Klingon expresses mathematical operations using verbs. Here’s how different mathematical concepts work, step by step:

Addition (+)

To add numbers, Klingon uses the verb boq, meaning "to ally with":

• wej boq loS; chen Soch – 4 + 3 = 7 ("four allies with three; seven forms")
• loS boq wej; chen Soch – 3 + 4 = 7 ("three allies with four; seven forms")

Notice that you can switch the numbers around without changing the answer. Also, even if the numbers are greater than one, they're grammatically treated as singular:

• ✅ wa' boq cha'; chen wej – 2 + 1 = 3 ("two allies with one; three forms")
• ❌ wa' luboq cha' – incorrect usage (never use the plural prefix lu- with numbers)

Subtraction (–)

For subtraction, add the suffix -Ha' ("undo") to the verb boq, forming boqHa' ("dissociate from"):

• loS boqHa' wej; chen wa' – 4 – 3 = 1 ("three dissociates from four; one forms")

Unlike addition, you can't reverse the order of numbers in subtraction without changing the meaning:

• wej boqHa' loS; chen wa' Dop – 3 – 4= -1 ("four dissociates from four; opposite one forms") 

Multiplication (×)

Multiplication means a number "allies with itself" multiple times. Klingon expresses this with the verb boq'egh ("ally oneself"), combined with -logh ("times"):

• cha'logh boq'egh wej; chen jav – 2 × 3 = 6 ("twice, three allies with itself; six forms")
• wejlogh boq'egh cha'; chen jav – 3 × 2 = 6 ("three times, two allies with itself; six forms")

Here too, the numbers can swap positions without affecting the outcome.

Division (÷)

Division uses boqHa''egh ("dissociate from oneself"), combining -Ha' ("undo") and -'egh ("oneself"):

• wejlogh boqHa''egh jav; chen cha' – 6 ÷ 3 = 2 ("three times, six dissociates from itself; two forms")

Reversing the numbers changes the meaning:

• javlogh boqHa''egh wej; chen cha' loch wa' – 3 ÷ 6 = ½ ("six times, three dissociates from itself; one is a fraction of two forms)

Exponents (Powers)

Raising a number to a power uses the verb Sep ("breed with oneself"). There's also a noun qovDa' for the operation itself, but the verb Sep is usually clearer:

• wejlogh Sep'egh cha'; chen chorgh – 2³ = 8 ("three times, two breeds with itself; eight forms"