Phrases from The Klingon Way

All 156 phrases from the book The Klingon Way are considered as canon and are a good base to start from learning.

Phrases

#	page	Phrase	Translation
1	3	tlhIngan maH!	We are Klingons!
2	5	bogh tlhInganpu', SuvwI'pu' moj, Hegh.	Klingons are born, live as warriors, then die.
3	5	SuvmeH 'ej charghmeH bogh tlhInganpu'.	Klingons are born to fight and to conquer.
4	7	DabuQlu'DI' yISuv.	When treatened, fight.
5	7	qa' wIje'meH maSuv.	We fight to enrich the spirit.
6	8	bI'IQchugh yIvang.	If you are sad, act!
7	8	tIqIpqu' 'ej nom tIqIp.	Hit them hard and hit them fast.
8	9	lumbe' tlhInganpu'.	Klingons do not procrastinate.
9	9	Dubotchugh yIpummoH.	If it's in your way, knock it down.
10	11	mataHmeH maSachnIS.	To survive, we must expand.
11	13	Hem tlhIngan Segh 'ej maHemtaH 'e' wIHech.	Klingons are a proud race, and we intend to go on being proud.
12	15	ta'mey Dun, bommey Dun.	Great deeds, great songs.
13	17	bomDI' 'IwwIj qaqaw.	The memory of you sings in my blood.
14	19	bISuv 'e' yIwIv bISutlh 'e' yIwIvQo'.	Choose to fight, not negotiate.
15	19	bISutlhnISchugh jaghlI' mInDu' tIbej.	If you must negotiate, watch your enemy's eyes.
16	21	Suvlu'taHvIS yapbe' HoS neH.	Brute strength is not the most important asset in a fight.
17	23	tIqDaq HoSna' tu'lu'.	Real power is in the heart.
18	24	Dujeychugh jagh nIv yItuHQo'.	There is nothing shameful in falling before a superior enemy.
19	24	pujwI' HIvlu'chugh quvbe'lu'.	There is no honor in attacking the weak.
20	25	bISovbejbe'DI' tImer.	When in doubt, surprise them.
21	27	DujlIj yIvoq.	Trust your instincts.
22	29	SuvwI'pu' qan tu'lu'be'.	There are no old warriors.
23	31	'IwlIj ghogh yIQoy.	Listen to the voice of your blood.
24	32	tujpa' qul pub SuvwI' 'Iw.	A warrior's blood boils before the fire is hot.
25	33	loghDaq Suvrupbogh SuvwI'pu' chaH Hoch SuvwI'pu''e'.	In space, all warriors are cold warriors.
26	34	tay'taHbe' 'Iw bIQ je.	Blood and water don't mix.
27	34	reH tay' ghot tuqDaj je.	One is always of his tribe.
28	35	tlhutlhmeH HIq ngeb qaq law' bIQ qaq puS.	Drinking fake ale is better than drinking water.
29	37	nIteb Qob qaD jup 'e' chaw'be' SuvwI'.	A warrior does not let a friend face danger alone.
30	38	may'Daq jaHDI' SuvwI' juppu'Daj lonbe'.	When a warrior goes to a battle, he does not abandon his friends.
31	40	ropchoHbe' tlhInganpu'.	Klingons do not get sick.
32	40	vulchoHbe' tlhInganpu'.	Klingons do not faint.
33	40	QongDaqDaq Qotbe' tlhInganpu'.	Klingons do not lie in bed.
34	43	yIn DayajmeH 'oy' yISIQ.	To understand life, endure pain.
35	45	'utbe' bel.	Pleasure is nonessential.
36	46	not toj tlhInganpu'.	Klingons never bluff.
37	46	loQ 'oy'DI' bepbe' SuvwI'.	A warrior does not complain about physical discomfort.
38	46	batlh ghob yIpab.	Adhere to virtue honorably.
39	47	pop 'oH ghob'e'.	Virtue is the reward.
40	48	ghob tIvnISbe'lu'.	One need not enjoy virtue.
41	49	reH 'eb tu'lu'.	There is always a chance.
42	51	Hoch 'ebmey tIjon.	Capture all opportunities.
43	53	batlh potlh law' yIn potlh puS.	Honor is more important than life.
