Mando'a, or Mandalorian in Basic, is the language of the Mandalorian culture. It's roots can be traced back to the ancient language of the Taung, the proginetors of the Mandalorians. The language has gone through several changes since the archaic dialect of the Taung, creating a language that contains unique elements unlike any found in other galactic languages. Mando'a is an agglutinative language, and has no grammatical cases, only two forms for a verb to take, a tense prefix system, and simplistic rules for forming adjectives from nouns and verb stems. Spelling and punctuation forms are optional.
To understand and to be able to speak Mando'a is part of the Resol'nare, the six central tenets that an individual has to observe in their daily life should they wish to be Mandalorian in soul and action. Surprisingly, Mando'a has adopted very few loanwords from other languages in spite of the Mandalorian culture drawing in members from all corners of the galaxy, including different species.
Thankfully for those joining the Mandalorian culture, Mando'a is considered an easy language to learn - a highly desirable trait for a language in a culture that regularly adopts adults from numerous races and species. However it has parts that make it difficult to translate into Basic. The most noteably in that it is a gender-neutral language, and Mando'a doing away with past and future tense, as they are a people who believe in living their history while knowing that tomorrow is never for certain. In Mando'a, "buir" is both "mother" and "father", and "vod" is both "sister" and "brother".
Below is a collection of words and phrases that players might like to use in their roleplay. In addition, more can be explored using the Mando'a translator, the Wookiepedia article, or the Coruscant Translator. There is a possibility that not all players are able to access these sources, so it is polite to include a translation in your posts when using Mando'a, or simply writing in English and using a different colour to show that you are speaking in Mando'a.
Useful everyday phrases
- Ba'gedet ye - You're welcome
- Elek - Yes (shortened to "lek" as "yeah")
- Gaa'tayl! - Help!
- Gedet'ye - Please
- Haar'chak! - Damn it!
- Ke'mot! - Halt!
- Kih'parjai - "No problem" or "don't mention it". Literally means "small victory"
- K'uur - Hush!
- Me'bana? What's happening? / What happened?
- Me'copaani? - What do you want? / What would you like?
- Me'vaar ti gar? - How are you? (Literally: "what's new with you?) Can also be used to ask a soldier for a sitrep. If a Mandalorian asks this, they expect an answer, it's literal. The response for "I'm fine thanks" is "Naas" ("nothing")
- Me'ven? - "Huh?", "What?", an expression of bewilderment or disbelief
- Nayc - No
- Ne'johaa! - Shut up!
- N'eparavu takisit - Sorry (literally: "I eat my insult")
- Ni ceta - Sorry. Very formal and rare, a grovelling apology. Literally "I kneel"
- Ni copaani buy'ce gal - "I'd like a pint of ale"
- Nu draar - No way. Absolutely not. Never in a million years. Not on your life. (Emphatic disagreement and doubt. Literally: "not never". Mando'a use double negatives for emphasis)
- Olarom - Welcome (greeting)
- Ori'vor'e - Thanks a lot!
- Oya - Literally: Let's hunt! Colloquially adapted as a positive and triumphant cheer with potential meanings including "stay alive!", "go you!", and simply "cheers!". Always positive and triumphant.
- Ret'! - Bye! See you!
- Ret'urcye mhi - Goodbye; literally: "Maybe we'll meet again"
- Su cuy'gar - Hello. Literally "you're still alive"
- Su'cuy - Hi!
- Tion gar gai? - What's your name?
- Tion'ad? - Who? (literally "what person?")
- Tion'cuy? - Who's that? Used as a challenge to identify someone like "Halt! Who goes there?"
- Tion'jor? - Why?
- Tion'solet? - How many? How much?
- Tion'tuur? - When?
- Utrel'a - Clear (as in "all clear")
- Vor entye - a formal "Thank you"; literally: "I accept a debt"
- Vor'e - "Thanks".
- Wayii! - Good grief! General exclamation of surprise, good or bad
Insults
- Besom - ill-mannered lout, unhygienic person, someone with no manners
- Chaavla sa shebs be'striili - "rough as a strill's backside" - phrase used to describe a bar that's a dive, an uncultured individual (by Mandalorian standards), or a very violent, dangerous neighbourhood
- Chakaar - thief, petty crimina, scumbag; Literally "grave robber"
- Demagolka - someone who commits atrocities, a real-life monster, a war criminal (by Mandalorian standards). Comes from the notorious Mandalorian scientist of the Mandalorian Wars, Demagol, known for his experiments on children.
