15 Famous Klingon Quotes from Star Trek (With Translations)
15 Famous Klingon Quotes from Star Trek (With Translations)
Klingon dialogue is some of the most quotable material in Star Trek — partly because Marc Okrand designed the language to sound declarative and consequential, and partly because the writers gave Worf, Martok, Kahless, and General Chang lines worth memorizing. This article collects the fifteen most-cited Klingon quotes from across the franchise, with the original Klingon, English translation, pronunciation guide, and the episode or film each comes from.
1. Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam — "Today is a good day to die"
Pronunciation: kheg-LOO-meh KHAKH zhazh-VAHM.
Attributed in canon to Kahless the Unforgettable, the founder of the Klingon Empire. Quoted by Worf in The Next Generation's Sins of the Father (1990), by Martok in multiple Deep Space Nine episodes, and by Tuvok of all people in Voyager's Day of Honor. Parses as for the dying it is a good day — Hegh (die) + -lu' (indefinite) + -meH (for the purpose of) + QaQ (be good) + jaj (day) + -vam (this).
It is the most recognized Klingon battle phrase in Star Trek.
2. Qapla' — "Success!"
Pronunciation: KHAP-lah.
The universal Klingon farewell, salute, and toast. Used by every Klingon character in every episode where they appear. Functions simultaneously as goodbye, good luck, victory be yours, and well done. If you remember one Klingon word, make it this one.
3. taH pagh taHbe' — "To be or not to be"
Pronunciation: tahkh pahgh tahkh-BAY.
From the Klingon Language Institute's 1996 translation of Hamlet, inspired by General Chang's joke in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon. Parses as continue or not continue — taH (to continue, to endure) + pagh (or none) + taH-be' (continue-negation).
The KLI's full Klingon Hamlet remains one of the longest published translations in any constructed language.
4. nuqneH — "What do you want?"
Pronunciation: nookh-NEKH.
The standard Klingon greeting. Klingons consider polite small talk a waste of breath; they want to know what you need from them, and they want to know now. From Marc Okrand's original Klingon Dictionary (1985) and used in essentially every Klingon episode since.
5. bortaS bIr jablu'DI', reH QaQqu' nay' — "Revenge is a dish best served cold"
Pronunciation: bor-TASS BEER zhab-LOO-dee, reh KHAKH-koo nigh.
Quoted by Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan — but attributed by Khan himself to a Klingon proverb. The KLI later back-translated the line into Klingon, and it is now canonical. Parses as when cold revenge is served, the dish is always excellent.
6. cha yIghuS — "Standby on torpedoes"
Pronunciation: chah yee-GHOOSH.
A short bridge command that has become a fan-favorite for its sound. Used by Klingon captains across The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. Functions as torpedoes, be ready.
7. tlhIngan maH — "We are Klingons"
Pronunciation: thling-AHN MAH.
The collective declaration of identity. Spoken by Worf in his oath of fealty to the Empire, and used as a rallying cry in Star Trek: Discovery. Parses as Klingon we-are.
8. Hab SoSlI' Quch — "Your mother has a smooth forehead"
Pronunciation: KHAB SOSH-lee KHOOCH.
The most famous Klingon insult in Star Trek, used by Gowron and several others. Smooth foreheads — a reference to the augment-virus Klingons of Enterprise and the original-series Klingons — are deeply shameful in the post-TNG canon. The line works as an insult because of what it implies about lineage.
For more in this register, see our Klingon warrior phrases guide.
9. pItlh — "Done. Finished."
Pronunciation: PEETLH.
A short command-and-control word used by Klingon engineers and officers to indicate completion of a task. Featured in Deep Space Nine during Martok's command of the Rotarran. Functions as that is finished or task complete.
10. wo' batlh DevwI' DaH ghaH Qel' qoSta' — "Kahless now leads the Empire in honor"
Pronunciation: woh BAHTLH DEV-wee dah ghahkh KHEL KHOSH-tah.
From the clone-Kahless storyline in The Next Generation's Rightful Heir (1993). Spoken by Worf as he kneels to the cloned Emperor Kahless. The line establishes the religious dimension of Kahless's return.
11. vaj Daghoblahbej — "Then you must refuse"
Pronunciation: vahzh dah-GHOB-lakh-bezh.
Kahless to Worf in Rightful Heir, during the discussion of whether Worf will accept the cloned Kahless as Emperor. The line has been quoted in fan discussions of Klingon free will and obedience.
12. yIn DayajtaHvIS, bIHeghbej — "While you understand life, you will surely die"
Pronunciation: YEEN dah-yahzh-TAKH-veesh, bee-KHEGH-bezh.
A Kahless proverb developed by the KLI and now widely cited in Klingon-language poetry. Parses as while you understand life, you will certainly die — meaning that true understanding includes the recognition of mortality.
13. tlhIngan jIH — "I am a Klingon"
Pronunciation: thling-AHN zheekh.
Worf's identity declaration in The Next Generation's The Icarus Factor and many subsequent episodes. Parses as Klingon I-am. Used by half-Klingons and full Klingons alike as a statement of pride.
14. pe'vIl mu'qaDmey tIbach — "Curse well, with force"
Pronunciation: peh-VEEL moo-KHAHD-may tee-BAHCH.
A Kahless line developed by the KLI for the Klingon Way poetry collection. Used in modern Klingon-language toasts and at QI'lop observances. Parses as forcefully, curses, hurl them.
15. DaHjaj Suvrupbogh tlhInganpu' yIquvmoH — "Today, honor the Klingons ready to fight"
Pronunciation: dakh-ZHAZH SOOV-roop-bogh thling-AHN-poo yee-KHOOV-mokh.
The traditional opening of Klingon command briefings, formalized by the KLI from Martok's lines in Deep Space Nine's Sons of Mogh (1996). Parses as today, the Klingons who are ready to fight, honor them.
Where These Quotes Come From
A short index of canonical sources for the quotes above.
- Marc Okrand's Klingon Dictionary (1985, expanded 1992) — the primary source for
nuqneH,Qapla', and the structural vocabulary of every other line. - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) —
tlhIngan maH,tlhIngan jIH, and Worf's running corpus of Klingon dialogue. - Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) — General Chang's Shakespeare in the original Klingon joke, which seeded the KLI Hamlet project.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999) — Martok's command-language corpus, plus the most Klingon-heavy story arcs.
- The Klingon Language Institute's The Klingon Hamlet (1996) —
taH pagh taHbe'and the full back-translation of Shakespeare. - The KLI's The Klingon Way (1996) — Kahless's proverbs in canonical Okrand-approved form.
For a survey of Kahless's collected sayings, see our Klingon proverbs guide.
How to Pronounce These Like Worf
Three points to get right.
First, capitalization. Q and q are different consonants. S and s are different consonants. Get one wrong and you mispronounce a quote.
Second, the back-of-the-throat consonants. Q, q, H, gh, and tlh are all produced behind where English produces its consonants. If you sound American saying Qapla', you are saying it wrong; the Q should rattle.
Third, the glottal stops. The apostrophe in Qapla', pagh, and Heghlu'meH is a glottal stop — the same sound between the syllables of uh-oh. It is not silent. Skip it and you are clipping a consonant.
The Tengwar Klingon course includes audio recordings of every quote on this list pronounced at conversational speed, with slow-mode breakdowns for the back-of-throat consonants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous Klingon quote? Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam — today is a good day to die.
What does Qapla' mean? Success. Used as a noun and as a universal Klingon farewell.
Is Hamlet really translated into Klingon? Yes — the KLI published The Klingon Hamlet in 1996, including the famous taH pagh taHbe' rendering of the soliloquy.
Speak These Lines Yourself
Memorizing the quotes is the beginning. Pronouncing them like a Klingon is the next step.
Tengwar's free Klingon lessons cover the pronunciation drills for every back-of-throat consonant on this list. The full course adds OVS grammar, suffix stacking, and enough vocabulary to write your own Kahless-style proverbs. For a full comparison of Klingon learning apps, see our best app roundup.
Qapla'!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the most famous Klingon quote?
Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam — 'today is a good day to die' — is the single most famous Klingon line in Star Trek. It originates with Kahless the Unforgettable and is quoted by Worf, Martok, and many other characters across The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. Marc Okrand developed the phrase in The Klingon Dictionary.
What does Qapla' mean?
Qapla' is the Klingon word for success, used both as a noun and as a farewell — the equivalent of saying goodbye, good luck, or victory be yours all at once. Pronounced KHAP-lah with a final glottal stop. It is the most widely recognized Klingon word among non-speakers and appears in essentially every Klingon episode of Star Trek.
Is Hamlet really translated into Klingon?
Yes. The Klingon Language Institute published a complete Klingon translation of Hamlet in 1996, titled The Klingon Hamlet, with the famous to-be-or-not-to-be soliloquy rendered as taH pagh taHbe'. The translation was undertaken with the joke from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in mind — General Chang's line that Shakespeare is best appreciated in the original Klingon.
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