The Star Wars multimedia multiverse contains billions of star systems that are home to a variety of sentient species with their own cultures, traditions, and languages. The most ubiquitous language is Galactic Basic Standard, which is spoken by most characters and re-deciphered as English for audiences.
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There are hundreds of known languages in Star Wars, including Dathomiri, Huttese, Droidspeak, Rodian, Ewokese, and so on. While syntax and semantics of each dialect vary with each planet, most expressions can be translated into Galactic Basic. On the other hand, linguistic phonology depends entirely on the vocal apparatus of native speakers, making several names and terms challenging, if not impossible, to pronounce.
10 Ooryl Qrygg Can Be Pronounced In At Least Four Distinct Ways
Ooryl Qrygg, a member of the Gand species, wears a respirator mask to supply him with precious ammonia. Since the Gand language is largely based on clicking sounds, his real name is a mystery. He refers to himself as Ooryl Qrygg in Basic, obtaining said name due to his impressive piloting skills.
Qrygg is most likely pronounced as "Krigg," but Ooryl might have four versions — ooh-rill, oh-oh-rill, ooh-rile, and oh-oh-rile. As this character is only present in the novels, there is no way to precisely determine the pronunciation of his name.
9 Rwookrrorro & Kashyyyk Are Wookie Words, Making Them Tricky To Enunciate
The Wookies are multilingual, but their most prevalent language is Shyriiwook: a system of howling, growling, and wailing that few non-Wookies can comprehend. Their homeworld is called Kashyyyk, which, according to the bounty hunter Mira, is "something with too many K's and Y's" and "sounds like you're gargling Ronto spit."
The planet's capital, Rwookrrorro, is similarly tricky to enunciate. Given that humans can't produce Wookie sounds, "ruh-vuk-roar-oh" and "kush-ick" are arguably the easiest pronunciations.
8 Jabba Desilijic Tiure Can Be Pronounced As Written
The villainous leader of the Hutt clan is rarely referred to by his full name, Jabba Desilijic Tiure. Despite exerting a significant influence on the Outer Rim, the Huttese language is relatively obscure. Huttese words are often concluded with vowel-sounds, as in Jabba, Boonta, and Ziro.
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Hutt vernacular is partly based on the Quechuan languages of South America, although this doesn't extend to grammar. In the absence of external references, it can be assumed that Jabba's surnames are pronounced as written: "des-ill-i-jick tee-you-rey."
7 Notluwiski Papanoida Is Pronounced "Not-Lou-Whiskey Papa-noy-da."
Baron Notluwiski Papanoida played an important role during the Clone Wars. While he supported Palpatine's imperial reign, he was primarily involved in administrative duties on Pantora, the only moon revolving around Orto Plutonia.
Interestingly, the Pantoran Assembly voted in favor of making Galactic Basic the official lingua franca because of the range of conflicting dialects that lent themselves to communication problems. Notluwiski Papanoida is pronounced "not-lou-whiskey papa-noy-da."
6 Kajain'sa'Nikto Is A Fairly Straightforward Pronunciation, Although The Apostrophes Remain A Mystery
The Kajain'sa'Nikto are a Nikto subgroup from the planet Kintan. This species is bound to the Hutts, except willingly, unlike the array of species enslaved by the Grand Hutt Council.
The Kajain'sa'Nikto were among the few sentient beings who retained their traditions in the face of Hutt tyranny, including their Nikto tongue. Pronouncing Kajain'sa'Nikto seems complicated, but the term is rather straightforward — "ka-ja-in-sa-nik-to." The role of the apostrophes is unclear.
5 Elan Sel'Sabagno Could Be The Galactic Standard Rendering Of His Balosar Name
Elan Sel'Sabagno is actually called Elan Sleazebaggano in theAttack of the Clones screenplay, an allusion to his death stick drug dealing. Obi-Wan Kenobi temporarily puts Elan in his place by Jedi manipulating the latter into choosing an alternative profession.
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Elan's native language is purportedly Balosar, which is considered to be almost as sophisticated as Galactic Standard. Since Balosar is composed of rough-textured intonations, Elan Sel'Sabagno might be his name rendered in Basic: "e-lan sel-sa-bag-no."
4 Doda Bodonawieedo Can Be Pronounced As "Doe-Dah Bow-Doe-Nah-Wih-Ee-Do"
Doda Bodonawieedo is part of the Max Rebo Band of musicians hired by Jabba the Hutt, but he only appears in the 1997 Special Edition re-release ofReturn of the Jedi (1983). Doda is a Rodian, a green-hued race famously represented by Greedo, a bounty hunter who tries and fails to capture Han Solo.
Rodese phonology has a unique reverb effect, perhaps due to Rodian laryngeal anatomy. The words in this language are uncomplicated, though, so it's safe to pronounce Doda Bodonawieedo as "doe-dah bow-doe-nah-wih-ee-do."
3 Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy's Name Is A Hodgepodge Of Seemingly Random English Words And Terms
Scout, or Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy, is a talented Jedi warrior from Vorzyd V. Although her planet was home to the Vorzydiak species, it was eventually overrun by interstellar immigrants from all over the Galaxy. As such, most Vorzydians employ Galactic Basic as a common language.
Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy's name is a hodgepodge of seemingly random English words and terms. It is presumably pronounced "tall-ee-see-beth en-wand-doong ester-hazy."
2 Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek Is Best Shortened To Pao
The Drabatan people were expelled from Pipada when the Empire ravaged the planet for its natural resources. Some of them took to fighting on behalf of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, like Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek.
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This hyper-convoluted name is completely natural in the Drabatese language, even if its disjointed syllables make it nigh-unpronounceable to outsiders. Assuming the apostrophes to be phonetic pauses, Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek may be pronounced "pa-oh-dok-dra-bah-tuck-ut sup-day-wreck-tee nick-link-ey-tea key-waif-nick-nay-sev-eff-lee-kek."
1 There Is No Point Attempting To Pronounce URoRRuR'R'R
URoRRuR'R'R is a Tusken Raider, an ancient species native to Tatooine. His people spoke the Tusken language, originally believed to be barbaric because of its indecipherable articulation.
Unfortunately, vocalizing the guttural sounds in Tusken demands a lot more phlegm than the human body can produce. There is no point in Basic speakers attempting to pronounce URoRRuR'R'R since the result is almost certainly going to be meaningless noise.
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