- Di'kut - fool, idiot, useless individual; can mean jerk, moron, etc (Literally: "someone who forgets to put their pants on")
- Ge'hutuun - bandit, villain, petty thief. Can also mean a serious criminal you have no respect for
- Hut'uun - coward. Stems from the Mandalorians dislike of the Hutts
- Jareor - recklessly risk your life (foolish, not brave)
- Kaysh mirsh solus - "He's an idiot"; literally: "His brain cell is lonely."
- Kaysh mirsh'kyramud - "He's boring me senseless" (Literally: "he's a brain assassin")
- Kote lo'shebs'ul narit - You can keep your glory (Literally: "you can shove your glory")
- Landuur - delicate, fragile (also used for "weak" or "pathetic")
- Mir'osik - "Dung for brains"
- Mirsh'kyramud - a boring person; literally: "brain killer"
- Nibral - Loser, failure
- Ni'duraa! - "You disgust me!"
- Or'dinii - moron or fool
- Ori'buyce, kih'kovid. - "All helmet, no head."—Mandalorian insult for someone with an overdeveloped sense of authority.
- Ori'jagyc - Bully, swaggering big-mouth. Someone who picks on someone smaller. Literally "big man" said sarcastically, applied equally to women.
- Osik - dung
- Osi'yaim - Useless despicable person
- Shabuir - extreme insult (basically calling someone a strong derogatory word not PG-13)
- Sheb'urcyin - sycophant, toady, butt-kisser
- Utreekov - fool, idiot (literally: "emptyhead")
- Vaar'ika - pip-squeak, runt
Phrases, sayings, proverbs
- Aliit ori'shya tal'din - "Family is more than blood." A common phrase among Mandalorians, who often form families without any blood-relations, and who regard the greater whole of their community as their family.
- Bur'cya vaal burk'yc, burc'ya veman - a friend in need. Literally: "a friend during danger is a true friend".
- Cin vhetin - a fresh start or clean slate; literally: "white field". A term indicating the erasing of a person's past when they become Mandalorian, and that they will only be judged by what they do from that point onwards.
- Gal, ori'skraan, riduur, yaim' dab'ika - Phrase for a run ashore; brief R and R. "Beer, big eats, good company and return to camp". Summary of a Mandalorian soldier's idea of a good night out.
- Gar shuk meh kyrayc (meh gar kyrayc, shuk bah ni) - You're no use dead (you're no use to me dead). Said to encourage someone to take a rest. Rarely meant literally, or as a threat.
- Gar taldin ni jaonyc; gar sa buir, ori'wadaas'la. - "Nobody cares who your father/mother was, only the father/mother you'll be." Bloodline is not important, but as a parent you are the most valuable thing. This saying emphasises the importance of a parent's role, and that a Mandalorian is judged by more than their lineage.
- Haat, Ijaa, Haa'it - "Truth, Honor, Vision" - said when sealing a pact.
- Haar o'r an nuhune - "Many a true word spoken in jest" (literally: there's truth in all jokes). Mandalorian saying.
- Haatyc or'arue jate'shya ori'sol aru'ike nuhaatyc - "Better one big enemy that you can see than many small ones you can't." A Mandalorian proverb.
- Haryc b'aalyc - "tired and emotional", euphemism for drunk.
- Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur. - "Today is a good day for someone else to die.". Traditional Mandalorian saying.
- K'atini! - "Suck it up!" or "It's only pain!"
- Kandosii! - "Nice one!" or "Well done!"
- Kaysh meg miit'gaana, oyacyi - "Who writes, remains". Mandalorian proverb.
- Ke barjurir gar'ade, jagyc'ade kot'la a dalyc'ade kotla'shya. - "Train your sons to be strong but your daughters to be stronger." Old Mandalorian proverb. A rare instance of using specific genders (jagyc = masculine, dalyc = feminine).
- Ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade! - "Don't mess with Mandalorians!"
- K'oyacyi! - "Cheers!" Can also mean "Hang in there" or "Come back safely."; literally a command: "Stay alive!"
- Mando'ad draar digu - "A Mandalorian never forgets."
- Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde - "We are one when together, we are one when parted, we will share all, we will raise warriors."—Mandalorian marriage vows.
- Mishuk gotal'u meshuroke, pako kyore. - "Pressure makes gems, ease makes decay." Mandalorian proverb, warning of laziness and stagnation in life.
- Nar dralshy'a - "Put your back into it!" or "Try harder!"
- Ne shab'rud'ni... - "Don't mess with me..."; extremely strong warning likely to be followed by violence.
