How to Say "Winter Is Coming" in Different Languages
"Winter is coming" are the words of House Stark — and among the first memorable lines spoken in HBO's Game of Thrones. Over eight seasons, the phrase evolved from a family motto into a global shorthand for "trouble is on the way."
Here's how it was translated around the world, and how you might say it in Westeros's own languages.
The Counterintuitive Truth: House Words Are Warnings, Not Boasts
Most noble house mottoes in Game of Thrones are boasts: "Hear Me Roar!" (Lannister), "Ours Is the Fury" (Baratheon), "Fire and Blood" (Targaryen).
Stark words are different. "Winter Is Coming" isn't about the Starks at all — it's about preparing for hard times. We call this a vigilance motto: a family slogan that tells you what a house fears, not what it's proud of. It's why the Starks feel like the moral centre of the story.
In Real-World Translations
Game of Thrones was broadcast in over 170 countries. Here's how several dubs and translations handled the words:
| Language | Translation |
|---|---|
| German | Der Winter naht |
| French | L'hiver vient |
| Spanish | Se acerca el invierno |
| Italian | L'inverno sta arrivando |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | O inverno está chegando |
What Translators Had to Decide
- German naht means "approaches" — a more poetic, ominous verb than "comes."
- Spanish se acerca also means "draws near", emphasising slow approach.
- French vient is simple and direct, like the English.
That's urgency tuning: choosing verbs that carry the right amount of dread in each language.
In Game of Thrones Languages
George R.R. Martin never gave official translations of the Stark words in Westerosi or Essosi languages. But you can explore them in the show's constructed tongues.
Dothraki
The Dothraki live in the warm Dothraki Sea grasslands. Winter isn't central to their world, which makes this translation a fun experiment.
High Valyrian
The language of the dragonlords, who had no reason to fear the cold.
Skroth
The eerie sound language of the White Walkers — the very thing "Winter is coming" warns about. Sound designer Peter Brown created the White Walkers' sound, which resembles cracking ice.
Asshai'i
The mysterious language of Asshai-by-the-Shadow, associated with Melisandre's dark prophecies.
Lhazareen
The language of the peaceful Lhazareen shepherds, developed by David J. Peterson.
Hodor
"Hodor." Some translations are simpler than others.
Explore all of them together in our Game of Thrones Translators collection.
In Historical Languages
The North of Westeros is loosely inspired by northern England and Scandinavia, so historical languages feel right at home.
Old English
Winter was already winter in Old English — one of the words that barely changed in 1,000 years.
Viking Runes
Carve the Stark words in the runes of the real North.
Elder Futhark
The rune ᛁ (Isa) literally means "ice" — a fitting symbol for House Stark.
Where the Phrase Came From
Martin introduced "Winter is coming" in A Game of Thrones (1996). In Westeros, seasons can last for years, so a coming winter might mean a decade of hardship. The phrase is practical advice dressed up as family pride.
In the show, the line is spoken in the first episode, and fans quickly turned it into memes for everything from exam season to bad weather forecasts.
Other House Words, Translated in Spirit
| House | Words | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Stark | Winter Is Coming | Always prepare |
| Lannister | Hear Me Roar! | Power and pride |
| Targaryen | Fire and Blood | Conquest |
| Greyjoy | We Do Not Sow | We take what we need |
| Tully | Family, Duty, Honor | Loyalty |
| Martell | Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken | Resilience |
Want to see them in another style? Try "Fire and Blood" in High Valyrian or "We Do Not Sow" in Pirate Speak.
Why "Winter Is Coming" Works
Screenwriting teachers often point to the phrase as an example of thematic compression: a short line that contains a story's central idea. Game of Thrones is about petty power struggles distracting people from a larger threat. "Winter is coming" says exactly that — in three words.
Where the Phrase Is Heading
With House of the Dragon and more Westeros spin-offs, the franchise's catchphrases continue to spread. We predict "Winter is coming" will remain one of the most recognised TV lines for decades, much like "Beam me up, Scotty", because it has escaped the show and become a general-purpose English warning.