New Klingon Words

Disclaimer: This list is not current. It was last updated with words revealed in the middle of 2020. It will be brought up to match present knowledge by July 2024.

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 compiled and maintained for many years by Will Martin (a.k.a. charghwI'). It is now curated by Alan Anderson (a.k.a. ghunchu'wI'). 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 Alan. Send him 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.

[ 'a | b | ch | D | 'e | gh | H | 'I | j | l | m | n | ng | 'o | p | q | Q | r | S | t | tlh | 'u | v | w | y | ' | all | date added | date modified | source ]

wab
n
sound, noise
NEWS
wab HevwI'
n
radio
TN!LK
wab labwI'
n
radio transmitter [This is used for broadcaster, radio service, etc. It can also be used for the device that does the transmitting. If a distinction must be made, the device is wab labwI' jan.]
qep'a' 24
wab naQ
n
vowel [This refers to sounds, not letters or glyphs] [Request]
qep'a' 26
wab poD
n
consonant [This refers to sounds, not letters or glyphs] [Request]
qep'a' 26
wab qoSta' 'aplo'
n
cassette, audiotape
TN!LK
wabDo
n
Mach [As a spelling convention, wab Do speed of sound is written as two words. When used as a measurement term ("Mach"), it's written as one word (wabDo). The pronunciation (and, for that matter, meaning) is the same.]
qepHom 15
wal
v
vibrate, be in a state of vibration [move in a fast repetitive way, like a guitar string]
qep'a' 24
wan
v
be straight [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-15]
qepHom
wanHa'
v
be crooked, bent [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-15]
qepHom
wanI'
n
effect [e.g. Herghqoq wanI' placebo effect]
qepHom 15
wang
v
wink [voluntary; for "twitch," use jergh spasm] [Request]
qep'a' 27
waqboch
n
a bird with a very long beak
HolQeD v10n4p5
waQ
n
months from now
HolQeD v8n3p3
war
n
column (in a table or spreadsheet)
qepHom 2015 p.21
waS
v
be wrong, awry
qepHom 15
watrIn
n
lubricant (general)
OZ
way
n
sound of letter w [alphabet]
qep'a' wa'maH javDIch
way
v
be striped
qep'a' 24
way'ar
n
chaos
qepHom 2019
wa' rutlh qam Do Duj
n
unicycle
qepHom 15
wa'chaw
n
spreadsheet, table
qepHom 2015 p.21
wa'lay
n
mass [Concept in physics (distinct from "weight")]
qep'a' 26
wa'SIngtanDIySIy
N
Washington, DC [in normal, day-to-day Klingon conversation, the DIySIy is never left off]
January 2020 email to DeSDu'
web
v
be chaotic, disorganized [slang]
qepHom 2019
wejbe'
n
nitrate [NO3, chemistry term]
qepHom 2019
wejwa'
n
flavor, taste [Marc Okrand email 2012-01-02]
qepHom
wel
v
owe (someone)
qep'a' wa'maH chorghDIch
welwelwel
excl
sound made by a stereotypic targh [The number of times this syllable is repeated is variable. This is an imitative word and there are variations. And not everyone uses it in the first place.]
qep'a' 24
wen
n
months ago
HolQeD v8n3p3
weQmoQnaQ
n
World Wide Web
qepHom 11
wer
v
be creased, be wrinkled
qep'a' 24
wermoH
v
crease, wrinkle
qep'a' 24
weS
v
lose, no longer have, suffer a reduction of
qepHom 2017
weSjech ba'Suq Duj
n
hot air balloon
OZ
weSjech
n
fabric, cloth, textile [This can be used for textiles or fabric in clothing, sheets, towels, and so on, but generally not for carpets or rugs (except for thin ones).] [Request]
qep'a' 26
wev
n
row (in a table or spreadsheet)
qepHom 2015 p.21
wev
v
draw, make a drawing of
ta'puq mach
we'lIS
N
Wales [Request]
qep'a' 27
wID
v
massacre (connotes indiscriminate killing) [STID]
qepHom 12
wIjwI' ngeb
n
scarecrow [notqa' ghIjmeH raghghan describes what a scarecrow is/does. But that's a long phrase for something that will probably come up about a thousand times in the story. The Klingon equivalent is probably wIjwI' ngeb, but Maltz says they don't use such things very much anymore. He did point out that this is a set expression. That is, a wIjwI' ngeb is not a real person posing as a farmer; everyone knows it's a mannequin-like thing. ]
OZ
wIl
n
spike [Marc Okrand email to Qov August 2012]
misc
wIlle'
n
joint [body part] [Request]
qep'a' 26
wIlpuq
n
pudding [like butterscotch?]
qep'a' 15
wItte'
n
mathematical equation [Request]
qep'a' 26
wIyqap
n
row or line (of people or things not expected to be in motion)
OZ
woch
v
be tall [Star Mitzvah reward: comparison]
HolQeD v13n1p9
woD
v
be hollow [Request]
qep'a' 27
wogh
v
transgress, do more than is acceptable [{bIwogh} might be translated "You go too far."]
HolQeD, v12n3p9
wol
v
be creased, be folded
qep'a' 24
wolmoH
v
crease, fold
qep'a' 24
wom
v
peck [used for both eating and attacking by pecking]
HolQeD v10n4p5
wonmugh
n
alley
qepHom 2019
wontoy
n
ideal [Request]
qep'a' 27
woq
v
confirm, substantiate, corroborate
qepHom 2017
wovmoHwI'
n
light (lamp)
BoP Poster
wovmoHwI' moQ
n
light bulb
TN!LK
wov'on
n
memory ["...specific memories or recollections."]
Marc Okrand email to Lieven January 2018
wo'rIv
proper n
Worf
HolQeD v4n3p4
wuD
v
snore [Breathe more noisily than {jev}.]
HolQeD, v12n4p8
wun
v
be unprotected, vulnerable
Monopoly
wuS rItlh naQ
n
lipstick
TN!LK
wutlh pa'
n
dungeon ["A Klingon way to say 'dungeon'...literally 'underground room.'" Presumably other ways to say it would focus on purpose or other attributes, rather than location.]
8 January email to Jaymz Smith
Count:63

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.