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
qab
n
face [symbol of identity]
TKW p59
qab jech
n
mask [two words]
Hamletmachine
qach noy
n
landmark (building)
qepHom 15
qaD mIr
n
tournament [literally "challenge chain"]
qep'a' 25
qaghwI'
n
sound of letter ' [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
qaj
v
soar
HolQeD v10n4p5
qalIvornIya
n
California
qepHom 17
qalmuS
N
color
qep'a' 26
qalmuS lung
n
chameleon [loanword]
qepHom 2024
qal'aq
n
frame, framework, supporting structure, skeleton [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
qam Do Duj
n
bicycle
TN!LK
qamchIy
N
Qam-Chee [the city where Kahless and Lukara defeated Molor's army of five hundred soldiers]
paq'batlh
qamerun
n
Cameroon
qepHom 17
qan
v
use the pinky (little finger) [An idiomatic gesture: to point your pinky at someone is to comment that you believe they are old.]
HolQeD v10n2p7
qanraD
n
a bird known for its song
HolQeD v10n4p4
qanwI'
n
pinky, little finger [Pointing with the pinky is an idiomatic gesture indicating that the person being pointed at is old.]
HolQeD v10n2p7
qangtlhIn
n
beliefs, principles, standards, ethics, ideology
PCHC/qep'a' 24
qanQIy loS
N
Cancri IV (planet) [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qappam
n
foundation [supporting under-structure of building]
qep'a' 25
qar Doq
n
goldfish [loanword]
qepHom 2024
qar ghotI'
n
carp [loanword]
qepHom 2024
qara'te
n
karate [loanword]
qepHom 2024
qargh
v
be thick, bulky [usually for inanimate objects]
qepHom 2019
qargh
v
be bulky, be thick
ta'puq mach
qarghan
proper n
Kargan
HolQeD v4n3p4
qarpal
n
trapezoid [American -- not British -- sense of "trapezoid"; a quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides] [Request]
qep'a' 27
qartaj
n
Carthage [loanword]
qepHom 2024
qaryoq
n
bird capable of mimicking speech [Some people pluralize these with -pu', but most use -mey.]
HolQeD v10n4p5
qaryoq'a'
n
bird capable of mimicking speech, larger than qaryoq [Some people pluralize these with -pu', but most use -mey.]
HolQeD v10n4p5
qaSaQtan
proper n
Kazakhstan
qepHom 2023
qatra'
n
Katra (vulcan soul)
qepHom 2017
qatru'
n
nerd [This is a common (and nerdier) synonym for venwI'.]
FFN
qatvoH
n
shellfish (clam, oyster, mussel, scallop, brachiopod...) [There are a number of these sorts of creatures. qatvoH applies to various bivalves. Large qatvoHmey are served in non-Klingon restaurants that feature Klingon food, but they usually just call this dish "Jumbo Klingon Mollusks."] [Request]
qep'a' 28
qatlhDa'
n
water pipe [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-09]
qepHom
qav
v
[unknown] [Maltz didn't know what qav by itself was, but he said he wouldn't be surprised to learn that qav'ap was shortened from qavmeH 'ap or something like that at some point in the past.]
qepHom 2020
qav'ap
n
rent, cost, price, value
Monopoly
qav'ap juH
n
apartment [This is for a house or an apartment of any size that is not owned by the occupant. For a dwelling within a larger building containing several such dwellings (regardless of ownership), it's common to just say pa'mey (or occasionally just pa').] [Request]
qep'a' 28
qaw
n
memory ["...in the sense of the ability to remember or the power of recall."]
