This article will review different phrases, slang and cursing as it would happen if it took place inside the Star Wars Universe instead of the one we all live in. This will help write from our character’s points of view.
The course notes will run through major categories to consider with a small list of examples. There are many more examples and resources to use for further incorporation depending on situation and species. Using the right phrase at the right time will also depend on the writer’s judgement as well.
Idioms
An idiom is a commonly used phrase or group of words where the meaning is understood even though it differs from the actual words would suggest. What is understood in the Star Wars Universe is different from the real world, so use of these is sometimes acceptable while other times require more Star Wars specific phrases.
Similar
- Kill two birds with one stone.
- I think we’ve bitten off more than we can chew...
- Let’s get the show on the road!
- We’re not out of the woods yet!
Different
- Burn the sky until we see lines
- Chucked under the speeder
- A credit for your thoughts
- Blue milk run
- Loth-cat got your tongue?
Slang Terms
Often times, non-standard words and phrases are used as part of language. These slang terms are restricted to a specific group of people or context. Use of appropriate slang by characters in fiction can help give distinguish them as part of a certain group. With possible use as dialogue by characters, ensuring proper placement in the Star Wars Universe is important for realism.
The distinction from the list of idioms in this list are standalone words used as part of informal language. Both develop a certain cultural meaning with a specific group and attention should be paid to the group a character belongs to. If a background is military, or farmer, or political, and implications of race and societal status, will significantly alter the use of slang used by a character in their dialogue.
As with idioms, certain slang terms exist outside the Star Wars Universe in a similar manner, but use of slang terms which a character is not familiar with should be avoided.
| Examples
|
| Barve
|
Animal loosely the equivalent of a pig.
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| Clanker
|
Clone Trooper term for CIS droids.
|
| Dets
|
Term for detonators.
|
| Eyeball
|
Term for TIE Fighters.
|
| Fishead
|
Term for members of the Mon Calamari race.
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| Flyboy
|
Term for a starfighter pilot.
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| Furball
|
Nickname or term for members of the Wookie race.
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| Grease
|
Stormtrooper term used for kill.
|
| Impstar Deuce
|
Term used by the Republic for an Imperial Star Destroyer Mark II.
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| Imps
|
Term used to describe all Imperials.
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| Klick
|
Term used in place of a kilometer.
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| Lightfight
|
Term used to describe a blaster fight.
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| Meatbag
|
Term used by ‘certain’ droids to describe organics.
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| Nerfherder
|
Insulting term used in reference to the profession.
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| Outlander
|
Term used to describe someone from a different world.
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| Rimmer
|
Someone from the Outer Rim.
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| Scrap City
|
Slang term for where droids go when outmoded.
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| Slicer
|
Slang term for someone who is technically skilled in computers.
|
| Spacer
|
Term for someone who lives their life in space.
|
| Spice
|
Term that covers many mind altering drugs not ingested by drinking.
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| Stormies
|
Slang term used for Stormtroopers.
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| Tailhead
|
Term used for members of the twi’lek race.
|
| Triple Zero
|
Slang term used in place of Coruscant due to its hyperspace coordinates.
|
| Ugly
|
Term for a starfighter made from parts of various different models.
|
| Vape
|
A term used by starfighter pilots for destroying a target.
|
| Vapebait
|
Term for an unskilled pilot who makes an easy target.
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| Laserbrain
|
Term for someone who shoots first and thinks later.
|
Interjection
Also known as an exclamation, used in dialogue to express an emotion or sentiment and commonly followed by an exclamation mark. Their use is not grammatically related to any other part of a sentence.
Examples
- Blast it!
- By the Force!
- Emperor’s Black Bones!
- Great Galactic Core!
- Sithspit!
- Rebel scum!
- TRAITOR!
Expletives
Expletives are the commonly used curse or swear words found in the Star Wars universe. Please note that in both the Fiction and ACC Rubrics, real-life profanity will act as a detractor in your writing scores, so try and use these examples instead.
- Frak!
- Frak it.
- Frell.
- Kriff.
- Kriffing.
- Kark.
- Karking.
Additional References