Yautja Dictionary: The Vocabulary of the Predators

By Janno Vares, Founder & Editor, covering Alien vs. Predator since 2001
September 19, 2023 | Updated October 10, 2026

The Predators communicate through the Yautja language, a mix of clicks, growls, spoken words, and written symbols seen on the Predator wrist gauntlet, bio-mask displays, and other Yautja technology. Most words in this Yautja dictionary come from the expanded universe, especially the Perry novels Aliens vs. Predator: Prey (1994), by Steve and Stephani Perry, and Aliens vs. Predator: War (1999), by Stephani Perry, so spellings and meanings vary between sources. Predator: Badlands (2025) and Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) introduced a separate official Yautja language by Britton Watkins, a conlanger and friend of Na'vi creator Paul Frommer, who recommended him to the production. That language does not reuse the Perry novel words.

Predator: Badlands Yautja Words

Britton Watkins built the Badlands language with object-verb-subject word order and no sounds made with the lips, and his working lexicon has more than 900 words, only a few of which have been published. The words below are grouped by how firmly they are sourced: words Watkins explained himself, lines shown with official subtitles in the films, and words deciphered from the Yautja symbols on screen. They belong to a different system from the Perry-era vocabulary in the rest of this dictionary.

Confirmed by Britton Watkins

Chish - I, me (placed at the end of the sentence)
Ngai - No, not
Hrr - To be
Dau - You (respectful)
Kai - You (familiar, used for a close friend)
Wul - You (disrespectful, used for someone looked down on)

On-Screen Phrases

Ngu djei chish - I am a prey to none
Yaslan zo ejit - Failure means death
Det jit yul ngai chish - Then I will not fail
Yauhwaq yi'ai - Killer of killers
Njohrr - Father, used for Dek's father
Dan ngen loy ta'un jorch - Go forth among the stars, the first line of Yautja Codex 0522/74, which reads in full "Go forth among the stars and seek only the strongest prey. They shall be your trophy. Become the killer of killers."

Words Deciphered From The Films

The fan community worked out these meanings by matching the Yautja symbols shown on screen and the spoken Yautja lines in Predator: Badlands and Predator: Killer of Killers against the English subtitles. Neither Britton Watkins nor 20th Century Studios has officially confirmed them.

Asu - You (plural)
Det - Then
Djei - Prey
Ejit - Failure
Jit - Fail
Ngu - Not
Slan - Die
Tax - Fight
Yaslan - Death
Yauhwaq - Killer
Yidok - Trophy
Yul / Yihr - Will
Zo - Equals

Classic Yautja Words From The Novels

This vocabulary began with Steve and Stephani Perry's Aliens vs. Predator: Prey (1994) and Stephani Perry's Aliens vs. Predator: War (1999), and later expanded-universe novels and comics added more words to it. It predates the Badlands language and is a separate system, with its own sounds, words, and phrasing. Spellings and meanings vary between sources, so some words appear here in more than one form.

Weapons and Armor

Many Yautja terms are tied directly to hunting equipment, from melee weapons to advanced plasma technology. These words reflect how deeply Predator weapons and armor are woven into Yautja identity.

Akrei-non - Explosives
Al'Nagara - Long sword
Awu'asa - Armor
Bhrak-chei - Spear gun
Chakt-ra - Smart disc
Dah'Nagara - Short sword
H'sai-de - Curved sword
Ki'cti-pa/dah'kte - Wristblades
Ki'its-pa - Retractable spear
Kv'Vurj-de - Energy flechette
Sivk'va-tai - Plasma caster
T'gou U'linja - Net gun
Taun'dcha - Pistol

Names and Titles

Yautja names and titles often describe traits, deeds, status, or reputation. Some are personal names, while others function more like honorifics or descriptive epithets within Yautja society.

Aseigan - Servant
Bakuub - Straight Spear
Dachande - Different Knife or Broken Tusk
Dahd'tou-di - Little Knife
Eta - Slave
Guan-Thwei - Night Blood
Kaail - Rage
Nihkou'te - Tooth or tusk, similar to fang
Paya - Conquering warrior, term of respect
Setg'in-kwei - Tricky and Quick
Thwei Tjau'ke - Blood Stone
Yeyinde - Brave One

Swear Words and Insults

Yautja insults often attack weakness, cowardice, dishonor, or social status. These terms are useful for understanding how Predators judge each other and their prey.

C'jit - Damn
Ell-osde'pauk - Fuck you
Lou-dte kalei - Child bearer, slang for females, derogatory
Pauk - Fuck
Pauk-de - Fucker or fucking
S'yuit-de - Shit
Tarei'hasan - Unworthy opponent, insect

Yautja Phrases

Dtai'kai-dte sa-de nau'gkon dtain'aun bpi-de - The fight that began would not end until the end.
M-di H'chak/M-di H'dlak - No mercy, no fear.
M-di mar'ct - No killing
Nan-de Than-gaun - The Kiss of Midnight, meaning no mercy
Payas leijin-de hma'mi-de - Remember god's practice.
Thar'n-dha s'yin'tekai - Strength and honor.
Thin-de le'hasuan 'aloun'myin-del bpi-de gka-de hasou-de paya - Learn the gifts of all sights or finish in the dance of the fallen gods.

Creatures and Species

Amedha - Meat, a Yautja word for prey animals
Kainde Amedha - Hard Meat, Xenomorph
Ooman - Human
Pyode Amedha - Soft Meat, human
Zabin - Insect

Gods, Goddesses, and Supernatural Terms

Yautja religion includes gods, spirits, heroes, and supernatural beings connected to hunting, death, water, fire, war, and nature. These terms overlap strongly with Predator religion and the Yautja view of honor.

