Mandalorian Language

Mandalorians known as Mando’ade, or "Children of Mandalore" were Clan-based with multiple species and genders taking part in one culture. The language of the Mandos is actually called Mando'a, or more common to us as Mandalorian. It was originally spoken by ancient Taungs of Coruscant as well as the Mandalorian warrior culture. The structure of the Mandalorian language is fairly similar to Galactic Basic.

"The Mandalorian language has more terms of insult than any of the more widely spoken galactic tongues. But whereas most species choose insults that are based on parentage or appearance, the majority of Mandalorian pejoratives are concerned with cowardice, stupidity, laziness, dull conversation, or a lack of hygiene. It reveals the preoccupations of a nomadic warrior culture where bloodline matters less than personal qualities, faces are largely masked, and a clean, efficient camp is crucial to survival."

Mandalorians: Identity and Language

Though the Mandos have a huge history and can be used for many fictions and run-ons, this course will focus only on the language of the culture. A history of the Mando culture can be found on the Wookieepedia.

Mandalorian Flexibility

Mando is fairly easy to learn, due to its structure and flexibility. The Mandos preferred to bring in new words, which they learned while fighting, for new concepts. For example, when the Mandos came into contact with the Sith, they used the term dar'jetii, which translates to "no longer a Jedi". And while the Mandos have a strong history of strength and independence being mercenaries, they don’t have a specific word for ‘hero,’ as they believed that being ready to die for your loved ones as well as for the beliefs that you held, which was merely a requirement to be a Mando, so didn’t need a separate word. However, when in contact with cowardness they came up with hut'uun, to mean coward. This word was taken from another outside influence, the Mandos strong distaste for Hutts.

It is also important to note that although there are many species and both genders taking part, there are no actual words to describe the gender difference. For example Ba'buir, means both grandfather and grandmother.

Excluded letters

Though the language is similar to Galactic basic it is interesting to note that the Mandalorian language has no ‘x, z, and f’ when written down. Though the sounds of the missing letters are still present in the spoken word, with the sound of ‘f’ being replaced with ‘vh,’ and z is used more like an ‘s.’

Compounding words in Mandalorian

Many words in the Mando language are already compounded words. To compound a word means to merge two words together to make a different meaning. An example, as used before, is the word dar'jetii. The word literally means "no longer a Jedi", but is used to mean "Sith."

When writing the language down, you use an apostrophe to indicate that two words have been put together. But since the language is more of a spoken culture, the speaker would have to use different sounds when using the compound words, especially when the word was difficult. If the compound word was difficult the one speaking would tend to drop a sound, known as elide. For example, saying vore entye. The actual phrase became Vor'entye, but since this is difficult to pronounce it was made to sound more like Vor'e in speech.

Plural words in Mando’a

When needed to refer to something as being in a group of more than one, there is a special way of making things plural. While in English we tend to add an ‘s,’ Mandalorians tend to add an ‘e’ to the end of their words. Take for example the word ‘verd’ meaning warrior. If you have more than one warrior it would be ‘verd’e.’ However, if the word ends in a vowel then you add an ‘se.’ There are of course a couple of exceptions, like the plural Gett'se, from Gett, as well as Ad'ike, from Ad'ika.

Adjectives from nouns

An adjective is a word whose role is to modify a noun or pronoun, giving more information about the referent, for example big, old, or happy. To turn a noun into an adjective in Mandalorian, the suffixes -la (lah) and -yc (sh) are added. How you pick between the two is really based on euphony and ease of pronunciation. A good example is Di'kut. The word ‘Di'kut’ basically translates to ‘idiot’. But to add more insult and turn it into an adjective, the -la suffix would be added, making it now ‘Di'kutla,’ to mean 'idiotic'. In this case, the suffix -la was used because it merged better and had a better pronunciation with Di'kut than —yc would.

