Quenya 

sén

children

#sén collective (?) noun "children", isolated from Erusén "the children of God" (RGEO:74, VT49:35). The word would seem to be a collective, since it has no plural ending.

Aulëonnar

children of aulë

Aulëonnar (sg. #Aulëonna) noun "Children of Aulë", a name of the Dwarves (PM:391). See onna.

Valarindi

offspring of the valar, their children begotten in arda

Valarindi pl. noun "offspring of the Valar, their children begotten in Arda" (sg. #Valarindë). (MR:49). Compare indi.

aulëonnar

collective name. Children of Aulë

A name for the Dwarves as children of Aulë (PM/391). This name is a compound of Aulë and the plural of onna “child”.

Quenya [PM/391; PMI/Aulë] Group: Eldamo. Published by

erusēn

collective name. Children of God

A variant form of Eruhin appearing in a few places (MR/423, RGEO/66). Its final element may be related to the root ᴹ√SEL(D) “child”. The similar word Melkorsēni “Children of Melkor” appears to have the same final element (MR/423). It is possible that Tolkien introduced the variation so that the Sindarin form would be S. Eruhîn, resembling the earlier Adûnaic form Ad. Êruhîn.

Quenya [MR/423; MRI/Eruhín; RGEO/66] Group: Eldamo. Published by

melkorohíni

collective name. Children of Melkor

Name of the Orcs as children of Melkor, a parody of the name Eruhíni for Elves and Men as children of Eru (MR/416). It is a compound of Melkor and the plural form of hína “child”. It also appeared in the form Melkorsēni (MR/423), similar to the variant form Erusēn(i) of Eruhíni, but the etymology of this form is unclear. Both versions of this name imply a stem form Melkoro- for Melkor, but this is contradicted by other examples. See the entry on Melkor for further discussion.

Quenya [MR/416; MRI/Melkorohíni] Group: Eldamo. Published by

onnalúmë

proper name. Time of the Children

A term for the period in which an Elvish married couple set out to have their children in documents from 1959 (NM/22, 25-26, 31, 85), a combination Q. onna “child” and Q. lúmë “time”.

Conceptual Development: In one of these 1959 documents the term was Q. Onnarië instead (NM/16). Parmandil suggested this early form might be an abstraction based on onna plus “day” (= child-days).

Quenya [NM/022; NM/025; NM/026; NM/031; NM/085] Group: Eldamo. Published by

híni ilúvataro

Children of Ilúvatar

Quenya [PE21/83; SI/Children of Ilúvatar] Group: Eldamo. Published by

a vanimar, vanimálion nostari

O beautiful ones, parents of beautiful children

Quenya [Let/448; LotR/0981; SD/073] Group: Eldamo. Published by

melkorsēni

collective name. Children of Melkor

Quenya [MR/423; MRI/Melkorohíni] Group: Eldamo. Published by

onnarië

proper name. Time of Children

hína

noun. child

A word for “child” derived from the root √KHIN (PE17/157; WJ/403), most notably an element in Eruhíni “Children of God”, a term for Elves and Men as the children of Eru. This word illustrates that hína has an abnormal plural form: híni rather than the expected ✱✱hínar. A variant hina with a short i was “only used in the vocative addressing a (young) child, especially in hinya (< hinanya) ‘my child’ (WJ/403)”.

Conceptual Development: The term Êruhîn “Children of God” first appeared as an Adûnaic word in the 1940s (SD/247-8, 358), later adapted as Quenya Eruhíni and Sindarin Eruchîn, which seems to be the source of Q. hína and S. hên “child”. At one point Tolkien coined masculine and feminine variants Q. hindo and Q. hindë, but they were deleted (PE17/157). Tolkien often used an alternate Quenya form sén (MR/423; UT/274; RGEO/66), perhaps out of a desire to have a Sindarin form Eruhîn that was closer to the original Adûnaic form. This variant continued to appear as late as 1969, where sén was written below Eruhíni as a variant form in Late Notes on Verbs (LVS: PE22/158).

Quenya [PE17/157; PE21/83; SA/híni; SI/Children of Ilúvatar; VT44/33; VT44/35; WJ/403] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hína

child

hína noun "child", also hina used in the vocative to a (young) child (also hinya "my child", for hinanya) (WJ:403). Pl. híni (surprisingly not **hínar) in Híni Ilúvataro "Children of Ilúvatar" (Silmarillion Index); dative hínin in VT44:35. In compounds -hin pl. -híni (as in Eruhíni, "Children of Eru", SA:híni). According to one source, the word is hín(i) and solely plural (PE17:157), but this is obviously contradicted by some of the sources quoted above.

onna

noun. child, child, *offspring; [ᴹQ.] creature

A word for “child” appearing in various late notes and phrases (NM/31; PM/391; VT49/42), derived from the root √NŌ/ONO “beget, be born” and once appearing in a variant form onwe (PE17/170). Giving its derivation, its actual meaning may be closer to “✱offspring”, as first suggested to me by Tamas Ferencz.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. onna was instead glossed “creature”, though it was still derived from the root ᴹ√ONO “beget” (Ety/ONO).

Quenya [PE17/170; PM/391; VT49/42] Group: Eldamo. Published by

sén

noun. child

onwë

child

onwë noun "child" (PE17:170)

onwë

noun. child

selda

child

selda adj.?noun? (meaning not clear, related to seldë "child" (meaning changed by Tolkien from "daughter") and seldo "boy". Thus selda may be an adjective "childlike", since -a is a frequent adjectival ending. Alternatively, as suggested in VT46:13, selda may be a neuter noun "child", corresponding to masc. seldo "boy" and fem. seldë "girl" (before Tolkien changed the meaning of the latter to "child"). (SEL-D, cf. VT46:22-23)

seldo

child

seldo noun (meaning not quite clear, likely the masculine form of seldë "child", hence *"boy") (SEL-D, VT46:13, 22-23)

seldë

child

seldë noun "child" (meaning changed by Tolkien from "daughter"; in his later texts the Quenya word for "child" is rather hína, and the final status of seldë is uncertain. See also tindómerel.) (SEL-D, VT46:13, 22-23) In one late source, Tolkien reverts to the meaning "daughter", but this may have been replaced by anel, q.v.

Eru

the one

Eru divine name "the One" = God (VT43:32, VT44:16-17), "the One God" (Letters:387), a name reserved for the most solemn occasions (WJ:402). Often in the combination Eru Ilúvatar, "Eru Allfather" (cf. MR:112). Genitive Eruo (MR:329, VT43:28/32), dative Erun (VT44:32, 34). The adjectival form Eruva "divine" (Eruva lissëo "of divine grace", VT44:18) would be identical to the form appearing in the possessive case. Compound nouns: Eruhantalë "Thanksgiving to Eru", a Númenórean festival (UT:166, 436), Eruhin pl. Eruhíni "Children of Eru", Elves and Men (WJ:403; SA:híni, cf. _Eruhîn _in Letters:345), Eruion *"son of God" (or "God the Son"?) (VT44:16), Erukyermë "Prayer to Eru", a Númenórean festival (UT:166, 436), Erulaitalë "Praise of Eru", a Númenórean festival (UT:166, 436), Eruamillë "Mother of God" (in Tolkien's translation of the Hail Mary, VT43:32, see also VT44:7), Eruontari, Eruontarië other translations of "Mother (Begetter) of God" (VT44:7, 18), Erusén "the children of God" (RGEO:74; this is a strange form with no plural ending; contrast the synonym Eruhíni.) #Eruanna and #erulissë, various terms for "grace", literally "God-gift" and "God-sweetness", respectively (VT43:29; these words are attested in the genitive and instrumental case, respectively: Eruanno, erulissenen).

Ilúvatar

all-father

Ilúvatar masc. name "All-father", God (SD:401, FS, IL; Ilúv-atar, ATA, Iluvatar with a short u, SD:346). Often in combination with the divine name as Eru Ilúvatar, "Eru Allfather", cf. MR:112. "Qenya" genitive Ilúvatáren "of Ilúvatar" in Fíriel's Song, LR:47 and SD:246, the genitive ending is -en instead of -o as in LotR-style Quenya. Cf. the later genitive Ilúvataro in the phrase Híni Ilúvataro (see "Children of Ilúvatar" in the Silmarillion Index)

Melkor

mighty-rising

Melkor (spelt Melcor in VT49:6, 24, MR:362), masc. name: the rebellious Vala, the devil of the Silmarillion mythos. Older (MET) form Melkórë "Mighty-rising" (hence the interpretation "He that arises in power"), compare órë #2. Oldest Q form *mbelekōro (WJ:402). Ablative Melkorello/Melcorello, VT49:7, 24. Compounded in Melkorohíni "Children of Melkor", Orcs ("but the wiser say: nay, the slaves of Melkor; but not his children, for Melkor had no children") (MR:416). The form Melkoro- here occurring may incorporate either the genitive ending -o or the otherwise lost final vowel of the ancient form ¤mbelekōro. For Melkors later name, see Moringotto / Moricotto (Morgoth) under mori-.

