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
tab
v
wane, ebb, dwindle (talking about phases of a moon)
qepHom 2020
tab
v
idiomatic usage: "not applying yourself fully to the task at hand"
qepHom 2020
tabHa'
v
wax (talking about phases of a moon)
qepHom 2020
tach
v
turn over [...if something flipped over on its own accord or seemingly on its own accord...]
4 June 2020 email to Lieven
tachmoH
v
turn over [You'd be more likely to use tachmoH than yoymoH when moving someone from a prone to supine position. And you'd be more likely to use yoymoH than tachmoH when flipping over hamburgers or pancakes. On the other hand, either would be fine or flipping over cards, with yoymoH implying a quicker or crisper action.]
4 June 2020 email to Lieven
tagh
v.t.
begin a process, initiate [proceedings]
Addendum of TKD, TKW p187
tagha'
adv
finally, at last
NEWS
taHqeq
excl
epithet [this is a classic insult.]
from TKD p178; also in CK
tajvaj
n
angle
HolQeD v11n2p9
tajvaj
n
corner of a room [same word as for "angle"]
qep'a' 24
tajvaj leD
n
right angle
qepHom 13
tajvajHom
n
acute angle
qepHom 13
tajvaj'a'
n
obtuse angle [DYM]
qepHom 13
tal
n
cannon
BoP Poster
tallIt
n
cobalt
qepHom 2021
tamghay
n
light, luminescence, illumination
Marc Okrand email to Lieven January 2018
tamghayQeD
n
optics
qepHom 2024
tamler
n
element (in chemistry)
qepHom 2015 p.13
tamler qurme'mey
n
chemical formula
qepHom 2024
tamler Sar
n
isotope
qepHom 2024
tamler vInDa'
n
isotope [Though vInDa' commonly refers to people, in this usage its plural is formed with -mey. In context, tamler may be left off.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
tamler wa'chaw
n
periodic table of the elements
qepHom 2024
tamlerQeD
n
chemistry
qep'a' 26
tampere
proper n
Tampere [a city in Finland]
qepHom 2023
tanje'rIn
n
tangerine [A smallish fruit similar to a na'ran, with an easily-peeled skin.]
qepHom 2019
tangqa'
n
animal species with both genders resembling Terran bull
HolQeD
tapqej
n
cherry [This is a fruit similar to a cherry. When clarification is needed, for the Earth fruit, precede with tera'.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
taq
v
be scarred
qep'a' 24
taqmoH
v
scar
qep'a' 24
taQ
v
be weird, bizarre, unnatural (maybe creepy) [missing from TKD E-K]
TKD K-E, qepHom 2017
taQbang
n
slang for either "urine" or "fecal matter"
qep'a' 23
tarDIghaD
n
tardigrade
qepHom 2015 p.14
targh tIq
n
heart of targ, a food item
described and shown on KCD
targho'nI'
n
tungsten
qepHom 2020
tarngeb
n
uranium
qepHom 2020
taSman
n
ditch [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-15]
qepHom
tatlh
v
return (something)
NEWS
tav
v
shake [as in what you might do to wake someone up, or what James Bond does to a martini, or what you do to your right foot after you put it in and then put it out (Note: what freezing temperatures may do to you is jelmoH, not tav)]
qep'a' 24
tav neH
v
tinker [slang; fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend, or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner] [Request]
qepHom 2021
tavwI'
n
amateur (slang)
qepHom 2023
taw
n
road, street, path, etc (physical version of He)
qepHom 2015 p.14
taw 'ay'
n
city block
qepHom 15
tawI'yan
n
Tawi'yan [Klingon counterpart (more or less) of the best man at a wedding. This is normally translated as "sword-bearer," but etymologically that's not quite right. It's a frozen and somewhat modified form of an old word which was apparently something like taywI'yan, having something to do with ceremony or ritual tay and sword yan, but the details of the old grammatical construction are unknown.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
tawleHnu'
n
hopeless situation
qepHom 2019
tawleHnu' pogh
n
emphatically hopeless situation
qepHom 2019
taw'
v
be ridgy, embossed [the opposite of 'ap be dented (not used for foreheads)]
qepHom 2019
tay
n
sound of letter t [alphabet]
qep'a' 16
taymey
n
section of a book or play or the like that's separate from the main portion of the work. [ taymey is a frozen form and is considered singular. It's okay to say taymeymey.]
qepHom 2020
ta'qo
n
taco
qepHom 2023
ta'tuy
n
emperorship [From chabal tetlh: "political/governmental term"; "at least one additional -tuy noun, cf. HI'tuy dictatorship from HI' dictator".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
tuch rIt
v
prophesize, see the future, know the future [For Klingons, the "prophet" is able to "summon" the future somehow.]
