Klingon

Conjugate Verbs

Facts

  • Language: Klingon
  • Created: 1984
  • Alternate names: tlhIngan Hol
  • Language code: ckgz
  • Language family: Conlang
  • Script: Klingon script

Introduction

The Klingon language (tlhIngan Hol in Klingon) is the constructed language spoken by Klingons in the fictional Star Trek universe. Deliberately designed by Marc Okrand to be "alien", it contains many peculiarities, such as Object Verb Subject (OVS) word order. The basic sound (along with a very few words) was first devised by James Doohan ("Scotty") for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. That film marked the first time the language had been heard on screen, all previous appearances of the Klingons being in English. Klingon was subsequently developed by Okrand into a fully fledged language.

The verb

There are two kinds of verbs, transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive verbs take an object as a prefix in the inflected form.

Intransitive verb sample: bom

Present

Sg.1jIbom
Sg.2bIbom
Sg.3bom
Pl.1mabom
Pl.2Subom
Pl.3bom

Imperative

SingularyIbom!
Pluralpebom!

Sample verbs

Qong, bom, jejHa', lay'Ha', matlhHa', mon, nen, ngaQ, guv, guvHa', guvmoH, Qeq, ragh, ram, regh, taH, toj

Transitive verb sample: legh

Present

SubjectObject
 No ObjectSg.1Sg.2Sg.3Pl.1Pl.2Pl.3
Sg.1jIlegh-qaleghvIlegh-SaleghvIlegh
Sg.2bIleghcholegh-Daleghjulegh-Dalegh
Sg.3leghmuleghDulegh-nuleghlIlegh-
Pl.1malegh-pIleghwIlegh-releghDIlegh
Pl.2Suleghtulegh-boleghchelegh-bolegh
Pl.3leghmuleghnIleghluleghnulegh-

Imperative

Object
No ObjectSg.1Sg.3Pl.1Pl.3
Sg.: yIlegh! / Pl.: pelegh!HIlegh!yIlegh!gholegh!tllegh!

Sample verbs

legh, baj, buSHa', ghob, Hutlh, je', nobHa', QIH, Qoy, tagh, 'uch