atto

father, daddy

atto noun "father, daddy" (hypocoristic)(ATA, LR:49), supposedly a word in "actual 'family' use" (VT47:26), also used in children's play for "thumb" and "big toe" (VT47:10, 26, VT48:4, 6). The dual form attat listed in VT48:19 seems to be formed from the alternative form atta, though attat was changed by Tolkien from attot. - Compare atya.

hanno

brother

hanno noun "brother" (a colloquial form, cf. háno), also used in children's play for "middle finger" (VT47:12, 14, VT48:4, 6)

indi

offspring of the valar

indi pl. noun, apparently a name of Men, hardly valid in Tolkien's later Quenya (LT2:343). Compare, however, the final element of Valarindi "Offspring of the Valar", suggesting that #indi can be used for "offspring" (the Quenya word is apparently plural). It may be that in Valarindi, a h has dropped out following r, and that the independent word would be *hindi (as a variant of -hín, -híni "children").

onna

creature

onna noun "creature" (ONO), "child" (PE17:170), also translated "child" in the plural compound Aulëonnar "Children of Aulë", a name of the Dwarves (PM:391), and apparently also used = "child" in the untranslated sentence nai amanya onnalya ter coivierya ("k") "be it that your child [will be] blessed thoughout his/her life" (VT49:41). The form onya (q.v.), used as a vocative "my child", is perhaps shortened from *onnanya.

vanima

beautiful, fair

vanima adj. "beautiful, fair" (BAN, VT39:14) (glossed "proper, right, fair" in early "Qenya", LT1:272, though a later source says the word is used "only of living things, especially Elves and Men", PE17:150); nominal pl. vanimar "beautiful ones", partitive pl. genitive vanimálion, translated "of beautiful children", but literally meaning *"of [some] beautiful ones") (LotR3:VI ch. 6, translated in Letters:308). Arwen vanimalda "Beautiful Arwen", literally "Arwen your beauty" (see -lda for reference; changed to Arwen vanimelda in the second edition of LotR; see vanimelda).

wine

noun. baby, child not yet fully grown

winë (stem *wini-, given the primitive form ¤wini) noun "baby, child not yet fully grown", "little-one", also used in children's play for "little finger" or "little toe" (VT46:10, 26, VT48:6, 16). Synonyms win(i), winimo. In Exilic Quenya, this word would appear as *vinë; compare the related word winya > vinya "young, new".

winicë

baby

winicë (also wincë), noun "baby", also used in children's play for "little finger" or "little toe" (VT48:6). Synonyms winë, winimo. In Exilic Quenya, this word would appear as *vinicë*, vincë; compare the related word winya > vinya "young, new". Since the diminutive ending -icë descends from -iki(VT48:16), winicë may have the stem-form winici**-.

winimo

baby

winimo noun "baby", "little-one", used in children's play for "little finger" or "little toe" (VT47:10, VT48:6, 16). Synonyms winë, win(i). In Exilic Quenya, this word would appear as *vinimo; compare the related word winya > vinya "young, new".

Návatar

father

Návatar noun a title of Aulë referring to his position as the immediate author of the Dwarvish race, apparently including atar "father", but the first element cannot be related to any known term for "Dwarf" (PM:391 cf. 381)

amal

mother

amal noun "mother"; also emel (VT48:22, 49:22); the form amil (emil) seems more usual.

amil

mother

amil noun "mother" (AM1), also emil (q.v.) Longer variant amillë (VT44:18-19), compounded Eruamillë "Mother of God" in Tolkien's translation of the Hail Mary (VT43:32). If amil is a shortened form of amillë, it should probably have the stem-form amill-. Also compare amilyë, amya, emya. Compounded amil- in amilessë noun "mothername" (cf. essë "name"), name given to a child by its mother, sometimes with prophetic implications (amilessi tercenyë "mother-names of insight"). (MR:217).

amil(lë)

noun. mother

Tolkien used a number of similar forms for “mother” for most of his life. The earliest of these are ᴱQ. amis (amits-) “mother” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s along with variants ᴱQ. ambi, âmi, amaimi under the root ᴱ√AMA (QL/30). An additional variant ammi appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/30). In Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had ᴱQ. ambe or mambe “mother” (PE16/135). This became ᴹQ. amil “mother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√AM “mother” (Ety/AM¹).

This 1930s form amil appears to have survived for some time. It appeared in a longer form Amille in Quenya Prayers of the 1950s (VT43/26; VT44/12, 18), and as an element in the term amilessi “mother-names” in a late essay on Elvish naming (MR/217). In the initial drafts of Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s Tolkien used the form amilye or amye as an affectionate word for “mother”, and amaltil as the finger name for the second finger (VT47/26-27 note #34 and #35).

However, in those documents Tolkien seems to have revised the root for “mother” from √AM to √EM and the affectionate forms from amye to emya or emme (VT47/10; VT48/6, 19). The revised word for “mother” appears to be emil based on the 1st person possessive form emil(inya) (VT47/26).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I prefer to retain the root √AM for “mother”, since that is what Tolkien used for 50 years, and ignore the very late change to √EM. As such, I would recommend amil(le) for “mother” and affectionate forms amme “mommy” and amya. However, if you prefer to use Tolkien’s “final” forms, then emil(le), emme and emya seem to be what Tolkien adopted in the late 1960s.

Quenya [VT44/18; VT47/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ammë

mother

ammë noun "mother" (AM1)

atar

father

atar noun "father" (SA; WJ:402, UT:193, LT1:255, VT43:37, VT44:12). According to the Etymologies (ATA) the pl. is atari, but contrast #atári in Atanatári "Fathers of Men" (q.v.); possibly the word behaves differently when compounded. Atarinya "my father" (LR:70), atar(inya) the form a child would use addressing his or her father, also reduced to atya (VT47:26). Diminutive masc. name Atarincë ("k") "Little father", amilessë (never used in narrative) of Curufinwë = Curufin (PM:353). Átaremma, Ataremma "our Father" as the first word of the Quenya translation of the Lord's Prayer, written before Tolkien changed -mm- as the marker of 1st person pl. exclusive to -lm-; notice -e- as a connecting vowel before the ending -mma "our". In some versions of the Lord's Prayer, including the final version, the initial a of atar "father" is lengthened, producing #átar. This may be a contraction of *a atar "o Father", or the vowel may be lengthened to give special emphasis to #Átar "Father" as a religious title (VT43:13). However, in VT44:12 Atar is also a vocative form referring to God, and yet the initial vowel remains short.

atar

noun. father

Quenya [PE 22:118] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

atar

noun. father

The Quenya word for “father”, derived from the root √AT(AR) (PM/324; WJ/402; VT48/19).

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. atar “father” dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, though in that document it was “a more solemn word ... usually to 1st Person of the Blessed Trinity”, as opposed to more ordinary ᴱQ. attu “father” (QL/33). In the English-Qenya Dictionary of the 1920s, ᴱQ. atar was the ordinary word for “father”, but with variant archaic form †attar (PE15/72). ᴹQ. atar “father” reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√ATA of the same meaning (Ety/ATA). It appeared again in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 in various inflected forms (PE22/118-119). It continued to appear regularly in Tolkien’s later writings. Thus this word was established early and retained its form throughout Tolkien’s life with only minor variations.

Quenya [PM/324; SA/atar; UT/186; UT/193; UT/273; VT43/13; VT43/37; VT44/16; VT47/26; WJ/402] Group: Eldamo. Published by

calwa

beautiful

calwa ("k") adj. "beautiful" (LT1:254)

cinta

small

cinta adj. "small" (PE17:157)

cinta

adjective. small

A word for “small” in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 derived from the root √KIT or √KIN (PE17/157).

Neo-Quenya: This word is fairly obscure, so I would used other words for “small” for purposes of Neo-Quenya, such as níca.

emel

mother

emel noun "mother"; also amal (VT48:22, 49:22); the form amil (emil) seems more usual.

emil

mother

emil noun "mother", emilinya "my mother" (also reduced to emya) the terms a child would use in addressing his or her mother (VT47:26). Emil would seem to be a variant of amil. Also compare emel.

emil

noun. mother

hinyë

noun. baby

A word for a “baby” in rough notes on Elvish finger names (VT47/27), probably some kind of diminutive formation from √KHIN “child”. It had a variant hintil that is clearly specific to fingers only: = √KHIN + √TIL “✱baby finger, (lit.) child tip”.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, it is probably better to use one of the baby words from the more finished versions of these notes, such as vinimo.

háno

brother

háno noun "brother", colloquially also hanno (VT47:12, 14). It is unclear whether Tolkien, by introducing this form, abandoned the older (TLT) word toron (q.v.)

háno

noun. brother

A word for “brother” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √KHAN of the same meaning (VT47/14). It had a diminutive/affectionate variant hanno used as a play name for the middle finger in several places in these notes (VT47/12; VT48/6).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. toron “brother” from the root ᴹ√TOR (Ety/TOR), and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. herendo “brother” from the early root ᴱ√HESE (QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

inya

small

inya (2) adj. "small" (LT1:256; this "Qenya" word may be obsoleted by # 1 above)

mairëa

beautiful

mairëa adj. "beautiful" (of things made by art) (PE17:163). An alternative (and peculiar) form "mairia" is also implied in the source.

mamil

mother, mummy

mamil noun *"mother, mummy" (UT:191)

mintë

small

mintë adj. "small" (VT45:35)

mitsa

small

mitsa adj. "small" (VT45:35) Another synonym from the same source, mitra, looks unusual for a Quenya word (because of the medial cluster tr)

mírya

beautiful

mírya adj. "beautiful" (of work of art only) (PE17:165)

nincë

small

*nincë (ninci*-) ("k")adj. "small". The form is given as "ninki" with the last vowel marked as short; this is probably the etymological form that would underlie Quenya nincë. The word is said to mean "small" with "good senses"; contrast nípa**, *nimpë. (VT48:18)

nitya

small

#nitya adj. "small" (VT48:15, PM:365)

nésa

sister

nésa (Þ) noun "sister" (VT47:14); this form from a late source possibly replaces earlier seler and onórë, q.v.

nésa

noun. sister

A word for “sister” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √NETH of similar meaning (VT47/12, 14). It had a diminutive/affectionate variant nettë used as a play name for the fourth finger in several places in these notes (VT47/12; VT48/6), but I prefer to mainly use nettë for “(little) girl” in Neo-Quenya (VT47/10, 15, 33).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. seler “sister” from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES (Ety/THEL), and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. heresse “sister” from the early root ᴱ√HESE (QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

níca

small

níca ("k")adj. "small". The word is said to mean "small" with "good senses"; contrast nípa, *nimpë. (VT47:26, VT48:18)

níca

adjective. small

A word appearing in a note from 1968 along side a (primitive?) variant ✶ninkĭ, both derived from the root √NIK “small” and so probably of similar meaning (VT47/26; VT48/18).

Quenya [VT47/26; VT48/18] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ontari

mother

ontari noun "mother" or etymologically "begetter, parent" (fem.); clashing with the plural ontari "parents", this was apparently an emphemeral form (see ontarë, ontaril, ontarië for other feminine forms of "begetter, parent") (VT44:7)

ontaril

mother

ontaril noun "mother", female *"begetter" (cf. onta-). Variant of ontarë. (VT43:32)

onóro

brother

onóro noun "brother" (of blood-kinship) (TOR, NŌ (WŌ) )

onórë

sister

onórë noun "sister" (of blood-kin) (THEL/THELES, NŌ; both of these entries in the Etymologies as reproduced in LR have the reading "onóne", but the "Old Noldorin" cognate wanúre listed in the entry THEL/THELES seems to indicate that the Quenya word should be onórë; the letters n and r are easily confused in Tolkien's handwriting. There is no clear evidence for a feminine ending - in Quenya, but - is relatively well attested; cf. for instance ontarë.) A later source gives the word for "sister" as nésa instead.

osellë

sister, [female] associate

osellë (þ) noun "sister, [female] associate" (THEL/THELES, WŌ). Cf. otorno.

otorno

brother, sworn brother, [male] associate

otorno noun "brother, sworn brother, [male] associate" (TOR, WŌ). Cf. osellë.

pinilya

small

pinilya adj. "small" (MC:220; this is "Qenya")

seler

sister

seler (þ) (sell-, as in pl. selli) noun "sister" (THEL/THELES). In a later source, the word nésa (q.v.) appears instead, leaving the conceptual status of seler uncertain.

toron

brother

toron (torn- as in pl. torni) noun "brother" (TOR; a later source gives háno, hanno [q.v.] as the word for "brother", leaving the status of toron uncertain)

vanima

adjective. beautiful

Quenya [PE 22:156] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

Sindarin 

eruchîn

collective name. Children of Eru (God)

The Sindarin equivalent of Q. Eruhíni “Children of God” (LB/354). This name is a combination of Q. Eru “God” and the lenitied plural chîn of hên “child”.

