Tionese/Legends
Tionese, also called Old Tionese, was formerly the language of Tion. It was eventually replaced by Galactic Basic Standard. By the last centuries of the Galactic Republic, its usage was reduced to designating names with its letter names. Its letters were used by organizations such as the Galactic Empire, which used them to designate its squadrons.[1]
Just as the so-called -wing starships were named after the shapes of the letters of the High Galactic alphabet, Lambda-class shuttles somewhat resembled the letter λ.
The word vigo meant "nephew" in Old Tionese, and was adopted as a rank in the Black Sun criminal organization.

Letters in Old Tionese
- Alpha (Α, α)
- Beta (Β, β)
- Gamma (Γ, γ)
- Delta (Δ, δ)
- Epsilon (Ε, ε)
- Zeta (Ζ, ζ)
- Eta (Η, η)
- Theta (Θ, θ)
- Iota (Ι, ι)
- Kappa (Κ, κ)
- Lambda (Λ, λ)
- Mu (Μ, μ)
- Nu (Ν, ν)
- Xi (Ξ, ξ)
- Omicron (Ο, ο)
- Pi (Π, π)
- Rho (Ρ, ρ)
- Sigma (Σ, σ)
- Tau (Τ, τ)
- Upsilon (Υ, υ)
- Phi (Φ, φ)
- Chi (Χ, χ)
- Psi (Ψ, ψ)
- Omega (Ω, ω)
Examples of name usage
- Alpha Squad
- Alpha-Omega
- Code Alpha-five-zed-alpha
- Imdaar Alpha
- Imperial Robotics Construction Facility Ice Station Beta
- Gamma Squad
- Gamma Base
- Delta-class DX-9 stormtrooper transport
- Delta Squad
- Epsilon Four
- Zeta-class shuttle
- Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor
- Theta Squad
- Theta-class T-2c shuttle
- Kappa-class shuttle
- Lambda-class T-4a shuttle
- Nu-class attack shuttle
- Phi-inverted lateral stabilizer
- Omega Squad
Behind the scenes
- "It appears that multiple alphabets are in common use, as is evidenced by the existence of names and terms such as R2-D2, attack pattern Delta, Lambda-class shuttle, Aleph-class starfighters, and others stemming from the more visible Aurebesh written script."
- ―Pablo Hidalgo
This article describes the instances of the Greek alphabet in the Star Wars canon. Greek letter names are frequently used both in real life and in science fiction to designate ships, technology, constellations etc.
The 2010 Hyperspace article The Written Word reveals that this is in fact the Tionese alphabet, which would eventually lose popularity in favor of Galactic Basic.[1]
Appearances
- Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
- Shadows of the Empire novel (First appearance)
Sources
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
- Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (as Old Tionese)
- Secrets of the Sisar Run
1996 Topps Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Card: Ferreting Out a Traitor) (backup link)
- File:Gal-icon.jpg Star Wars Galaxies Most Wanted: Talus on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Underworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villainy
The Written Word on Hyperspace (article) (content removed from StarWars.com; backup link)
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook