The Dothraki Language in Game of Thrones: Facts & History

The Dothraki Language in Game of Thrones: Facts & History

When HBO began adapting George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, one of the most important worldbuilding decisions was what to do with the Dothraki language. Martin had given his horse lords a handful of phrases and words — enough to suggest a culture, not enough to build a language. HBO's solution elevated the show's production quality and created one of the most studied constructed languages in history.

From Books to Screen: The Problem

George R.R. Martin's Dothraki in the books are vivid and culturally specific, but their language is sparse. We get m'athchomaroon, Khaleesi, Khal, arakh, and a few other words and phrases — not a grammar, not a phonological system, not verb conjugations. For a TV show where Dothraki characters would speak in their own tongue for entire scenes, this was insufficient.

HBO faced a choice: create a fictional-sounding gibberish (as many productions do), or create a real language. They chose the latter — a decision that reflected both the show's ambition and a growing understanding among productions that constructed languages create deeper immersion.

The Language Creation Society Competition (2009)

HBO partnered with the Language Creation Society (LCS), a professional organization for conlang creators, to find the right linguist. The LCS posted an open call, received approximately 30 applications, and evaluated them based on linguistic quality, cultural fit, and the applicants' understanding of what the show needed.

David J. Peterson's application stood out for its completeness. He submitted not just vocabulary proposals but a full grammatical system, phonological rules, sample texts, and clear reasoning for his design choices. He was hired in early 2009 and delivered a working Dothraki language before the first episode of Game of Thrones premiered in April 2011.

Season 1: Establishing the Language

Season 1 is the most Dothraki-rich season of the show. The wedding at Vaes Dothrak, Khal Drogo's council scenes, and Daenerys's integration into the Khalasar all generate extensive Dothraki dialogue. Peterson's work was immediately apparent: the language felt real because it was real — consistent, pronounceable, and culturally coherent.

Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo) worked with Peterson's coaching materials to develop authentic pronunciation. Emilia Clarke (Daenerys) learned the phrases she needed phonetically, with meaning driving her performance.

Expanding the Vocabulary

Peterson continued adding to the language throughout the show's run. When a scene required a word that didn't exist, he created it — extending the vocabulary consistently with existing grammar and phonology. By the final seasons, Dothraki had over 3,000 words.

This expansion wasn't just translating English concepts into Dothraki sounds. Peterson thought carefully about what vocabulary a nomadic, horse-focused culture would actually develop. New words for technology or concepts outside Dothraki experience were constructed through logical extension of existing roots — similar to how natural languages borrow or adapt vocabulary for new concepts.

Season 6: Dothraki Triumphant

Season 6 brought Daenerys back to the Dothraki Sea and featured some of the most extensive Dothraki dialogue in the series. The scene where Daenerys addresses the Khalasars after emerging from the burning temple was a showcase for the language's expressive capacity — the cheers, declarations, and titles called out in the scene all reflect Peterson's work.

The Legacy: Beyond the Show

Dothraki has outlasted the show's final controversial season. The language continues to be studied, the books remain widely read, and HBO's House of the Dragon has kept interest in Martin's world alive. Peterson's The Language of the Dothraki book remains in print and in use.

The Language Creation Society reports ongoing interest in Dothraki from linguistics students, conlang enthusiasts, and Game of Thrones fans worldwide.

Learn Dothraki with structured lessons at learningelvish.com.

Related Reading

• Dothraki Greetings and Phrases from Game of Thrones
• Khal Drogo's Best Dothraki Quotes (with Translation)
• What Does 'Khaleesi' Actually Mean in Dothraki?
• Dothraki Battle Cries — The War Chants of the Khalasar

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