Qapla'

English

Qapla' written in pIqaD.

Etymology

From Qapla' (“success”) in Klingon, a language constructed in the Star Trek franchise.

Pronunciation

• Klingon: IPA: /qχɑpˈlɑʔ/
• English: IPA: /kɑpˈlɑʔ/, IPA: /kæpˈlæʔ/

Interjection

Qapla'

1. A phrase said to wish fortune on someone.
   • 2000, Brian Proffitt, Add Red Hat Linux 7 to your Windows desktop in a weekend, Prima Tech, ISBN 0761528512, page 133

     Qapla!

   • 2000, Jacqueline Guest, Rookie Season‎, James Lorimer & Company, ISBN 1550287249, page 5

     Tina shrugged her shoulders, nodding helplessly. She was beat. “Qapla!” she said, grinning back at Leigh. / “Success!” Leigh laughed, translating the word from the alien Klingon language […]

   • 2003, L. A. Graf et al, Day Of Honor: The bestselling Klingon™ saga—complete in one volume!

     “Well, in that case, good luck and—er—Qapla'.”

   • 2004, Jacqueline Guest, Racing Fear, James Lorimer & Company, ISBN 9781550288384, 5:

     Thank you for all the years of patiently being there, especially on those dark and stormy nights when things detonated unexpectedly and I needed rescuing yet again. Qapla'!

   • 2004, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady, Team America: World Police, Paramount Pictures

     Sean Penn: Qapla’!

   • 2005 October 19-21, Andrew Chalmers, “Hurd is where I hide.”, AUUGN 2005: Conference Proceedings, Sydney, page 145

     Go forth and hack, Qapla!

   • 2009, Greg Cox, The 4400, Welcome to Promise City, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 1416543228, page 187

     Unable to resist a sudden temptation, he threw out his arm in a Klingon salute. / “Qapla’!” / He vanished into the photo on his phone.

2. To announce or celebrate a success.
   • 2006, Chad Baker, UrbanDictionary (accessed 2013-01-29)

     literally "success" in the Klingon language from the TV series Star Trek, often used as an exclamation. Qapla'! I've found my car keys at last! (accessed 2013-01-29)

   • 2010, " 'u' The Opera", Qapla’! We have done it. (accessed 2013-01-29)

     [See title.]

   • 2012, Tom Landy, 2012 Winnipeg Comic and Toy Expo – Qapla’! (accessed 2013-01-29)

     [See title.] On March 3rd and 4th, I attended the annual Comic and Toy Expo here in Winnipeg, Canada. The event isn’t anywhere near as massive as Comic Con. There were less celebrities, vendors and weirdos (actually, I’m not entirely sure about that last one), but the event was still a lot of fun.

   • 2012, "Crewman Becky", Star Trek Style Universal Translator Fast Approaching. Qapla'!. (accessed 2013-01-29)

     [See title.]