[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: chaj

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon Word of the Day for Wednesday, November 06, 2024

Klingon word: chaj
Part of speech: noun
Definition: close female friend of a female
_______________________________________________

(KGT 202-203):  The normal word for "friend" is {jup} and it may be used in direct address in sentences such as {jup 'Iw HIq yItlhutlh} ("Friend, drink the bloodwine"). It commonly occurs with the possessive suffix {-wI'} (my): {jupwI' 'Iw HIq yItlhutlh} ("My friend, drink the bloodwine"). The word {jup}, however, does not necessarily connote a close friend. For this, one may add the noun suffix {-na'} (definite) to the word and say {jupna'} ("real friend, good friend") ... In addition, however, there are some other terms used for very close friends, and the correct usage depends, among other things, on the gender of the speaker and the addressee. 
     The word {maqoch}, sometimes translated as "buddy" or "pal", is used most often by a male addressing another male who is a good friend, as in {maqoch 'Iw HIq yItlhutlh} ("Pal, drink the bloodwine"). When used in such a context, it signifies genuine companionship. If, however, it is used by someone who is definitely not a good friend, such as a member of a house with which one has been feuding, it is considered offensive. Furthermore, if used by a casual acquaintance, it may be taken as a sign of aggression; Klingons are generally apprehensive about those showing too much friendship. A Klingon female would address someone as {maqoch} only if she intended to insult him or her. A Klingon male with any honor at all would never address a female as {maqoch}. The word {maqoch} itself may derive from {may' qoch} (literally, "battle partner"), so perhaps it originally meant something like "war buddy".
     There is a word that Klingon females use in a pattern paralleling the males' use of {maqoch}. This word is {chaj}, a close female friend of a female. As with {maqoch}, it is used only in addressing a true friend. If uttered by a female adversary, it is insulting; if uttered by a casual acquaintance it is presumptuous. A male Klingon would address a female Klingon as {chaj} only to offend her. If a male were to be addressed as {chaj}, by either a male or a female, he would consider his honor to be attacked and would react accordingly. It is not uncommon for a Klingon father to address his son as {maqoch} or for a Klingon mother to address her daughter as {chaj}. The reverse, however, is not true. That is, a son would never call his father {maqoch}, nor would a daughter address her mother as {chaj}. Because of the dangers inherent in using {maqoch} and {chaj} inappropriately, it is suggested that visitors be quite sure of the status of their relationships with individual Klingons before uttering or reacting to either of these words.

SEE:
qoch 		partner, comrade (PB) (n)

   juSmeH qochpu'chaj | 
      jachtaHvIS je chal luSIch beychaj
      'ej Qo'noS yav luQommoH 
   They too started to shout to the heavens
      For the passage of their comrades, 
      Their howls made Kronos's soil tremble. (PB)

(Lieven [LLL] and Marc Okrand [MO], 3/22/2021):
   LLL:  "partner" - Can {qoch} really work as a "business partner"? 
              It sounds weird to me. 
   MO: Thinking like a Klingon, will making use of {boq} ("alliance,
             coalition"/"ally with") work? 

(De'vID < MO, 1/22/2019):  {qoch} is not the word for partner when referring to socks and gloves and the like.  The word for that is {nelwI'}.

SEE ALSO:
vIlle' 		follower, disciple, fan, admirer, minion (n)
tuqnIgh 	member of one's house (n)

--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons