Legolas Elvish Quotes — What Does Legolas Say in Elvish?
Legolas Elvish Quotes — Translated
The short answer: Legolas speaks Sindarin throughout Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. His lines range from battle commands to formal greetings, all crafted with help from Tolkien linguist David Salo. Below is a complete breakdown of his key Elvish moments, translated word by word.
Legolas in the Council of Elrond
At the Council of Elrond in Rivendell, the Elvish representatives — including Legolas — speak in Sindarin before switching to the Common Tongue (English) for the rest of the Fellowship's benefit.
"Le abdollen."
Le abdollen.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Le | you (formal) |
| abdollen | came late, are late (from ab- "after" + tollon "you came") |
Translation: "You are late."
Context: This line is spoken to Frodo as he arrives late to the Council. It establishes immediately that the Elves at Rivendell speak to each other — and to outsiders — in Sindarin first.
The Fellowship on Caradhras
"Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse!"
Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse!
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cuiva | awake! (imperative) |
| nwalca | cruel, fell |
| Carnirasse | Red Horn (the Elvish name for Caradhras) |
Translation: "Awake, cruel Caradhras!"
Context: Legolas cries this as the mountain storm intensifies. He is addressing the mountain itself — consistent with the Elvish belief that great mountains and natural features have spirits or wills.
Moria and the Fellowship in Danger
"Orcs!" / "Yrch!"
Yrch is the Sindarin plural of orch (orc). Legolas shouts this as a warning — a single word that carries immense urgency in context.
Pronunciation: URCH (like "lurch" without the L)
"Daro!"
Daro!
Translation: "Halt! Stop!"
Pronunciation: DAH-roh
Context: Legolas uses this sharp command to freeze the Fellowship when danger is sensed. It is one of the most recognizable single-word Elvish commands in the films.
Formal Elvish Greetings Used by Legolas's People
"Merin le govaned."
Merin le govaned.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Merin | I wish, I desire (from mer-, to wish) |
| le | you (formal singular) |
| govaned | meeting, encounter (verbal noun of govano, to meet) |
Translation: "I wish to meet you" / "I desire your acquaintance."
Use: A formal Sindarin greeting used when meeting someone of equal or higher standing. Appropriate between Elves of different realms or between Elves and honored guests.
Helm's Deep and The Two Towers
"A Legolas, tolo, hi!"
A Legolas, tolo, hi!
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | O (vocative particle, calling someone's name) |
| Legolas | Legolas (Green-leaf) |
| tolo | come (imperative of tol-, to come) |
| hi | now |
Translation: "O Legolas, come now!"
Context: Spoken by Aragorn calling Legolas urgently during battle. It demonstrates how naturally Sindarin fits into moments of high drama — the language's sounds cut through chaos.
"Dartho!"
Dartho!
Translation: "Stay! Stand fast!"
Pronunciation: DAR-thoh
Root: dar- (to stay, to halt) + imperative suffix -o
Context: A command for allies to hold their ground during battle. Legolas uses commands like this to coordinate the Fellowship without drawing enemy attention with longer speech.
Legolas and Gimli — The Elvish–Dwarvish Friendship
One of the most remarkable aspects of Legolas's character arc is that he, an Elf of Mirkwood raised to distrust Dwarves, develops a deep bond with Gimli. In the context of Elvish culture, accepting a Dwarf as a close friend (mellon, friend) is a significant act.
When Legolas speaks of Gimli to other Elves, he uses the word mellon — friend — a word that carries full weight in Elvish culture. "Friend" in Sindarin is not casual; it implies trust and chosen kinship.
For more on the word mellon and its famous use at the Doors of Moria, see our guide: What Does Mellon Mean?
The Name Legolas — What Does It Mean?
Legolas is Sindarin. It means Green-leaf or Green-leaves:
| Element | Sindarin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| leg- | laeg | keen-sighted, sharp; also green |
| -olas | olas | leaves, foliage |
His full Sindarin name, Legolas Greenleaf, was given to him by his father Thranduil in honor of the great forests of Mirkwood. The greenleaf is a symbol of the Woodland Elves' connection to living forests.
Practice the Lines Yourself
Our Movie Quotes page has more Elvish film lines from Aragorn, Arwen, Elrond, and Galadriel — all with word-by-word breakdowns identical to the ones above.
If you want to try building your own Sindarin phrases in Legolas's style — short, sharp, action-oriented — the Elvish Translator is the place to start.
Merin le govaned, mellon nín — I wish to meet you, my friend.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does Legolas say in Elvish in Lord of the Rings?
Legolas speaks Sindarin throughout the films. Key lines include 'A Legolas, tolo, hi!' (Legolas, come now!) spoken by Aragorn, 'Merin le govaned' (I desire/wish to meet you, a greeting), and 'Dartho!' (Stay/halt!) — a command he uses in tense moments. He also participates in Elvish council discussions at Rivendell.
What does 'Merin le govaned' mean?
'Merin le govaned' is a Sindarin greeting meaning 'I wish to meet you' or 'I desire your meeting.' It breaks down as: merin (I wish/desire) + le (you, formal) + govaned (meeting, encounter — from the verb 'govano,' to meet). It is used as a formal Elvish greeting between strangers.
What language does Legolas speak and how accurate is it?
Legolas speaks Sindarin, the everyday language of the Woodland Elves of Middle-earth. The film's Elvish dialogue was developed with assistance from Tolkien linguist David Salo, who based it on Tolkien's published Sindarin vocabulary and grammar. It is generally regarded as faithful to Tolkien's linguistic framework, though some constructions are reconstructed.
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