Quick Answer
The valar morghulis meaning is “all men must die” in High Valyrian, the ancient language of Game of Thrones. It is the traditional saying of the Faceless Men of Braavos, an order of assassins. Jaqen H’ghar speaks it to Arya Stark in the Season 2 finale, offering her the path to Braavos.
If you searched for the valar morghulis meaning, you found the most famous phrase in High Valyrian. Spoken by the mysterious Faceless Men of Braavos, these two words carry the weight of an entire philosophy about death, identity, and the Many-Faced God. This guide covers the exact translation, pronunciation, word-by-word breakdown, grammar, and the phrase’s unforgettable role in Game of Thrones.
Valar Morghulis Meaning in English
The valar morghulis meaning is “all men must die.” In the world of Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire, it is the customary greeting and farewell of the Faceless Men, the secretive guild of assassins based in the Free City of Braavos. The phrase is not a threat so much as a statement of belief: death is the one certainty shared by every person, and the Faceless Men serve the Many-Faced God by delivering it.
Our High Valyrian dictionary lists the attested form as Valar morghūlis (with a macron over the ū), glossed as “All men must die.” The spelling without the macron, “Valar morghulis,” is simply the common English-text variant and is universally understood.
How to Pronounce Valar Morghulis
Break the phrase into syllables: VAH-lahr mor-GHOO-lis. The site dictionary gives the pronunciation as /ˈvalar morˈɣuːlis/. A few tips:
- Valar: Stress the first syllable. The “a” sounds are open, like the “a” in “father.” The “r” is lightly rolled or tapped.
- Morghūlis: Stress the second syllable. The “gh” represents a voiced sound like the “ch” in Scottish “loch” but voiced — a soft gargle, not a hard “g.” The ū is a long “oo” sound, as in “food.”
- The macron: In morghūlis, the macron over the ū marks a long vowel. It is required in strict linguistic spelling, but you can write “morghulis” without it in casual text — everyone will still understand you. See our High Valyrian pronunciation guide for more on long vowels.
Valar Morghulis Word-by-Word Breakdown
The components below reflect the widely documented analysis by the language’s creator, David Peterson, as recorded on the Dothraki wiki’s language pages. Because our dictionary lists only the full phrase, treat the breakdown as the standard community analysis rather than a dictionary lookup:
| Word | Commonly understood meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valar | “all men” | Commonly analyzed as the nominative plural of vala, “man.” |
| Morghūlis | “must die” | A verb form conveying obligation (“must”), built on the root morgh-, “to die”; its exact morphology is uncertain. |
Literally, then, the phrase reads “all men must die” — a sweeping statement with no exceptions. Note that morghūlis does not appear as a standalone entry in our dictionary; it is documented as part of this fixed phrase, which is how native-like speakers of the show’s language actually use it.
Grammar Note: The “Must” Construction
High Valyrian, like many inflected languages, expresses obligation through verb forms rather than a separate word like English “must.” According to the High Valyrian grammar guide conventions, morghūlis is understood as a modal or obligational verb form: the subject valar (“all men”) is bound by necessity to the action of dying.
What is certain — attested in our dictionary — is the valar morghulis meaning as a whole: “All men must die.” The rest is the consensus analysis of the language community, labeled as such above.
Valar Morghulis in Game of Thrones
The phrase is inseparable from the Faceless Men of Braavos, the assassins who worship the Many-Faced God and believe death is a gift. Jaqen H’ghar first speaks it to Arya Stark in the Season 2 finale, “Valar Morghulis” (Season 2, Episode 10), after she helps him escape Harrenhal. He gives her an iron coin and tells her to give it to any man from Braavos and say the words “valar morghulis” if she ever needs to find him.
The phrase returns throughout Arya’s storyline as she travels to Braavos and trains with the Faceless Men in the House of Black and White. It functions as a password, a greeting, and a farewell among the order — a reminder of their creed in every encounter.
The Traditional Response: Valar Dohaeris
The customary reply is “valar dohaeris,” meaning “all men must serve.” Together they form the complete creed: all men must die, and all men must serve. The response is well documented in the source material, though it is not a standalone entry in our 400-word dictionary. You can explore more famous expressions on our High Valyrian phrases page, or test your own translations with the Valyrian to English translator.
Common Misspellings to Avoid
- Valar morghulis (no macron) — acceptable in casual writing, but the strict form is morghūlis.
- Valar morgulus / valar morgolis — incorrect vowel; the second syllable is “ghū,” not “gu” or “go.”
- Velar morghulis — the first word is valar with an “a,” not “velar.”
- Valar morghulis meaning “goodbye” — a common misconception: it is used as a farewell among the Faceless Men, but it literally means “all men must die,” not “goodbye.”
Valar Morghulis FAQ
Is valar morghulis a greeting?
Among the Faceless Men it functions like one — exchanged as a greeting, password, and farewell. But it literally means “all men must die,” not “hello” — and that valar morghulis meaning is what states their creed, rather than serving as a general High Valyrian greeting.
What is the correct response to valar morghulis?
The traditional response is “valar dohaeris,” meaning “all men must serve.” In the story, speaking the correct response — along with presenting the iron coin — identifies the speaker as one who knows the ways of the Faceless Men.
How do you pronounce valar morghulis?
Say VAH-lahr mor-GHOO-lis, with stress on the first syllable of valar and the second syllable of morghūlis. The “gh” is a soft voiced gargle (like a voiced version of the “ch” in “loch”), and the ū is a long “oo” as in “food.”
Is the macron in morghūlis required?
In strict linguistic spelling, yes — the macron marks a long vowel and the attested dictionary form is morghūlis. In casual writing, fan discussions, and subtitles, “morghulis” without the macron is completely standard and universally understood.
Who says valar morghulis in Game of Thrones?
Most famously Jaqen H’ghar, who teaches the phrase to Arya Stark in the Season 2 finale. It is the saying of the entire order of the Faceless Men of Braavos, so various members of the order use it throughout Arya’s Braavos storyline.