Are You Fluent in Simlish?
Anyone who's played The Sims before will be familiar with its nonsensical language: Simlish. Developed by Will Wright, the game's creator, Simlish was created to avoid repetitiveness and translation costs. And though most words may sound like gibberish, there's meaning to all the chatter your Sim characters say. From "sul sul" to "firby nurbs," here are 20 classic Simlish phrases to add to your daily vocabulary.
1. Sul Sul
Next time you greet your friends, say "Sul sul!" This is how The Sims characters say hello to each other in the game. For alternative ways, you can also say "suly suly," which means howdy, or "hooba noobie" to ask them "what's up?"
2. Feebee Lay
Are you hungry? The Simlish phrase for this is "feebee lay." Feeding your Sims characters is an essential part of the game, and depending on what food you give, they may either tell you it's "deileesh" if they find it delicious, or "boobasnot" if they hate it.
3. Woofum
Have a pet dog? Try calling them a "woofum" instead! This is what your furry friends are called in The Sims, and you can even teach them tricks. For example, "sherb" is shake, "gerb woof em" to tell them to come here, and "ooh be gah" to praise them.
4. Por See Gab Lurv
Instead of telling your partner you love them in the normal way, tell them "por see gab lurv"—especially if they're another Simmer. If you're ready to take the next step, you can ask them to marry you by saying, "Vanu marsha ma?"
5. Wabadeebadoo
If you ever find yourself on fire (which, for obvious reasons, we really hope you never do), you can say, "Om za gleb, wabadeebadoo!" This translates to "Oh my gosh, I'm on fire!"—but we don't think the urgency is reflected all that well in English as it is in Simlish.
6. Humple Borpnah
Is a friend's or family member's birthday approaching? Go ahead and give them a "Humple Borpnah," which means happy birthday. When presenting your gift, say "presu fa vu" (present for you), and, if they're not familiar with Simlish, teach them to thank you by saying, "Vadish!"
7. Ongie
Are you all dressed up for an event and want to commemorate it by taking a photo with all your buddies? Round everyone up for a selfie, or "ongie." Before clicking the shutter, make sure you all flash a nice, wide "smee" (smile) for the camera.
8. Dag Dag
When telling someone goodbye or that you'll see them later, the Simlish equivalent phrase is "dag dag." This expression was inspired by Nardvillain, The Sims content creator, who caps his videos off with the same greeting. For variety, you can also say "maladai" to mean good day, or "arogaba" for a proper farewell.
9. O Vwa Vwaf Sna
If you're meeting someone new, after throwing them a quick greeting, you can follow it up with "o vwa vwaf sna" to say it's nice to meet them. Next time you see them again, you can ask them how they are by saying, "No me vel?" or, "Cuh teekaloo?"
10. Yibs, Neib
If you're going to add Simlish to your daily vocabulary, of course we should always focus on the basics. For yes and no, say "yibs" and "neib," respectively. Easy, right? Next time your Simmer friends (or even non-Simmer friends) ask you a question in real life, just respond with "yibs" or "neib."
11. Garsha
Did someone tell you a funny joke? Let them know by saying "garsha," which means that's funny, especially if what they said gave you a good "leefuh" (laugh). While there's no risk of danger if you try to be a comedian in real life, beware of being too funny when playing The Sims—other players could die laughing.
12. Za Woka Genava
If you feel attraction toward someone and want them to know, go up to them with your best flirty voice and say, "Za woka genava." Obviously, this has a much better chance of working if the other person is familiar with Simlish. Otherwise, they'll probably just give you a weird look and walk away.
13. Blursh, Meshaloob Blursh
When you're on a crowded train and need to get off at the next stop, you can let others know by saying "blursh" to excuse yourself or "meshaloob blursh" to tell everyone to get out of the way. You're guaranteed the odd glance or two, but don't let that stop you.
14. Firby Nurbs
Is someone making you angry, testing your patience, or getting on your nerves? Tell them "firby nurbs," which translates to "you have some nerve." This Simlish phrase works in almost every situation, so next time you have an argument or disagreement with someone, say, "Firby nurbs to talk back to me!"
15. Shoo Flee
When you're in a bit of a bind and need some help, call out, "Shoo flee!" Just maybe don't shout this out if you really have a problem, or almost no one is going to understand what you're saying. Unless, of course, you say it often enough that everyone around you has clued in on its meaning.
16. Awasa Poa
Are you bored out of your mind? Maybe you're in class and you've already tuned everything out, wanting to just drift off to sleep. Maybe someone keeps droning on and on about something, and they haven't gotten the hint that you're not interested in the conversation. In these situations, tell them, "Awase poa"—meaning, "I'm bored."
17. Turkey Nurbler
Don't be confused—"turkey nurbler" is definitely not already an English phrase. And it also doesn't mean what you probably think it means: that you want to eat turkey. No, instead, "turkey nurbler" is the fine Simlish phrase for "does that feel better?"
18. Shpansa
Do any of your friends have an upcoming "noobtia" (wedding)? Or maybe another celebratory event like a birthday or an anniversary? Go ahead and give them a toast. Then hold your champagne glasses up high and have everyone shout, "Shpansa"—cheers!
19. Des Grobel
Characters in The Sims like to express their dissatisfaction or disgust whenever they're met with any minor inconvenience or something gross. Why not channel their blatant honesty by doing the same? Instead of saying "that's gross" next time, say, "Des grobel!"
20. Fleeba Zoob
If you're still catching up on sending out those New Year's greetings, hold your horses. After all, who wants a plain, boring "Happy New Year" text, anyway? We've got a better option for you, and that's to say it in Simlish instead: "Fleeba zoob!"
