How to survive with the Dothraki people

Have you ever wondered what to do if you find yourself among the Dothraki people? Don’t panic! HI-COM has prepared a short survival guide for you to help you learn the basics of the language of this nomadic people from Game of Thrones!

Have you ever wondered what to do if you find yourself among the Dothraki people? Don’t panic! HI-COM has prepared a short survival guide for you to help you learn the basics of the language of this nomadic people from Game of Thrones!

Find out where they come from:

What is Dothraki?

The Dothraki language was created by David J. Peterson for HBO’s Game of Thrones (an adaptation of George RR Martin’s “The Iron Throne”), and is spoken by the Dothraki people. In Martin’s world, the Dothraki are a nomadic warrior people who travel around on horseback, and who live on the other side of the Strait (sea separating the two continents known as the “Narrow Sea”), on a large steppe shaped grassy plain called the Dothrak Sea, in the centre of the continent of Essos, east of Westeros.

Now that you know about the origins of the people and their language, let’s have a go at it!

Introducing yourself:

• Hello: M’athchomaroon !
• Hello everyone: Athchomar chomakea !
• Hi: M’ath ! ou M’ach !

A Dothoraki will no doubt answer you by saying” Athchomar chomakaan” (this translates as “all my respect to the one who respects me”). It’s an expression reserved especially for non-Dothraki.

• How are you today? Hash yer dothrae chek asshekh ? (Literally, “did you ride well today?”)

And when they return the question, you can then answer by saying:

• I feel good today: Anha dothrak chek asshekh (Literally, “I rode well today”)
• Thank you: San athchomari yeraan ! (Literally, “Great honor to you”)

If you do not know the person, you can introduce yourself and say:

• My name is… : Anha hake …

And to finish in style, it is important to end your conversation in Dothraki in the following way.

• Goodbye: Hajas! (Literally “Be strong!”) OR Dothras chek! (“Ride well!)

A few more things:

• You honor me: Yer chomoe anna.
• I wish you a happy birthday: Anha zalak asshekhqoyi vezhvena yeraan !
• Happy Birthday! (Literally “Have a good blood day”): Asshekhqoyi vezhvena!
• You are (really) beautiful: Yer zheanae (sekke).
• I will let you live: Anha vazhak yeraan thirat.

If you disturb someone:

• Stranger, your smell is disturbing my horse: Achrakh yeroon zireyesee hrazef anni, zhey ifak !

If you’re trying to impress someone:

• You are my beloved: Yer shekh ma shieraki anni/ Yer Jalan atthirari anni

Add compliments such as:

• You are amazing: Yer zheanae
• I like you: Yer allayafi 
• Your horse is fast: Yeri hrazef dik!

Useful phrases:

• I’m thirsty, I want to drink: Anha fevelat, anha zalat indelat
• I’m hungry: Anha garvolat 
• I’m lost, where is the nearest farm? Anha lei, finish ezat zen qisi?
• Do you want to make raclette Cheese tonight? Yer zalat adakhat at jelli asshekh?
• I love you: Anha Zhilat yer
• The stars are watching over you: Shieraki gori ha yeraan!
  To tell someone who is off to fight.

How to assert oneself:

• Grab it! (Literally “hold onto his braid”) Fichas jahakes moon!
  It’s an expression used to encourage people who are fighting.

• What the f***! (Literally “By what failure”) Ki late yeni!
• What is it ? Hazi finish?
• You are wrong: Yer ojila!
• I do not agree! Anha efichisak haz yeroon!
• I will kill you and spit on your body: Anha vaddrivak yera m’asikthtek khadokh! 

Swear words:

• Locust: chiftik (used as an insult)
• Get out ! / Go away! (Literally (“Go to the sea! »): Es havazhaan!
• Graddakh!
  Refers to waste or garbage. If you are really upset about something, and you just want to express it but not necessarily insult someone else you can use this expression .
• Stranger (literally (“one who walks”, “walker”): ifak It’s a pejorative term for anyone who is not Dothraki.
• You make me itchy: Yer affesi anni Used to say that you do not like someone or that they make you feel uncomfortable.
• Go walk with your mother: Ifas buti yeri! 
• Find another hole to dig: Ezas eshna gech ahilee!

Things not to do if you meet a Dothraki:

• Touch a dead person when you did not kill that person. Touching a dead person brings bad luck, except for the one who actually killed the person.
• Talking about the number 13: it brings bad luck
• Falling from the saddle: this is the sign of weakness so be careful if you do not know how to ride a horse
• Invite a Dothraki for a cruise: since the Dothraki are very attached to their horses, they fear all water that is not consumed by their horses. As a result, they have a cultural phobia of seas that they refuse to cross.

With all this information you should now be able to survive among the Dothraki. Feel free to share this article so that your friends and family can also make a good impression on the Khal (king)!