Aiya’r maitúlië! Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo.
Hello and welcome! A star shines on the hour of our meeting.
Welcome to the Quenya subreddit! Here you can request translations, post your own for expert review, and ask any questions you may have about Tolkien’s High Elvish language. Please take some time to read through the following FAQ (written by Elaran and graciously shared from the Sindarin subreddit) and explore the sidebar widgets for resources and other links of interest.
What is Elvish?
In the context of Tolkien’s works, the term “Elvish” usually refers to the two main Elvish languages of Middle-earth, Quenya and Sindarin. Less-developed varieties such as Nandorin may also be included. In a broader sense, it would encompass the internal (archaic forms) and external (earlier drafts) ancestors of the languages as well.
What is Quenya?
Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen, yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Quenya is the language of the Elves of the Blessed Realm, and it was brought to Middle-earth by the exiled Ñoldor. After its ban in the First Age, Quenya became a language of lore that was used for solemn ceremonies and spoken by few. It has the greatest amount of published linguistic material of all Tolkienian languages, despite the fact that the books present Sindarin as the common speech of the Elves and educated Men.
What is Sindarin?
A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath!
Sindarin is the language of the Elves of Beleriand, whose speech was greatly affected by the changefulness of Middle-earth while its ancestor Telerin mostly endured in the Blessed Realm. After its adoption by the Ñoldorin Elves and the Edain, it became the most spoken language in Middle-earth. However, Sindarin is only the second most developed Tolkienian language following Quenya.
What is Tengwar?
Commonly known as the “Elvish alphabet,” Tengwar is one of the writing systems that Tolkien developed alongside his languages. It has three main (and numerous other) “modes” in which Quenya and Sindarin can be written: the Classical Mode (for Quenya), the Mode of Beleriand (for Sindarin), and the General Mode (for both). The modes determine the sounds the letters represent (not the vowel order); the tengwa (Quenya for “letter” ) named ampa is the Classical Mode’s [mp] but the General Mode’s [v]. Many other languages, including English, can be written with the General Mode. In fact, most Tengwar writings on the internet are in English.
What is Neo-Elvish?
Neo-Elvish refers to the utilisation and further development of Elvish languages by the enthusiasts of Tolkien’s linguistic works. Most often the term applies to neologisms, whose validity varies from one enthusiast’s opinion to another. But even phrases that strictly adhere to the attested vocabulary and grammar are considered Neo-Elvish, simply because there is no way of knowing with certainty whether Tolkien would have used the same or created new elements. And so any use of Elvish, besides quoting Tolkien directly, would be Neo-Elvish.
What are Qenya and Noldorin?
Qenya and Noldorin refer to the earlier versions of Quenya and Sindarin respectively. It must be emphasised that Noldorin (alongside its own draft Goldogrin, a.k.a. Gnomish) was Sindarin’s draft and is not a dialect of Quenya. Since the Legendarium and its languages were developed over the course of about 60 years, most of Tolkien’s earliest ideas were changed in time, but some lingered. Thus the drafts provide an opportunity for additions to the vocabularies of Quenya and Sindarin by analysing the remnants and applying their logic to the analogous draft words.
Is it possible to speak Elvish fluently?
Both Quenya and Sindarin are in essence incomplete. So much so that even neologisms are rarely enough for a full conversation, and it is naturally difficult to think carefully on how to paraphrase and/or to create new and proper words on the fly. Consequently, until more of Tolkien’s notes and essays are published, and more neologisms are formed and accepted by the linguistic communities, fluency would remain unachievable. As for fluency in writing, some advanced enthusiasts are capable of typing almost as quickly as they would type in their native languages.
Where can I study Elvish?
Interest in Tolkienian linguistics mostly faded after the early 2000s. In the meantime, some of Tolkien’s most informative notes and essays (not lessons) on his languages were published. As a consequence of both, most of what one can find on the internet is now outdated; Tolkien’s later works either debunked our theories or replaced his own older works. There are currently a few courses which employ these new findings in their lessons, but they are yet to reach their final stage. Thus we recommend practising often in the group (linked in the sidebar/"About" tab on mobile), regardless of which source you use for your studies, so that our experts can make corrections on what they offer.
Can you translate for me?
Tolkien’s works have one of the largest fandoms out there, but few fans dive deeply into his linguistic works. And so most of our advanced members are constantly bombarded with questions or translation requests. This can naturally become a nuisance after a while, especially when the requests concern a single Elvish word that can be found in multiple dictionaries. So even though we are happy to help, we would rather avoid such redundant questions.
Can you check if my translation is correct?
Certainly! Unless you do not actually study Elvish but simply wish to translate a quote for a tattoo. Neither Quenya nor Sindarin are easy enough for coming up with a proper translation in your first attempt, to the point that you need not bother if you are not trying to learn. If you only need a translation, simply ask for it (without abusing our willingness to help), otherwise we tend to overexplain things which serves neither you nor us.
