Our essential Dune: Part Two Dictionary: all the terms you need to know from Arrakis to Spice

The world of Dune is an extraordinary one, and it's poised to become even more multifaceted in Dune: Part Two. It's the concluding chapter in director Denis Villeneuve's two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's seminal science-fiction novel and if you thought part one was impressive, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Dune: Part Two arrives this March in widescreen and premium viewing formats including IMAX. Don't know your Arrakeens from your Shai-Huluds? We're here to help with our essential Dune glossary, which will help you brush up on the intricacies of the film ahead of its Cineworld release.

Arrakis

A remote desert planet that is the only known source of the coveted Spice Melange. For this reason, Arrakis is at the centre of a bitter, political battle as various dynasties and individuals compete for spice production.

Arrakeen

The largest human settlement on the planet of Arrakis, and the place where the Atreides family takes up stewardship, at the behest of the Padishah Emperor.

Atreides

A noble family that is compelled to take up stewardship of Arrakis by the Padishah Emperor. Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) senses his family are being lured into a trap because the Emperor fears the power and influence of the Atreides clan. However, Duke Leto is duty-bound to follow orders and uproot to Arrakis with his concubine Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and son and prospective heir Paul (Timotheé Chalamet).

Bene Gesserit

A mysterious and secretive female religious order, of which Lady Jessica is a key member. The Bene Gesserit has been experimenting with bloodlines to bring about a male Bene Gesserit whom they prophesy will become a new messiah.

Butlerian Jihad

A revolt against all intelligent machines that took place eons before the events of Dune. This feeds into the presence of the individuals known as the mentat (see below).

Caladan

The watery, arboreal home planet of the Atreides family, and a place much-loved by young Paul Atreides.

C.H.O.A.M.

AKA Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles, which itself broadly translates as 'Honest/Honorable union for promotion of greater/higher trade'. A powerful organisation in charge of economic affairs throughout the universe, but subservient to the demands of the Guild of Navigators for transport purposes.

Crysknife

A weapon sacred to the Arrakis Fremen, formed from the tooth of Shai-Hulud. Glimpsed in bloodied form by Paul Atreides in his dreams, which portends violence in his future.

Fremen

The indigenous peoples of Arrakis. The Fremen have learned to adapt to the planet's harsh, sand-blasted environment. They have been witness to the exploitation and harvesting of the spice, but the Fremen are the only ones capable of locating water on Arrakis, and they also know how to locate the monstrous sandworms that burrow beneath the surface.

Giedi Prime

The home planet of the scheming Harkonnen family, sworn enemies of the Atreides family.

Gom Jabbar

A test of humanity devised by the Bene Gesserit, involving a long, meta-cyanide needle. While on Caladan, Paul is put through a grueling Gom Jabbar test by the Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling), and his stronger-than-expected response portends many remarkable things in his future.

Guild of Navigators

A high-ranking organisation that exploits the psychotropic qualities of spice to engage in faster-than-light space travel. Their activities are key to the mining and harvesting of spice on Arrakis.

Harkonnen

The sworn enemies of the Atreides family. The Harokken's corpulent, grotesque figurehead, Baron Vladimir (Stellan Skarsgard), schemes with the Padishah Emperor to lure the Atreides family to Arrakis where they can be annihilated.

Holtzman shield

A protective device used in a multitude of scenarios throughout the events of Dune. Young Paul is schooled in the art of combat using such a shield and is mentored by weapons master Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin).

Imperium

An umbrella term used to define the various empires that feature throughout the Dune mythology. During the events of Dune itself, the universe is governed by the Galactic Padishah Emperor. The Emperor rules the 'Known Universe', a power arrangement also shared between the Landsraad, Guild of Navigators and the Bene Gesserit.

Kwisatz Haderach

Translated as 'the shortening of the way'. The Kwisatz Haderach is the messiah whose arrival is anticipated by the Bene Gesserit, a person capable of liberating the entire universe.

Landsraad

Translated as 'land council'. An organisation that gathers together all the noble houses in the Imperium.

Lisan al Gaib

Translated as tongue ('lisan') unseen ('al Gaib'). The Fremen term for the prophet who will liberate the indigenous peoples of Arrakis.

Mahdi

If the lisan al Gaib refers to prophecy, the Mahdi is the embodiment of said prophecy, a role eventually taken by Paul Atreides. Translated from Arabic as, 'the one who will lead us to paradise'.

Mentat

A form of mental discipline that arose in the wake of the Butlerian Jihad. Following the rejection and destruction of thinking machines, a collective of individuals known as the Mentat were schooled in the arts of empathy and foresight, essentially becoming an organic alternative to artificial intelligence. There are Mentats shared between the Atreides and Harkonnen families: in the former, Thurfir Hawat (Stephen McKinley Henderson), and in the latter, Piter De Vries (David Dastmalchian).

Muad-dib

Paul's adoptive Fremen name, which he takes when he and Lady Jessica are assimilated by the Fremen following the betrayal by House Harkonnen. The term stems from the kangaroo mouse that is found on Arrakis, a creature known for its cunning, tenacity and ability to survive the most testing conditions.

Padishah Emperor

The title bestowed on the most powerful man in the universe. The title is currently held by Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino, the man who collaborated with the Harkonnens to destroy House Atreides and who fears the collapse of his authority.

Reverend Mother

A leading figure within the Bene Gesserit whose given name is Gaius Helen Mohiam. The Reverend Mother is also the Emperor's truth-sayer and holds a great deal of political sway.

Sardaukur

The elite, brutal armed forces in the service of the Padishah Emperor.

Shai-Hulud

The sacred Fremen term for the gargantuan sandworms that burrow beneath the sands of Arrakis and act as the source of the spice melange. There are several translations for 'Shai Hulud' including 'Old Man of the Desert' and 'Grandfather of the Desert'.

Spice

This coveted substance grants remarkable abilities to those who ingest it (turning their eyes blue in the process) and its hallucinogenic properties can be used to assist dangerous space travel across vast distances.

Spice harvester

A machine that trawls the desert surface of Arrakis in search of spice.

Stillsuit

The outfit worn by the Fremen allowing them to live in harmony with Arrakis' harsh landscape. The stillsuit reclaims water produced naturally by the body, meaning the Fremen never have to go thirsty.

Suspensor

The anti-gravity device deployed by the malevolent Baron Vladimir Harkonnen to float around and assert power over his subjects.

'Thopter

AKA the ornithopter. A mode of transport used by the Atreides family to scout the desolate landscape of Arrakis. Whilst on a 'thopter, Paul, Gurney Halleck and ecologist Liet-Kieynes (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), a key member of the Fremen, witness a gigantic worm devouring a spice harvester.

Thumper

A mechanical device used by the Fremen to pound the sand of Arrakis and distract the sandworms.

Water of Life

The bile of a young Arrakis sandworm. Highly toxic, if consumed successfully the Water of Life is capable of imbuing extraordinary properties upon the individual.

The Weirding Way

A level of self-awareness and psychological discipline practiced by the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, including the ability to use the 'Voice' to control other people's actions.