#star wars languages

[lightasthesun]

Comprehensive Lexicon Guide for First-Time SW Fic Readers:

Flimsi/Flimsiplast = Paper

Flimsiwork/Datawork = Paperwork

Stylus = Pen

Datapad = Tablet

Comlink/Comm = Communication Device/Phone

Binders = Handcuffs

Chronometer = Clock

Spectacles = Eyeglasses

Chrono = Watch

Conservator = Refrigerator

Caf = Coffee

Nerfburger = Hamburger

Blue milk = Milk (literally blue)

Hubba chips = French Fries

Sweet roll = Doughnut

Flatcakes = Pancakes

Tabac = Tobacco

HoloNet = World Wide Web

Holovision/HoloTV = Television

Holodrama/Holovids = Movie/Videos

Holocamera/Holocam = Camera

Holomap = three-dimensional map

Holojournal = Newspaper

Holocube = Picture frame

Holotable = Projector

Holoscanner = X-ray machine

Holojournalist = Reporter

Flatholo/Holograph = Photograph

Sonic Damper = Active Noise Cancellation

Refresher/Fresher= Bathroom

Sonic Bath = Bath

Sanisteam/Sonic shower = Waterless Shower

Hydrospanner = Wrench

Hydro Flask = Water Bottle

Power Cell/Energy Cell = Batteries

Authorization Chip = Decryption key

Datatape = Disk

Datastick = Flash drive

(Personal) Com Code = Phone number

Datachip = SD Card

Synthflesh = Synthetic skin

Glowrod = Flashlight

Sparkstick = Match

Slugthrower = Gun

Slug = Bullet

Vibroblade = a blade that can vibrate at high frequencies, increasing its cutting power and penetrating ability (tactical knife)

Rangefinder = Rifle scope

Turbolaser = Cannon

Ion pike/Vibropike = Spear

Electro Staff = Stun baton

Blaster = Pistol/Rifle

Stun Blaster = similar to a Taser

Landspeeder/Airspeeder/Speeder = Car

Turbolift = Elevator

Slideramp = Escalator

Starfighter = Fighter jet

Rotorcraft = Helicopter

Hoverpack/Jetpack= Jet pack

Speeder Bike = Motorcycle

Skylane = Traffic lane

Railspeeder/Hovertrain = Train

Power Chair/Hoverchair= Wheelchair

Windscreen = Windshield

Podracing = Car racing

Dejarik = Chess

Sabacc = Poker and Blackjack combined

Galactic Rebels = Combat simulator

B'shingh = Dungeons and dragons

Jizz = Jazz music

Wailer = Singer (ie. Jizz Wailer)

Cantina = Bar or Pup

Para Sailing = Paragliding

Aurebesh = Alphabet

Credits = Money

Sleeping Pallet = Bedroll

Naming Day = Birthday

Youngling = Child

Galactic Basic Standard/ Basic = English

Medkit/Medpac = First aid kit

Hypo = Syringe

Medic/Healer = Doctor

Medcenter = Hospital

Bactapatch = Bandaid

Nanoweave = Fabric

Transparisteel = Glass

Plastifoam = Packing material

Durasteel = Steel

Plasteel = Plastic

Duracrete = Concrete

Slicer = Hacker (slicing = hacking)

Identikit = Passport

Minder = Therapist

Synthleather = Vinyl

Viewport = Window

Cooling Unit = Air-conditioning

Honeydarter = Bee

Slythmonger = Drugdealer

Spice = Drugs

Stimpill = Caffeine pill

Power Socket = Plug

Cutters = Scissors

Cycle = Day

Standard Cycle = 24h

Standard Week = 5 days

Standard Month = 35 standard days

Standard Year = approx. ten months

Tenday = literally ten days

Cigarras/Smokes = Cigarettes

Click = Kilometer or 'a moment'

Parsec = a unit of distance

Tweezers/Clanker/tin head/tinnie = Droid

Separatist = Seppie

Promise Ring = Wedding Ring

Body Glove = Jumpsuit

Slicksuit = Wet suit

Civvies = Civilian clothing

Carbonite = a metal alloy used to freeze a person in a state of hibernation

Hyperdrive = device that allows a starship to travel faster than lightspeed

Moisture vaporator = device that can extract water from the air, commonly used on tatooine

Glareshades = Sunglasses

Gasser = Gas Oven

Repulsorlift = technology that can create an anti-gravity field and is used for levitating heavy objects

Heating unit = Heater

Utility Droid = Roomba

Sunbonnet = a Clone trooper helmet

Bad Batcher = a defective Clone Trooper

Banthabrain = birdbrain/ a stupid person

Bantha fodder = waste of space/nonsense

Blast! = word of exclamation

Blasted! = s.o in anger or annoyance

Blaster-brained = dimwitted

Blaster fodder = cannon fodder

Blast off = Piss off

Brainless = Stupid

Bug/Bugger = used to refer to Geonosians

Forceforsaken = godforsaken

Full of Poodoo = full of shit

Poodoo = Shit

Kriff = Fuck

Jedi scum = derogatory term for jedi

Kark = derogatory expletive

Larty = LAAT/i gunship

Laserbrain = insult

Meat droid = derogatory term for Clone Troopers

Redrobes = Palpatines guard

Rookie/Shinie = newly recruited Trooper

Scum = insult to refer to bounty hunters/rebels

Sharpie = Sharp-witted

Sithspawn/Sithspit/Hellspawn! = expletive

Sleemo = Slimeball

Son of a bantha = insult

Wizard! = Cool

Spaced = dead

Hutt-spawn = Bastard

Karabast = exclamation of dismay

Stang = Crap

Buckethead/Bucketbrain = derogatory term for Stormtroopers

Bucket = Helmet

Nat-born = Natural Born

Roger Roger = affirmative/copy that

Droid poppers = EMP grenade

Sitrep = short for situation report

Backwater Planet = any planet that isn't part of the core system

Holocron = device that can project a three-dimensional image of a person/object and is used for communication or entertainment.

Kessel Run = a risky Operation. Commonly used as a metaphor in impossible situations.

Thermal Detonator= device that can create a powerful explosion like a grenade or bomb

Ray Shield/Energy Shield = creates a (protective) barrier

Rebreather = device that allows a person to breathe underwater or in toxic environments

Phrases:

Wild goose chase = wild bantha chase

That's bantha shit = that's bullshit

As slippery as a greased Dug = untrustworthy

Credit for your thoughts = penny for your thoughts

Cut the poodoo = cut the crap

to get your gills in a twist = get upset about something

Holy mother of meteors = holy mother of god

Oh my skies/ Oh my stars = exclamation of surprise

Stars' end! = exclamation of disbelief

What in the blue blazes = exclamation

When Geonosis freezes over/When it snows on tatooine = extremely unlikely

Who pissed in your power supply = who pissed you off

Blast it = damn it

By the maker = exclamation of surprise

Great karking Dragon = expression of disbelief

Lothcat got your tongue = equivalent of 'cat got your tongue?'

Sod it = expression of frustration

[cienie-isengardu]

Star Wars (1977) #68

[postcards-from-mandalore]

Ni di'kutla, I nearly forgot! This is what this blog's title means.

Ni di'kutla - I'm an idiot

Ni hayc adat shi gotalu jate kara o'r oyu'baat - I'm just a simple/honest/plain man (person) just making good stars (luck/destiny) in the universe

[fox-trot]

starwars.com (2006, archived)

[skys-archive]

Din being bad at language is so funny but also important to me. He knows basic yes but that's probably what he grew up speaking. He speaks to the jawas and they're all like lmfao look at this loser who can't speak our language. He sounds stupid. Where'd you learn that shiny boy? The wookies??? loser. He tries speaking huttese to someone who most definitely does not speak huttese and it's the most ridiculous attempt at speaking language I've ever seen. He can speak to the tuskens but only through their sign. (in season two I think they changed this but in season 1 when he interacted with them it was always just with his hands)

But also it has the possibility of being heartbreaking because like. Din that doesn't remember the language of his people. Din who didn't grow up speaking mando'a and learned as he got older with them but then Mandalore was destroyed and he was with far fewer mandalorians and even then he's off on bounties all the time so he doesn't have the time to really stay fresh in his mind about language. Din whose entire covert up and left and he hasn't seen them in so long and he doesn't have anyone to speak it with. Din who doesn't even remember what some of the words mean he just remembers the way they feel in his mouth and the way others would say them to him. Who remembers the feelings of words but can't for the life of him remember what the syllables came out to be to elicit that meaning.

Din and language.....

[archeo-starwars]

The Written Word by John Hazlett

[mandoxember]

FAQ

What is Lexember?

Lexember is a social media event where for the month of December, participants coin new words (lexemes) in their constructed languages.

Lexember is a little like NaNoWriMo: the point is to have fun and get the creative juices flowing. You’ll have the rest of the year to tinker with and polish the finished product, so don’t worry overly much about perfection.

What is Mando’a?

Mando’a is the language of the fictional Mandalorian people in the Star Wars universe. It is a constructed language, originally created by the composer Jesse Harlin for the soundtrack of Star Wars: Republic Commando video game and developed into a functional language by the novelist Karen Traviss in the Republic Commando novels and supplementary materials. Mando’a has also made appearances in other Star Wars media, including The Clone Wars, Rebels and The Mandalorian.

Traviss stopped working on Mando’a in 2009 when she stopped writing for Star Wars, leaving the language incomplete. Many fans have since continued to expand the lexicon and develop the language.

What is Mando’a Lexember?

Mando’a Lexember is a fandom event where, for the month of December, participants coin a new word in Mando’a every day.

Mando’a Lexember is in part aimed to rectify the problem of incomplete lexicon—and in part aimed to bring the fans together to have fun!

Mando’a Lexember will run for the first time in 2025. If it’s a success, hopefully we can do it again next year. 🤞

Who can participate?

Anyone! The more the merrier.

How do I participate?

Follow along the daily prompts (or not—you can also do something else if inspiration strikes), make a post on your blog, and remember to tag #mandoxember to share it with others! We’d love it if you wrote a little explanation of how you came up with your word.

Follow the #mandoxember tag to see what others are doing. Remember to share, like and comment on other’s posts! If you don’t want to participate in creating words, you are welcome to participate in just this way too.

Please do remember to tag your posts with #mandoxember so other participants can find them! Several of the prompts ask you to find another participant’s word to use as your starting point. You can also tag #lexember, if you want to share your posts with the wider conlanging community on Tumblr, or follow the #lexember tag for ideas!

Do I have to know Mando’a?

It helps! But you can also learn as you go—the first few prompts will all have you digging through existing dictionaries to get started. There’s no need to know grammar for the purposes of this event.

It is helpful to have some familiarity with who the Mandalorians are as a people and culture. However, you don’t have to have consumed all (or any) of the Star Wars media—a quick romp through Wookieepedia will get you up to speed on most things. But if you want to give Mandalore a skip and, for example, create your own clone trooper specific dialect of Mando’a, that’s fine too!

Here are more Mando’a resources you can explore!

Do I have to have previous conlanging or linguistics experience?

No. There will be a prompt with instructions for every day. This event will also function as a sort of a Mando’a specific mini course in word creation.

If you have questions about the prompt of the day, you can ask them in the notes or replies. I’ll try to answer as I have time, but participants are also welcome to help each other out & discuss the prompts together!

Here are more conlanging resources you can explore!

Do I have to know and/or use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)?

No. Nice if you do, but no, this is not a phonology course. You do have to think about how the words will sound, but it’s fine to just do your best attempt to put it in writing. You can leave phonetics out altogether, but if you want to make an attempt, it is also fine to ask help, or even make a recording instead of IPA representation.

Phonology & romanisation resources & sounds of Mando’a

Do I have to do all 31 days?

No. Do as many or as few as you want and have time for. It’s supposed to be fun, not a chore. The more, the merrier though!

Some of the prompts build on the previous prompts. If you haven’t done the previous prompt, you can always do the previous prompt instead or pick another one.

Do I have to use the prompts?

No! You can also do something different if the inspiration strikes you. Or you can use another day’s prompt. You can answer a prompt several times, they won’t wear out anytime soon.

Why are all the prompts so technical?

Because the rules for word formation in Mando’a are not clearly laid out & this event does not presume previous conlanging experience, so we kind of have to give some basics along the way… so this year lays out how to. If this event runs the next year, we’ll probably do more thematic prompts, because we’ll have already built up a good “library” of tools.

I disagree with the prompt’s explanation?

Great!

Mando’a is a pluricentric language. The canon Mando’a itself has two versions—Harlin’s and Traviss’s. Fans have created several more. There’s no one true way of doing Mando’a, so you’re welcome to do it your way instead & we’d love it if you shared your interpretation with others too!

This event is run and the prompts written by @ranahan, so the prompts naturally privilege their dialect. But you are free to use any dialect at all or do your own interpretation.

Can I use other people’s words?

Short answer: Yes. This event has several prompts that will have you deriving words from other participants’ words.

Long answer: It’s good form to link back to the creators from whom one gets their ideas to share the love. This is another reason why we hope you will tag your posts—it will make them easier to find and link back to in the future!

However, we can’t enforce crediting the original creator. Words aren’t quite like other creative works—they aren’t covered by copyright. You don’t need to cite your English teacher or a dictionary every time you use English, do you?

Language is at its core a cooperative creation. It’s all about communication, after all! So let’s share our words and ideas with each other—hopefully they will be adopted by other Mando’a enthusiasts and live on.

I don’t want my words to be copied by others?

Frankly the point of this event is to share words with others—if you aren’t okay with that, this event probably isn’t for you.

Who are you?

Mandoxember is run by @ranahan.

Who made your icon and header?

Icon is the hammer and tongs by @starwarsbookclub to represent creation, with the nonbinary colours adjusted to represent the conlang flag. Header is this photograph by Vincentiu Solomon, also chosen for its resemblance to the conlang flag.

I have another question?

Leave it in the notes or comments of this post, or throw it in the askbox!

[makeitrealfromfictional]

Other

The Dai Bendu conlang: Links, Alphabet

Dai Bendu as a fan-made conlang was created for the Star Wars Order of Dai Bendu based on what little information was provided in canon: three known words and glimpses of the Sacred Jedi Texts.

Links lead to tumblr.com.