[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: Su'wIn (noun)

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, August 18, 2025

Klingon word: Su'wIn
Part of speech: noun
Definition: large whistle (hand-held device) with a deep sound
Source: qepHom 2023
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(qepHom 2023):  A large whistle with a deep sound, such as on a large ship (seagoing ship - a starship is not likely to have one of these) or at a factory, is a {Su'wIn}. 

(Lieven, 12/15/2023):  At qepHom 2023, we learned some words for whistles. Okrand just gave me some additions on their usage. Most of it basically was clear, but it's good to have a definite response:
  [1] These ship- or factory-type whistles cannot be "played" by a person. They're powered by some sort of energy (steam, electricity, whatever).
  [2] You can use {SuS} if you're playing a {mu'vIb}, and {'uq} is if there's no instrument/implement involved (except maybe your fingers).
  [3] The verb to activate a wall-mounted device is {chu'} (not {SuS}).  
The full message, include my questions, can be found here: https://qephom.de/e/message_from_maltz_231215_whistles.html 

SEE:
'uq 		whistle  (v) (qep'a' 2018)

(qep'a' 2018):  if there's an object, it's the thing (song? birdcall?) being whistled

(qepHom 2023 p.48):  A whistling sound produced by using one's mouth and lips (and perhaps fingers, but no device) is termed {la'qab}.  Though a bit redundant, it's fine to say {la'qab vI'uq} ("I whistle a whistle").

SEE ALSO:
SuS 		blow (into wind instrument) to produce sound (v)
chu' 		activate; play an instrument (v)

ngujlep 		mouthpiece (of a wind instrument) (n)
Dov'agh 	flute, fife (n)
la'qab 		whistling sound (n)
mu'vIb 		whistle (with shrill sound) (n)
yItram 		whistle (with a clear sound) (n)


--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons