Dune 2: What language do the Fremen speak?

Paul makes his way into the desert with the help of the Fremen and learns their ways, and with a bigger emphasis on the sand people of Arrakis in Dune: Part Two – but what language do they speak?

In Dune, fans were introduced to the Fremen and pieces of their culture on Arrakis. They speak their own language compared to Paul who communicates in English but is well aware of Fremen history. To many, the language sounds familiar but is its own as Dune takes place thousands of years into the future.

Going into Dune 2, you hear more of the Fremen language with Paul becoming one of them and Lady Jessica becoming Reverend Mother. With words like the “Muad’Dib” and “Lisan Al’Gaib”, where does the Fremen language come from?

Here’s a breakdown of the Fremen language and lore according to the books.

What language do the Fremen speak in Dune?

Based on lore and book details, the Fremen speak Chakobsa in Dune and Dune 2. It’s primarily rooted in Arabic with the Imperium focusing on the Slavic language.

Anyone familiar with Arabic would be able to pick up the tones and string of words used by the Fremen in their native language. According to lore, the Chakobsa is a distant relative to Arabic that was used on Earth. With the Dune universe taking place eons into the future, the language was changed, adapted, and melded with others.

According to a Reddit thread, “the official language of the Imperium is Galach, a ‘Hybrid Inglo-Slavic’ tongue, and the secret Fremen language, Chakobsa (which is explicitly stated to be the source of some words that are in fact Arabic), is said to chiefly derive from ‘the hunting language of the Bhotani, the hired assassins of the first Wars of Assassins.'”

The Fremen language doesn’t deviate far from Galach, the language used by the Imperium. Chakobsa also developed as a result of the rough terrain of Arrakis. Per Quinn’s Ideas’ YouTube video, many Fremen words derive from the Arabic language. Like Arrakis possibly from the word “dancer” or “of least worth.”

In Dune 2, Paul becomes more fluent in the language, adding to the belief that he is the messiah. Despite being an outworlder, Paul has an innate ability to understand it.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Denis Villeneuve revealed he brought in a linguist to fully develop Chakobsa. The original books don’t dive into detail on how the language is spoken. The director explains the entire cast went to Fremen school to learn the language.

“I’m not joking. They took weeks to learn the language and came on set absolutely fluent. There was even a dialect coach on set. Everybody took it so seriously, and I was so moved to see Timothée give whole speeches in Chakobsa,” he said.

With the language being rooted in Fremen life, it was no surprise that Chalamet’s favorite moment was his epic scene speaking Chakobsa fluently to the Fremen.