It started with a cat man on a road. Just outside the gates of Whiterun, standing near a tan tent, a merchant named Ri'saad uttered a line of dialogue that would eventually outlive the game it came from. "Khajiit has wares, if you have coin." Honestly, back in 2011, nobody at Bethesda Game Studios probably thought this specific string of code would become a global phenomenon. It was just flavor text. A way to establish that the Khajiit—the feline humanoid race of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim—were nomadic traders often shunned by the Nords.
But the internet had other plans.
The phrase Khajiit has wares if you have coin didn't just stay in the snowy tundras of Skyrim. It leaked into every corner of Reddit, Tumblr, and eventually TikTok. It became the go-to caption for every photo of a cat sitting behind an object. If a kitten was sitting in a cardboard box? Khajiit has wares. If a grumpy tabby was staring at a pile of loose change? Khajiit has wares. It’s a linguistic virus. A perfect storm of RPG immersion and the internet’s collective obsession with cats.
The Lore Behind the Meme
To understand why this stuck, you have to look at the Khajiit themselves. They aren't just "cat people." Their lore is surprisingly dense and weird. According to the Elder Scrolls universe, Khajiit morphology is determined by the phases of the moons, Masser and Secunda, at the time of their birth. Some look like house cats (Alfiq), while others look like massive, quadrupedal battle-cats (Senche-raht). The ones we see in Skyrim are typically the Cathay subspecies.
They are outsiders. In the game's mechanics, Khajiit caravans aren't allowed inside the city walls. They set up shop in the dirt outside. This creates a specific vibe for the player. You’re coming back from a dungeon, weighed down by ancient Nordic pottery and iron daggers, and there is this friendly, slightly mysterious merchant waiting for you.
The voice acting matters too. The Khajiit speak with a distinct, husky accent—often described as vaguely Middle Eastern or Central Asian inspired—and they speak in the third person. They don't say "I have stuff for sale." They say "Khajiit has wares." It feels transactional but also strangely intimate. It’s a business pitch from a creature that might just as easily pick your pocket as sell you a Sweetroll.
Why does it hit so different?
Memes usually die in six months. This one is well over a decade old. Part of that is the "Skyrim Effect." The game has been re-released on every platform known to man, from the Nintendo Switch to Alexa (literally, the Very Special Edition). Every time a new generation of gamers picks up the controller, they meet Ri'saad. They hear the line. The cycle resets.
Also, it’s incredibly versatile. You can swap "coin" for "treats" or "head scritches." It’s a template.
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From Riften to Reddit: The Viral Explosion
The meme really peaked around 2017. That was the year a specific photo of a cat sitting behind a variety of potato chip bags went viral on Reddit's r/skyrim and r/gaming. The caption was the line. It was perfect. It captured the exact essence of the in-game UI where you browse a merchant's inventory.
People started making high-effort versions. 3D renders. Cosplays involving elaborate feline masks and silk robes. Even people who had never played a second of an Elder Scrolls game knew the phrase. It became a shorthand for "I am selling something, or I have something you want, but there’s a catch."
There's a psychological element here, too. The Khajiit represent the "lovable rogue" archetype. We like the idea of a secret shop. A merchant who exists on the fringes of society. It taps into that RPG lizard-brain desire for rare loot. When you hear "Khajiit has wares if you have coin," your brain expects a bargain. Or at least some Skooma.
The Role of Skooma in Khajiit Culture
You can't talk about Khajiit merchants without talking about Skooma. It's the "dangerous" narcotic of the Tamriel world, made from Moon Sugar. In the game, Khajiit are often unfairly stereotyped as dealers. This adds a layer of "black market" energy to the meme. It’s not just "I have bread." It’s "I have the stuff the guards don't want you to have."
Interestingly, many players find the Khajiit to be the most relatable characters because they are just trying to make a living in a province that hates them. The Nords are racist. The Thalmor are fascists. The Khajiit? They just want your gold. There is a purity in that.
Beyond the Game: The Economics of Fictional Trade
Economically speaking, the Khajiit caravans are a lifeline for early-game players. They buy things that other merchants won't. They have unique items, like the Lunar Forge weapons or rare ingredients for alchemy.
When we say Khajiit has wares if you have coin, we are acknowledging a fundamental truth about gaming: everything has a price. Whether it’s 10,000 gold for a house in Solitude or 5 gold for a cabbage, the economy of Skyrim is built on these interactions. The meme is a celebration of the grind. It's the reward for your hard work.
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But it’s also about the "if."
"If you have coin."
It’s a polite way of saying "don't waste my time." It’s the ultimate merchant clapback. In a world of dragons and civil war, the Khajiit remains focused on the bottom line. That's why business owners in the real world have even used the meme in their signage. Small coffee shops, bookstores, and comic shops have all been spotted with "Khajiit has wares" signs. It bridges the gap between digital fantasy and physical commerce.
Breaking Down the Linguistic Structure
Why is the sentence so catchy?
- Third-person perspective: It removes the ego.
- The word "Wares": It sounds medieval and archaic, yet specific.
- The word "Coin": It’s more visceral than "money" or "gold."
If the line was "I have items if you have money," it would have been forgotten in a week. The specific cadence of the Khajiit voice—gravelly, rhythmic, and slightly melodic—makes it an earworm. You can't read the phrase without hearing the voice in your head. That is the hallmark of a truly great piece of writing, even if it’s just a random line of NPC dialogue.
How to Use the Meme Today Without Being "Cringe"
If you're still posting this in 2026, you've got to be smart about it. The "impact font" memes of the 2010s are dead. Today, the meme lives on through:
- Environmental storytelling: Putting the caption on a photo of a cat in a weird place, like a vending machine.
- Video edits: Using the Skyrim UI overlay on real-life footage.
- Reference humor: Dropping the line in a Discord chat when someone asks to trade items in a completely different game, like Destiny 2 or Elden Ring.
It’s about the "vibe." The Khajiit vibe is one of cozy mystery. It’s a rainy night, a campfire, and a stranger with a pack full of wonders.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Meme
People think any cat meme is a Khajiit meme. That's not true. A Khajiit meme requires a transaction. There has to be an exchange of goods. A cat just being cute is just a cat. A cat sitting next to a pile of cucumbers? That’s a Khajiit. He’s selling those cucumbers. He probably wants 50 septims for the lot.
Another misconception is that the Khajiit are "evil" or "shady." While the game sets them up as outsiders, they are often some of the most honest NPCs you'll meet. They tell you exactly what they want: coin. Compare that to the Jarls who want you to go kill a dragon for a piece of enchanted leather armor. Who is the real villain here?
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you want to lean into the Khajiit has wares if you have coin aesthetic, focus on the atmosphere. Use warm lighting. Use textures like fur, silk, and gold. If you're a streamer, use a voice modulator to get that specific Khajiit rasp.
The longevity of this meme proves that gamers value character and world-building over raw graphics. We remember Ri'saad not because he looked real, but because he felt like he belonged in that world. He had a philosophy. He had a hustle.
To truly honor the Khajiit, you should dive back into the lore. Read the in-game books like "The Words of Clan Mother Ahnissi" to understand their creation myth. It makes the meme feel less like a joke and more like a tribute to one of the most creative races in fantasy literature.
Next Steps for the Savvy Merchant:
- Audit your inventory: If you’re a creator, what are your "wares"? Define your niche.
- Master the voice: Practice the third-person "Khajiit" speech pattern for better comedic timing in voice chats.
- Look for the Moon Sugar: Find the hidden details in Skyrim that most players miss, like the hidden merchant chests located under the map in Dawnstar and Solitude.
- Support the caravans: Next time you’re in Tamriel, don't just run past the tents. Stop, sell your excess loot, and listen to what they have to say. You might find more than just iron arrows.
The world of The Elder Scrolls is vast, but it’s the small, repetitive moments that define our experience. The Khajiit are always there, waiting by the road, reminding us that no matter how many dragons we kill, we still need to pay the bills. May your road lead you to warm sands. And may you always have enough coin.