50 Essential Elvish Words — Quenya & Sindarin Vocabulary Guide
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Quick Answer: Quenya and Sindarin both descend from a shared ancestor, Common Eldarin, but took very different paths — Quenya preserved longer, older-sounding forms (closer to Latin or Finnish), while Sindarin lost final vowels and mutated consonants along the way, so cognate words can end up looking quite different, e.g. Quenya elen vs. Sindarin êl/gil for 'star.'
Whether you are just beginning to explore Tolkien's languages or building your vocabulary for a creative project, this guide gives you the most useful words in both Quenya and Sindarin — organized by category, with pronunciation and notes on usage.
A quick reminder before we dive in: Quenya is the High-Elven tongue, older and more formal, used in ceremony and poetry. Sindarin is the everyday speech of the Grey Elves and the language you hear most often in the Peter Jackson films. Some concepts have words in both languages; others exist in only one. Where a word is attested only in one dialect, this guide notes it clearly.
For custom translations beyond this list, try the Elvish translate tool.
Greetings & Farewells (8 Words)
| English | Quenya | Sindarin | Pronunciation (Q / S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello / Hail | Aiya | Mae govannen | EYE-ya / may go-VAN-nen | Q = exclamation of greeting; S = "well met" |
| Farewell | Namárië | Navaer (Neo) | na-MAR-ee-ay / NAH-ver | Q is attested, from ná márië "be well"; the S form is a modern coinage |
| Greeting | Suilë | Suilad | SOO-ee-leh / SOO-ee-lad | Both lit. "a greeting". (Beware auta-, sometimes listed here: it means to go away, to pass, as in Auta i lómë) |
| Good journey | Mara mesta | — | MAR-a MES-ta | Q only; wish for travelers |
| Thank you | Hantanyel (Neo) | Le hannon (film) | han-TAN-yel / leh HAN-non | Tolkien left no Elvish "thank you". Le hannon is David Salo's film Sindarin |
| Be well | Mára | Galu | MAR-a / GAL-oo | Used as a parting blessing |
| Live long | Cuilë (life) | Cuio | KWEE-leh / KWI-oh | S cuio = "live!", as in Cuio i Pheriain anann!, "Long live the halflings!" |
| Friend | Meldo | Mellon | MEL-do / MEL-lon | Mellon is Tolkien's most famous word |
Nature & World (10 Words)
"Mae govannen" — want to actually speak Elvish?
Try It Free →| English | Quenya | Sindarin | Pronunciation (Q / S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star | Elen | Êl / Gil | EL-en / EL / GILL | Gil often appears in names (Gilraen, Gildor) |
| Moon | Isil | Ithil | IH-sil / ITH-il | Ithil = the Moon, used in Minas Ithil |
| Sun | Anar | Anor | AN-ar / AN-or | Anor appears in Minas Anor (Minas Tirith) |
| Fire | Nár | Naur | NAR / NOWR | Naur in Naur an edraith ammen! (fire for our saving!) |
| Water | Nen | Nen | NEN / NEN | Same in both languages; appears in Nen Hithoel |
| Stone | Ondo | Sarn | ON-do / SARN | Sarn appears in place names like Sarn Gebir. Note sarna is the adjective "stony", not the noun |
| Tree | Alda | Galadh | AL-da / GAL-adh | Root of Galadriel and Fangorn concepts |
| Wind | Súrë | Sûl | SOO-reh / SOOL | Sûl in Weathertop = Amon Sûl |
| Shadow | Lómë | Dû / Dae | LOH-meh / DOO / DAY | Lómë = deep night; dae = shadow |
| Light | Cala | Calad | KAL-a / KAL-ad | Core of Galadriel's name theme |
People & Relationships (8 Words)
| English | Quenya | Sindarin | Pronunciation (Q / S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friend | Meldo | Mellon | MEL-do / MEL-lon | See greetings above |
| Love (noun) | Melmë | Meleth | MEL-meh / MEL-eth | Deep, enduring love |
| King | Aran | Aran | AR-an / AR-an | Same in both; Aran Moria, "King of Moria", is a title used of Durin's line |
| Queen | Tári | Bereth / Rîs | TAR-ee / BEH-reth | Q tári = she who is high. Rían is a personal name ("crowned gift"), not the word for queen |
| Son | Yondo | Ion | YON-do / EE-on | -ion as a suffix = "son of" in names |
