Who created the Na’vi language for the fictional moon Pandora in Avatar?

Paul Frommer created the Na’vi language for Pandora in James Cameron’s Avatar. Frommer, a linguist and professor, designed the language for the film’s Na’vi characters.

Cameron wanted the Na’vi to have a complete language rather than a few improvised sounds. Frommer developed its sound system, grammar, and initial vocabulary so actors could speak it consistently. He used features that would sound unfamiliar to English-speaking audiences while keeping pronunciation practical for performance.

The Na’vi language includes grammatical structures and word forms that distinguish it from English, including a case system and word-order patterns. After Avatar was released in 2009, fans studied and expanded their knowledge of the language through communities and reference materials. Frommer continued to discuss and develop Na’vi vocabulary, while the language remained tied to the fictional culture and environment of Pandora.