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
lam Ho'Du'
n
rake (for the ground)
qepHom 2023
lanDan
N
London
qep'a' 26
lanSoy
n
row or line, queue [...it is expected that the row or line of people or things is (or will be or might be) in motion, one member of the row following the other, and eventually the row diminishes until it's gone.]
OZ
lang
v
be narrow, be thin
qep'a' 25
lap
v
vote, cast a ballot [This is to vote in an election or to vote for a motion. It does not mean "express an opinion" (as in I vote for pizza for lunch -- unless a formal vote is actually taken, not an informal survey)] [Request]
qep'a' 26
laq
v
flap [move like a bird's wings, not like a flag. Proper usage: laq tel. tel laqmoH bo'Degh.]
HolQeD v10n4p5
laq
v
speak gibberish [slang]
qepHom 2019
laqlaq
n
gibberish [slang]
qepHom 2019
laS
v
ink up, put paint on a brush
qepHom 2015 p.19
lat
n
monument, memorial (building)
qepHom 15
latlh je
N
et cetera [Less formally, you could end the list of things by saying latlh latlh latlh or taH taH taH.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
lav
v
lean, incline, slant
De'vID Feb 2019 Q&A
law
n
nogree (1/243 of a circle) [DYM]
qepHom 13
lawrI'
n
degree (1/360 of a circle) [sometimes called law chu', though with increasing rarity]
qepHom 13
law'
v
many, be many, [numerous, be numerous]
TKD, in E-K
lay
n
sound of letter l [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
lay
n
air (technical term)
qep'a' 23
lay leng
n
aeronautics
qepHom 17
la'pIy
proper n
Lapland
qepHom 2023
la'qab
n
whistling sound [produced with mouth and lips (perhaps fingers too), not a device]
qepHom 2023
la'rut'an
n
mica [From chabal tetlh: "hydrous aluminosilicate mineral group characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
la'SIv
n
type of animal (like a turtle) [email to Felix Malmanbeck]
misc
lechtal
n
one of the three traditional terms for map grid lines (forming triangles) [One of three traditional terms used for the imaginary lines used in determining coordinates or the actual lines on a map or similar image. The modern terms are are: ngotrI'tal, parallel; lungrI'tal, meridian.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
lechvI'
n
one of the three traditional terms for specifying locations (analogous to longitude and latitude) [These terms were used in specifying locations before significant contact with other civilizations in the galaxy led to adoption of the more generally used system: ngotvI', lungvI', lechvI'. Maltz didn't know how to translate these traditional terms.
] [Request]
qep'a' 30
leD
v
be perpendicular [DYM]
qepHom 13
lenmeS rop
n
Lenmes disease [A native Klingon disease caused by a bacterium. Its symptoms include high fever, weakness, and perhaps abdominal pain, headaches, and a skin rash.]
qepHom 2020
leng buq
n
suitcase
TN!LK
leng chach mab
n
trip insurance ["voyage emergency contract"]
qepHom 15
leng chaw'
n
passport
TN!LK
lep
n
solid (state of matter)
qep'a' 23
ler
v
wobble, oscillate [...can be used for a pendulum regardless of whether the pivot is at the top or bottom (or somewhere else). And lerchu' could be used for what a metronome does.]
De'vID Feb 2019 Q&A
lerup
n
bacterium, bacteria
qep'a' 23
letSeburgh
n
Luxembourg
qepHom 15
letbaQ
n
rectangle [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
lev
n
hard palate, roof of mouth [Got this from http://www.livejournal.com/community/klingon/ entry August 1, 2005 by ubykhlives]
qep'a' 12
levwIt
n
almond [This is actually a kind of Klingon nut, but it looks sort of like
an almond. For the Terran almond, precede with tera'.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
le'mIS
n
blockade
Monopoly
le'yo'
n
pride [qep'a' wa'maH chorghDIch]
paq'batlh
le''aq
n
messenger [This is anyone tasked with delivering a message. Maltz says he's also heard it (or sometimes Qun le''aq) translated as angel.]