Marc Okrand email to Lieven January 2018
qawHaq
n
memory banks[, data banks (singular)] [It's listed in both TKD and its Addendum with different definitions]
TKD and [Addendum of TKD]
qawno'
n
remembrance, memorial [A gathering or ceremony to remember and honor someone who has died. The request was for a social term with the morpheme -no.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
qaw'
v
tip over [what the thing does, falling from approximately vertical to approximately horizontal]
Hamletmachine
qaw'moH
v
tip over, knock over, knock down [i.e. "make something fall over"]
Hamletmachine
qay
v
use the second (middle) finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qay
n
sound of letter q [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
qaytap
n
bill, act [This is a proposed regulation or rule or law, not one enacted or implemented or enforceable yet.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
qaywI'
n
middle finger, second finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qa'
v
replace, substitute for
Monopoly
qa' QoywI'
n
shaman [From chabal tetlh: "traditional prescientific faith healer, or member of certain tribal societies who acts as a spiritual and/or religious medium between the concrete and spiritual worlds".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
qa'meH
n
replacement ["...something that takes over for or is used instead of something that is gone or that has been lost. It is not used for a temporary substitute or stand-in; the word for that is lIw."]
HolQeD v5n1p10, KGT
qa'meH vIttlhegh
n
replacement proverb
HolQeD v5n1p10
qa'mel
n
camel [loanword]
qepHom 2021
qa'mInar
N
Kaminar [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qa'nabIS
n
cannabis [loanword]
qepHom 2021
qa'naDa'
N
Canada
TN!LK
qa'put
n
monkey-like creature [smallish and pretty monkey-like]
qep'a' 26
qa'ramel Su'ghar Sawqe'
n
caramel [Sometimes shortened to qa'ramel Sawqe' or just qa'ramel.]
qepHom 2023
qa'rI'
n
end (of corridor, tunnel, conduit, Jeffries tube, sewer, road, bridge, long field, etc.) [This is the end of any clearly defined space longer than wide in which people might find themselves.]
HolQeD v12n2p7
qa'rol
n
a really big bird [much larger than a notqa']
HolQeD v10n4p4
qa'vam
n
The Big Bang [Defined as "Genesis" in TKD. Marc Okrand says "qa'vam is perhaps best defined as 'origin of everything' or 'start of it all' or the like."]
FFN
qa'vaQ
n
qa'vak (traditional game); hoop and stick maneuver
KGT; TKW p199
qebeq
n
Quebec
qepHom 17
qebeq veng
n
Quebec City
qepHom 17
qel
v
nod [This means lower the head slightly whether or not the head is again raised. So, among other things, it can refer to nodding to the beat of music or nodding off (falling asleep). The subject might be, for example, nach head (even though this might be considered redundant) or the nodder. It does not take an object.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
qelI'qam
n
kellicam [According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, one kellicam is roughly equal to two kilometers]
TKD
qelpIngan
N
Kelpien [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qelpIya'ngan
N
Kelpien [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qen
adv
recently, a short time ago
NEWS
qenSaS
N
Kansas
OZ
qenya'
n
Kenya
qepHom 15
qeng
proper n
Kang
TKD p58; TOS [Day of the Dawn]; TKD p11
qengHoD
n
treasure, booty, plunder, swag, loot [context determines the best translation. If there's a lot of stuff, the plural form qengHoDmey is often but not necessarily used. The resemblance to "Captain Kang" is coincidental, but, even so, Kang's crew was careful to never say qengHoDmey when he was around]
qep'a' 25
qeqchu'
v
train really well, to work really hard at it and achieve intended goals
qepHom 2020
qeQ
n
fecal matter
qep'a' 23
qer
v
shrink (get smaller)
QelIS boqHarmey
qerjIq
n
fireplace [specific place in a house for heating/food preperation]
qep'a' 25
qeSHoS
n
type of animal, fox [This is a Klingon animal, that eats plants and small animals. Klingons might eat them, but mostly consider them pests.]
ta'puq mach
qet'uy
n
pine cone [something that grows on certain kinds of trees and looks much like a pine cone as seen on Earth.]
qepHom 2020
qev
n
crowd [possibly a mistake]
HolQeD v4n4p11
qevaS
n
kevas [An unspecified commodity. In the TOS episode "Errand of Mercy" Spock poses as a Vulcan trader in kevas and trillium. Thus, both appear in TKD. Star Trek Encyclopedia lists them as a gemstones, established in DS9 "Trials and Tribble-ations".]