- N'epar nu pirur - "It won't eat or drink anything", meaning it can wait. There's no rush.
- Ni dinu ner gaan naakyc, jorcu ni nu copaani kyr'amur ner vod - Honor my offer of truce, for I would not willingly shed my brother's blood.
- Ni kar'tayl gai sa'ad - "I know your name as my child"; Mandalorian adoption vow.
- Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum - "I love you."; literally: "I will know you forever" or "I will hold you in my heart forever".
- Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum - "I'm still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal"—Daily remembrance of those passed on, followed by the names of those being remembered.
- Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la - "Not gone, merely marching far away"—; Mandalorian phrase for the departed, as they believe that the dead are still with them in the Manda.
- Pirunir sur'haaise - "Make their eyes water". Slang, meaning to kill, injure, or defeat an enemy.
- Shereshoy - Lust for life and much more. A uniquely Mandalorian word, meaning the enjoyment of each day and the determination to seek and grab every possible experience, as well as surviving to see the next day. Hanging onto life and relishing it. And understandable state of mind/emotion for a warrior people. Closely related to the words for live, hunt, and stay safe - and of course "oya".
- Traat'aliit gar besbe'trayc - "The squad is you weapon"
- Verd ori'shya beskar'gam. - "A warrior is more than his armor". Mandalorian proverb.
Miscelleanous words and phrases
- Adiik - a young child (aged 3-13)
- Adi'ka (plural: adike)- kid, lad, boy, sweetie, darling, son, daughter, child. Also used informally to adults much like "lads" or "guys".
- Akalenedat - hard contact
- Aruetii - outsider or traitor; colloquially a "non-Mandalorian"
- Bajur - education, the raising and nurturing of children. A wider meaning than just school work, as it inclused preparation for life and survival.
- Beskad - slightly curved saber of Mandalorian iron
- Beskar'ad - droid; Literally "child of iron"
- Beskar'gam - armor; Literally "iron skin"
- Bes'uliik - Basilisk war droid; Literally "iron beast"
- Buir - parent
- Burc'ya - friend
- Cyar'ika - darling, beloved, sweetheart. "Cyare" is also used
- Dadite - code used by Mandalorians, like Morse code
- Dar'buir - no longer a parent
- Dar'jetii - Literally: no longer a Jedi; colloquial for Sith or Dark Jedi
- Dar'manda - a state of being "not Mandalorian"; not an outsider, but one who has lost his heritage, and so his identity and soul
- Din'kartay - sitrep, wash-up, any sharing of information and planning
- Gai bal manda - Mandalorian adoption ceremony. Literally "name and soul"
- Ik'aad - infant, a child under 3 years of age.
- Jatne Manda - "good mood". A complex sense of being at one with your clan and life
- Kandosii - indomitable, ruthless; used colloquially as noble or classy as well as "awesome"
- Kir'manir - adopt, give a soul to someone
- Kyr'tsad - Death Watch; literally "Death Society"
- Mand'alor - sole ruler, leader of the Mandalorians
- Mandokar - the *right stuff*, the epitome of Mandalorian virtue; a blend of aggression, tenacity, loyalty, and a lust for life
- Mandokarla - having the *right stuff*, showing guts and spirit, the state of being the epitome of Mandalorian virtue
- Manda'yaim - the planet Mandalore
- Mando'ad (plural: Mando'ade) - Mandalorian; Literally "son/daughter of Mandalore"
- Mirjahaal - Peace of mind. Healing. A general term for emotional well-being especially after a trauma or bereavement
- Narudar - temporary ally. Specifically your enemy's enemy, where both sides know this is an alliance of convenience and not a lasting pact
- Orar - thunder
- Ori'ramikad - Supercommando (Mandalorian designation of elite special forces)
- Ori'suumyc - Beyong the pale. One step too far. Outrageous to Mandalorian morality.
- Ori'vod - big brother/sister, special friend
- Oya manda! - Expression of Mandalorian solidarity and perpetuity
- Ramikadyc - Commando state of mind. An attitude that he/she can do anything, endure anything, and achieve the objective. A blend of complete confidence and extreme tenacity instilled in special forces during training. Can also be used informally to describe a determined, focused person.
- Ram'ser - sniper, marksman
- Resol'nare - Six Actions, the tenets of Mando life
- Riduur - partner, spouse, husband/wife
- Sen'tra - jetpack
- Verd - soldier or warrior
- Vod - brother, sister, comrade
- Wer'cuy - It was ages ago. Colloquial, often used as "forget it" or "it doesn't matter".
