Buzz
While you're familiar with terms like khal and khaleesi, why not expand your Dothraki vocabulary? This language, crafted by linguist David J. Peterson and showcased in Living Language Dothraki, offers more phrases to master before the final season of Game of Thrones debuts on April 14, 2019.
1. M’athchomaroon!
This is the Dothraki greeting, meaning "With respect." It can be abbreviated to M’ach! or M’ath!. For addressing a group of non-Dothrakis, use Athchomar chomakea, which means "Respect to those who show respect." To bid farewell, you can say Fonas chek, translating to "hunt well."
2. San athchomari yeraan!
According to Peterson, the Dothraki language lacks a direct term for "thank you." Instead, this phrase is used, which means "a lot of honor to you!" or, more simply, "much respect!"
3. Fichas jahakes moon!
This phrase is a battle cry among the Dothraki, aimed at motivating warriors in their khalasar (Dothraki group). It translates to "get him!" but literally means "Take his braid"—a fitting expression, as Dothrakis cut off their braids following a loss. A victorious Dothraki is known as a lajak haj, or "strong warrior."
4. And 5. Yer shekh ma shieraki anni and Yer jalan atthirari anni
Helen Sloan, HBOThese two phrases—the first spoken by males, the second by females—both convey "you are my loved one." However, they are more famously known to Game of Thrones fans as "You are my sun and stars" and "You are the moon of my life." Peterson explains that these expressions stem from Dothraki mythology, where the sun is considered the moon's husband.
6. Anha dothrak adakhataan
Peterson highlights that "due to the significance of horses in Dothraki culture, numerous idiomatic expressions revolve around horses and riding." This phrase is ideal before a meal, meaning "I’m about to eat," and literally translates to "I ride to eating." In Dothraki culture, meals often include fresh horsemeat (gavat) and mare’s milk (lamekh ohazho, commonly shortened to lamekh).
7. Hrazef
In Dothraki, this term means horse, and the language is rich with vocabulary related to horses. A notable term is vezhof, which refers to the great stallion, the deity revered by the Dothraki.
8. Addrivat
HBOThe Dothraki excel at killing, and their language reflects this with multiple terms for the act. This verb means "to kill" and directly translates to "to make something dead." Both Ds are pronounced. Peterson explains that it is used "when the killer is a sentient being." (For deaths caused by animals or inanimate objects, such as a falling rock, the term Drozhat is used.)
9. Asshekhqoyi vezhvena!
When someone close to you celebrates their birthday, impress them with this Dothraki phrase, which means "happy birthday" but literally translates to "[Have] a great blood-day!"
10. Zhavorsa or Zhavvorsa
This is the Dothraki word for dragon. Finne zhavvorsa anni? translates to "Where are my dragons?" While this term might not be used daily, jano—the Dothraki word for dog or dogs—is more practical for everyday conversations.
11. Vorsa
Dracarys—the High Valyrian term for dragonfire—is famously used by Daenerys to command Drogon. While it's uncertain if the Dothraki have a specific word for dragonfire, their term for fire is vorsa. Additionally, sondra refers to obsidian, known in Game of Thrones as dragonglass.
To dive deeper into the Dothraki language and culture, check out Living Language Dothraki: A Conversational Language Course Created by David J. Peterson Based on the Hit Original HBO Series Game of Thrones available on Amazon.
