Memory Alpha
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Memory Alpha
Memory Alpha
57,146
pages
in: Ferenginar, Languages
English

Changes: Ferengi language

Back to page
Sign in to edit
No edit summary
No edit summary
(24 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  ⚫
[[File:Ferengi script.png|thumb|Ferengi script.]]
  ⚫
The '''Ferengi language''' was the spoken and written [[language]] of the [[Ferengi]] used on [[Ferenginar]].
  +
  ⚫
== Written language ==
 
[[File:Classroom alphabet 2.jpg|thumb|The Ferengi alphabet (center)]]
  
[[File:Classroom alphabet 2.jpg|thumb|The Ferengi alphabet (center)]]
  ⚫
[[File:Ferengi written message.jpg|thumb|A hand-written message by [[Rom]]: "''Dear Quark, Used parts from your disruptor to fix the replicators. Will return them soon. – Rom.''"]]
⚫
The '''Ferengi language''' is the spoken and written [[language]] of the [[Ferengi]], from [[Ferenginar]].
  
  ⚫
Ferengi writing looked much like a flowchart, with many sixty degree angles. Text radiated from the center outward, which indicated the direction of writing as well. Ferengi text could be written with or without a central hexagon, radiating from one side of a hexagon only and in single horizontal lines on signs and short notes. ({{TNG|Ménage à Troi}}; {{DS9|Body Parts}}).
   
  ⚫
[[Keiko O'Brien]]'s [[classroom]] featured a chart depicting the [[English]], the [[Bajoran]], the [[Cardassian]], and the Ferengi alphabets. The chart listed some sixty-plus Ferengi language symbols. ({{DS9|The Nagus|In the Hands of the Prophets|Cardassians}})
⚫
=== Written language ===
  
⚫
[[File:Ferengi script.gif|thumb|Ferengi script]]
  
⚫
Ferengi writing looks much like a flowchart, with many 60 degree angles. Text radiates from the center outward, which would indicate the direction of writing as well. Ferengi text can be written with or without a central hexagon, radiating from one side of a hexagon only and in single horizontal lines on signs and short notes. ({{TNG|Ménage à Troi}}; {{DS9|Body Parts}}).
  
   
  +
[[Odo]] could read written Ferengi. ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior}})
⚫
[[Keiko O'Brien]]'s [[classroom]] featured a chart depicting the [[English]], the [[Bajoran]], the [[Cardassian]], and the Ferengi alphabet. The chart listed some sixty plus Ferengi language symbols ({{DS9|The Nagus|In the Hands of the Prophets|Cardassians}})
  
   
−
=== Ferengi Lexis ===
 +
== Spoken language ==
−
* There is no word for ''crisp'', since all food gets mushy on [[Ferenginar]]. ({{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}})
 +
Because Ferenginar experienced near constant [[rain]]storms, there were 178 different Ferengi words for types of rain. Because of the high humidity, there was also no word for "crisp" in Ferengi. ({{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}})
   
  +
=== Words and phrases ===
−
*'''[[DaiMon]]''' - rank given to one in charge of a starship; roughly analogous to Federation Captain. ({{TNG|The Last Outpost}})
 +
*'''[[DaiMon]]''' – a rank given to one in charge of a [[starship]]; roughly analogous to a [[Federation]] {{dis|captain|rank}}. ({{TNG|The Last Outpost}})
  +
*'''Gren''' – You ({{DS9|Little Green Men}})
  ⚫
*'''glebbening''' – an especially severe rainstorm ({{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}})
  +
{{bginfo|Based on Quark's context ("''…it's glebbening''") it's not clear whether the -ing is part of the Ferengi word, or an English present participle suffix.}}
  +
*'''Kora noosa?''' – Anything? ({{ENT|Acquisition}})
  +
*'''Lahje''' – here ({{ENT|Acquisition}})
  +
*'''Lat''' – to (such as between the names of a sender and recipient, when hailing someone.) ({{ENT|Acquisition}})
  +
*'''[[Latinum]]''' – Ferengi currency. ({{ENT|Acquisition}})
  ⚫
*'''[[Lobeling]]''' – a child. ({{DS9|Profit and Lace}})
  +
{{bginfo|Lobeling may not be a true Ferengi word, but an English translation consisting of "lobe" (how Ferengi refer to their ears) and the suffix "-ling," (little.)}}
  ⚫
*'''[[Moogie]]''' – (informal) "mom" or mother. ({{DS9|Family Business}})
  ⚫
*'''[[Grand Nagus|Nagus]]''' – a title of authority; esp. Grand Nagus, leader of the [[Ferengi Alliance]]. ({{DS9|The Nagus}})
  +
{{bginfo|Nagus was presumably an English translation, as certain Earth leaders (i.e. those of Ethiopia) also bore the similar title of [[wikipedia:Negus|Negus]].}}
  +
*'''NanDi''' – Excellent ({{ENT|Acquisition}})
  +
*'''Nass''' – No ({{ENT|Acquisition}})
  ⚫
*'''Neep-gren''' – Thank you ({{DS9|Little Green Men}})
  ⚫
*'''[[oo-mox]]''' – [[massage]] of the [[ear]]s, a [[foreplay|sexual practice]]. There was no non-Ferengi translation for this word. ({{TNG|Ménage à Troi}})
  +
*'''Yoba''' – [[Brother]] ({{DS9|Little Green Men}})
  +
*'''Yop''' – I ({{DS9|Little Green Men}})
  ⚫
*'''Yop-im too''' – I'm sorry ({{DS9|Little Green Men}})
   
