Directions
Klingon Basic Conversation 1
Chapter 10 · Asking for Directions
🧭 Asking for Directions — nuqDaq?
A warrior who is lost does not wander: he asks, loudly. By the end of this chapter you will be able to ask where something is, understand and give simple directions (left, right, ahead, behind, above, below, beside), and say that you do not understand. Klingon does not use words like "left" as adverbs. They are place nouns ("the left area"), and you add -Daq from Chapter 4 to say "at" or "to" them. Commands use yI- and tI- from Chapter 8.
① Where Is It? — nuqDaq Duj?
② To the Left — poSDaq yIjaH!
③ To the Right — nIHDaq yIjaH!
④ Ahead and Behind — tlhop, 'em
⑤ Above and Below — Dung, bIng
⑥ I Do Not Understand — jIyajbe'
🗝️ Key Phrases — Gravaj Hol
Klingon has no formal and informal "you", so the table shows one form.
| Situation | Klingon | Say it | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is the ship? | nuqDaq Duj? | nuq-Daq Duj | question word first |
| Where am I? | nuqDaq jIH? | nuq-Daq jIH | |
| Go to the left! | poSDaq yIjaH! | poS-Daq yi-jaH | place noun + -Daq, then command |
| Go to the right! | nIHDaq yIjaH! | nIH-Daq yi-jaH | |
| Go to the front! | tlhopDaq yIjaH! | tlhop-Daq yi-jaH | front, ahead |
| Go to the back! | 'emDaq yIjaH! | 'em-Daq yi-jaH | |
| You (all) go to the left! | poSDaq tIjaH! | poS-Daq ti-jaH | tI- for several |
| I do not understand | jIyajbe'. | ji-yaj-be' | from Chapter 1 |
The place nouns:
| Place noun | Meaning | "to / at …" |
|---|---|---|
| poS | left side | poSDaq |
| nIH | right side | nIHDaq |
| tlhop | front | tlhopDaq |
| 'em | area behind | 'emDaq |
| Dung | area above | DungDaq |
| bIng | area below | bIngDaq |
| retlh | area beside | retlhDaq |
📖 Vocabulary — Vortaro
20 key words. The Say it column shows the syllables.
| # | Klingon | Say it | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | nuqDaq | nuq-Daq | where | question |
| 2 | poS | poS | left (side) | noun |
| 3 | nIH | nIH | right (side) | noun |
| 4 | tlhop | tlhop | front | noun |
| 5 | 'em | 'em | area behind | noun |
| 6 | Dung | Dung | area above | noun |
| 7 | bIng | bIng | area below | noun |
| 8 | retlh | retlh | area beside | noun |
| 9 | -Daq | -Daq | at, to (suffix) | suffix |
| 10 | jaH | jaH | go | verb |
| 11 | yI- | yI- | command prefix (one person) | prefix |
| 12 | tI- | tI- | command prefix (several) | prefix |
| 13 | naDev | na-Dev | here | adverb |
| 14 | pa' | pa' | there | adverb |
| 15 | juH | juH | home | noun |
| 16 | Duj | Duj | ship | noun |
| 17 | Qo'noS | Qo'-noS | Kronos | noun |
| 18 | jIyajbe' | ji-yaj-be' | I do not understand | phrase |
| 19 | HIja' | HI-ja' | yes | phrase |
| 20 | ghobe' | gho-be' | no | phrase |
📜 Reading — LaD
A short text using only words you know.
True or false? (a) The speaker asks where the ship is. (b) The first direction is to the right. (c) The ship is there. (d) The speaker says "success".
Show answers
(a) True. (b) False: poSDaq is left. (c) False: naDev is "here". (d) True: Qapla'!
✍️ Try It Yourself — Ekzercoj
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Ask where the ship is, and answer "there".
Show answer
nuqDaq Duj? · pa'.
2. Tell one person to go to the right and a group to go to the left.
Show answer
nIHDaq yIjaH! · poSDaq tIjaH!
3. Say "I go below" and "we go above".
Show answer
bIngDaq jIjaH. · DungDaq majaH.
4. Say "to my left" and "to your right".
Show answer
poSwIjDaq · nIHlIjDaq
5. Say "I do not understand. Where is Kronos?".
Show answer
jIyajbe'. nuqDaq Qo'noS?
6. Order a friend to go to the front, and say "the warrior is behind".
Show answer
tlhopDaq yIjaH! · 'emDaq SuvwI'.