Conceptual Development: This name first appeared in the tales of the Fall of Númenor from the 1940s as the Adûnaic word #Êruhin, attested only in its plural forms Êruhîn(im) (SD/247-8, 311). In this period, the Adûnaic name was sometimes written with a short E: Eruhîn (SD/358). In the 1950s Tolkien introduced the Quenya form of the word, Eruhin (MR/320, WJ/403), but it occasionally still appeared as Eruhîn (MR/330, Let/345). It is unclear whether these later examples are Adûnaic, the Quenya plural without the final i, the Sindarin form without the soft mutation ch, or the Sindarin form of the Quenya variant Q. Erusēn (MR/423, RGEO/66). The only clear example of the Sindarin form Eruchîn appears in “The Lay of Leithian Recommenced” from the 1950s (LB/354).

Sindarin [LB/354; LBI/Eruchîn; Let/345; MR/330; MRI/Eruhín] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glaer nia chîn húrin

Tale of the Children of Húrin

An earlier Sindarin name for “Tale of the Children of Húrin”, revised to Narn i Chîn Húrin (WJ/160). It uses glaer “long lay, narrative poem” instead of narn “tale”, and the definite plural form nia of the preposition na(n) “of”, the latter also seen in Sarch nia Chîn Húrin.

Sindarin [WJ/160; WJI/Narn i Chîn Húrin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ir ithil ammen eruchín

*when the Moon, for us, the Children of God

The first phrase of Lúthien’s Song (LB/354). Three translations of this phrase are:

  • Patrick Wynne: “✱When the Moon, for us, the Children of Eru” (NTTLS/11)

  • David Salo: “✱The Moon, [having watched] for us, the Children of Eru” (GS/211)

  • Bertrand Bellet and Benjamin Babut: “✱When the Moon ... for us, Children of the One” (GTLC)

The first word ir is the most controversial in the poem. Wynne suggested that it might be a cognate of ᴹQ. íre “when” appearing in Fíriel’s Song from the 1930s (LR/72), but Salo suggested that it might be a variant form of the definite article i used before another i to avoid repetition (GS/211). In support of Salo, the form ir appeared as definite article in the Túrin Wrapper: ir Ellath “✱the Elves” (VT50/23), but elsewhere in the wrapper this was written in Ellath, and so ir there may only have been a slip. Furthermore, proper names like Ithil don’t generally need a definite article, as pointed out by Carl Hostetter (VT50/23, note #36). Absent further evidence, I am inclined to agree with Wynne in this case, but even this is quite speculative, since nearly two decades separate the poems.

The rest of the phrase is straightforward. The second word is Ithil “Moon”. The third word is ammen “for us”, the preposition an “for” assimilated to the pronoun men “us”. The last word is Eruchîn “Children of God”, appearing elsewhere as Eruhîn (Let/345, MR/330).

sarch nia chîn húrin

proper name. Grave of the Children of Húrin

Name of the grave of Túrin and Nienor (UT/140), a combination of sarch “grave”, the definite plural form nia of the preposition na(n) “of” (also seen in Glaer nia Chîn Húrin), the mutated plural chîn of hên “child” and the name of their father Húrin. The unmutated form Hîn in the Unfinished Tales was an editorial decision by Christopher Tolkien (LR/322 note §25); the name was spelled correctly (with Chîn) in The Children of Húrin (CH/247).

Sindarin [CH/247; UT/140; UTI/Sarch nia Hîn Húrin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Eruchîn

noun. children of Eru

Eru (God) + hîn (pl. of hên “child”)

Sindarin [Tolkiendil] Group: Tolkiendil Compound Sindarin Names. Published by

Narn-i-Chîn Húrin

noun. tale of the children of Húrin

narn (“tale”) + in (pl. gen. article) + hîn (pl. of hên “child”), hûr (“vigour, fiery spirit”) + ind (“inner thought, heart”) This name is said by Ch. Tolkien to be have been “improperly changed” by him in UT to “Narn-i-Hîn Húrin”.

Sindarin [Tolkiendil] Group: Tolkiendil Compound Sindarin Names. Published by

Sarch nia Hîn Húrin

noun. grave of the children of Húrin

sarch (“grave”), nia (pre-LR period plural genitive article, later changed to in WJ: hîn (pl. of hên “child”), hûr (“vigour, fiery spirit”) + ind (“inner thought, heart”)

Sindarin [Tolkiendil] Group: Tolkiendil Compound Sindarin Names. Published by

atheg

noun. thumb (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Sindarin [VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

emig

noun. index finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Sindarin [VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwinig

noun. little finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

honeg

noun. middle finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Given as honig in VT/47:14, but see VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

húrinien

proper name. Children of Húrin

Another name for the tale Narn i Chîn Húrin appearing in an introduction to the tale of Túrin that was not included in the published version of The Silmarillion (WJ/311). The initial element is clearly Húrin. Lokyt and Vyacheslav Stepanov suggested its second element might be a Noldorin-style plural of the patronymic suffix -ion. In Noldorin of the 1930s and 40s, an o became an e in the final syllables of plurals rather than y as it did in Sindarin; compare Noldorin plural ered to Sindarin eryd for orod “mountain”.