  +
=== Examples of spoken language ===
⚫
*'''[[Grand Nagus|Nagus]]''' - title of authority; esp. Grand Nagus, leader of the [[Ferengi Alliance]]. This is, presumably, an English translation, as certain Earth leaders (i.e. those of Ethiopia) have also borne the title of Nagus. ({{DS9|The Nagus}})
  
  ⚫
:''The following comes from the script for {{TNG|Ménage à Troi}}'':
   
  ⚫
'''Keh-ee Yoor-ee Dah-teh-ee…'''
⚫
*'''Lobeling''': Child ({{DS9|Profit and Lace}})
  
   
  +
:The first part of [[Tog]]'s computer security access code.
⚫
*'''Moogie''' : Mom or mother ({{DS9|Family Business}})
  
   
  ⚫
{{bginfo|Presumably the syllables are either the names of Ferengi letters, or words, i.e numbers.|This sequence is an [[in-joke]], making reference to the anime series ''Dirty Pair''. Kei and Yuri are characters that appear in the series, and in Japanese, the names Kei and Yuri and Dirty Pair would be pronounced '''ke-i yu-ri dah-te-i pe-ah'''. The names of Kei and Yuri also appear written in Japanese in the [[Iconian language|Iconian written language]].}}
⚫
*'''[[oo-mox]]''' - [[massage]] of the [[ear]]s, a [[sex]]ual practice. There is no non-Ferengi translation for the word. ({{TNG|Ménage à Troi}})
  
−  
−
=== Established words ===
  
⚫
[[File:Ferengi written message.jpg|thumb|A hand-written message by [[Rom]]"''Dear Quark, Used parts from your disruptor to fix the replicators. Will return them soon. - Rom.''"]]
  
−
:'''Yop''' : "I"
  
⚫
:'''Yop-im too''' : "I'm sorry"
  
−
:'''Gren''' : "You"
  
⚫
:'''Neep-gren''' : "Thank you"
  
−
:'''Yoba''' : Brother
  
−  
⚫
==== Rain ====
  
−
There are 178 different Ferengi words for [[rain]].
  
−  
⚫
'''glebbening''' - an especially severe rainstorm
  
−
*{{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}}
  
−  
−
=== Established Dialogue ===
  
⚫
:''The following comes from the script for {{TNG|Ménage à Troi}}:
  
−  
⚫
'''Keh-ee Yoor-ee Dah-teh-ee...'''
 
−  
−
The first part of [[Tog]]'s computer security access code. ''Presumably the syllables are either the names of Ferengi letters, or words, i.e numbers.''
  
−  
⚫
:''This sequence is an in-joke making reference to the Anime series "Dirty Pair". Kei and Yuri are characters that appear in the series, and in Japanese the names Kei and Yuri and Dirty Pair would be pronounced '''ke-i yu-ri dah-te-i pe-ah'''. The names of Kei and Yuri also appear written in Japanese in the [[Iconian language|Iconian written language]].''
  
   
 
----
  
----
−
:''The following examples are from the script for {{DS9|Little Green Men}}''
 +
:''The following examples are from the script for {{DS9|Little Green Men}}'':
   
 
{| width = "100%"
  
{| width = "100%"
 
| width = "49%" | '''Pip im gren tovat. Yop bree gren skin law po far.'''
 
| width = "49%" | '''Pip im gren tovat. Yop bree gren skin law po far.'''
−
:''This is all your fault. I told you to check the ship''
 +
:''This is all your fault. I told you to check the ship.''
 
'''Yop im too, yoba. Yop sko ta yop ma.'''
 