1 January 2018 email to Lieven
tel
n
wing
This was omitted from the English-Klingon listing of TKD
tellarngan
n
Tellarite [inhabitant of the planet tellar wa']
qep'a' 24
tem
n
electron
qep'a' 23
tem
v
deny, contradict, disavow, claim as false [It does not mean "refuse, reject, turn down, don't permit".]
TKD, qepHom 2017
tem chIjwI'
n
diode [From chabal tetlh: "two-terminal electronic component that conducts current primarily in one direction; it has low (ideally zero) resistance in one direction, and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other".] [Request]
qep'a' 31
tem lISwI'
n
transistor [This is the usual term, but it's actually shortened from DI'bI'war tem lISwI' (DI'bI'war, semiconductor). DI'bI'war is usually included only in contexts where it is necessary to distinguish the tem lISwI' from any device with a similar function but lacking a semiconductor.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
tennuS
n
uncle, father's brother
HolQeD v9n3p8
tennuSnal
n
uncle, father's sister's husband
HolQeD v9n3p8
tenwal
n
page (in a book)
qepHom 2015 p.18
tepqengwI'
n
cargo lift [(add to current defs) ]
BoP Poster
teQ
v
assume [From chabal tetlh: "surmise or suppose to be true".
Not in the sense of assume responsibility or assume the throne or assume an air of confidence.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
tera' bIQ lung'a'
n
alligator, crocodile
qepHom 2015 p.14
tera' ghIch rop
n
common cold [Maltz says Klingons don't get colds (though, despite what he says, Klingons are not immune from other, somewhat similar afflictions). Another way to refer to this Earth disease, generally unsympathetically, is tera' rop bIr, which is, of course, a misguided translation.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
tera' majaj tIy
n
kale
qepHom 2023
tera' majajHom
n
Brussels sprouts
qepHom 2023
tera' nagh DIr charwI'
n
snail
qepHom 2015 p.14
tera' na'ran
n
orange
TN!LK
tera' na'ran wIb
n
lemon
TN!LK
tera' na'ran'a'
n
grapefruit
TN!LK
tera' peb'ot
n
cucumber
TN!LK
tera' qaw
n
cow [This was not given directly, but inferred from the entry for "beef".]
qepHom 2024
tera' qaw Ha'DIbaH
n
beef
qepHom 2024
(tera') raS'IS moQ naH
n
pomegranate [This is the Klingon way to refer to the Terran fruit.] [Request]
qep'a' 28
tera' targh
n
pig [This was not given directly, but inferred from the entry for "pork".]
qepHom 2024
tera' targh Ha'DIbaH
n
pork
qepHom 2024
tera' yav 'atlhqam
n
mushroom
TN!LK
tera' 'arDeH
n
ivy (Terran)
qepHom 15
tera' 'Insong majaj
n
cauliflower
qepHom 2023
teSra'
n
tile (such as a Scrabble piece)
qepHom 17
tetyub
n
enamel, coating [This refers to any sort of artificial coating, not just enamel. It does not apply to teeth.] [Request]
qep'a' 27
tetlh
v
roll [as a log rolls down a hill]
De'vID Feb 2019 Q&A
tew
v
entwine, be entwined [From chabal tetlh: "He twisted a rope around the handle of his sword, entwining it to give it a better grip."
If there is an object, use tewmoH.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
tey
v
be uncomfortable, be close [for the sense of being close or not having wiggle room or leeway (If you were victorious, but just barely made it at the last minute or something like that, you could say tey yay.)]
qep'a' 24
teybe'
v
be comfortable, be easy [for the sense of being not close or having wiggle room or leeway (e.g. a comfortable distance away [from something] or a comfortable victory)]
qep'a' 24
teywI' 'echlet
n
chalkboard or whiteboard or any similar surface that can be erased and reused
qepHom 2020
tey'
n
cousin (mother's sister's child or father's brother's child), niece or nephew (man's brother's child or woman's sister's child)
HolQeD v9n3p8
tey'be'
n
female cousin (mother's sister's child or father's brother's child), niece (man's brother's daughter or woman's sister's daughter)
HolQeD v9n3p8
tey'loD
n
male cousin (mother's sister's son or father's brother's son), nephew (man's brother's son or woman's sister's son)
HolQeD v9n3p8
te'nIS
n
tennis [loanword]
qepHom 2024
tIH javmaH
n
X-ray [Rays are identified by numbers. Maltz didn't know where the specific numbers come from or what they might refer to.] [Request]
qep'a' 28
tIH wej
n
gamma-ray [Rays are identified by numbers. Maltz didn't know where the specific numbers come from or what they might refer to.]
qep'a' 28
tIHmey
n
railroad tracks [based on tIH shaft of spear]
MiniaturWunderland
tIjwI'ghom
n
boarding party
TKD p20
tIl
v
salivate
HolQeD, v12n4p8
tIng
n
southwestward, area toward the southwest (approx 220 degrees on terran 360 degree compass counting clockwise with 0 at north)
HolQeD v8n4p6
tIq
n
heart
TKW p23 - symbolic
tIqnagh lemDu'
n
Tknag hooves, a food item always referred to in plural
KCD
tIquvma
N
T'Kuvma [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
tIr
v
be arranged in a stack, be superimposed ["Superimpose A and B" is A B je tIrmoHchu'. One way to say "superimpose A on(to) B" is B-Daq A lanchu'. ] [Request]
qep'a' 26
tIr ngat
n
bread crumbs
QelIS boqHarmey
tIr ngogh
n
bread [Marc Okrand email 2010-11-15]
qepHom 9
tIr ngogh QaD
n
toast
TN!LK
tIr ngogh vutwI'
n
baker [Most common is vutwI' preceded, if need be, by tIr ngogh or chab or whatever, but ngeSmoHwI' is possible]
qepHom 2023
tIw
v
react emotionally, behave emotionally
qepHom 2017
tI'ang
proper n
T'Ong (name of a ship)
S15, HolQeD v4n3p5
tI'var
n
pedal [A pedal in a car, such as that for the accelerator or brake. This is typically the object of the verb yuv.] [Request]
qep'a' 31
toch
n
be actual, concrete, practical, pragmatic, applied ["Applied" here as in applied physics (as opposed to pure physics).] [Request]
qep'a' 30
tochmu'
n
bribe [Normally used with the verb chup (recommend, suggest) and sometimes with much (present).] [Request]
qepHom 2020
toDDuj
n
rescue ship
HolQeD v8n4p11
toDSaH
excl
epithet [you would call someone this if you were not on the best of terms.]
TKD p178; CK
tol
v
go through, pass through, pass among [This is for passing through a crowd, or other group of objects.] [Request]
qep'a' 26
tom
v
tilt, be tilted [This can be used for head movement.]
ta'puq mach
tomat naHmey
n
tomato
TN!LK
tomter
n
funnel
qepHom 17
tonSaw'
n
fighting technique [used to name martial arts poses or stances; much is used for striking a pose, and takes the named stance as the object (tonSaw' may be dropped from the name if it's clear)]
KGT, De'vID Feb 2019 Q&A
toqwIn
n
(rubber) stamp
qepHom 2015 p.19
toQ
n
a bird of prey
HolQeD v10n4p5
tor
v
pitch (aircraft tilts nose up or down), kneel (action of a person or animal)
HolQeD v11n2p9
torgh
proper n
Torg
TKD p58
toSwI' qal'aq
n
climbing apparatus, jungle gym [Marc Okrand email 2014-01-27]
qepHom 12
to'a'
n
tangent (curve) [in addition to sine and cosine]
qepHom 2024
to'qIpo'na Hol
proper n
Toki Pona [In Toki Pona, the stress is on the first syllable of each word. If it's important to capture that in the Klingon transliteration, consider to'qIpo'na (or even to'qIypo'na).]
qep'a' 29
to'ratlh
N
Torath [Discovery]
qepHom 2019
tuch
n
the future (as a whole)
qep'a' 23
tuch rItwI'
n
prophet [Not the religious person like Jesus or Mohammed, but more some kind of a person who seems to be able to see or know things that others can't.]
1 January 2018 email to Lieven
tuD
v
thunder
qep'a' 24
tugh
excl
hurry up!
MSN
tuj muvwI'
n (presumed)
thermo-suture
veS QonoS, listed in HolQeD, v1n3p9
tuj 'otlh
n
infrared, infrared radiation
qepHom 17
tungyen
n
concrete
qepHom 15
tup
n
be conceptual, abstract, pure ["Pure" here as in pure physics (as opposed to applied physics).] [Request]
qep'a' 30
tuqjIjQa'
N
United Kingdom
TN!LK
tuqnIgh
n
a member of one's house
HolQeD v9n3p9
tur
v
carry out, conduct (a mission), perform (duties)
qepHom 15
turIqya'
N
Turkey
TN!LK
turmIq
n
urine
qep'a' 23
turmIq 'enDeq
n
urinary bladder [Strictly, the noun 'enDeq refers to anatomy, but it can be used metaphorically in other contexts, which is the way it works in English.]
qepHom 17
tuS
v
cough
HolQeD, v12n4p8
tutlh
v
be tattooed, have a tattoo
Marc Okrand email to Qov 3 October 2017
tutlh
v
be official [this is slang for "official"; when asked Maltz said nothing about "canon"]
qep'a' 25
tutlhmoH
v
tattoo
Marc Okrand email to Qov 3 October 2017
tuy'
v
spit [If you spit out liquid, {bItuy'}, but if you spit out solids, {bItlhIS}.]
HolQeD, v12n4p8
tu'mI'
n
sock [one of a paSlogh chang'eng]
January 2019 email to De'vID
tu'na
n
tuna [loanword]
qepHom 2024
tu'qom
n
shape, form, appearance, configuration
qepHom 15
Count:163
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.