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
ngaH
v
squeeze (an object)
qepHom 2015 p.18
ngajrun
n
puzzle, riddle [this is a made-up puzzle or riddle]
qep'a' 25
ngam
v
adhere, stick [with -moH, the object is the thing that's stuck to or adhering to something else, marked by -Daq]
qep'a' 25
ngang
v
vary, be varying [This verb is used to express that something is varying or deviating from the norm or is varying or fluctuating so much that there isn't a norm. (If the readouts on certain instruments on a ship did this, that would probably be bad news.)]
January 2019 email to De'vID
ngaQHa'moH
v
sign in, log in [jargon, perhaps shortened from an earlier obsolete phrase mab Hung lojmIt naQHa'moH]
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
ngaQHa'moHwI'
n
key
TN!LK
ngaQmoH
v
sign out, log out [jargon, perhaps shortened from an earlier obsolete phrase mab Hung lojmIt ngaQmoH]
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
ngar
v
be miraculous, supernatural, wondrous
qepHom 17
ngat 'atlhqam
n
a type of mold ["gunpowder fungus"]
qep'a' 25
ngav
n
writer's cramp [linguist humor]
This was omitted from the English-Klingon listing of TKD
ngavyaw'
n
canine-like creature (larger than a qovIj) [a large animal, like the creatures that accompany the guards on Rura Penthe] [Request]
qep'a' 26
ngay
n
sound of letter ng [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
ngay'
n
glory
Monopoly
nga'chuq
v
sex (i.e., perform sex; always subject) [Note: it is unclear about what part of speech this may be, though it is probably a verb and "always subject" probably refers to the concept that all involved parties collectively make the subject of this verb.]
from veS QonoS, listed in HolQeD v1n3p9
ngech
n
valley[, woman's cleavage]
confirmed at qep'a' wejDIch by Okrand
ngegh
v
traffic in [In the sense of trading something illegal. The object is the allegedly illicit item.]
qep'a' 31
ngel
v
attract, lure
qepHom 2017
ngelwI'
n
bait [Literally "attracter" or "lurer"; can be translated "bait" in the proper context.]
qepHom 2017
ngen
v
be numb [of body parts; for emotions, use jemHa' or jemlaHbe']
qep'a' 25
ngep
v
take/have priority [particularly in the sense of a computer program taking priority over another one]
qepHom 2024
ngeq
v
store, hoard, cache [Used to say memorise or save (on a computer), also "learn/know by heart".]
qepHom 2021
ngeqwI'
n
capacitor [From chabal tetlh: "electronic component capable of storing electrical energy in an electric field; especially one consisting of two conductors separated by a dielectric".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
ngeS
v
bake
qepHom 2023
ngeSlIch
n
loan
qep'a' 28
ngeSmoH
v
bake
qepHom 2023
ngeSmoHwI'
n
baker
qepHom 2023
ngIbvay
n
type of animal [This is a weird animal found on Kronos that looks like a rock. It can suddenly open up and stick out something to grab a piece of food (like a frog catches flies), though since it's not hungry very often, it doesn't do this frequently.]
QelIS boqHarmey
ngIDvoS
n
lead (element)
qepHom 2015 p.13
ngIj
v
be rowdy, unruly
KGT p150
ngIng
v
be negatively charged, have a negative charge
qep'a' 23
ngIq
n
each, single, individual [Similar to Hoch but with an additional meaning of "one after the other" or "one by one".]
paq'batlh, qepHom 2017
ngIS
n
lubricant (for disruptor cannons) [acknowledged by Marc Okrand when providing words for OZ]
IKS Gorkon
ngIt
v
ride [The phrase qam Do Duj jIrmoH does not mean pedal a bicycle; it means rotate a bicycle, that is, spin it around somehow or other. The verb for riding a bicycle (or motorcycle or horse, where the passenger is controlling, to one degree or another, the motion of the vehicle or means of conveyance), is ngIt.]
qep'a' 31
ngItHel
n
type of musical instrument [can be played with a bow]
qepHom 2019
ngItHel naQ
n
bow [used to play a ngItHel]
qepHom 2019
ngItlh
v
be stuck [like when your car is stuck in the snow or Santa is stuck in the chimney or a ring is stuck on your finger or a nail is stuck in a piece of wood and you can't pull it out]
qep'a' 25
ngI'
v
be pressurized [For the notion of "pressurized" (as what happens inside an airplane to make sure those yellow masks don't fall down), Maltz said to use the verb ngI' "have a weight of, weigh."]
qep'a' 24
ngogh
n
block, lump, brick [Marc Okrand email 2010-11-15]
qepHom 9
ngogh mutlhwI'
n
bricklayer [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-09]
qepHom
ngom
v
be geeky [This describes someone who is "into" a subject and knows a lot about it, but does not necessarily participate in associated activities the way a qatru' does. It could be a less intense version of ven.]
FFN
ngon
v
bubble [The verb ngon describes what water does when it's boiling: It's bubbling. Also, if you blow with a straw into a glass of water, then it's also bubble-ing, i.e. making bubbles. The person does not ngon, they ngonmoH the water.]
qepHom 2017
ngop
n
plates (for eating) [Incorrectly listed as a verb.]
KGT
ngoqDe'
n
encoded message
HolQeD v8n4p12
ngotrI'
n
latitude [A common way of talking about this concept is by making use of the verb 'ab (have a height of). When used to specify location (as opposed to linear dimension), the objects of the verb are expressed in degrees, lawrI'(mey), so X 'ab could be translated be at latitude 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
ngotrI'tal
n
parallel [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
ngottal
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
ngotvI'
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
ngub
v
migrate [In Klingon, there's only one word for these concepts: ngub. To specify immigration or emigration, make use of the suffixes -Daq and -vo' on the nouns referring to the destination or area of departure.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
ngugh
adv
then, at that time
Newsgroup
nguH
v
testify
qepHom 17
nguHwI'
n
witness [one who testifies in court]
qepHom 17
ngun
v
perch [if bird lands on land, use Saq, on water, use tlhot]
HolQeD v10n4p5
nguq
v
be arrogant, haughty, conceited [an undesirable trait]
HolQeD, v12n3p9
nguSDI'
n
motor
BoP Poster
ngutlh
n
letter, written character
qepHom 15
ngutlh nagh
n
die/dice with letters
qepHom 17
ngutlh tu'qom
n
font, typeface ["written character appearance/form/shape"]
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
ngutlhmey qa'
v
transliterate [The script transliterated from is the object, the script transliterated into is the subject.]
qepHom 2024
Count:79
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.