'''Yop im too, yoba. Yop sko ta yop ma.'''
−
:''I'm sorry, brother. I did the best I could''
 +
:''I'm sorry, brother. I did the best I could.''
 
| width = "2%" style="border-right: 2px solid; border-top: 2px solid; border-bottom: 2px solid;" |  
  
| width = "2%" style="border-right: 2px solid; border-top: 2px solid; border-bottom: 2px solid;" |  
 
| width = "49%" |   {{audio|file=Ferengi language.ogg}}
  
| width = "49%" |   {{audio|file=Ferengi language.ogg}}
 
|}
  
|}
   
−
'''Goss uff wok ton. Goss uff wok ton.'''
+
'''Goss uff wok ton.'''
−
:''Let us out of here. Let us out of here''
 +
:''Let us out of here.''
   
−
'''Brik yop tal hopdrew, ki los hoem bog?'''
+
'''Brik yop tal hopdrew, ki los hoem bog?'''
 
:''If I jumped off a roof, would you do that, too?''
  
:''If I jumped off a roof, would you do that, too?''
   
Line 75: Line 76:
   
 
'''Yop triska gleep do-sta gren-la.'''
 
'''Yop triska gleep do-sta gren-la.'''
−
:''I need that metal thing you're holding''
 +
:''I need that metal thing you're holding.''
   
 
'''Neep-gren.'''
 
'''Neep-gren.'''
−
:''Thank you''
 +
:''Thank you.''
   
 
----
  
----
−
:''The following examples are from the script for {{ENT|Acquisition}}. It is possible these lines are in a different dialect/language than that used by the Ferengi on ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''.''
 +
:''The following examples are from the script for {{ENT|Acquisition}}.''
   
−
'''Kora-noosa'''
 +
'''Irr zoun nagool ahsp.'''
  ⚫
:''They're not responding to hails.''
−
:''Anything?''
  
−  
−
'''Irr zoun nagool ahsp'''
  
⚫
:''They're not responding to hails''
  
   
 
'''Cucht eeta ekrajhn-voy?'''
  
'''Cucht eeta ekrajhn-voy?'''
−
:''What do [your/the] scans say?''
 +
:''What do your scans say?''
  +
  ⚫
'''Irr gnales. Nohm setron quetsivoo!'''
  ⚫
:''They're alive, but unconscious. It worked!''
  +
  +
'''Vaneeday.'''
  +
:''Take us in.''
  +
  +
'''Cucht nee va zeh?'''
  +
:''Do you know this species?''
  +
  +
'''Y-solah-na.'''
  +
:''This way.''
  +
  +
'''Tenda sout bazul. Ningor.'''
  +
:''It's not on this deck. Let's go.''
  +
  ⚫
'''Gar-day latinum sou-tah!'''
  ⚫
:''This is worth its weight in latinum.''
  +
  +
'''Sapa-moul!'''
  +
:''Don't touch it!''
  +
  +
'''Ehj saf-rey tomen-dee.'''
  +
:''I know how to deactivate it.''
  +
  ⚫
'''Konah see-oh-mahj irr zoon.'''
  ⚫
:''The fools never knew what hit them.''
  +
  +
'''Orink!'''
  +
:''Look at this!''
  +
  +
'''Senpa tah-moy. Lorala rrela!'''
  +
:''She's beautiful. Exquisite lobes!''
  +
  +
{{bginfo|Additionally, two Ferengi phrases that were scripted for "Acquisition" but omitted from the episode also include the word "rrela". Together with what was used on screen implies the word was intended to mean "lobes".}}
  +
  +
'''Latinum soun teyvalah'''
  +
:''She's probably worth a thousand bars of latinum.''
  +
  +
'''Ulis tenda vool.'''
  +
:''Ulis is waiting to hear from us.''
  +
  +
'''Sop moepree.'''
  +
:''We're clear.''
  +
  +
'''La-voy Daemon.'''
  +
:''This looks like the captain.''
  +
  +
'''Letra deemo mirra!'''
  +
:''Don't touch anything!''
  +
  +
'''Klaxut.'''
  +
:''Go ahead.''
  +
  +
'''Feesha vou dole!'''
  +
:''We hit the jackpot!''
  +
  +
'''Ree-jahvey.'''
  +
:''We'll be right here.''
  +
  +
'''Guzah puh naam.'''
  +
:''Their medicines might be valuable.''
  +
  +
'''Sel tre-oght da-techt.'''
  +
:''Roughly "Take all possible."''
  +
  +
{{bginfo|This phrase was scripted as "''Sel tre-oght irra sul da-techt,''" meaning, "''Take all you can.''" However, the sentence is edited in the final version of "Acquisition".}}
  +
  +
'''Ehj ocuuz sahfi?'''
  +
:''What about the equipment?''
  +
  +
'''Guzah louz.'''
  +
:''Medicine first.''
  +
  +
'''Ingala habi.'''
  +
:''Wake him.''
  +
  +
'''Ingala duk habi?'''
  +
:''Do you command this ship?''
  +
  +
'''Duk habi nakustra?'''
  +
:''Are you the Captain?''
  +
  +
'''Bok megoron duk…?'''
  +
:(Roughly ''Do you understand…?'')
  +
  +
{{bginfo|In the script of "Acquisition", these three Ferengi words were untranslated. In both the script and the actual episode, the words begin a sentence that starts being translated midway through, ending with the English words, "''…what I'm saying?''"}}
  +
  +
== Appendices ==
  +
=== Background information ===
  +
The spoken Ferengi from {{s|DS9}} seems constructed differently than that spoken in {{ENT|Acquisition}}, though the two may be different dialects/languages.
  +
  +
Ferengi statements that were scripted for but don't feature in "Acquisition" include:
  +
  +
'''Lir rrela toh teepah.'''
  +
:''Their lobes are so small.''
   