44	55	batlhHa' vanglu'taHvIS quv chavbe'lu'.	One does not achieve honor while acting dishonorably.
45	56	tlhIngan quv DatIchDI' Seng yIghuH.	When you insult a Klingon's honor, prepare for trouble.
46	56	bIlujlaHbe'chugh vaj bIQaplaHbe'.	If you cannot fail, you cannot succeed.
47	57	bItuHlaHbe'chugh bIquvlaHbe'.	If you cannot be shamed, you cannot be honored.
48	59	quv Hutlh HoHbogh tlhIngan 'ach qabDaj 'angbe'bogh.	The Klingon who kills without showing his face has no honor.
49	61	'ang'eghQo' quv Hutlhbogh jagh neH ghobtaHvIS ghaH.	Only an enemy without honor refuses to show himself in battle.
50	63	nIteb SuvnIS DevwI'.	A leader needs to stand alone.
51	63	nIteb DujlIj yIchIj.	Navigate your vessel alone.
52	65	ghIj qet jaghmeyjaj.	May your enemies run with fear.
53	66	wa' Qu'vaD wa' DevwI' tu'lu'.	For one mission there is one leader.
54	67	batlh qelDI' tlhIngan, lumbe'.	A klingon does not postpone a matter of honor.
55	69	Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam.	It is a good day to die.
56	71	batlh bIHeghjaj.	May you die well.
57	72	bIHeghvIpchugh bIHeghpu'.	If you are afraid to die, you have already died.
58	73	bIQapqu'meH tar DaSop 'e' DatIvnIS.	To really succeed, you must enjoy eating poison.
59	73	Heghlu'DI' mobbe'lu'chugh QaQqu' Hegh wanI'.	Death is an experience best shared.
60	74	Qu'Daj ta'taHvIS Hegh 'e' tul Hoch tlhIngan.	To die in the line of duty is the hope of every Klingon.
61	74	DujDaj HubtaHvIS Hegh 'e' tul Hoch tlhIngan.	To die defending his ship is the hope of every Klingon.
62	74	wo' toy'taHvIS Hegh 'e' tul Hoch tlhIngan.	To die while serving the Empire is the hope of every Klingon.
63	77	reH Suvrup tlhIngan SuvwI'.	A Klingon warrior is always prepared to fight.
64	79	bImejDI' reH betleHlIj yItlhap.	Never leave without your bat'telh.
65	80	not lay'Ha' tlhIngan.	No Klingon ever breaks his word.
66	81	wa' DoS neH yIbuS.	Focus on but one target.
67	83	Hovmey Davan.	You salute the stars.
68	85	toDuj 'oS rol.	A beard is a symbol of courage.
69	87	bIjatlh 'e' yImev. yItlhutlh!.	Stop talking! Drink!
70	88	wej Heghchugh vay', SuvtaH SuvwI'.	A warrior fights to the death.
71	89	jeghbe' tlhInganpu'.	Klingons do not surrender.
72	91	may'meyDajvo' Haw'be' tlhIngan.	A Klingon does not run away from his battles.
73	93	Dajonlu'pa' bIHeghjaj.	May you die before you are captured.
74	95	QamvIS Hegh qaq law' torvIS yIn qaq puS.	Better to die on our feet than to live on our knees.
75	97	vubpu' jon nuchpu'. jonbe' tlhInganpu'.	Cowards take hostages. Klingons do not.
76	99	QI'tomerDaq Heghpu' Hoch.	No one survived Khitomer.
77	101	'etlh QorghHa'lu'chugh ragh 'etlh nIvqu' 'ej jejHa'choH.	Even the best blade will rust and grow dull unless it is cared for.
78	103	reH boch qutluch lo'lu'chugh.	The used kut'luch is always shiny.
79	104	vaj toDuj Daj ngeHbej DI vI'.	Shooting space garbage is no test of a warrior's mettle.
80	105	not qoHpu''e' neH ghIjlu'.	Only fools have no fear.
81	107	qoH vuvbe' SuS.	The wind does not respect a fool.
82	109	vay' DaghIjlaHchugh bIHoSghaj.	Fear is power.
