Appendix:Klingon/nuqneH

Klingon

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nuqʰˈnɛx/

Interjection

nuqneH • < c="" =""></>

1. what do you want?
   • 1988 June 1, Gar and Judith Reeves-Stevens, Memory Prime (Star Trek #42), New York: Pocket Books, →ISBN, →OL:

     "NuqneH, vulqangan?" the Klingon growled.

     "What do you want, vulcan?", the Klingon growled.

   • 1989 June 29, “The Emissary”, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 2, episode 20, spoken by William Riker (Jonathan Frakes):

     nuqneH, qaleghneS

     What do you want? I am honored to see you.

   • 1990 February 1, Peter Morwood, Rules of Engagement (Star Trek #48), Pocket Books, →ISBN, →OL, page 145:

     HIja'neS nuqneH?

     Do me the honor of telling me what you want?

2. (proscribed) hello

Usage notes

• nuqneH can be used as a general greeting to initiate a conversation when someone approaches you, but it's rather used as an actual question expecting an answer than a greeting. Klingons generally don't greet each other, prefering instead to begin conversations by directly stating one's main point. nuqneH is more common among Terrans as a greeting adressing Klingons, but this usage is distinctly foreign to a Klingon ear.