English Explanatory Dictionary

valar morghulis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. An expression used as an acknowledgement of human mortality and the inevitability of death.

Word forms

valar morghulis

Etymology

Coined by American writer and television producer George R. R. Martin for use in his A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novel series. The phrase valar morghūlis, which means all men must die in the fictional language of High Valyrian, is used as a greeting by the Faceless Men, a combination of a death cult and assassin's guild. The traditional response is valar dohaeris (“all men must serve”).

Related words

life's a bitch and then you die memento mori
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