qep'a' 31
lIb
v
be impending, imminent, loom [STID]
qepHom 12
lIbya'
n
Libya
qepHom 15
lID
v
travel or move a specified or measurable distance or trajectory or angle [used with verbs of movement that don't take distance or trajectory as their object]
De'vID Feb 2019 Q&A
lIH
v
begin a song
HolQeD v12n2p9
lIHtentay'
n
Lichtenstein
qepHom 15
lIl
v
simulate, impersonate [The idea is one of doing something such that the subject of the verb looks or behaves like something (or someone) else or represents something (or someone) else. The word has no connotation of fraud or anything underhanded (in this respect, it's like ghet). The object is the thing being simulated or the person being impersonated. lIlwI' (simulator, for lack of a better term) is different from lIw (substitute) since lIw implies replacement (the notion of instead of) while a lIlwI' doesn't replace anyone or anything.]
November 2016 email to Lieven
lIlwI'
n
simulator
November 2016 email to Lieven
lIn
v
share [C (lu)lIn A B je: A and B share C; lInchuq implies a physical relationship of some sort]]
qepHom 15
lIQ
v
be stuck [like when you can't solve an algebra problem or a crossword puzzle]
qep'a' 25
lIr
n
a nocturnal bird
HolQeD v10n4p4
lIr'el
N
L'Rell [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
lIS'ab
n
rodent [This animal is more rat-sized than mouse-sized, but a vIghro' might well chase it. Its face kind of resembles that of a bat (though a bat is not a rodent).] [Request]
qep'a' 28
lIvqa'nan
n
doorframe [something constructed to hold a door or gate, whether the door/gate is there or not]
April 2019 email to Lieven
lIwnal
n
concubine [...the cultural connotations are a bit different since, in Klingon culture, everything associated with a lIwnal lacks honor, and this is not necessarily the case for a (Terran) king's concubines or courtesans. Note that only married people could have a partner who could be considered a lIwnal. Also, lIwnal could be male or female, so if it's necessary to distinguish, say loD lIwnal or be' lIwnal.]
Hamletmachine
lIyenIn
N
Lenin [transliteration]
Hamletmachine
lI'choD
n
plasma (state of matter)
qep'a' 23
lI'lIy
n
lily [This is just borrowed in from Federation Standard; no native Klingon equivalent] [Request]
qep'a' 27
loch
v
be a fraction of, make up a portion of, constitute part of [wej loch cha' 2/3; vagh loch wej 3/5; loS loch jav 6/4. In theory, if appropriate in a mathematical discussion, one could say wa' loch wej three one-ths. (Though perhaps a little grammatically aberrant, this would not be wa' luloch wej.)] [Request]
qep'a' 26
logh
n
space
TKW p33 - outer space
logh chal je 'angweD
n
planetarium
qepHom 15
logh chal je 'angweD qach
n
planetarium (building)
qepHom 15
loghjaj
n
Thursday
qepHom 12
loghqam
n
unit of measure, 1.25 light years
BoP Poster
logh'ob
n
chest [the upper front of the torso]
qep'a' 25
logh'ob
n
front of an object [extended meaning, used in context]
QelIS boqHarmey
loHjan
n
computer CPU (Central Processing Unit) [De'wI' loHjan if clarification is necessary]
qepHom 13
lojmItjaj
n
Saturday
qepHom 12
lol
v
be in an attitude (aircraft); be in a stance, be in a pose (people animals or martial arts)
HolQeD v11n2p8
lol
n
a specific position in the martial arts form Mok'bara
HolQeD v11n2p8
lolchu'
v
be in a correct attitude (aircraft) [It is unknown if this is used outside the context of aircraft attitude.]
HolQeD v11n2p8
lolchu'taH
v
maintain a correct attitude (aircraft) [It is unknown if this is used outside the context of aircraft attitude.]
HolQeD v11n2p8
lolmoH
v
maneuver (an aircraft) to be in an attitude [canon: qughmeH Duj vIlolmoH]
HolQeD v11n2p8
loltaH
v
maintain an attitude (aircraft) [It is unknown if this is used outside the context of aircraft attitude.]
