The secret revealed: George Lucas explains the reason why Yoda talks backwards
The creator of the ‘Stars Wars’ franchise has discussed the reasons behind Yoda’s unusual way of speaking.
Star Wars creator George Lucas says he gave Yoda such a distinctive speaking style to make sure film audiences would take greater notice of the character’s trademark insightful observations.
“Patience you must have”
A diminutive, anthropomorphic extraterrestrial that appears in five of the Star Wars franchise’s nine ‘Skywalker Saga’ films, Yoda is best known for his pearls of wisdom delivered using an unorthodox, backwards syntax.
Notable quotes by the character include: “Patience you must have my young Padawan”; “named must your fear be before banish it you can”; and “your path you must decide.”
“Basically the philosopher of the movie”
During a Q&A this weekend at a 45th anniversary screening of The Empire Strikes Back - the second film to be released in the space-opera saga - Lucas shed light on why Yoda expresses himself in such an unusual manner.
“It was done purposefully because if you speak regular English, people won’t listen that much,” Lucas told audience members at the TCM Classic Film Festival.
“But if he had an accent, or it’s really hard to understand what he’s saying, they focus on what he’s saying."
At the 45th anniversary screening of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK during the TCM Film Festival, George Lucas discussed why Yoda speaks backwards.
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) April 28, 2025
“Because if you speak regular English, people won’t listen that much. But if he had an accent, or it’s really hard to understand what he’s… pic.twitter.com/iqQBwyGzwu
Lucas, who has previously described Yoda as “kind of like a little Dalai Lama”, continued: “He was basically the philosopher of the movie.
“He was talking about all of the things in long talking scenes where I had to figure out a way to get people to actually listen - especially 12-year-olds.”
May 4 celebrations coming up
Lucas was speaking as fans of the sci-fi franchise prepare to celebrate Stars Wars Day on May 4.
The date was chosen because it sounds so reminiscent of “may the force be with you” - a memorable Star Wars catchphrase chiefly used by the character Obi-Wan Kenobi.
A series of movies that began with 1977’s A New Hope, Star Wars is the second-highest-grossing cinematic franchise in Hollywood history, per Box Office Mojo.
Aside from the nine ‘main’ films in the saga, Star Wars has spawned several spin-off movies - both live-action and animated - as well as a range of TV series, comics and video games.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment
Your opinion will be published with first and last names