Interrogative Words and Usage

No this does mean sitting in a room with one bright light being interrogated. An Interrogative word is one where a function word is used for the item interrupted in an information statement. Interrogative words, in English, are used in questions, like Where is he going? And I wonder where he is going? In Mando’a, the interrogative particle ends up going before the phrase it modifies. For example; Holly, tion mhi hibira Mando'a iviin'yc? Translates to mean: Holly, are we learning Mando'a quickly?

Articles

An article is a word that combines a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun. Articles aren’t really that important in the Mando’a language. Though used more often in basic, and tends to use them mainly for emphasis. ‘Te’ is the most common form used, with ‘Haar’ being more for emphatic purposes. "a/an" is translated to "eyn".

Superlative and Comparative usage in Mando’a

Superlatives and comparatives are used to compare two or more things. In Mando’a comparatives and superlatives tend to be constructed by using adjectives with ‘-shy'a’ for the comparative, like dralshy'a meaning brighter or stronger, or ‘-ne’ for the superlative, like ‘jatne’ meaning best.

Dictionary of Vocabulary

Okay, now on to the fun!!! Following will be a few of the known words in Mandalorian with their current, most accurate, translations.

Numbers

* solus (SOH-loos) - one
* t'ad (tahd) - two
* ehn (enn) - three
* cuir (KOO-eer) - four
* rayshe'a (ray-SHEE-ah) - five
* resol (reh-SOL) - six
* e'tad (EH-tad) - seven
* sh'ehn (shayn) - eight
* she'cu (SHAY-koo) - nine
* ta'raysh (ta-RAYSH) - ten
* olan (o-LAN) - hundred
* ta'raysholan (TAH-raysh-oh-lahn) - thousand

Verbs

* a'den - to rage
* atiniir - to endure, to stick with, to tough it out
* baatir - to care, to worry about
* beten - to sigh
* brokar - to beat (heartbeat, drumbeat)
* cuyir - to be, to exist
* dinuir - to give
* duraanir - to look down upon, to hold in contempt, to despise
* duumir - to allow
* gaan - to want
* ganar - to have
* hettir - to burn
* hibirar - to learn
* hukaatir - to protect, to cover, to shield
* jehaatir - to lie
* jorhaa'ir - to speak
* jorso'ran - shall bear (archaic imperative form)
* jurir - to bear, to carry
* jurkadir - to mess with someone (lit: to brandish a saber)
* kar'taylir - to know
* k'uur - to hush, be quiet, to shut up
* liser - to be able to, can
* motir - to stand
* narir - to act (carry out), to do
* nartir - to place, to put
* nau'ur (also: sometimes seen as naur) - to light up
* nau'ur kad - to forge a saber
* nynir - to hit, to strike
* oya - Let's hunt! and let's roll (colloquial)
* parjir - to win, to be victorious
* shabiir - to screw up
* shereshoy - a lust for life, to live in the moment
* shukur - to break, to smash/tear apart, to crush
* susulur - to hear, to listen
* takisir - to insult
* trattok'o - to fall, to fail
* udesiir - to relax, to rest, to be peaceful
* usen'ye - rudest way to tell someone to go away (same root as osik)
* verborir - to buy, to hire, to contract
* vorer - to accept

Adjectives and adverbs

* adenn (pl. adennate) - merciless
* ala - clever
* ani'latoon - ultimate
* aruetycate - traitorous
* atin - stubborn
* briikase - happy
* dar - no longer
* darasuum - eternal/eternally, forever
* di'kutla - foolish, idiotic (severe)
* drali - bright
* dralshy'a - stronger, more powerful
* droun'yn - never
* ge'tal - red
* hettyc - burning
* hut'uunla - cowardly
* iviin'yc - fast, quickly
* jate - good
* jatne - best
* je'karta - vengeful
* kandosii - indomitable, noble, ruthless
* lev'i - retarded
* mesh'la - beautiful
* naast - destroyer
* nau - before
* ne'tra - black
* nuhunla or nuh'la - funny
* ori - big, extreme, very
* racin - pale
* shabla - screwed up (offensive)
* shukla - crushed
* solus - one, alone, each, individual, vulnerable
* sol'yc - first
* talyc - bloody (can be used to describe meat as "rare")
* teroch - pitiless
* tome - together
* tracyn'la - grilled, chargrilled, scorched
* troch - certainly
* ures - without