| Daughter | Yendë | Iell | YEN-deh / EE-ell | -iel suffix = "daughter of" in names |
| Lord | Heru | Hîr | HEH-roo / HEER | Hîr nín = my lord (Sindarin) |
| Lady | Heri | Hiril | HEH-ree / HIR-il | Hiril nín = my lady |
Emotions & States (8 Words)
| English | Quenya | Sindarin | Pronunciation (Q / S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope | Estel | Estel | ES-tel / ES-tel | Same in both; Aragorn's childhood name in Rivendell, and the pun inside Gilraen's linnod Ónen i-Estel Edain |
| Joy | Alassë | Glass / gell | a-LAS-seh / GLASS / GELL | Q alassë = pure happiness. Galad is radiance, not joy — it is the element in Galadriel's name |
| Tear | Nírë | Nîr | NEE-reh / NEER | Literally a tear — not "sorrow" and not "longing", two glosses often attached to it by mistake |
| Fear | Mórë (darkness) | Dread — Gorgor | MOH-reh / GOR-gor | Gorgoroth = place of great dread |
| Courage | Verië | Thalion | VEH-ree-eh / THAL-ee-on | Thalion = steadfast, dauntless — Húrin's epithet, Húrin Thalion |
| Peace | Sérë | Sîdh | SEH-reh / SEEDH | Q sérë = peace, rest |
| War | Ohta | Dagor | OH-ta / DAG-or | Dagor in many battle names (Dagorlad) |
| Fire | Nár | Naur | NAR / NOWR | Naur is simply fire, a noun — not "power" and not "defeat". Calma, likewise, is a lamp, not "power" |
Actions (8 Words)
| English | Quenya | Sindarin | Pronunciation (Q / S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speak | Quetë | Pedo | KWEH-teh / PED-oh | Pedo is the imperative: "speak!" |
| Walk | Vanta- | Pad- | VAN-ta / PAD | Pad = step, tread. Not lerta-, which means to be able to |
| Sing | Lírë | Linna | LEE-reh / LIN-na | Elves are famous singers |
| Run | Nor- | Noro | NOR / NOR-oh | Noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth! — "run swift, run swift, Asfaloth!" — is Glorfindel's cry at the Ford, FotR I.12. Arwen saying it is the film's change |
| Find | Hir- | Hir- | HEER / HEER | Root is shared; hiruvalyë = you will find (Q) |
| See | Cen- | Cen- | KEN / KEN | The same root in both. Sindarin can- is a different verb — to cry out, to command |
| Come | Tul- | Tol- | TOOL / TOL | Tolo = "come!" (S imperative) |
| Go away, pass | Auta- | Bad- | OW-ta / BAD | Auta i lómë! — "the night is passing!" Sindarin minna- is not "go" but to enter |
Colors (5 Words)
| English | Quenya | Sindarin | Pronunciation (Q / S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | Ninquë | Nim / Fain | NINK-weh / NIM / FAYN | Nim in Nimrodel; fain = pale-white. Vanya means fair, beautiful, not white — and Sindarin nîn means "my", not white |
| Black | Mórë | Dûr / Môr | MOH-reh / DOOR / MORE | Mordor = Black Land |
| Red | Carnë | Caran | KAR-neh / KAR-an | Caradhras = Red Horn |
| Gold | Laurë | Glaur | LOW-reh / GLOWR | Laurelin = the Golden Tree of Valinor |
| Silver | Tyelpë | Celeb | TYEL-peh / KEH-leb | The element in Celeborn, Celebrimbor, Telperion. Celebrin is the adjective, "silvern" |
Time (3 Words)
| English | Quenya | Sindarin | Pronunciation (Q / S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Aurë | Aur | OW-reh / OWR | Utúlie'n aurë! = The day has come! (Q) |
| Night | Lómë | Dû | LOH-meh / DOO | Dû also means darkness or nightfall |
| Forever | Tennoio | An-uir | ten-NOY-oh / an-OO-eer | Q tennoio "for ever"; the S form is a Neo-Elvish compound of an "to" + uir "eternity" |
How to Use These Words
Learning individual words is a great first step, but Elvish really comes alive when you combine them into phrases. A few quick patterns:
- Possessives: Add nín (S) or -nya (Q) after a noun for "my." Mellon nín = my friend; melmënya = my love.
- Plural: In Quenya, add -r or -i. Sindarin does not work by adding an ending: its plural is formed by an internal vowel change (i-affection) — adan → edain, orod → ered, amon → emyn, annon → ennyn. The ending -ath you sometimes see is a collective ("all of them together"), not the ordinary plural.
