Learn Mando'a

For those moments when you read a particularly awesome quote and think to yourself "I wonder how that would sound in Mando'a?"

I'll be updating this root post with finished quotes as they're made. And this isn't just for me; anyone can post their own translations here, or even request them.

For clarity's sake, the translation scheme I usually use is to write the original quote in English on the first line, Mando'a on the second line, and the closest translation of Mando'a back into English on the third. Not mandatory formatting by any means, but that's how I do it and it seems to preemptively answer most questions people ask me about my translations.

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Someone once told me that time is like a predator that stalks us all our lives. But I prefer to think of time as a companion, reminding us to treasure each moment... because it'll never come again.
Ash'ad ru'rejorhaar'i ni meg ca'nara cuyi sa kadas meg oya'kar mhi an cuun oyare. A'ni jatne emuur mirdir be ca'nara sa burc'ya, ke'partayli'an mhi shereshir anay sur... jorcu bic olaro'draar tug'yc.
Someone told me that time is like [a] predator that hunts us all our lives. But I prefer to think of time as [a] friend, reminding us to seize every moment... because it comes never again.

Void

I am not skilled enough or have the time to translate these myself, so here are some requests (if anyone is willing to do it)


-I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person

-Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you

-Be one with the flame

-The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it

-Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young

Thanks in advance!

Void

Were it so easy.


For us, the storm has passed... the war is over.
Par mhi, buurenaar cuy ruyot... akaan cuy kyr.
For us, storm is past... war is finish.

But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark and did not return.
A nu draar gyce mhi digu val meg ru'be'chaaj'taab lo ja'an dha bal ne'yaimp.
But never shall we forget those who journeyed into screaming dark and [did] not return.

For their decision required courage beyond measure; sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight... our fight, was elsewhere.
Val'gycin ru'linib mirshko suum solet; runar'kadal, bal beskar urman val akaan... cuun akaan, ru'ash'taap.
Their decision needed courage beyond count; sacrifice [will-loss], and iron belief their fight... our fight, was elsewhere.

As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren, a memorial to heroes fallen.
Vaal mhi yog yam'gotal'ur tug'yc, ibic bral gyc'arasuum utree'vhetin'la, tome'tayl at Mando'ade ru'trattok.
While we start to build again, this hill shall remain barren [desert-like], memory to heroes* fallen.

They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten.
Val ru'lam'hiib mhi an, bal val gyce ne'cuy ru'dig.
They elevated us all, and they shall not be forgotten.


*Mando'a conspicuously and intentionally does not have a word for "hero." What other cultures would consider heroic, Mandalorians like to think is expected of them. Acting in a less-than-heroic manner is noteworthy; heroism just means you're doing your job well. This isn't to say that Mandalorians don't have heroes, but they're typically spoken of as "true Mandalorians," or more literally, true "sons/daughters of Mandalore."

I haven't been able to find a translation for 'Ultimate' as in 'Mandalor the Ultimate'.
Anyone got a translation for that?

In the extended dictionary by Taljair there is the word ani'la for that. However that is non-canon Mando'a, so beware.

Using only canon words by Kar'buir, one might perhaps replace it by laamyne (highest) or dralne (strongest).

No, ani'la comes directly from an official translation of his title. It's not fanon.

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Mandalore_the_Ultimate

Ciri Rhaw wrote: ↑

12 Jan 2019 22:23

-I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person
-Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you
-Be one with the flame
-The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it
-Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young

I'm seem a bit late to the party but:

NI NU DRAAR GANAR EYN AKAANIR BE MIRSHE TI EYN ADATE URES ARANOV.
roughly meaning I (will) absolutely not have a fight of brain (cells) with a person(s) lacking defense.
I debated on using the words for to bear arms or armor, and instead landed with this for both grammar and to purposely not specify. I also debated on saying NI RU* ATINIIR which is I *won't* endure(put up with), but decided to go try to stick with a close translation.

paranoia isn't word in mandoa, and honestly I don't should be. I'm not sure they understand the concept of "paranoia".

CUYIR SOSOL* TI HAAR TRANCINYA
exist(be) equal* with The flame
(*optional*)
I'm not sure if there is an underlying meaning to this quote, so if there is. It went right over my head.

HAAR ADATE MEG SIRBUR BIC NU LISER CUYIR RU NARIR, NE SHAB'RUDUR HAAR ADATE MEG CUY NARIR BIC.
The person(s) who say it cannot be done, don't mess with the person(s) who is do(ing) it.
there is no word for should, and I kinda took that in a philosophical sense that they don't even try to lower tension. They raise it. So this is less a warning, and more of a demand.

theres 2 for this one
ULUR EYN RUUG ADATE BE EYN BORA'KAR* VAII VAL RAMAANAR EVAAR'LA.
Take notice of an old person(s) of a career* [shamelessly made up, because a job is not a career. Means job-heart, as in the job of your heart] where they die young(new).
I also thought, that perhaps the phrase would degenerate and get misinterpreted over time into this:
ULUR EYN RUUG VERD.
Take notice of an old warrior.
there is no word for beware, Ulur is the closest meaning.

I might have misspelled stuff, and wrecked mandoa grammar, but well.. I tried.
I had fun and spent too much time on this, so I hope you see this...

I might have misspelled stuff, and wrecked mandoa grammar, but well.. I tried.
I had fun and spent too much time on this, so I hope you see this...

Oya! Congratulations on your efforts! I like that you tried to go for meaning over one-to-one translation. It's fun to see Earth sayings with Mando spins on them.

For a grammar guide, you can find the original one here: https://web.archive.org/web/20110713135 ... rguide.htm

It'll answer most of your questions about how to construct simple standard sentences using Mando'a.