Dothraki Phrases for Love and Loyalty

Dothraki Phrases for Love and Loyalty

The love story between Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryen gave Game of Thrones some of its most tender moments — expressed entirely in Dothraki. These phrases became iconic, and for good reason: David J. Peterson built Dothraki love vocabulary with the same care he brought to every other part of the language.

The Foundational Love Vocabulary

zhilak — to love (verb). The root of Dothraki romantic expression.

• Anha zhilak yera — "I love you"
• Me zhilak yera — "He/she loves you"
• Yer zhilakhat anha? — "Do you love me?"

jalan — moon. In Dothraki cosmology, the moon is female, beautiful, and constant — she watches over the grasslands and gives light to night riders. To call someone your moon is to say they are your constant light in darkness.

shekh — sun. The male counterpart to the moon, blazing and life-giving.

atthirari — life/of life/living (noun/adjective). From thirarat (to live).

The Most Famous Phrases

Jalan atthirari anni

"Moon of my life."

Khal Drogo's endearment for Daenerys. Breaking it down:

• jalan — moon
• atthirari — of life (genitive form of atthirar, life)
• anni — my (first person possessive)

The full meaning: "Moon of my life" — the light that guides through darkness, beautiful and constant.

Shekh ma shieraki anni

"My sun and stars."

Daenerys's reciprocal endearment for Drogo.

• shekh — sun
• ma — and
• shieraki — stars (related to shiera, star)
• anni — my

Together these two phrases form a complementary pair: he is her moon (what she sees at night, reflecting his light), she is his sun and stars (the larger cosmos that lights his world). This celestial framing elevates their relationship to something mythic — appropriate for a Khal who considers himself a force of nature.

Additional Love and Loyalty Vocabulary

van — loyalty, to be loyal. More than a feeling — a warrior commitment.

Yer chomoe anha — "You honor me." Said between people who recognize each other's worth and choose to be in relationship.

Anha geme yera — "I see you." In Dothraki, seeing someone fully — recognizing their worth and reality — is an act of intimacy. This phrase carries more weight than its English equivalent.

Anha vazhak yera — "I give you [something]." Dothraki love is expressed through giving — horses, protection, loyalty, name.

Me ray ezas — "It has been found/He/she has been found." Used when someone discovers their person — the one they've been looking for.

Loyalty Vocabulary: The Other Side of Love

In Dothraki culture, love and loyalty are inseparable. The words for loyalty (van, chomoe) appear in romantic contexts because Dothraki love is always also a bond of mutual protection and commitment.

Yer jin khalasaroon — "You are of this Khalasar" — the acceptance of someone into the community, which is the most public form of loyalty declaration.

Anha vo rakhas yera — "I will not abandon you." Rakhas (to abandon, to leave behind) negated with vo — a direct oath of loyalty.

Using These Phrases

These phrases work for fans of the show, for learners interested in the language, and for anyone drawn to their poetic quality. Jalan atthirari anni has appeared on wedding cards, anniversary gifts, and yes, tattoos.

Whatever your context, understanding the vocabulary behind the phrase deepens its meaning.

Explore the full range of Dothraki vocabulary at learningelvish.com.

Related Reading

• Dothraki Tattoo Phrases: Warrior Words Worth Wearing
• How to Say 'I Love You' in Dothraki — Anha Zhilak Yera
• Fonas Chek: The Dothraki Farewell Explained

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