Nouns

* aaray - pain
* aay'han - bittersweet moment of mourning and joy - "remembering and celebration"
* abesh - east
* abiik - air
* adade - personnel
* adate - people, persons
* a'den - wrath, rage
* adiik - child aged 3 to 13
* ad'ika - kid, lad, boy, sweetie, darling, son, daughter, child
* ad'ike - sons, daughters, children
* ade - sons (archaic)
* agol - living tissue - meat, muscle, flesh - animal or human, "flesh and blood"
* aka - mission
* akaan - war
* akaan'ade - army
* akaata - battalion
* akalenedat - hard contact
* alii'gai - flag, colors
* aliik - sigil, symbol on armor
* aliit - family, clan, tribe
* alor - leader, chief, "officer", constable, boss
* alor'ad - captain
* aloriya - capital (lit. head city)
* alor'uus - corporal
* al'verde - commander
* anade - everyone, everybody
* aran - guard
* aranar - defense
* araniik - cordon
* ara'nov - defense
* arasuum - stagnation
* arpat - seed
* aru'e - enemy
* aruetii - (ah-roo-AY-tee) traitor, outsider, comparable to "them"
* aruetiise - Aruetii, plural
* ash'ad - someone else
* baar - body
* baar'pir - sweat
* baar'ur - medic
* ba'buir - grandfather/grandmother
* ba'jur - education, training
* balac - opportunity
* bas neral - coarse grain used for animal fodder and brewing; thought unfit to eat
* ba'vodu - uncle
* ba'vodu (pl. bavodu'e) - aunt/uncle
* behot - a citrus-flavored herb, antiseptic, and mild stimulant
* beroya (bair-OY-ah) bounty hunter
* bes'bavar - cavalry
* besbe - kit (slang)
* besbe'trayce - weapons
* bes'bev - Mandalorian wind instrument also used in combat
* be'senaar - missile
* bes'kad - slightly curved saber of Mandalorian iron
* beskar - Mandalorian iron
* beskar'ad - droid (literally "child of iron")
* beskar'gam - armor (literally "iron skin")
* bes'laar - music
* be'sol - priority
* besom - unhygienic person, someone with no manners
* Bes'uliik - Basilisk (literally "iron beast")
* beten - sigh
* bev - needle, spike
* beviin - lance
* bevik - stick
* bic - it
* bines - stack
* birgaan - backpack
* birikad - baby carrying harness
* bora - job
* buir - father/mother
* burc'ya - friend
* buy'ce (pl. buy'cese) - helmet; colloquial: pint, bucket
* ca - night
* chakaar - thief, petty criminal, scumbag, bitch, bastard, bugger, (lit: "grave robber")
* Coruscanta - Coruscant
* Cuy'val Dar - those who no longer exist
* cyar'ika- darling, beloved, sweetheart
* cyar'tomade - fans, a group of people with affection for something
* darasuum - eternity
* dar'buir - no longer a father/mother (very shameful)
* dar'jetii - no longer a Jedi (Sith, Dark Jedi)
* dar'manda - a state of being "not Mandalorian"; not an outsider, but one who has lost his heritage, and so his identity and soul
* dar'yaim - a hell, a place you want to forget
* dha - dark
* di'kut - a foolish, idiotic, useless individual (severe); context-dependent:can mean jerk, moron, idiot, etc. (sometimes vulgar)
* droten - people, public
* entye - debt
* gal - ale
* gayi'kaab - radio
* gayiyli - resurrector
* gett - nut
* ge'verd - almost a warrior
* gihaal - fish-meal
* gra'tua (gra-TOO-ah) - revenge, vengeance
