#tolkien languages

[eri-pl]

Ooooh I just learned that Quenya has the phrase "carina nilmen" which is a reply to "thank you" meaning more or less "you're welcome/no problem" but it literally means "done for friendship" and ooooooh. Oh.

I love thins language. I love this Discord.

[riding-with-the-wild-hunt]

"For a while he abode with them and aided them in the making of language; for that was their first work of craft upon Earth, and ever most dear to their hearts, and the fair Elvish speech was sweet in the ears of the Valar." - J.R.R. Tolkien, Morgoth's Ring, "Of the Coming of the Elves"

QUENYA NEOLOGISMS by @outofangband

[ID: an edit comprised of seven horizontal banners, each bearing a word in more ornate white script, and its definition and etymology in smaller serif font below. Top to bottom, the images show:

1: Iridescent feathers. Text reads "Calilqua," and below it "iridescence" and in italics "'cal-' (shine, light) + 'ilqua' (oily)" / 2: Sun shining through the green canopies of trees. Text reads "Narollasë," and below it "the smell of leaves" and "'nar-' (relating to smell) + 'ollassë' (foliage) / 3: Ocean waves on a clear day. Text reads "Ëarwesta," and below it "sea breeze" and "'ëar' (sea) + 'hwesta' (breeze)' / 4: A pearl forming in a pale nacreous shell. Text reads "Marilquilëa," and below "pearlescence" and "'marilla' (pearl) + '-quilëa' (hued)" / 5: Tree branches bearing white flowers at night. Text reads "Lómelótë," and below "night-blooming flower" and "'lómë' (twilight) + 'lótë' (flower) / 6: Bare branches covered with snow. Text reads "Minyalossë," and below "first snow" and "'minya' (first) + 'lossë' (snow) / 7: Moss and small plants growing on the surface of a rock. Text reads "Taurecaila," and below "moss" and "'taurë' (forest) + 'kaila' (bed) //End ID]

[vassalsofdeceit]

Chances are, I'm probably extremely late to the party... but I found a resource for a lot of Tolkien's languages that seems pretty helpful, so who knows, maybe it'll help someone out too. Calling fic writers for this one https://www.elfdict.com/

[red-sky-in-the-morning]

New headcanon that Nertanel (rough translation is "daughter of the man-smith") was the original Quenya name of Nerdanel, but it was mangled by Sindarin soft-mutation.

The thing is, we don't actually know what Nerdanel (the name) even means. This is because the actual etymology of Nerdanel is probably something like nerdo "large, strong man" + ⚠️anel "daughter", but anel was generally replaced by seldë in later notes, which renders this void. And also this meaning makes no sense.

So I made a few alternate names for Nerdanel:

Nertanel from nér "man" + tamo "smith, builder, wright" + -(i)el "daughter"

Nerdantel* from nér "man" + √DAT "fall down" + él "star"

Nernanel from nér "man" + nan- "back (again)" + él "star"

Nertiel from nertëa "ninth" + -(i)el "-daughter"

Nerdarel from nerdo "large, strong man" + seldë "daughter"

*I think this would probably be Nellantel in proper Quenya, using lanta- "to fall".

Given that Nerdanel was the daughter of Mahtan (literal translation is "forger smith"), I feel like Nertanel would be the best fit. And we have examples of names being half-Sindarised — just look at Fëanor!

Can someone check that I'm compounding Quenya the right way, please?

[reedsllve]

Sindarin words for fanfic writers

I used parf edhellen and a few other websites all listed at the bottom!

Includes: greetings & goodbyes/ questions/ commands/ terms of endermeant/ compliments/ insults/ family titles/ clothing/ body parts/ years & months/ numbers

Greetings/ goodbyes

Well met - Mae Govannan

Greetings - suilaid

My heart sings to see you. - Guren linna chen cened.

My pleasure to meet you. - Glassen na chen govaded.

Hail - Ai

Welcome - Nathla/Nathlo

A star shines upon/on the hour of our meeting - Êl síla erin lû e-govaned vîn

You are welcome here - Gi nathlam hí

Farewell. - Navaer.

I hope you have a good journey. - Harthon gerich lend vaer.

I hope useful winds will speed you on. – Harthon huil vaer chen horthatha.

Fair winds! - Suil vain!

I hope you will have kind seas. - Harthon gerithach aeair vilui.

I hope you will have a good hunt. - Harthon gerich rui vaer.

I hope the leaves of your tree of life will not wither. - Harthon i laiss en-Galadh e-Guil chîn ú-belithar.

I hope you will have green paths and a breeze behind your body. - Harthon gerithach raid gelin ar chwest adel thraw chîn.

I hope you will have paths green and golden. - Harthon gerithach raid gelin ar velthin.

Nothing will stop the weeping of my heart until our reunion. - Unad nuithatha i nîr e-guren nalú aderthad vîn.

I hope you will have sweet waters and joyous laughter until our next meeting. - Harthon gerithach nîn velui ar lalaith veren na-lû govaded vîn.

I hope you will have sweet dreams tonight. - Harthon gerithach elei velui nef fuin hen.

I hope to see you there. - Ennas harthon chen cened.

I hope to see you at this time. - Harthon chen cened na lû hen.

Questions

Do you speak elvish? - Pedig/Pedil edhellen?

Where are we? - Mi van me?

What are you doing? - Man ceril?

What did you do? - Man agorel?

When? - Na van?

Which one? - Man pen?

With what? - A van?

Who is leading? - Man tôg

Why? - Am man?

Why? (For what purpose?) - Am man theled?

Why not? - Avo garo am man theled?

Commands

Be gone - Ego

Run - nor-

Halt - Daro

Let’s go - Gwaem

Come near the fire - Tolo anin naur

Come with me - Tolo ar nin

Come, join us - Tolo, govano ven

Release me - Leithio nin

Save me - Edraith enni

Don’t be afraid - Av-'osto

Terms of endermeant

My sweet heart - Guren vell

My love - Meleth nîn, mil nîn, melethen, or milen.

My friend - Mellon nîn or Mellonen

My friends - Mellyn nîn or Mellynen

My Lord - Brannon nîn or Brannonen

My Lady - Brennil nîn or Brennilen

Foe of my foe - Coth o chothen

Friend of my friend - Mellon o mellonen

Little father (dwarf) - Adar dithen

Bearded one (dwarf) - masc. Fangon fem. Fangil

Mighty one - masc. Belegon fem. Belegil

Valiant one - masc. Gornon fem. Gornil

Ancient one - masc. Iauron fem. Iauril

Wise one - masc. Saelon fem. Saelil

Loyal one - masc. Sadron fem. Sadril

My champion - masc. Thalion nîn or Thalionen fem. Thaliel nîn or Thalielen

My beloved - masc. Melethron nîn or Melethronen fem. Melethril nîn or Melethrilen

Love of my life - Meleth e-Guilen

Lovely one - masc. Miluir fem. Miluis

Compliments (literal translations)

It is my joy to see you. - Glassen na chen cenin.

You did well. - Mae carnen

You have a heart like a lion. - Gerich ‘ûr sui raw.

You are a mighty and brave warrior. - Ech maethor veleg ar gornen. (Gornen constructed from the noun gorn “valour”)

You are an archer skilled and sharp-eyed. - Ech pengor vaen ar maecheneb. (Pengor in feminine form is Pengel)

You are as beautiful as a rainbow. - Ech vain sui ninniach.

Your radiance shines like the moon. - ‘Law chîn síla sui Ithil.

Your love glitters in your eyes. - Veleth chîn thilia mi chinech.

Your radiant eyes conquered my heart. - Chin gelair chîn orthernir guren.

Your beauty took my breath away. - Thîr vain chîn darn thulen.

Insults

Your head is empty. - Dhôl chîn nâ cofn or Dhôl chîn nâ lost.

Cowardly dog! - Hû ú-gaun!

Go kiss an orc! - Mítho orch!

I hate you! - Chen ú-vilin!

Listen to my laughter! - Lasto al lalaith nîn!

Much wind pours from your mouth. - Súlon 'wanna nîf chîn.

Son of snakes! - Lýgion!

You disgust me! - Chen fuion!

You’re ugly and your mother dresses you. - Thiach uanui ar naneth chîn chen hamma.

You are stupid. - Ech uchand.

Orc lover! - Orvelethron! Or feminine orvelethril!

You are hideous! - Thiach uanui!

Family titles

Father - Adar

Mother - Naneth/Emel

Parent - odhril

Child - hên

Daughter - sell

Son - ion/iond

Sister - Nîth/ Neth/ Nethel

Sister in law - bethres

Brother - Hanar

Brother in law - bethren

Sibling - hest

Half-brother - perhanar

Half-sister - pernîth/ perneth/ pernethel

Half-sibling - perhest

Pair of twins - Gwanûn

Grandmother - mam

Grandfather - dâd

Kin - rennas

Kinsman - gwanur

Family - nothlir/ nothrim/ nos

Clothing (I couldn’t find much for these)

Jewel - mîr

Jewellery - mîrith

Ring - corf

Necklace - sigil

Ringlet - laus/ loch

Crown - rî

To crown/ coronate - rìnada

Boot - saeb

Shoe - habad

Clothes - hammad

Body parts (also couldn’t find much for these)

Hair - findë

Face - thîr

Eyes - hen

Lips - pemp

Nose - nem

Body- Rhond

Years/Months/days

The month of January - Narwain

The month of February - nínui

The month of March - gwaeron

The month of April - gwirith

The month of may - lothron

The month of June - nórui

The month of July - cerveth

The month of august - urui

The month of September - ivanneth

The month of October - narbeleth

The month of November - hithui

The month of December - girithron

First age - mein andrann

Second age - edwen andrann

Third age - nail/nelui/neil andrann

Monday - orithil

Tuesday - orgaladh/orgaladhad

Wednesday - ormenel

Thursday - oraeron

Friday - orbelain

Saturday - orgilion

Sunday - oranor

Numbers

“There were two different number systems in use in Middle Earth; the duodecimal system (base 12) and the decimal system that we use today. Interestingly Tolkien tells us that although "in Common Eldarin the multiples of three, especially six and twelve, were considered especially important" the decimal system developed first - "and eventually beside the decimal numeration a complete duodecimal system was devised for calculations".

Although he goes on to say that "the special words for 12 (dozen), 18 and 144 (gross) were in general use" we don't have any record of what that special number for 18 might have been in any language. Tolkien further noted that "for general purposes the numeral names were decimal in origin". This is why the numbers for 20, 30 and so on mean 'two tens', 'three tens'.”

The numbers 13-19 are reconstructed from Quenya.

1 - min

2 - tâd

3 - neledh

4 - canad

5 - leben

6 - eneg

7 - odo/odog

8 - tolodh/toloth

9 - neder

10 - cae/caen/pae-

11 - Minib

12 - Ýneg

13 - Neleb

14 - Canab

15 - Leben

16 - Eneph

17 - Odoph

18 - Toloph

19 - Nederph

These then, are the deduced numbers 20 - 90 using Tolkien's later material. I suggest that these are for Sindarin as spoken by the Elves, and the original forms as written in the King's Letter are Gondorian Sindarin

20 - Taphaen

30 - Nelphaen

40 - Cambaen

50 - Lephaen

60 - Enephaen

70 - Odophaen

80 - Tolophaen

90 - Nederphaen

100 - Haran

Numbers like 33, 67, 82 etc. can be formed like this Nelphaen a neledh = Thirty and three (33) or Neledh a nelphaen = Three and thirty

Enephaen a odog = Sixty and seven (67) or Odog a enephaen = Seven and sixty

Tolophaen a dâd = Eighty and two (82) or Tâd a dolophaen = Two and eighty

For any number after 12 you just need to put -ui on the end to form the ordinal, e.g. nederphaenui = 90th

1st - Minui

2nd - Tadui

3rd - Nelui

4th - Canthui

5th- Lefnui

6th - Enchui

7th - Othui

8th - Tollui

9th - Nedrui

10th - Paenui

11th - Minibui

12th - Ýnegui

[firelightinferno]

How to use Tolkien's languages

I guess posts have been made about where you can find references on Sindarin, Quenya, Nandorin, Old Elvish, and Noldorin among others on Tumblr but I wanted to make my own list (so I can come back to it when I need it). If you know a website you'd like me to consider for my list, please just mention it to me.

Ambar Eldaron – Sindarin and Quenya dictionaries and courses

Ardalambion – Website about the sounds of Tolkien's languages and their grammar

Automatic Quenya translator – English to Quenya and back

Eldamo – A lexicon of Tolkien's invented languages including fonts

Glæmscrafu – This website explores the sounds of Tolkien's invented languages and includes several texts and poems

Gwaith-i-Phethdain, The Fellowship of the Word-Smiths – Very detailed page by Ryszard Derdzinski. Many poems and calligraphies. Particularly noteworthy are the translations of the Elvish texts and songs from the film trilogy.

Hiswelokë's Sindarin Dictionary – A Sindarin and Noldorin dictionary that was started in 1999 and then went on hiatus in 2008

I Lam Arth – Aaron Shaw's site with a series of in-depth articles on Sindarin

Lalaith's Middle Earth Science Pages – Website about Middle-earth's people, languages of the humans, and other things. This also includes Rohirric if you're into learning that.

Mellonath Daeron – Some useful Elvish phrases

Parf Edhellen – A Sindarin, Quenya, Primitive Elvish, and Noldorin dictionary. It's my favourite website because it also compares old and new translations.

Parma Tyelpelassiva – Texts, songs, poems and grammar for Sindarin, Quenya, Andûnaic, Noldorin, etc.

Quenya pronunciation guide

RealElvish – Phrasebooks on Sindarin, Quenya, Andûnaic, etc. including naming traditions and lists for Elves, Rohirrim, Hobbits, Dwarves (if you need it for a fanfiction)

Sindarin.de – The first Sindarin website I frequented and where I learnt all the grammar. It's in German.

Sindarin phrasebook by slarmstrong – There are 3 parts of this phrasebook

Sindanórie – Site by Roman Rausch with articles on Telerin and word overlaps between the Elvish and real languages, poems, sound files, etc.

Tecendil – If you want to see what your name or others look like in Elvish script

Tyalie Tyelellieva – Website by Lisa Star but since geocities was taken down, it only exists in an archived form. It was last updated in 2004 but it also has a Khūzdul or Dwarvish Wordlist.

Happy browsing and please reblog! 🥰

[aspecardaweek]

DAY FIVE: Relationships Aspec people can have many different kinds of relationships, including romantic and sexual ones— but some kinds of relationships are more unique and common to the aspec communities, such as queerplatonic ones. Today is a day for exploring all these different kinds of relationships! There are several relationships in Tolkien’s works that could easily be read as queerplatonic, including Frodo + Sam, and Legolas + Gimli. Alternative prompt: Many of the terms for aspec identity come from root words of Latin, can you postulate translations for aspec terminology in any of Tolkien’s languages?

These prompts are optional, and we are open to any aspec content whether or not you stick to our suggestions!

Please tag your posts with #aspecardaweek AND @ mention this blog @aspecardaweek so they can be easily found. If you are posting your submission to AO3, you can add it to the event collection here.

[maironmitheno]

Quenya and Sindarin Resources

Quenya: Elvish.org ELF Errata Vinyar Tengwar Books / Book Links Quenya Courses Additional Courses/Guides by Ardalambion Quenya Course PDF by Fauskanger

(Sindarin) Sindarin-English Dictionary Council of Elrond General Language Resources Mellonath Daeron's Forodrim.org's Language Guild Elvish Pronunciation Guide General Elvish Resources from Council of Elrond Tengwar Handbook