[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: natlh

Steven Boozer sboozer at uchicago.edu
Mon Aug 30 09:25:45 PDT 2021


Klingon word: 	natlh
Part of speech: 	verb
Definition: 	drain, use up, consume, expend; 
                    	be reprehensible (slang), be disgusting (slang), be contemptible (slang)
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nIn Hoch natlhlu'pu' 
All the fuel has been consumed. KGT

HoS law'qu' natlhmo' So'wI' 
Due to the tremendous energy drain of a cloaking device... S33

qaStaHvIS 17 DIS chenmoHlu’ 800,000 repmey lunatlhlu’ 450 morgh men velqa’ ‘oH DIlmeH 21 ‘uy’ ‘ewro lunatlhlu’ 
In 17 years and more than 800 hours of work on 1500 square meters a miniature world of superlatives was created that cost over 21 million euros to build. (Miniature Wunderland)

(KGT 155):  Literally meaning "consume, use up, expend", {natlh} is normally applied to energy, fuel, supplies, and the like and is used in phrases such as {nIn Hoch natlhlu'pu'} ("All the fuel has been consumed"), with {nIn Hoch} (all the fuel) functioning as the object of the verb {natlhlu'pu'} (someone/something has consumed it).

natlh 'Iw HIq
The bloodwine is disgusting.  KGT

natlh romuluSnganpu'
Romulans are objectionable. KGT

bInatlh
You are contemptible. KGT

(KGT 155):  The slang term {natlh} is a frequently heard expression of disapproval or disgust, the speaker's comment on an event, another person, or a situation. Though by no means a curse and having no overtones of vulgarity, it is nonetheless a rather forceful term, used to express a strong emotion ... In its slang usage, however, the verb never has an object and the subject is what is being disparaged: {natlh 'Iw HIq} ("The bloodwine is disgusting"; literally, "the bloodwine consumes"); {natlh romuluSnganpu'} ("Romulans are objectionable"; literally "Romulans consume"); {bInatlh} ("You are contemptible" literally, "You consume"). Often, the word is used with no overt subject, as if an exclamation: {natlh} ("It is objectionable," or "That is shameful"; literally, "It consumes"). Nonslang counterparts, none of which carries the impact of {natlh}, might be {quv Hutlh} (lack honor), {qab} (be bad), or {Do'Ha'} (be unfortunate). The word {'up} (disgusting, repugnant) may also be used, most commonly in reference to food or drink. See also {SaS} (literally, be horizontal), another slang term used to voice disapproval. Slang terms expressing the opposite of {natlh}--that is, approval--are {chong} (literally, be vertical) and {qu'} (literally, be fierce).

SEE ALSO:
lo' 		use (v)
loj 		be all gone (v)

vum 		contemptible/despicable person, scumbag, bastard (n)

--
Voragh, Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
    Please contribute relevant vocabulary from the last year or two. I’ve fallen 
    behind in updating my files and adding cross-references for related words.  





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