The Ferengi language was the language spoken by the Ferengi people throughout the Ferengi Alliance.

History and specifics

Ferengi written language branches out in several directions. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Due to Ferenginar's damp climate, there were one hundred and seventy-eight words for "rain". Conversely, the Ferengi had no word for "crisp". (DS9 episode: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...", DS9 novel: The 34th Rule, DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Twilight)

There were fifty-seven separate words for "customer" in the language. One of them had a second definition, meaning "river sludge". (DS9 novel: The 34th Rule)

"Frinx" was an expletive in the language and was used by Ferengi such as Quark, Nog, Base, Pharh, and Bralik. (DS9 novels: The Fall of Terok Nor, The War of the Prophets, Inferno, The Left Hand of Destiny; TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)

The Ferengi had several words for "no", in Quark's words, "depending on how much negotiation it will take to change your mind." (DS9 novel: Time's Enemy)

With their universal translators not working, Quark, Rom, and Nog spoke in the Ferengi language while on Earth in 1947. (DS9 episode: "Little Green Men") Also, the Ferengi boarding party in "ENT episode: "Acquisition"" speak their native language.

Ferengi words for "rain"

• choritzing - A fairly heavy rain (DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Twilight)
• frippering - a fairly common and unremarkable rain (DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: Ferenginar: Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed)
• glebbening - a bad, heavy rain (DS9 episode: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...", DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: Ferenginar: Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed, ENT novel: The Good That Men Do)
• melnering - a light refreshing drizzle (DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: Ferenginar: Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed)
• oolmering - a bad rain, worse than frippering, but not as bad as glebbening (DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: Ferenginar: Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed)
• pradooshing - constant rain falling in long, slim drops at a slight angle (DS9 novel: The 34th Rule)
• thloppering - a particularly cold, hard, and miserable rain. (DS9 - Prophecy and Change short story: "... Loved I Not Honor More")
• vinkling - a pleasant rain (DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: Ferenginar: Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed)

Other Ferengi words

bena

Underflooring. (DS9 novel: Ferenginar: Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed)

booplop

Wife; derived from the words "boop" -- "to serve", and "lop" -- "one who does a certain thing". (DS9 reference: Legends of the Ferengi)

dooplop

Brother; derived from the words "doop" -- "to get", and "lop" -- "one who does a certain thing". (DS9 reference: Legends of the Ferengi)

fafa

Term of endearment for male parent. (DS9 reference: Legends of the Ferengi)

frax

Curse word with no known translation. Used in context by the Ferengi Pharh: "Frax it all!" (DS9 novel: The Left Hand of Destiny)

gooblatrupyob

Aliens (literally, "bank accounts without brains"). (DS9 novel: Legends of the Ferengi)

grawmpee

Term of endearment for a grandfather. (DS9 - Strange New Worlds 9 short story: "The Last Tree on Ferenginar: A Ferengi Fable From the Future")

groogie

Term of endearment for a grandmother. (DS9 - Strange New Worlds 9 short story: "The Last Tree on Ferenginar: A Ferengi Fable From the Future")

lobeling

Child (DS9 novel: Legends of the Ferengi, DS9 episode: "Profit and Lace")

moogie

Term of endearment for female parent. (DS9 episode: "Family Business")

oo-mox

A sensual stroking of the earlobes. (TNG episode: "Ménage à Troi")

skritz

Expletive without clear translation. (DS9 - The Left Hand of Destiny novel: The Left Hand of Destiny, Book Two)

val-eff

Individuals who refuse financial payoffs. (DS9 novel: The 34th Rule)

Appendices

Connections

Languages

Altar • Andorian languages (Andorii • Graalen/Graalek • Greater Andorian • Lesser Andorian) • Bajoran (Balwan • Old Bajoran • Old High Bajoran) • Ba'ku language • Beta Promethean • Earth languages (Anglo-Saxon • Basque • Celtic • English • Farsi • French • Gaelic • German • Greek • Hebrew/Yiddish • Ibo • Italian • Japanese • Latin • Mandarin • Russian • Spanish • Swahili • Tagalog • Welsh) • Esperanta • Federation Standard (Galacta) • Ferengi (Trading Tongue) • Galacta (Federation Standard) • Gorn • Grennai • j'Tai • Klingonese (Battle Language • Klin trade patois • Klingonaase • Kumburan • Rumaiyn • ta'Hol • tlhIngan Hol/pIqaD • Warrior's Tongue) • Makaro • Nemar • Old Hebitian • Old High Martian • Old Illyan • Olisu • Omearan • Orion language (High Orion • Kolari • Low Orion • Trader's Tongue/Trader's Script • Yrevish) • Orishan • Paklit • Payav • Pe • Pennsylvania Dutch ▪︎ Realm Dialect • Reman • Rigellian Trade Dialect • Romulan (Rihannsu • High Rihan • Low Rihan • Old High Rihannsu) • Sign language (Gestural idiom • Semaphore) • Seshto • Taklathi • Tarn • Tellaran (Civil Conversation) • Tholian • Tzikaa!n • Vegan • Vulcan (Ancient Vulcan • High Tongue • Modern Vulcan • Old High Vulcan) • Xenexian • Xlatitigu

External links

• Ferengi language article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
• Eskimo words for snow article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.