Bhu'ja - Ghost
Cetanu - God of death, the Black Warrior, the Destroyer
Dto-hult'ah - God of agriculture
Guan Nrak'ytara - Goddess of dreams
Ju'dha-sain'ja - God of water, the flood, and time
Kayana - Goddess of war, fire, and passionate emotions such as rage
Lil-ka - Goddess of life, the Mother, the Avenger
Mab'ii'tang - Immortal hero punished by the gods for demanding that which was not his to demand
Mara'khen - God of storms and craftsmen
The Horde - Kayana's demonic, twisted children, numbering in the thousands

Actions and Verbs

These terms describe movement, combat, hunting, communication, and survival actions. They are some of the most useful words for understanding how the Yautja speak about the hunt.

Bpi-de - End, finish
Chi'ytei - Embrace
Dtai'k-dte - Fight
Jkiu - Report location
Ka'rik'na - The summoning of other Yautja
Ka'torag-na - Lurking
Kv'var - Exercises, katas, or hunts
Nain-de - Hunt
Na'tauk - Salute
N'ritja - Dance
Thei-de - Dead, die

Traits, Emotions, and States

Yautja culture values strength, courage, focus, and self-control, so many words describe physical or mental states. These terms are especially useful when discussing Yautja emotions, honor, and combat behavior.

Ch'hkt-a - Hyperactive, nervous energy
Dha-viath - Disaster
Dhi'ki-de - Sleep near death, coma
Dhi'rauta - Cunning
D'yeka - Ultimate prey
Gahn'tha-cte - Ruthless
Gkei'moun - Easy
H'chak - Mercy
H'dlak - Fear
Hulij-bpe - Crazy
Ikthala - Cataclysm
Kainde - Hard
Kha'bj-te - Maniac, restless
Ki'cte - Enough
Nan-ku - Alive
Nracha-dte - Relentless
Pyode - Soft, weak
Setg'in - Deadly and quick
Tharn-dha - Strength
Yeyin - Brave
Yin'tekai - Honor
Zazin - Totally centered

Nature and Environment

These words cover natural forces, terrain, weather, and environmental concepts. They fit well with the Yautja's long history as hunters moving through forests, deserts, alien worlds, and hostile ecosystems.

Dto - Forest
Gry'sui-bpe - Stampede
Guan - Night
Halkrath - Shadow
Ikthya-de - Umbra
Ju'dha - Water
Kiloun - Wood
Kjuhte - Void
Lar'ja - Dark
Luar-ke - Moon
Naxa - Fruit
N'-ithya - Earth
R'ka - Fire
Than-guan - Midnight
Tjau'ke - Stone, rock
Ui'stbi - Geography
Vayuh'ta - Air

Society, Roles, and Family

These words describe social roles, relationships, and positions within Predator society. They connect strongly to Yautja ranks, clans, and family structure.

Dteinou - Messenger
Ell-osde - You
Hult'ah - Rear guard, observer, or lookout
Ic'jit - Bad Blood, a Yautja outlaw who broke the honor code
Jehdin - One, an individual, also used for a sparring session
Kv'var-de - Hunter
Kwei - Tricky or sly
Mar'cte - Killer
Mei'hswei - Brother
Mei-jahdi - Sister
Nrak'ytara - Guardian
N'yaka-de - Master
Oomani-di - Human woman or human women
P'kya'uha - Sniper
Sain'ja - Warrior
Vor'mek'ta - Stalker

Technology, Objects, and Materials

These words cover Yautja tools, materials, devices, and transport concepts. Several connect directly to their ships, sensors, and equipment.

C'ntlip - Type of alcoholic drink
D'lex - Super strong metallic material
Gkin-mara - Video camera
Gkin-maru - Ship sensors
Mi - Fuel, oil
S'pke - Fruit stew
Tyioe-ti - Escape pod

Rituals, Culture, and Hunting

These terms relate to Yautja rituals, trials, prayers, fighting styles, and cultural ideas. They help explain how the Predator language reflects Yautja culture and the Predator honor code.

Agaj'ya - Realm
Chiva - Trial
Hiju - Battle stance, proper stance for disemboweling an opponent
Jehdin Jehdin - Hand-to-hand combat, one, alone
Kainde Amedha Chiva - Hard Meat Trial, Blooding hunt
Kantra - Prayer
Kehrite - Battle or practice area
Kuj'hade - Destroyer
M-di/H'ko - No
Mesh'in'ga - The battle dreamtime or battle lust
Nain-desintje-da - The Pure Win, absolute victory
Sei'i - Yes
U'sl-kwe - Final rest

Body Parts and Biology

These terms relate to Yautja and Xenomorph biology. They are useful when discussing Predator anatomy, trophies, blood, scent, and Alien reproduction.

Dekna - Eye
Dhi'ki - Unconsciousness
Dia-shui - Musk, a body scent
H'dui'se - Smell, scent, or odor
N'dui'se - Yautja musk
Syra'yte - Head
Te'dqi - Xenomorph resin or slime
Th'syra - Skull
Thwei - Blood
Z'skuy-de - Convulsions, spasm, birth of a Xenomorph from a host
Z'skvy-de - The birth of a Chestburster from its host

Other Vocabulary

Gkaun-yte - Hello
H'ka-se - Now
Ki'sei - I agree, I understand
N'dhi-ja - Bye
N'jauka - Welcome
Nok - Unit of measure, approximately 13 inches
Non-co - Life
U'darahje - Abomination

Conclusion

The Yautja dictionary gives fans a useful way to understand how Predator culture is expressed through language. Many terms revolve around hunting, blood, honor, weapons, death, trials, and social status, which reflects the values most often associated with the species. Although the vocabulary is not always consistent across every source, it remains one of the most interesting parts of expanded Predator lore.