- Greetings + nouns: Mae govannen, hîr nín (Well met, my lord) just stacks words you already know.
For translations that go beyond this list — full phrases, names, or sentences — use the Elvish translate tool to get accurate, context-aware results.
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People Also Ask
What are Elvish words? Elvish words come from J.R.R. Tolkien's two main Elvish languages: Quenya and Sindarin. Quenya is the ancient, formal tongue of the High Elves — similar to Latin in prestige. Sindarin is the everyday spoken language of the Grey Elves and is heard most often in the Lord of the Rings films. Both are fully developed languages with vocabulary, grammar, and writing systems.
How do you say 'friend' in Elvish? In Sindarin, 'friend' is mellon (MEL-lon) — famously used on the Doors of Durin ('Pedo mellon a minno' — Speak, friend, and enter). It is Sindarin only. In Quenya, 'friend' is meldo or nildo (MEL-do, NIL-do), with nildë for a female friend — note that nilmë is 'friendship', not 'female friend'.
What is the difference between Quenya and Sindarin vocabulary? Quenya and Sindarin share many roots because they descended from the same ancestral Elvish tongue (Common Eldarin), but they evolved in very different directions. Quenya kept older, longer word forms and sounds more like Latin or Finnish. Sindarin underwent dramatic sound changes — many final vowels dropped, and consonants mutated — so corresponding words can look quite different. For example, 'star' is elen in Quenya but êl or gil in Sindarin.
What are the most common Elvish words used in Lord of the Rings? The most recognizable Elvish words in the Lord of the Rings include mellon (friend, Sindarin), Mae govannen (well met, Sindarin), Namárië (farewell, Quenya), Aiya (hail/hello, Quenya), elen (star, Quenya), calad (light, Sindarin), and estel (hope, Sindarin/Quenya). These appear in both the books and the Peter Jackson films.
Related Reading
- Elvish Dictionary — 300+ Common Words in Quenya and Sindarin
- How to describe colors in Quenya and Sindarin
- Elvish Words for Death and Fate: How Tolkien's Languages Describe the End
- Elvish Words for Emotions: Love, Fear, Joy and Grief in Quenya & Sindarin
- Elvish Words for Warrior and Strength (Quenya & Sindarin)
- Elvish Words for Time: Days, Months and the Elvish Calendar
- Light and Darkness in Elvish: Quenya & Sindarin Vocabulary for Light, Shadow and Stars
- Elvish Family Vocabulary: Mother, Father, Brother, Sister in Quenya & Sindarin
- Elvish Words Quiz: How Many Do You Actually Know?
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People Also Ask
What are Elvish words?
Elvish words come from J.R.R. Tolkien's two main Elvish languages: Quenya and Sindarin. Quenya is the ancient, formal tongue of the High Elves — similar to Latin in prestige. Sindarin is the everyday spoken language of the Grey Elves and is heard most often in the Lord of the Rings films. Both are fully developed languages with vocabulary, grammar, and writing systems.
How do you say 'friend' in Elvish?
In Sindarin, 'friend' is *mellon* (MEL-lon) — famously used on the Doors of Durin ('Pedo mellon a minno' — Speak, friend, and enter). It is Sindarin only. In Quenya, 'friend' is *meldo* or *nildo* (MEL-do, NIL-do), with *nildë* for a female friend — note that *nilmë* is 'friendship', not 'female friend'.
What is the difference between Quenya and Sindarin vocabulary?
Quenya and Sindarin share many roots because they descended from the same ancestral Elvish tongue (Common Eldarin), but they evolved in very different directions. Quenya kept older, longer word forms and sounds more like Latin or Finnish. Sindarin underwent dramatic sound changes — many final vowels dropped, and consonants mutated — so corresponding words can look quite different. For example, 'star' is *elen* in Quenya but *êl* or *gil* in Sindarin.
What are the most common Elvish words used in Lord of the Rings?
The most recognizable Elvish words in the Lord of the Rings include *mellon* (friend, Sindarin), *Mae govannen* (well met, Sindarin), *Namárië* (farewell, Quenya), *Aiya* (hail/hello, Quenya), *elen* (star, Quenya), *calad* (light, Sindarin), and *estel* (hope, Sindarin/Quenya). These appear in both the books and the Peter Jackson films.