  +
'''Yrutu mahs.'''
⚫
'''Irr gnales, nohm setron. Quetsivoo!'''
  
  +
:''She's mine.''
⚫
:''They're alive, but unconscious. It worked!''
  
   
−
'''Nandi'''
 +
'''Ehj voyet!'''
−
:''Excellent''
 +
:''I saw her first!''
   
−
'''Vanay'eday'''
 +
'''Rrela pik'tabol…'''
−
:''Take us in''
 +
:''With those lobes…''
   
−
'''Tenda sout bazul, ningor!'''
 +
'''Sen-pah tou!'''
−
:''It's not on this deck. Let's go!''
 +
:''I found another pretty one!''
   
  ⚫
=== Apocrypha ===
⚫
'''Konah see-oh-mahj irr zoon'''
  
  +
According to [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Pocket)]] novel ''[[The 34th Rule]]'', the Ferengi language has fifty-seven words for "customer." According to the novel ''[[Time's Enemy]]'', there are also several words for "no," depending on how much negotiation it will take to change someone's mind.
⚫
:''The fools never knew what they were hit by''
 
   
  +
''Frinx'' was a Ferengi expletive used in a number of different novels, including ''[[The Fall of Terok Nor]]'', ''[[Inferno]]'', and the [[Star Trek: Titan]] novel ''[[Orion's Hounds]]''.
⚫
'''Oooh, gar-dey latinum sou-tah'''
  
⚫
:''Oooh, this is worth its weight in latinum''
  
   
−
== External link ==
 +
=== External link ===
−
* {{NCwiki}}
 +
* {{mbeta}}
   
   
 
[[de:Ferengi (Sprache)]]
  
[[de:Ferengi (Sprache)]]
  +
[[fr:Ferengi (langue)]]
 
[[Category:Ferenginar]]
  
[[Category:Ferenginar]]
 
[[Category:Languages]]
  
[[Category:Languages]]

Revision as of 10:42, 31 August 2020

Ferengi script

Ferengi script.

The Ferengi language was the spoken and written language of the Ferengi used on Ferenginar.

Written language

Classroom alphabet 2

The Ferengi alphabet (center)

Ferengi written message

A hand-written message by Rom: "Dear Quark, Used parts from your disruptor to fix the replicators. Will return them soon. – Rom."

Ferengi writing looked much like a flowchart, with many sixty degree angles. Text radiated from the center outward, which indicated the direction of writing as well. Ferengi text could be written with or without a central hexagon, radiating from one side of a hexagon only and in single horizontal lines on signs and short notes. (TNG: "Ménage à Troi"; DS9: "Body Parts").

Keiko O'Brien's classroom featured a chart depicting the English, the Bajoran, the Cardassian, and the Ferengi alphabets. The chart listed some sixty-plus Ferengi language symbols. (DS9: "The Nagus", "In the Hands of the Prophets", "Cardassians")

Odo could read written Ferengi. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

Spoken language

Because Ferenginar experienced near constant rainstorms, there were 178 different Ferengi words for types of rain. Because of the high humidity, there was also no word for "crisp" in Ferengi. (DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")

Words and phrases

Based on Quark's context ("…it's glebbening") it's not clear whether the -ing is part of the Ferengi word, or an English present participle suffix.
Lobeling may not be a true Ferengi word, but an English translation consisting of "lobe" (how Ferengi refer to their ears) and the suffix "-ling," (little.)
Nagus was presumably an English translation, as certain Earth leaders (i.e. those of Ethiopia) also bore the similar title of Negus.

