This is a list of terminology used in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert, the primary source being "Terminology of the Imperium", the glossary contained in the novel Dune (1965). Dune word construction could be classified into three domains of vocabulary, each marked with its own neology: the names and terms related to the politics and culture of the Imperium, the names and terms characteristic of the mystic sodality of the Bene Gesserit, and the barely displaced Arabic of the Fremen language. Fremen share vocabulary for Arrakeen phenomena with the Empire, but use completely different vocabulary for Bene Gesserit-implanted messianic religion. Due to the similarities between some of Herbert's terms and ideas and actual words and concepts in the Arabic and Hebrew languages — as well as the series' "Islamic undertones" and themes — a Middle Eastern influence on Herbert's works has been noted repeatedly. There are over eighty terms used of Arabic origin, several other loanwords from Indo-European languages such as German and Persian, and words from the North American Na-Dene language Navajo.
A Aba – A loose, usually black robe worn by Fremen women and Bene Gesserit sisters. Abomination – Bene Gesserit term for one who is pre-born and thus susceptible to being taken over by the ancestral personalities in Other Memory. Ajidamal (or Amal) – Disastrously-flawed synthetic melange created by the Tleilaxu Project Amal before the process of producing spice in axlotl tanks is perfected. Akarso – "Plant native to Sikun (of 70 Ophiuchi A) characterized by almost oblong leaves. Its green and white stripes indicate the constant multiple, condition of parallel active and dormant chlorophyll regions." Arafel – The "cloud-darkness of holy judgment" or "cloud darkness at the end of the universe;" the end of mankind (as it was) averted by Leto II's Golden Path. Axlotl tank – Biological tank in which gholas and melange may be produced. Assassin's Handbook – "Third-century compilation of poisons commonly used in a War of Assassins. Later expanded to include those deadly devices permitted under the Guild Peace and Great Convention."
B Baliset – "Nine-stringed musical instrument, lineal descendant of the zithra, tuned to the Chusuk scale and played by strumming. Favorite instrument of Imperial troubadours." Gurney Halleck is a master at playing the baliset in the series. In David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Dune, a cosmetically altered Chapman Stick was used to portray the instrument. In the miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune, the baliset resembles a renaissance-era lute, with the pegbox bent back almost 90°. A real-world version of the baliset has been created, divided into two sections, the treble played with the right hand, and the bass the left. Unlike a guitar, each hand can play either chords or separate notes. Bashar – Military rank, slightly above a traditional Colonel and primarily used for military leader of a planetary subdistrict; alternately, Colonel Bashar, or Supreme Bashar for a military's most senior commander. Bene Gesserit – Secretive and powerful matriarchal order whose members possess extraordinary physical and mental powers. Bene Tleilax (or Tleilaxu) – Secretive and powerful patriarchal race known for their genetic manipulation technologies. Buddislam – Term for those religions derived from a syncretic fusion of denominations of Buddhism and Islam. Burseg – Military general. Butlerian Jihad – Mankind's "crusade against computers, thinking machines, and conscious robots." The term jihad is of Arabic origin.
C Caid – "Sardaukar officer rank given to a military official whose duties call mostly for dealings with civilians; A military governorship over a full planetary district; Above the rank of Bashar but not equal to a Burseg." Caladan – Ancestral homeworld of House Atreides. A lush, oceanic planet with a wet, temperate climate, Caladan had served as the Atreides’ home for at least twenty-six generations at the time of the first novel. Carryall – Aircraft used on Arrakis to "transport large spice mining, hunting and refining equipment." Chairdogs – Living and partially sentient creatures created by the Tleilaxu, which are used for seating and possess the ability to shape themselves to fit their occupant. Chakobsa – Language on Arrakis, used by the Fremen for rituals and other purposes, inspired by the Caucasian hunting language of the same name. The language was further developed by David J. Peterson and Jessie Peterson for the films Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024). Chaumas (or Aumas) – "Poison in solid food as distinguished from poison administered in some other way." Chaumurky (or Musky) – "Poison administered in a drink." CHOAM (Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles) – the "universal development corporation controlled by the Emperor and Great Houses with the Guild and Bene Gesserit as silent partners." This corporation essentially controls the economy of the known universe, with shares and directorships determining each House's income and financial leverage. Cogitor – One of several ancient philosophers whose brains are transplanted into fluid-filled canisters so that they can analyze the universe indefinitely. Communinet, ComNet or Comms – A local planetary communications network. Similar to wireless radio communications, it relies on electromagnetic radiation to transmit audio and other information. Used by the Atreides and Harkonnen forces to communicate and issue battle commands. Cone of silence – Sound-deadening "field of a distorter that limits the carrying power of the voice or any other vibrator by damping the vibrations with an image-vibration 180 degrees out of phase." Used for privacy, the field does not visually obscure lip movement. Coriolis storm – Sandstorms on Arrakis in which "winds across the open flatlands are amplified by the planet's own revolutionary motion to reach speeds up to 700 kilometres per hour." Crysknife – Weapon made from the tooth of a sandworm from Arrakis. Cutterray – "Short-range version of a lasgun used mostly as a cutting tool and surgeon's scalpel." Cymek – Type of cyborg; specifically, a human brain implanted into a large, weaponized machine body.
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