Huttese language

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Huttese is the fictional language spoken by the Hutt species in Star Wars. It was first heard spoken by the Rodian character Greedo in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. It was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, and is closely based on the Quechua language of the Incas, though some of its vocabulary is derived from English. In the 1997 release of Episode IV, it was adapted for the newly recorded dialogue of Jabba the Hutt.

Huttese was also "adopted" by the Klatooinian race after their enslavement by the Hutts. The original Klatooinian language exists only in ancient texts and is spoken by few living Klatooinians. Huttese seems to be one of the official languages of Tatooine. Known speakers include Jabba the Hutt, Anakin Skywalker, Sebulba, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Bib Fortuna, C-3P0, Watto, Jango Fett, and Boba Fett.

It is also the only language in the Star Wars universe, besides Basic and Ewokese, to have a defined, canon character set for writing. However with the advent of The Phantom Menace, and the introduction of two new possible versions of written Huttese, there is some contention over which is the proper character set.

[edit] Examples

chuba - you
poodoo - fodder, animal feed (often used as a curse word)
shag - slave
sleemo - slimeball (derisive slang)
ulwan - smuggler
buki - boy

Since the Hutts are said to count in base-8 numerals, the base-10 number system of Basic, the galactic common speech, is presumably used during inter-species negotiations. This is why the numbers spoken by Jabba the Hutt resemble English numbers.

For more Huttese translations, you can read the Star Wars Galactic Phrase Book & Travel Guide, written by Ben Burtt.