Words and Phrases Star Wars Gave Us

You don’t have to own Yoda pajamas to know that this famous admonition comes from the master of anastrophe himself.

If someone has ever corrected your complaint of “But I tried!” with a stern “There is no try,” it’s time to go back to Dagobah.

You might be referring to the race of people that originally hail from the planet Mandalore, but we wager your focus is on one particular Mandalorian. You know, the bounty hunter-turned-father figure for everyone's favorite Baby Yoda (more on him later!).

And if you're on friendly terms, you could even get away with calling him "Mando." The term often comes up in a belittling way, but among the fans it's become much more endearing. 

George Lucas didn’t invent the word droid — that honor goes to Mari Wolf, author of the 1952 short story “Robots of the World! Arise!”

But Lucas did use the shortened version of android in Star Wars: A New Hope. He then trademarked the term in 2008, and the rest is history.

It doesn't matter that the cutest life form in that galaxy far, far away actually has a name: Grogu, which means "the child." Even though he evidently prefers it to "Hey, you!" or "the Child," we don't hear Grogu mentioned much in the actual show.

To us, though, he will always be Baby Yoda, and will forever embody the charm and naughtiness of every adorable child in your life—from toddlers to puppies.

Ever wish you could punish someone with a stare? Darth Vader had it figured out.

Use the term force choke to describe that moment you want to reach across the table and strangle someone (figuratively, of course).

Princess Leia’s plea of “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope” is as important to the Star Wars plot as it is poetic. (Go ahead, say it slowly to yourself. It rolls right off the tongue.)

Say it to an experienced colleague or mentor to guilt them into helping you out for a minute.

One of the most epic lines in movie history reveals that Darth Vader is actually (spoiler alert!) Luke Skywalker’s father.

While it's often misquoted — it’s “No, I am your father,” not “Luke, I am your father” — it's still such a well-known line that even Star Wars newbies know it by heart.

While Darth Vader may be one of the scariest guys in the universe, he’s no pessimist. He scoffs at Admiral Motti’s dismissal of the Force by using said Force to choke him into submission — and wryly commenting, “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”

Say it to the next person who’s a little too glass-half-empty for your taste and see what happens.

Sometimes you need a mantra to remind yourself to stick to something, even when it's tough.

The Mandalorians have just the phrase for you. "This is the way" is the oft-repeated saying that helps the last remaining people from Mandalore remember their past and their purpose. 

The long brown robes and strenuous training requirements make Jedi life less than appealing (even though you do get your own lightsaber). But on Planet Earth, you can be a Jedi master at pretty much anything with a little practice.

From a toilet-fixing Jedi to a grillmaster Jedi, the term has less to do with your braided hairstyle and more to do with your exceptional skills.

Have you ever made a decision without knowing why you made it? Someone may have pulled a Jedi mind trick on you — they may have used the Force to control your thoughts.

Any version of this wish for well-being, including “The Force will be with you, always” and “Use the Force” comes from pretty much every Star Wars movie.

Even Han Solo, professed disbeliever in the “hokey religion,” says it to Luke in A New Hope. Feel free to call it out to your colleague as he heads into a performance review.

When your friend shows up with a corporate-brand cup of coffee instead of her usual indie coffee shop brew, she may confess, “I’ve turned to the Dark Side.”

She doesn’t mean “I’ve rejected the ways of the Jedi and am now an apprentice of a Sith Lord,” (although that may be true as well) — she just means “I succumbed to pressure to do something I once disavowed.”

Want to praise an underling at work without sounding condescending? Try “Well done, young Padawan” with an approving nod.

Even non-fans know that Padawan means “Jedi apprentice,” so your colleague will undoubtedly take it as a compliment.

Honor the Wookiee (and everyone else!) in your life by celebrating Life Day, a holiday designated specifically to celebrate life.

The name hearkens to the tradition of traveling to the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk and visiting the Tree of Life. We can't really make that journey, but we can rejoice—annually on November 17—in the universal themes of family, peace, harmony, and love. 

While casual Star Wars fans may accept the words above as inevitable additions to a shared popular lexicon, they may draw the line at terms more suited for conventions or midnight premieres.

Ease them into a Star Wars vocabulary with these words that really deserve more attention:

• bantha fodder - totally worthless (same as bulls***)

• happy beeps - what you say to someone who is being overly pessimistic

• kriff - an expletive (“you kriffing idiot”)

• laserbrain - a dumb person

• let the Wookiee win - advice to let a dangerous, volatile person have their way

• nerf herder - an insult that means “smelly” or “stupid” (or both)

• sleemo - a jerk

• wild bantha chase - a pointless exercise, like “wild goose chase”

• younglings - children training to be Jedi

• foundlings - children adopted and raised by the warriors of Mandalore