Dothraki Greetings and Phrases from Game of Thrones

Dothraki Greetings and Phrases from Game of Thrones

Dothraki greetings are rooted in the culture of a people constantly in motion — they greet by asking if you're riding well, bid farewell by wishing you a successful hunt, and express respect through a word that's more oath than pleasantry. Learning these phrases is the most immediate way to feel the texture of the language.

Core Greetings

M'athchomaroon — "With respect" or "I greet you with respect." The formal Dothraki greeting. The m' at the start is a contracted preposition (from me, with), athchomaroon relates to the concept of choroon (to respect). This greeting acknowledges the person across from you as deserving of consideration — not as an enemy to overcome or a resource to exploit.

Hash yer dothrae chek? — "Are you riding well?" The casual, everyday greeting. Hash is the question marker, yer is "you," dothrae is the present form of "to ride," chek is "well/good." This phrasing reveals how central riding is to Dothraki identity — to greet someone is to ask about their riding.

M'ath — A shortened version of m'athchomaroon, used between friends or in informal settings.

Common Responses and Conversational Phrases

Fonas chek — "Hunt well." The standard farewell. See our dedicated article for full cultural context.

Athchomar chomakea — "Respect to you who are respected." A reciprocal greeting formula used when someone of high standing greets you — you return their respect by acknowledging them.

Me nem nesa — "It is known." Perhaps the most famous Dothraki phrase in popular culture, used by Khal Drogo's bloodriders as an affirmation when something is declared true. Often preceded by a declaration: "The khal is the strongest — me nem nesa." It functions as a collective endorsement of shared truth.

Dothras chek — "Ride well." A farewell variant of the greeting, wishing someone safe passage.

Essential Everyday Phrases

Dothraki	English
Anha zhilak yera	I love you
Anha vazhak yera	I give you...
Yer chomoe anha	You honor me
Hash yer ray che?	Do you understand?
Anha geme yera	I see you / I recognize you
Jalan atthirari anni	Moon of my life (term of endearment)
Shekh ma shieraki anni	Sun and stars (reciprocal term of endearment)

The last two — jalan atthirari anni and shekh ma shieraki anni — became famous as the terms of endearment between Daenerys and Khal Drogo in the series. They're poetic and evocative: to call someone your "moon of my life" in a culture where the open sky dominates everything is an intimate act.

The Role of Greetings in Dothraki Culture

Unlike Klingon (which has virtually no small talk) or English (where greetings are often formulaic), Dothraki greetings carry genuine social information. How you greet someone — formally with m'athchomaroon or casually with hash yer dothrae chek? — signals your assessment of their status and your relationship with them.

Getting the register wrong isn't just awkward; it can be an insult. Using a casual greeting with someone who expects formal acknowledgment suggests you don't consider them worthy of full respect.

Practice These Phrases

The best way to internalize Dothraki greetings is to use them in context. Find a learning partner, watch Game of Thrones scenes with the dialogue active, and practice responding to hash yer dothrae chek? with an appropriate answer.

Begin your full Dothraki learning journey at learningelvish.com.

Related Reading

• The Dothraki Language in Game of Thrones: Facts & History
• Dothraki Insults: How Warriors Demean Their Enemies
• Dothraki Tattoo Phrases: Warrior Words Worth Wearing
• M'athchomaroon: The Dothraki Greeting of Respect
• Dothraki Greetings: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything Between

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