* hut'uun (hoo-TOON) - coward
* ib'tuur - today (lit: "this day")
* jai'galaar - shriek-hawk
* jatne'buir- best father/mother
* Jetii (Jeh-tee) - (the) Jedi
* Jetii'kad (jeh-TEE-kahd) - Lightsaber
* Jetiise - (the) Republic, plural "Jedi"
* kad - saber
* kal - knife
* kama - backside, back, belt-spat
* Kaminiise - Kaminoans
* kando (KAHN-do) - importance, weight
* ka'ra - stars
* ka'rta - heart
* ke'gyce - command, order
* kom'rk - gauntlet
* kot - strength
* kote - glory, might
* kyr'am - death
* Kyr'tsad - Death Watch (lit. Death Society) - breakaway Mandalorian sect
* Mand'alor - Mandalore, leader
* Manda'yaim - Mandalore
* Mando'ad - Mandalorian (lit: Son/Daughter/Child of Mandalore)
* Mar'eyce - discovery
* mirsh - brain cell
* mirshe - brain, brains
* ne'tra gal - black ale
* Niktose - nikto
* norac - back
* orar - thunder
* or'dinii - complete lunatic
* ori'ramikade - Supercommandos (lit: Super-raiders with sabers)
* ori'vod - big brother/sister, special friend
* osik - crap, poodoo (sometimes vulgar)
* parjai - victory
* prudii - shadow
* rang - ash
* runi - soul(poetic only)
* shabuir - extreme insult - "jerk", but much stronger
* shebs (shebs, s.); shebse (SHEB-say, pl.) - backside, rear, butt (sometimes vulgar)
* shereshoy - joy, "a lust for life"
* shig (SHEEG) - any kind of hot drink, an infusion
* Shuk'orok - Crushgaunt
* Siit - Sith
* tal - blood
* tar - starfield, space, star, sky
* tat - brother (Concord Dawn dialect for vod)
* Taungsarang - the ash of the Taung
* tihaar - an alcoholic drink; a strong, clear spirit made from fruit
* tor - justice
* tracinya - flame
* tracyn - fire
* troan - face
* tsad - alliance, group, organization
* tuur - day
* uj'alayi - a very dense, very sweet cake made from crushed nuts, dried fruit and spices, and then soaked in a sticky scented syrup called uj'jayl. Colloquially known as an Uj cake.
* uj'Jayl - a sticky scented syrup
* vecuyan - aid, assistance, help
* ven - future
* verd - warrior
* vhett - farmer
* vod (VOHD) - brother, sister, comrade
* vode (VOH-day) - brothers, sisters, comrades
* vod'ika - little brother, little sister
* Vongese - Yuuzhan Vong or just Vong
* vul - (VUHL) - remorse
* Werda - shadows (archaic)

Other words

* a (ah) - but
* an (ahn) - all
* ashi - other
* ast - itself
* bah - to
* bal (bahl) - and
* be - of
* cuun (koon) - our
* elek (EL-eck) - yes (colloquial: lek, comparable to "yeah")
* gar - you, your
* haar - emphatic definite article (rare)
* ibic - this
* juaan - beside
* kaysh (kaysh) - him, his, he (masculin third person referral)
* ke - imperative prefix
* ke nu - "don't" prefix
* lo (loh) - into
* meg (mayg) - which, that, that, who
* meh (mey) - if
* mhi (mee) - we
* nayc (NAYSH) - no (colloquial: shh, comparable to "nah")
* ner (nair) - my
* ni - I
* par - for
* ra - or
* ru - added in front of a noun to make it past tense
* sa - as, like
* sha or shal - at (when used in front of a consonant)
* te - the
* teh - from
* ti - with
* tion - interrogative prefix
* tion'ad - who, interrogative
* vaii - where
* val - they, their, theirs
* ven - future prefix