HolQeD v11n2p8
lor
n
cousin (mother's brother's child or father's sister's child), niece or nephew (man's sister's child or woman's brother's child)
HolQeD v9n3p8
lorbe'
n
female cousin (mother's brother's daughter or father's sister's daughter), niece (man's sister's daughter or woman's brother's daughter)
HolQeD v9n3p8
lorloD
n
male cousin (mother's brother's son or father's sister's son), nephew (man's sister's son or woman's brother's son)
HolQeD v9n3p8
loS reD mey'
n
quadrilateral [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
loS reD 'Impey'
n
pyramid with four-sided base [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
loScha'
n
coincidence [The verb usually associated with this is qaS occur, happen.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
lotlhmoq
n
a bird that swoops into the water in order to catch food, but cannot swim
HolQeD v10n4p4
loy'
v
have personality, be charismatic, be charming [refers to positive personal characteristics]
qepHom 2017
lo' law'
n
utility (precedes noun it modifies)
BoP Poster
lo'laHbe'ghach
n
worthlessness
TKD p176
lo'laHghach
n
value
TKD p176
luDnama'
n
fractal [From chabal tetlh: "geometric figure that is self-similar at all scales, or any object, system, or idea that exhibits this property".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
luH
v
yank
This was omitted from the English-Klingon listing of TKD
luHwI' tIH
n
tractor beam [Marc Okrand email 2010-11-15]
qepHom 9
lujwI' mIr
n
losing streak
qep'a' 25
lun
v
swell, swell up
qepHom 17
lunglIH
n
turbine, propeller [Maltz thought this word was based on a story in Klingon mythology about a loong, but he didn't recall the details. Some people also say cheqwI' "tornado-er".] [Request]
qep'a' 28
lunglIH Duj
n
helicopter [This was the most technical term Maltz knew, but there are also slang expressions see below.] [Request]
qep'a' 29
lungrI'
n
longitude [A common way of talking about this concept is by making use of the verb juch (have a width of). When used to specify location (as opposed to linear dimension), the objects of this verb are expressed in degrees, lawrI'(mey), so X juch could be be at longitude X.
In some contexts, such as in preparing for in the midst of battle (but not restricted to these), it's more common to express the location (in degrees) followed by the word ngotrI' (latitude) or lungrI' (longitude) with no verb at all, a form of clipped Klingon.
By analogy with law and lawrI' (for "traditional" degrees and "modern" degrees), these terms are based on two of three older words that were used in specifying locations before significant contact with other civilizations in the galaxy led to adoption of the more generally used system: ngotvI', lungvI', lechvI'. Maltz didn't know how to translate these traditional terms.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
lungrI'tal
n
meridian [The modern word used for the imaginary lines used in determining coordinates or the actual lines on a map or similar image. Derived from the traditional terms: ngottal, lungtal, lechtal. Maltz didn't know how to translate these, but he said the arrangement formed triangles.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
lungtal
n
one of the three traditional terms for map grid lines (forming triangles) [One of three traditional terms used for the imaginary lines used in determining coordinates or the actual lines on a map or similar image. The modern terms are are: ngotrI'tal, parallel; lungrI'tal, meridian.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
lungvI'
n
one of the three traditional terms for specifying locations (analogous to longitude and latitude) [These terms were used in specifying locations before significant contact with other civilizations in the galaxy led to adoption of the more generally used system: ngotvI', lungvI', lechvI'. Maltz didn't know how to translate these traditional terms.
] [Request]
qep'a' 30
lupwI' mIr
n
train, railroad train
TN!LK
lurSa'
proper n
Lursa
HolQeD v5n3p15 - S26}
luS
v
be submerged in, immersed in, surrounded by
qep'a' 25
lut mIr
n
series (of stories, movies, etc.)
qepHom 2017
lut rorgh
n
fairy tale
OZ
luvnup
n
daydream [associated sometimes with inattentiveness]
2019 email to pagh
lu'lap
n
qep'a' 28
Count:114
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.