TKD
qew
v
use the ring (third) finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qewwI'
n
ring finger, third finger
HolQeD v10n2p7
qey
v
be in vain, futile
qep'a' 25
qeylIS
proper n
Kahless
TKD p58
qeylIS mInDu'
n
Eyes of Kahless, a guessing game with dice where the winner receives a punch.
KCD
qey'Hav
n
vagina
qepHom 17
qe'rot 'oQqar
n
carrot
TN!LK
qImroq
n
season
qep'a' 23
qInut
n
scythe, sickle, falx [This is a tool resembling a sickle. It's for agriculture, but, of course, it could be used as a weapon. If it has a long handle, "scythe" may be a better translation, though it's not quite either of them.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
qIp
v
knock (on a door) [extended meaning]
QelIS boqHarmey
qIrbI'
n
hygiene [Klingon hygienic practices do not focus on cleanliness, though this is not ruled out, either.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
qIrq
proper n
Kirk
HolQeD v8n4p12
qIrqoD
n
A hardy, long-lived tree with twisted branches and needle-like leaves [Maltz said the closest tree to this description is a qIrqoD, though its branches aren't necessarily noticeably twisted. He said it was reasonable to use tera' qIrqoD for pine. A Terran pine cone could be either tera' qet'uy or tera' qIrqoD qet'uy.] [Request]
qep'a' 30
qIS
v
be libidinous [There are also various slang terms/expressing be randy, horny: Huy "be spicy, be piquant, be hot", jIr qIvon "the qIvon twirls", roSbe', "does not lick/use the third toe",wamtaH "hunting".]
qep'a' 29
qIt
n
a big, fat bird native to Kronos, which is able to fly, but not for a long time
Smithsonian Klingon skit
qI'
v
register, sign up for (an account) ["register for an account" is mab qI']
Feb 2018 email to De'vID
qobra' ghargh
n
cobra [loanword]
qepHom 2024
qoch
v
squeeze into (a space) [The object is the space into which the subject is squeezing itself.]
qepHom 2015 p.18
qoch'uq
n
rubber [The gummy material]
qep'a' 26
qol
v
pronounce [refers to articulation]
January 2019 email to De'vID
qol
N
Kol [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
qol
n
collection of segments that are joined together, collocation
qepHom 2021
qolqoS
n
core, essense [pun: John Colicos played Kor]
qep'a' 14
qol'om
n
gold
qepHom 2015 p.13
qonglIl
n
peanut [This is actually a Klingon legume whose seeds, like Terran peanuts, grow underground. For the Terran peanut, precede with tera'.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
qopagh
n
diorite [From chabal tetlh: "intrusive igneous rock formed by slow cooling of magma, with a moderate content of silica and low content of alkali metals".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
qoq De'wI' Dojmey
n
botnet (computer jargon)
qepHom 2015 p.21
qorgh
v
stop up, fill (a hole) [Marc Okrand interview with Lieven Litaer October 2013]
qepHom
qorghwI'
n
pacifier
qep'a' 23
qoro'na javtIm
n
corona virus
qepHom 2020
qortar
N
Kortar [the first Klingon, and the ferryman on the Barge of the Dead]
paq'batlh
qoSo'va
proper n
Kosovo
qepHom 2023
qoSqa'rIy
n
Kos'Karii [Pale, serpent-like creatures which inhabited the waters crossed by the Barge of the Dead on its way to Gre'thorThis word is inherently plural. A singular one is 'angwIl.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qoSta'
n
tape, ribbon
TN!LK
qot
v
back, sponsor, support, capitalize, invest in [To specify what or how much is invested, make use of peS as in X qotmeH Y peS ("invest Y in X").] [Request]
qep'a' 28
qovDa'
n
exponent [Though there is a noun, the idea of raising a number to the power of something is generally expressed by using the verb Sep, as in wejlogh Sep'egh cha' chen chorgh.] [Request]
qep'a' 28
qovIj
n
canine-like creature (smaller than a ngavyaw') [a smaller animal, similar to Kruge's pet] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qo'la' 'awje'
n
cola
TN!LK
qo'qaD
n
phlegm
HolQeD, v12n4p8
qo'qa' qo'la'
n
Coca-Cola [transliteration]
Hamletmachine
qo'qo
n
coconut [This is a borrowing, not a native Klingon word.]
