvI'.] [Request]
qep'a' 29
ghub
n
bud (the flower, fruit, or shoot before it develops)
qep'a' 23
ghubDaQ
n
first born child
HolQeD v9n3p9
ghuch
v
climax (sexual) [The regular word, but the slang expressions are more common]
qepHom 2020
ghuD
v
be in common, be co- [Admittedly clumsy definitions. It's used in constructions such as HoDpu' ghuD (literally something like in-common captains, but a better translation would be co-captains or fellow captains). One could also say ghuD HoDpu' (literally the captains are in common but it really means they share the same status and, perhaps, work together). ghojwI' ghuD would be a fellow student. puqpu' ghuD might refer to children who are growing up together (whether related or not).] [Request]
qep'a' 30
ghugh
v
vocalize [referring to sound emitted by an animal, but not speech]
qep'a' 24
ghughugh
v
growl
qepHom 17
ghul
n
bump, protuberance
qep'a' 24
ghun
v
be warm [Star Mitzvah reward: comparison]
HolQeD v13n1p8
ghunta
n
check, promissory note [obsolescent]
qepHom 2019
ghuQ
n
poem
qepHom 15
ghurtaHghach
n
inflation [Normally used in reference to economics. Cannot be used to refer to putting air into a balloon or tire or the like.] [Request]
qep'a' 32
ghut
v
predict [based on an aching bunion or Spidey-sense or if it's just a wild guess]
qep'a' 24
ghuy'
excl
Klingon curse, damn [From ST5]
HolQeD v8n4p13
ghuy'cha'
excl
Klingon curse [In CK, this is the curse one would use after receiving an unsettling communique. It is far worse than "Darn it!"]
TKD p58
ghu'lIS
n
entry, item in a list
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
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.