Story perspectives

Na'vi Language Creator Celebrates Community and Connection

12/18/2025

Summary

Story summary

Paul Frommer developed the Na'vi language for the "Avatar" franchise, starting in 2005 at the request of director James Cameron.
Frommer designed Na'vi to be appealing and easy for actors to learn, incorporating flexible word order and five verb conjugation levels.
The language has a vocabulary of over 3,000 words and has inspired a community of learners, mainly in the U.S. and Germany.
Frommer values the friendships formed through this project, highlighted by the Na'vi phrase "Oel ngati kameie," meaning "I see you."

1 of 1

Story summary

Paul Frommer developed the Na'vi language for the "Avatar" franchise, starting in 2005 at the request of director James Cameron.
Frommer designed Na'vi to be appealing and easy for actors to learn, incorporating flexible word order and five verb conjugation levels.
The language has a vocabulary of over 3,000 words and has inspired a community of learners, mainly in the U.S. and Germany.
Frommer values the friendships formed through this project, highlighted by the Na'vi phrase "Oel ngati kameie," meaning "I see you."