Etymology

valar dohaeris

Today it means: An expression used as an affirmation of duty to a higher purpose or authority. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

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 dohaeris means "all men must serve" in the fictional language of High Valyrian. It is a traditional response to valar morghulis (“all men must die”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.