83	111	meQtaHbogh qachDaq Suv qoH neH.	Only a fool fights in a burning house.
84	113	HIvbe' qoHpu' neH.	Only fools don't attack.
85	115	Hegh neH chav qoH.	A fool's only achievement is death.
86	117	qanchoHpa' qoH, Hegh qoH.	Fools die young.
87	119	pung ghap HoS.	Mercy or power.
88	120	mupwI' yI'uchtaH.	Keep holding the hammer!
89	121	bortaS nIvqu' 'oH bortaS'e'.	Revenge is the best revenge.
90	123	reH Hegh yoHwI'pu''e'.	Always is it the brave ones who die.
91	125	yInlu'taH 'e' bajnISlu'.	Survival must be earned.
92	125	yay chavlu' 'e' bajnISlu'.	Victory must be earned.
93	127	qaStaHvIS wa' ram loSSaD Hugh SIjlaH qetbogh loD.	Four thousand throats may be cut in one night by a running man.
94	129	batlh Heghlu' chugh noDnISbe' vay'.	An honorable death requires no vengeance.
95	131	cheqotlhchugh maHaghbe''a'? cheDuQchugh mareghbe''a'? cheQIHchugh manoDbe''a'?	Tickle us, do we not laugh? Prick us, do we not bleed? Wrong us, shall we not seek revenge?
96	133	bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay'.	Revenge is a dish which is best served cold.
97	135	potlhbe'chugh yay qatlh pe''eghlu'?	If winning is not important, then why keep score?
98	136	wa' SuvwI' muHlu'DI', tuHchoH Hoch SuvwI'pu'.	The execution of one warrior brings shame to all.
99	137	qagh Sopbe'.	He doesn't eat Gagh!
100	139	Qu' buSHa'chugh SuvwI', batlhHa' vangchugh, qoj matlhHa'chugh, pagh ghaH SuvwI''e'.	If a warrior ignores duty, act dishonorably, or is disloyal, he is nothing.
101	141	yIntaHbogh qagh jablu'DI' reH nIvqu' qagh.	Gagh is always best when served alive.
102	142	butlh ghajbogh nuv'e' yIHo'.	Admire the person with dirt under his fingernails.
103	143	ram meqmey.	Motives are insignificiant.
104	145	HeghDI' SuvwI' nargh SuvwI' qa'.	When a warrior dies, his spirit escapes.
105	147	narghbe'chugh SuvwI' qa' taH may'.	If the warrior's spirit hasn't escaped, the battle is still going on.
106	148	pe'vIl mu'qaDmey tIbach.	Curse well!
107	149	vay' DaneHbogh yIchargh.	Conquer what you desire.
108	151	nuHlIj DawIvpu', vaj yISuv.	You have chosen your weapon, so fight!
109	153	yIlop! wa'leS chaq maHegh.	Celebrate! Tomorrow we may die!
110	155	vangDI' tlhIngan SuvwI' ngoy' qorDu'Daj; vangDI' qorDu'Daj ngoy' tlhIngan SuvwI'.	The family of a Klingon warrior is responsible for his actions, and he is responsible for theirs.
111	155	qaStaHvIS wej puq poHmey vav puqloDpu' puqloDpu'chaj je quvHa'moH vav quvHa'ghach.	The dishonor of the father dishonors his sons and their sons for three generations.
112	157	vay' DalarghDI' yIqaw.	Remember the scent.
113	159	reH bang larghlu'.	Love is always smelled.
114	161	QotDI' gheD tlhejbe' wamwI'.	The hunter does not lie down with the prey.
115	163	Ha'DIbaH DaSop 'e' DaHechbe'chugh yIHoHQo'.	Do not kill an animal unless you intend to eat it.
116	165	tlhIngan ngoQmey chavmeH HoH tlhInganpu'.	Klingons kill for their own purposes.
117	167	pIj monchugh vay' yIvoqQo'.	Don't trust those who frequently smile.
118	169	leghlaHchu'be'chugh mIn lo'laHbe' taj jej.	A sharp knife is nothing without a sharp eye.
119	170	reH DuSIgh vavlI'.	Your father is a part of you always.
120	171	ghIlab ghewmey tIbuSQo'.	Pay no heed to glob flies.
121	173	bIQongtaHvIS nItlhejchugh targhmey bIvemDI' nItlhej ghIlab ghewmey.	If you sleep with targs, you'll wake up with glob flies.
122	174	bIrchugh qIvon tuj 'Iw.	If the qIvon is cold, the blood is hot.
123	177	wa' jaj 'etlh 'uchchoHlaH tlhIngan puqloD, jajvetlh loD nen moj.	The son of a Klingon is a man the day he can first hold a blade.
124	175	'oy'be'lu'chugh Qapbe'lu'.	No pain, no gain.
125	179	reH lugh charghwI'.	The victor is always right.
126	179	noH ghoblu'DI' yay law' Hoch quv puS.	In war there is nothing more honorable than victory.
127	179	qun qon charghwI'pu''e'.	History is written by the victors.
128	181	HIq DaSammeH tach yI'el.	To find ale, go into a bar.
129	182	HIvmeH Duj So'lu'.	A ship cloaks in order to attack.
130	183	maQapmeH maHIv.	In order to succeed, we attack.
131	184	rut yIHmey ghom Hoch.	Everyone encounters tribbles occasionally.
132	185	pIpyuS pach DaSop DaneHchugh pIpyuS puS DaghornIS.	If you want to eat pipius claw, you'll have to break a few pipiuses.
133	186	yIvoq 'ach lojmItmey yISam.	Trust, but locate the doors.
134	186	yIvoq 'a yI'ol.	Trust but verify.
135	187	Qu' DataghDI' 'aqtu' mellota' je yIqaw.	When you begin a mission, remember Aktuh and Melota.
136	189	nobmey qembogh yIrIDnganpu''e' yIvoqQo'.	Don't trust Yridians who bring gifts.
137	189	Huch nobHa'bogh verenganpu''e' yIvoqQo'.	Don't trust Ferengi who give back money.
138	190	rura' pente'Daq chuch ngevlaH ghaH.	He can sell ice on Rura Penthe.
139	191	yIQeqQo' neH. DoS yIqIp.	Don't just aim; hit the target!
140	193	Suvbe'chugh SuvwI' tlhuHbe' SuvwI'.	If a warrior does not fight, he does not breathe.
141	195	jach SuvwI' 'e' yIQoy'.	Hear the warrior cry out!
142	196	SeymoH QeH.	Anger excites.
143	197	veqlarghlI' yIbuS 'ej veqlarghwI' vIbuS.	You pay attention to your Fek'lhr and I will pay attention to mine.
144	199	ghojwI'pu'lI' tISaH.	Care about your students.
145	200	'avwI' nejDI' narghta'bogh qama' reH 'avwI' Sambej.	When an escaped prisoner looks for a guard, he always finds one.
146	201	Dal pagh jagh.	No enemy is boring.
147	203	DaHjaj SuvwI' jIH.	Today I am a warrior.
148	203	tIqwIj Sa'angnIS.	I must show you my heart.
149	203	'Iw bIQtIqDaq jIjaH.	I travel the river of blood.
150	205	'oy'naQ Dalo'be'chugh not nenghep lop puq.	If you don't use the painstick, the child will never celebrate his Age of Ascension.
151	206	loD Quch jIHbe'.	I am not a merry man.
152	207	ghewmey tISuqQo'.	Don't catch any bugs.
153	209	wa' Dol nIvDaq matay'DI' maQap.	We succeed in a greater whole.
154	211	noH QapmeH wo' Qaw'lu'chugh yay chavbe'lu' 'ej wo' choqmeH may' DoHlu'chugh lujbe'lu'.	Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory, and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat.
155	212	QaghmeylIj tIchID, yIyoH.	Have the courage to admit your mistakes.
156	213	bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh.	Buy or die!

Notes

• p. 46 There is a word order error in the book. The phrase printed in the book says "loQ 'oy'DI' SuvwI' bepbe'." when clearly it should be "loQ 'oy'DI' bepbe' SuvwI'.".
• p. 79 bat'leth is mis-spelled in the book as bat'telh.
• p. 189 It seems like one should have used the imperative prefix for plural object: tI-
• p. 203 These phrases are used in the nentay ritual.