qep'a' 26
qo'rIn
n
chromium salts [used in tanning]
qep'a' 26
qo'rIn DIr
n
leather [Since this is removed from a body and then altered, it is considered a material, not a body part. The phrase is used in constructions like qo'rIn DIr qogh leather belt.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qo'rob
n
puppet [this is as in "puppet state" or "puppet government"]
qep'a' 25
qo'vID wa'maH Hut
n
Covid 19 (SARS-CoV-2 disease)
qepHom 2020
quba'
n
Cuba
qepHom 15
qubbID
n
span, run, stretch (between) [There are two ways to say "between", depending on meaning. (1) "between A and B" means "at some (perhaps unknown) point between A and B". In this case, A and B are the extremes of a range. The construction makes use of rav minimum and 'aqroS maximum: rav A 'aqroS B... For example, rav cha' 'uj(mey) 'aqroS loS 'uj(mey) 'ab has a length between two and four ujes (it's at least two ujes long and no more than four). (2) "between A and B" means the full stretch of time (or distance or whatever), from one end of the span to the other. In this case, the noun qubbID is used: DaSjaj buqjaj (je) qubbID maleng we travel Monday to Friday or we travel between Monday and Friday. Compare: DaSjaj buqjaj (je) qubbID maghom we meet between Monday and Friday, we meet Moday to Friday and rav DaSjaj 'aqroS buqjaj maghom we meet between Moday and Friday, we meet at some point between Monday and Friday. ] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qughDo
n
cruising speed
BoP Poster
quH
v
slice, carve
qep'a' 25
qul chenmoH
v
light a fire, ignite
qepHom 2020
qul naQmey
n
matches
TN!LK
qul qaDwI'
n
firefighter [lit. fire challenger]
qepHom 2020
qul QongmoHwI'
n
firefighter [One who puts fires to sleep, but that's usually not applied until the fire is actually out.]
qepHom 2020
qul SuvwI'
n
firefighter [lit. fire fighter, fire warrior]
qepHom 2020
qul tuq
n
"House (family, ancestral unit) of Fire" name of an opera
KCD
qul tlhay'moHwI'
n
firefighter [lit. fire tamer (less frequent)]
qepHom 2020
qulHuD
n
volcano
Marc Okrand email to Lieven January 2018
qunQeD
n
history
ta'puq mach
quntej
n
historian
ta'puq mach
qung
n
hole in a musical instrument [This is to change pitch in a wind instrument; apparently not a soundhole for stringed instrument.]
HolQeD v10n2p8
qurleH
n
kur'leth [a type of weapon]
qep'a' 29
qur'ep
n
wig
qepHom 17
quSlab
n
couch, bench, chair for multiple people
qep'a' 23
qut
v
predict [fraudulent or suspected to be fraudulent, or if it's a carnival act or the like]
qep'a' 24
qut na'
n
salt (culinary, halite) [also, sometimes, Do'ol na', presumably depending on the exact form of the substance.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
qutluch
n
type of hand weapon
from the Addendum of TKD, TKW p103
quv
n
honor [personal honor, earned by one's behavior]
HolQeD, v12n3p9
quv bey'
n
honor display
KCD
quvHa'ghach mIr
n
losing streak
qep'a' 25
quy'Ip
n
vomit [Spelled backwards, {pI'yuq} is a phonetic spelling of the English "puke".]
HolQeD, v12n4p8
qu'vIgh
n
member of an august body [like the High Council]
qepHom 2021
qu'vu'
n
pyramid with three-sided base [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
Count:174
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.