Famous High Valyrian Quotes and Their Meanings
A handful of High Valyrian lines have escaped the screen and entered pop culture: tattooed on skin, quoted at weddings, and dropped into everyday conversation by fans. This guide collects the most famous High Valyrian quotes from Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, gives their English meanings, and explains the story behind each one — so you know exactly what you’re saying before you say it.
Every quote below is documented from the shows or the public High Valyrian wiki. Where a form’s status needs a caveat, you’ll find it noted.
Quick Answer
The most famous High Valyrian quotes are Valar morghulis (“all men must die”) and its reply Valar dohaeris (“all men must serve”), the dragon command Dracarys (“dragonfire”), Daenerys’s declaration Zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor (“a dragon is no slave”), and her introduction Nyke Daenerys Jelmāzmo (“I am Daenerys Stormborn”). Each comes from documented show dialogue, and each carries story weight far beyond its literal translation.
The Ritual Sayings: Valar Morghulis & Valar Dohaeris
No High Valyrian phrases are better known than this pair. Valar morghulis — “all men must die” — is spoken as a greeting and farewell among the Faceless Men of Braavos, the order of assassins Arya Stark encounters. Its traditional response, valar dohaeris — “all men must serve” — completes the exchange: death is inevitable, so life must be spent in service.
The two sayings are among the few Valyrian phrases George R.R. Martin coined in the novels themselves, which is why creator David J. Peterson built his entire verb system to generate them naturally. They function less as conversation than as liturgy — a philosophy compressed into four words. Learn more about their creator in our article on who created High Valyrian.
Daenerys and Her Dragons
High Valyrian is the language Daenerys Targaryen uses with her dragons, and some of the most famous High Valyrian quotes are her commands and declarations of freedom.
Dracarys — “Dragonfire”
A single word, and the most famous battle command in the series. Daenerys shouts dracarys to unleash her dragons’ fire — most devastatingly at the sack of Astapor, where the command turns her own sale into a massacre of the masters. Documented on the wiki as “dragonfire,” it is the imperative every fan knows.
Zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor — “A dragon is no slave”
Spoken by Daenerys in Astapor when she reveals she has understood every word of the slavers’ Valyrian all along, this attested sentence is a small masterpiece of the language’s grammar: zaldrizes (“dragon”) as subject, the negator daor (“no/not”) denying the predicate, all in the language’s characteristic word order. In-story, the line is both a threat and a thesis statement — the Mother of Dragons does not trade in chains, least of all her children’s. Our guide to how High Valyrian translation works breaks this sentence down piece by piece.
Nyke Daenerys Jelmāzmo — “I Am Daenerys Stormborn”
When Daenerys introduces herself in High Valyrian — Nyke Daenerys Jelmāzmo, “I am Daenerys Stormborn” — she is doing more than giving her name. She is asserting her identity in the ancestral tongue of her house, the language of the dragonlords she claims to inherit. The show returns to this formulation at key moments of self-definition, including her first meeting with Jon Snow, where the Valyrian introduction carries the full weight of her titles. Nyke (“I/me”) is one of the first words every learner meets; you can look it up in the High Valyrian dictionary.
Everyday Words Fans Adopted
Beyond the grand declarations, a few ordinary words have joined the ranks of famous High Valyrian quotes as fan favorites:
- Kirimvose — “thank you.” The polite word of the language, useful and well documented.
- Kessa — “yes.” Short, definitive, and frequently quoted.
- Daor — “no” / “not.” The negator that gives Zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor its sting.
- Zaldrizes — “dragon.” A documented solar-class noun; the root of half the fandom’s vocabulary.
You’ll find these and more in our High Valyrian phrases collection, and you can decode any line you hear with the Valyrian to English translator.
Complete Reference of Famous High Valyrian Quotes
| Quote (High Valyrian) | English meaning | Who says it / context | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valar morghulis | All men must die | Faceless Men of Braavos; ritual greeting/farewell | Attested — from Martin’s novels |
| Valar dohaeris | All men must serve | Traditional reply to valar morghulis | Attested — from Martin’s novels |
| Dracarys | Dragonfire | Daenerys’s dragon command, e.g. at Astapor | Attested — documented on the wiki |
| Zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor | A dragon is no slave | Daenerys to the masters of Astapor | Attested — show dialogue |
| Nyke Daenerys Jelmāzmo | I am Daenerys Stormborn | Daenerys introducing herself, e.g. to Jon Snow | Attested — show dialogue |
| Kirimvose | Thank you | General polite usage | Attested — documented on the wiki |
A Note on Accuracy
Stick to documented famous High Valyrian quotes for anything that matters — a tattoo, a speech, a piece of writing. Fan reconstructions circulate online, and many are well made, but only attested forms carry certainty. If you want to build your own Valyrian sentences beyond these quotes, start with the English to Valyrian translator and verify each word against the documented lexicon, as described in how High Valyrian translation works.
Related Valyrian Tools
- Valyrian to English translator — decode High Valyrian text into English
- English to Valyrian translator — render English phrases in High Valyrian
- High Valyrian dictionary — look up documented words and meanings
- High Valyrian phrases — common phrases with English translations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous High Valyrian quote?
Valar morghulis (“all men must die”), usually paired with its reply valar dohaeris (“all men must serve”) — the most famous High Valyrian quotes of all. The dragon command Dracarys (“dragonfire”) is a close second.
What does “dracarys” mean?
“Dragonfire.” It is the command Daenerys Targaryen gives her dragons to unleash their flames, and it is documented on the public High Valyrian wiki.
What does “zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor” mean?
“A dragon is no slave.” Daenerys speaks this attested sentence in Astapor, revealing that she has understood the slavers’ Valyrian throughout their negotiations.
How do you say “I am Daenerys Stormborn” in High Valyrian?
Nyke Daenerys Jelmāzmo. This attested introduction appears in the show’s dialogue, including Daenerys’s first meeting with Jon Snow.
Are these quotes from the books or the show?
Both. Valar morghulis and valar dohaeris originate in George R.R. Martin’s novels; the longer sentences like Zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor come from David J. Peterson’s show dialogue. All are documented.
Can I use these quotes for a tattoo?
These attested famous High Valyrian quotes are the safest choices, since their wording and meanings are documented. Still, double-check spelling — including the macron in Jelmāzmo — against the wiki before anything permanent.
These famous High Valyrian quotes earn their fame twice: once in the story, once in the language. These six lines work as drama and as linguistics — ritual formulas, a battle command, a declaration of freedom, and an introduction that is also a claim to a throne. Say them knowing what they mean, and they mean more.