Examples of spoken language

The following comes from the script for TNG: "Ménage à Troi":

Keh-ee Yoor-ee Dah-teh-ee…

The first part of Tog's computer security access code.
Presumably the syllables are either the names of Ferengi letters, or words, i.e numbers.
This sequence is an in-joke, making reference to the anime series Dirty Pair. Kei and Yuri are characters that appear in the series, and in Japanese, the names Kei and Yuri and Dirty Pair would be pronounced ke-i yu-ri dah-te-i pe-ah. The names of Kei and Yuri also appear written in Japanese in the Iconian written language.
The following examples are from the script for DS9: "Little Green Men":
Pip im gren tovat. Yop bree gren skin law po far.
This is all your fault. I told you to check the ship.

Yop im too, yoba. Yop sko ta yop ma.

I'm sorry, brother. I did the best I could.
     Listen file info

Goss uff wok ton.

Let us out of here.

Brik yop tal hopdrew, ki los hoem bog?

If I jumped off a roof, would you do that, too?

Gren fatarik oo-mox?

Unknown, may mean something like "What do you say I teach you how to oo-mox?"

Ya ta fa?

Unknown, may mean "Is that a yes?"

Gren fa hoe loth pex-pil?

Haven't you got that translator fixed yet?

Vo yop toe pah?

Can I have that?

Yop triska gleep do-sta gren-la.

I need that metal thing you're holding.

Neep-gren.

Thank you.
The following examples are from the script for ENT: "Acquisition".

Irr zoun nagool ahsp.

They're not responding to hails.

Cucht eeta ekrajhn-voy?

What do your scans say?

Irr gnales. Nohm setron quetsivoo!

They're alive, but unconscious. It worked!

Vaneeday.

Take us in.

Cucht nee va zeh?

Do you know this species?

Y-solah-na.

This way.

Tenda sout bazul. Ningor.

It's not on this deck. Let's go.

Gar-day latinum sou-tah!

This is worth its weight in latinum.

Sapa-moul!

Don't touch it!

Ehj saf-rey tomen-dee.

I know how to deactivate it.

Konah see-oh-mahj irr zoon.

The fools never knew what hit them.

Orink!

Look at this!

Senpa tah-moy. Lorala rrela!

She's beautiful. Exquisite lobes!
Additionally, two Ferengi phrases that were scripted for "Acquisition" but omitted from the episode also include the word "rrela". Together with what was used on screen implies the word was intended to mean "lobes".

Latinum soun teyvalah

She's probably worth a thousand bars of latinum.

Ulis tenda vool.

Ulis is waiting to hear from us.

Sop moepree.

We're clear.

La-voy Daemon.

This looks like the captain.

Letra deemo mirra!

Don't touch anything!

Klaxut.

Go ahead.

Feesha vou dole!

We hit the jackpot!

Ree-jahvey.

We'll be right here.

Guzah puh naam.

Their medicines might be valuable.

Sel tre-oght da-techt.

Roughly "Take all possible."
This phrase was scripted as "Sel tre-oght irra sul da-techt," meaning, "Take all you can." However, the sentence is edited in the final version of "Acquisition".

Ehj ocuuz sahfi?

What about the equipment?

Guzah louz.

Medicine first.

Ingala habi.

Wake him.

Ingala duk habi?

Do you command this ship?

Duk habi nakustra?

Are you the Captain?

Bok megoron duk…?

(Roughly Do you understand…?)
In the script of "Acquisition", these three Ferengi words were untranslated. In both the script and the actual episode, the words begin a sentence that starts being translated midway through, ending with the English words, "…what I'm saying?"

Appendices

Background information

The spoken Ferengi from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine seems constructed differently than that spoken in ENT: "Acquisition", though the two may be different dialects/languages.

Ferengi statements that were scripted for but don't feature in "Acquisition" include:

Lir rrela toh teepah.

Their lobes are so small.

Yrutu mahs.

She's mine.

Ehj voyet!

I saw her first!

Rrela pik'tabol…

With those lobes…

Sen-pah tou!

I found another pretty one!

Apocrypha

According to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Pocket) novel The 34th Rule, the Ferengi language has fifty-seven words for "customer." According to the novel Time's Enemy, there are also several words for "no," depending on how much negotiation it will take to change someone's mind.

Frinx was a Ferengi expletive used in a number of different novels, including The Fall of Terok Nor, Inferno, and the Star Trek: Titan novel Orion's Hounds.

External link

Deutsch Français
Community content is available under CC-BY-NC unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms