Elvish Greetings: Mae Govannen and 15 Essential Phrases
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Quick Answer: The standard Sindarin greeting is 'Mae govannen' — "Well met," built from 'mae' (well/good) plus 'govannen', the past-participle form of 'govaned' (to meet). It's the everyday Elvish equivalent of "hello."
Quick reference — say hello in Elvish:
- Sindarin: Mae govannen — "Well met / Hello"
- Quenya: Aiya — "Hail / Hello"
How Do You Say Hello in Elvish?
There is no single word for "hello" in Elvish. Tolkien gave his Elves several greetings, and the right one depends on which Elvish language you mean:
- Hello in Sindarin: Mae govannen — "well met" (literally "well encountered"). In the book it is Glorfindel's greeting to Aragorn (FotR I.12). It is the everyday equivalent of "hello", not a word-for-word translation of it.
- Hello in Quenya: Aiya — "hail!", a reverent exclamation, as in Frodo's Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!
- Formal Quenya greeting: Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo — "a star shines on the hour of our meeting", Frodo's words to Gildor.
- A caution on suilad: often listed as Sindarin "hello" or "greeting", but the bare noun is a modern (Neo-Sindarin) reconstruction from Tolkien's verb suila-; it is not attested on its own.
Short answer: say mae govannen in Sindarin and aiya in Quenya.
The 15 Most Essential Elvish Greetings
"Mae govannen" — want to actually speak Elvish?
Try It Free →1. Mae govannen — "Well Met" (Sindarin)
Pronunciation: may go-VAN-nen
The most common Elvish greeting. Literally "well encountered" — mae (well/good) + govannen (encountered, past participle of govaned).
Used exactly like "hello" in modern English. In the books it is Glorfindel who says it, greeting Aragorn on the road to Rivendell (FotR I.12). In Peter Jackson's films the line is redistributed — Elrond and Haldir both say it to Legolas, which is why it is so often misremembered as his.
"Mae govannen, hîr nín" — "Well met, my lord"
2. Aiya — "Hail / Hello" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: EYE-ya
A Quenya exclamation used as a greeting. Frodo says Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima — "Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars" — when using the Phial of Galadriel against Shelob.
Used as a general exclamation of greeting or wonder.
3. Namárië — "Farewell" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: na-MAR-ee-ay
The most famous Elvish word. Tolkien glossed it himself in The Road Goes Ever On: it is a contraction of ná márië, "be well" — not, as is often repeated, nai + márë. Galadriel's entire lament to the Fellowship is titled Namárië, and it is the longest piece of Quenya in all of Tolkien's published works.
"Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar!" "Farewell! May you find Valimar!"
Note the last word: Valimar, the city of the Valar, not Valinor the land. The line is a wish that Galadriel's hearer reach the city she herself cannot return to.
4. Navaer — "Farewell" (Sindarin)
Pronunciation: NAH-ver
Usually given as the Sindarin equivalent of Namárië. In fairness to the reader: this is a Neo-Elvish form built by modern learners, not one Tolkien wrote — he left no attested Sindarin word for "farewell."
"Navaer, mellon nín" — "Farewell, my friend"
5. Le hannon — "Thank you" (Sindarin)
Pronunciation: leh HAN-non
Literally "I thank thee." Le = thee/you, hannon = I thank. It is not in Tolkien: le hannon was written by David Salo for Peter Jackson's films, where Aragorn says it to Haldir. It is the phrase most often mistaken for canon, and it is worth knowing that Tolkien recorded no Elvish word for "thank you" at all.
6. Hantanyel — "Thank you" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: han-TAN-yel
Usually offered as the Quenya equivalent of thanks. The verb root hanta- "to thank" is attested, and so is the noun hantalë "thanksgiving" — but the full inflected greeting hantanyel is a Neo-Elvish construction, not a phrase Tolkien wrote.
7. Á vala Manwë — "May Manwë bless you" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: AH VAL-a MAN-way
A blessing invoking Manwë, the King of the Valar and lord of the winds. Used when wishing someone luck or saying farewell with good wishes.
8. Galu — "Blessings / Good luck" (Sindarin)
Pronunciation: GAL-oo
Galu "blessing, good fortune" is a real Sindarin word, but the greeting most learners meet it in — no galu govad gen, "may blessing go with you" — is Salo's film Sindarin, spoken in the Jackson films rather than written by Tolkien.
9. Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo — "A star shines on the hour of our meeting" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: EL-en SEE-la LOO-men oh-men-tee-EL-vo
The most beautiful Elvish greeting. Frodo says it to Gildor Inglorion in the Woody End, FotR I.3 — a traditional greeting of great formality and warmth. It is not Galadriel's, it is not from Namárië, and it is not spoken at the Doors of Moria, though it is regularly misattributed to all three. Literally: elen (star) + síla (shines) + lúmenn' (on the hour of) + omentielvo (our meeting).
10. Êl síla erin lû e-govaned vîn — Sindarin equivalent
The Sindarin version of the star greeting — written by David Salo for the films, not by Tolkien, though it is modelled closely on the Quenya line. Êl (star) + síla (shines) + erin lû (on the hour) + e-govaned vîn (of our meeting).
11. Tolo — "Come" (Sindarin)
Pronunciation: TOH-lo
An imperative meaning "come here" — used in invitations and welcoming gestures.
"Tolo, mellon" — "Come, friend"
12. Mara mesta — "Good journey / Farewell" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: MAR-a MES-ta
A parting blessing for travellers. Mára (good) + mesta (departure). Neo-Elvish — built from attested words, but not a phrase found in Tolkien.
13. Andave laituvalmet — "We will praise them long" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: AN-da-veh lie-too-VAL-met
Used in the celebration after the fall of Sauron — "Cuio i Pheriain anann! Aglar'ni Pheriannath! ... Andave laituvalmet!" — "Long live the Halflings! Glory to the Halflings! ... We will praise them long!"
14. Pedo — "Speak" (Sindarin)
Pronunciation: PED-o
An imperative meaning "speak." Famous from the inscription on the Doors of Durin: "Pedo mellon a minno" — "Speak, friend, and enter."
15. Utúlie'n aurë — "The day has come!" (Quenya)
Pronunciation: oo-TOO-lee-en OW-ray
The cry of Fingon opening the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Silmarillion ch. 20) — not Frodo's and not Fingolfin's. Used to announce a long-awaited moment. Utúlie'n = "has come" (the perfect of the verb tul- "to come") + aurë = "day". Húrin's answering cry at the end of the same battle is Aurë entuluva!, "Day shall come again!"
Pronunciation Guide
Elvish sounds are mostly regular once you know the patterns:
| Letter | Sound |
|---|---|
| ae | like "eye" |
| ai | like "eye" |
| c | always hard K sound |
| ch | like Scottish "loch" |
| dh | like "th" in "the" |
| ë | always pronounced, like "eh" |
| th | always hard, like "think" |
| ú, ó, á | long vowels, held longer |
Quick Reference Table
| English | Quenya | Sindarin |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Well met | Aiya | Mae govannen |
| Farewell | Namárië | Navaer (Neo) |
| Thank you (no attested Elvish word) | Hantanyel (Neo) | Le hannon (film) |
| Good luck | Á vala Manwë | Galu |
| Good journey | Mára mesta (Neo) | — |
| Friend | Meldo | Mellon |
| Come | Tola | Tolo |
| Speak | Quetë | Pedo |
People Also Ask
What does 'Mae govannen' mean in Elvish? 'Mae govannen' is a Sindarin Elvish greeting meaning 'Well met'. It is literally translated as 'well encountered' — 'mae' means well/good, 'govannen' is the past participle of 'govaned' (to meet). It is the standard Elvish hello.
What does 'Namárië' mean? 'Namárië' is a Quenya word meaning 'Farewell' or 'Be well'. It is most famous as the title of Galadriel's lament when the Fellowship leaves Lothlórien — the longest piece of Quenya in The Lord of the Rings.
How do you say hello in Elvish? In Sindarin: 'Mae govannen' (Well met). In Quenya: 'Aiya' (Hail/Hello). Mae govannen is the most common greeting in Tolkien's Elvish and literally means 'Well encountered'.
What does 'Aiya' mean in Quenya? 'Aiya' is a Quenya exclamation meaning 'Hail!', 'Hello!', or 'Behold!'. Frodo cries "Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!" — "Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!" — while holding the Phial of Galadriel in Shelob's Lair (The Two Towers IV.9), in words he did not know he was speaking. The greeting he uses to the High-Elves in the Shire is a different one: "Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo".
Related Reading
- Mae Govannen Meaning: "Well Met" in Elvish
- what to say after Mae Govannen — Elvish blessings for guests
- Elvish Greeting Etiquette in Lord of the Rings — Rivendell Customs Explained
- Elvish Oaths and Strong Words: The Fierce Side of Tolkien's Language
- How to Write a Love Letter in Elvish: Quenya & Sindarin Phrases for Romance
- Elvish Christmas & Yule Greetings — Middle-earth Winter Phrases
- 20 Essential Quenya Phrases with Pronunciation Guide
- Lord of the Rings Elvish Phrases: 15 Famous Lines with Translations
- Using Mellon: Pronunciation, Plural and Example Sentences
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People Also Ask
What does 'Mae govannen' mean in Elvish?
'Mae govannen' is a Sindarin Elvish greeting meaning 'Well met'. It is literally translated as 'well encountered' — 'mae' means well/good, 'govannen' is the past participle of 'govaned' (to meet). It is the standard Elvish hello.
What does 'Namárië' mean?
'Namárië' is a Quenya word meaning 'Farewell' or 'Be well'. It is most famous as the title of Galadriel's lament when the Fellowship leaves Lothlórien — the longest piece of Quenya in The Lord of the Rings.
How do you say hello in Elvish?
In Sindarin: 'Mae govannen' (Well met). In Quenya: 'Aiya' (Hail/Hello). Mae govannen is the most common greeting in Tolkien's Elvish and literally means 'Well encountered'.
What does 'Aiya' mean in Quenya?
'Aiya' is a Quenya exclamation meaning 'Hail!', 'Hello!', or 'Behold!'. Frodo cries 'Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!' — 'Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!' — while holding the Phial of Galadriel in Shelob's Lair (The Two Towers IV.9), in words he did not know he was speaking. The greeting he uses to the High-Elves in the Shire is a different one: 'Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo'.
How do you say hello in Sindarin?
Say 'Mae govannen' — 'well met', literally 'well encountered'. In The Lord of the Rings it is Glorfindel's greeting to Aragorn (FotR I.12). 'Suilad' is often given as Sindarin hello, but the bare noun is a Neo-Sindarin reconstruction from Tolkien's verb 'suila-', not an attested word.
How do you say hello in Quenya?
Say 'Aiya' — 'hail!', a reverent greeting, as in Frodo's 'Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!'. For a formal Quenya greeting Tolkien gives 'Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo' — 'a star shines on the hour of our meeting', Frodo's words to Gildor.
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