Words

1. "Ai, Aii, Aiii"==variously spelled, this is a word of exclamation that at times means "yes" and at other times may be an exclamation of surprise, fright or acknowledgement. This is not the general word for "yes" in Gorean. It is sometimes used as a slang version of "yes" but has many other meanings as well.
2. "Aria"==a word of possession for Ar; may be translated as "Ar's" or "of Ar"; For example, the phrase "Viktel Aria" can be translated as "Ar's Triumph" or the "Triumph of Ar."
3. "Aulus"==flute
4. "Ax"==this word is the same in Gorean as in English.
5. "Bana"==beads of great value like gems or a string of pearls; a slave would rarely wear these
6. "Bara"=belly
7. "Bina"==slave beads; cheap beads of little value, usually on a necklace
8. "Canjellne"==a challenge
9. "Civitatis"==of the city of; "Civitatis Trevis"==of the city of Treve
10. "Con"==from
11. "Da"==here
12. "Dar"==holy, priest
13. "Delka"==delta of a river
14. "En"==first
15. "Fora"==chain. plural==fori
16. "Gor"==Home Stone; It means the same thing in all the languages on the planet.
17. "Har-ta"==Faster
18. "Ho"=common prefix indicating a lineage
19. "Hrimgar"==barrier
20. "Kaissa"==this is a generic term for a game, but often refers to Gorean chess
21. "Kajira"==female slave, plural=kajirae
22. "Kajirus"==male slave, plural=kajiri (This plural also refers to a group of mixed-sex slaves
23. "Kan-lara"==slave brand; "Kan-lara Dina"==dina slave brand
24. "Kara"==turning
25. "Ki"==indicates a negation; the word is usually translated as "not"; this is not the general word in Gorean for "no."
26. "Ko-lar"==collar (Some claim this is not truly a Gorean word. There is a single passage concerning this word in Slave Girl of Gor. The Gorean word is not pronounced the same as the Earth word "collar." It is pronounced the way "ko-lar" is spelled. The words "kajira" and "kan-lara" seem to indicate a preference for the "k" sound in such words. This would lend some support to the acceptance of "ko-lar" as a valid Gorean word.)
27. "Kosis"==disease
28. "La"==Multiple meanings depending on the context. May mean "Who are you?" "You are?" "I am" This is the feminine version.
29. "Lar"==central
30. "Lar-Torvis"==The Central Fire, the Sun
31. "Lesha"==leash
32. "Lo"==Masculine version of "la"
33. "Mira"==my
34. "Nadu"==kneel
35. "Nykus"==victory (This is derived from the Greek word "nike" which has the same meaning)
36. "Or"==Ten
37. "Oralu"==Thousand
38. "Orlu"==Hundred
39. "Pagar"==Pleasure
40. "Rarius"==warrior; Rarii=plural
41. "Sa"==daughter.
42. "Sa-Fora"==Chain Daughter, a slave.
43. "Sa-Tarna"==Life-Daughter, the staple yellow grain.
44. "Sa-Tassna"==Life-Mother, meat; Also refers to food in general
45. "San"==one; feminine is sana
46. "Sa'ng"==without
47. "Sa'ng-Fori"==Without chains: freedom or liberty.
48. "Sar"==king
49. "Sardar"==Priest-King
50. "Se"==second
51. "Ship"=this word is the same in Gorean as in English.
52. "Sula"==may mean either "back" or "prone"
53. "Ta"==to
54. "Ta-Sardar-Gor"==To the Priest Kings of Gor; a toast (This is sometimes seen online as "Tar-Sardar-Gor, but "Ta" not "Tar" is correct)
55. "Ta-teera"==slave rag
56. "Tasta"==the founding, the start or beginning
57. "Tor"==light
58. "Tor-tu-Gor"==Light upon the Home Stone: the Sun; most common phrase for the sun
59. "Torvis"==fire
60. "Tu"==two meanings: First, you are; Second, upon.
61. "Urth"==This is not a Gorean word. It was never used in the books. There is no known Gorean term for "Earth." Simply use the term "Earth."
62. "Var"==This has three meanings. First, a resting in months. Second, a turning in directions. Third, "what is."
63. "Veck"==possibly means "stand" or "awaken" (This is never clearly defined in the novels but from its context either of these two might be the definition)
64. "Verus"==true
65. "Viktel"==triumph

Common Phrases, Word Concepts and Gestures:
1. The Gorean word for "stranger" is the same as enemy.
2. The Gorean word for "mountain" refers to a mountain of soil, stone or ice. There is no difference to Goreans as to the makeup of a mountain as to call it something different. An iceberg is simply a mountain of ice.
3. The term "we" refers to only a group of free persons. A single free person, with many slaves, would not refer to his group
4. "Hail (followed by a name)" is a form of greeting reserved for experts and champions at some activity. A Master Player, Tarn Racing Champion, Master Swordsman or Ubar would be greeted in this manner.
5. "Tal" is the most common greeting and is usually accompanied with the right hand raised to shoulder level, palm inward, facing the body. This signifies that the person being greeted is not considered an enemy. The gesture shows that the hand is devoid of any weapon. As slaves are not permitted weapons, then this salute would be ludicrous. As slaves must also respect all free persons, they cannot consider any to be their enemy. Thus the salute might even be considered an insult to a free person. Thus a slave may use the word "Tal" as a greeting but they would not accompany it with the hand gesture. The gesture would be for free persons only.
6. "I wish you well" is a phrase of farewell.
7. "I ask your favor" is a phrase equivalent to "please."
8. "Tonight let us drink wine" is a fatalistic maxim in which the events of the future are cast into the hands of the Priest-Kings.
9. Gorean applause: Most people would do this by a quick, repeated striking of the left shoulder with palm of the right hand. Warriors, if they and their weapons, would instead strike their spear blades on their shields.
10. Gestures for silence: Either, holding a finger across the lips, or you can do it by touching the fingers twice lightly to the lips.
11. Universal gesture for trading: gesturing as if taking something from a buyer and giving something in return.
12. To blow a kiss in the Gorean fashion, you brush it upward with your fingers.
13. "Share our kettle" is an invitation to a dinner, usually a Low Caste dinner.

Words & Terms of Gor

Entrance