Conceptual Development: This name also appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, where it was preceded by the definite article and underwent nasal-mutation, as N. iChúrinien (LR/317).

Sindarin [WJ/311; WJI/Húrinien] Group: Eldamo. Published by

i chîn húrin

*the children of Húrin

i·veleglind i eithro en estar i·chîn húrin

*the Great Song that is also called the Children of Húrin

narn i chîn húrin

Tale of the Children of Húrin

Sindarin [LBI/Narn i Hîn Húrin; LR/322; LRI/Narn i Hîn Húrin; LT2I/Narn i Hîn Húrin; MR/373; S/198; SA/híni; SI/Narn i Hîn Húrin; SMI/Narn i Hîn Húrin; UT/057; WJ/160; WJ/403; WJI/Húrin; WJI/Narn i Chîn Húrin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nethig

noun. ring finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

First given in the manuscript as netheg in VT/47:14-15, but see especially VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

Sindarin [VT/47:14, VT/47:38-39, VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

niben

adjective. little finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Sindarin [S/435, WJ/388, WJ/408, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tolch

noun. middle finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

toleg

noun. middle finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

hên

noun. child

A word for “child” derived from the root √KHIN, more specifically from ✶khinā with short i which became e in Sindarin due to a-affection (WJ/403). It often appeared in its mutated plural form chîn in phrases like Narn i Chîn Húrin “Tale of the Children of Húrin” (WJ/160). This is pronounced with spirantal “ch” as in German Bach, not affricate “ch” as in English “church”.

Christopher Tolkien made the editorial decision to render this plural form as Hîn in The Silmarillion as published as well as in Unfinished Tales, where it “was improperly changed by me [Christopher Tolkien] to Narn i Hîn Húrin ... because I did not want Chîn to be pronounced like Modern English chin” (LR/322).

In the Quendi and Eldar (Q&E) essay of 1959-60, Tolkien said “S has hên, pl. hîn, mostly used as a prefix in patronymics or metronymics”, meaning this word was often used to mean “child of” in reference to one’s parents, for example Túrin hen-Chúrin [Húrin] or Túrin hen-Morwen [assuming nasal-mutation].

Sindarin [LR/322; MR/373; S/198; SA/híni; UT/057; UT/140; VT50/12; VT50/18; WJ/160; WJ/403] Group: Eldamo. Published by

eruchen

children of the one

)

hên

child

hên (i chên), pl. hîn (i chîn); also -chen, pl. -chín at the end of compounds (e.g. Eruchín ”Children of Eru”). _(WJ:403) _CHILDREN OF THE ONE (Elves and Men as children of God) Eruchín** **(sg. *Eruchen)

hên

child

(i chên), pl. hîn (i chîn); also -chen, pl. -chín at the end of compounds (e.g. Eruchín ”Children of Eru”). (WJ:403)

Eru

the one

as a name of God: #Eru, isolated from CHILDREN OF THE ONE (Elves and Men) Eruchín** **(sg. *Eruchen)

emig

little mother

(no distinct pl. form except with article: in emig). Also used (in children’s play) as a name for the index finger (VT48:6, 17)

adar

noun. father

Sindarin [Ety/349, PM/324, MR/373, LotR/II:II, VT/44:21-22] Group: SINDICT. Published by

adar

noun. father

The Sindarin word for “father”, derived from the root √AT(AR) (PM/324; VT44/21-22; VT48/19).

Conceptual Development: N. adar “father” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√ATA of the same meaning (Ety/ATA). In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, however, G. †ador “father” was marked as archaic, and it seems {athon >>} G. nathon was the ordinary word for ”father” (GL/17, 59).

Sindarin [PM/324; VT44/22; VT48/17] Group: Eldamo. Published by

atheg

noun. "litte father"

Sindarin [VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

bain

adjective. beautiful, fair

Sindarin [Ety/351, Ety/359, X/EI] Group: SINDICT. Published by

bain

beautiful

_ adj. _beautiful. Q. vanya.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:165] < _banya_ < BAN fair, beautiful. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

cidinn

adjective. small

_ adj. _small. Q. cinta.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:157] < KIN, KIT. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

cinnog

adjective. small

_ adj. _small. Q. cinta.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:157] < KIN, KIT. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

emel

noun. mother

Sindarin [Emeldir S/155, VT/48:17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

emel

noun. mother

A word for “mother” in notes on Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, along with a diminutive form emelig (VT48/17 note #13). These forms were struck through and replaced by emig as the proper diminutive form from the root √EM (VT48/6), but that doesn’t necessarily invalidate emel = “mother”, which appeared elsewhere as (probably primitive) emel, emer in rough versions of these notes (VT48/19 note #16). These Sindarin forms are unusual in that the medial m did not become v, which means the primitive form was likely based on ✱emm- as suggested by Patrick Wynne (VT48/17 note #14).

Conceptual Development: G. amil “mother” appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s along with rejected forms {anwin, amril} and an archaic variant †amaith (GL/19). The forms {emaith >>} amaith appeared unglossed in Gnomish Lexicon Slips revising that document (PE13/109). In The Etymologies of the 1930s there was a form N. †emil for “mother” under the root ᴹ√AM of the same meaning, but Tolkien said this word was archaic, apparently replaced by N. naneth (Ety/AM¹; EtyAC/AM¹). With N. emil, the a became e via i-affection, but the medial m failing to become v requires an explanation similar to that of 1960s S. emel.

Neo-Sindarin: I generally prefer derivatives of the earlier root √AM for “mother” words in Quenya, but in the case of Sindarin, I find emel and emig from √EM to be better and more widely accepted.

emig

noun. "litte mother"

Sindarin [VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

emmel

noun. mother

Sindarin [Emeldir S/155, VT/48:17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

graug

noun. a powerful, hostile and terrible creature, a demon

Sindarin [Ety/384, S/436, WJ/415, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwinig

noun. "litte baby"

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

hanar

noun. brother

Sindarin [VT/47:14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

hanar

noun. brother

A word for “brother” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √KHAN of the same meaning and replacing the archaic form of the word †hawn (VT47/14). Remnants of this archaic form can be seem in the diminutive/affectionate form honeg “[little] brother” (VT48/6); Tolkien considered and apparently rejected alternates of the diminutive: honig and hanig (VT47/14; VT48/17).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. tôr “brother” from the root ᴹ√TOR (Ety/TOR), and the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. hethos “brother” from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE] (GL/48-49; QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

hawn

noun. brother

Sindarin [VT/47:14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

hawn

noun. brother

honeg

noun. "litte brother"

Given as honig in VT/47:14, but see VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

hên

noun. child (mostly used as a prefix in patronymics or metronymics)

Sindarin [WJ/403] Group: SINDICT. Published by

neth

noun. sister

Sindarin [VT/47:14-16,33, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

neth

noun. girl (in her teens, approaching the adult)

Sindarin [VT/47:14-16,33, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nethel

noun. sister

A word for “sister” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √NETH of similar meaning and replacing the archaic form of the word †nîth (VT47/12, 14). The diminutive/affectionate form nethig “[little] sister” was used as a play name for the fourth finger (VT48/6); Tolkien considered an alternate diminutive netheg (VT47/14, 32) and also considered giving this diminutive an alternate meaning “little girl” (VT47/15, 33); see S. neth for discussion.

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. thêl “sister” from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES (Ety/THEL), and the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. hethir “sister” from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE] (GL/48; QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

nethig

noun. "litte sister"

First given in the manuscript as netheg in VT/47:14-15, but see especially VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

Sindarin [VT/47:14, VT/47:38-39, VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

niben

adjective. small, petty

Sindarin [S/435, WJ/388, WJ/408, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nimp

adjective. small and frail

Sindarin [VT/48:18] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nîth

noun. sister

Sindarin [VT/47:14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nîth

noun. sister

raug

noun. a powerful, hostile and terrible creature, a demon

Sindarin [Ety/384, S/436, WJ/415, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tolch

noun. (?) "litte prominent one"

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

toleg

noun. (?) "litte prominent one"

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

ada

father

(pl. edai)

adanadar

father of men

normally pl. Edenedair "Fathers of Men", the early Edain.

adar

father

adar (pl. edair);

adar

father

(pl. edair);

aew

small bird

. No distinct pl. form.

bain

beautiful

bain (fair). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

bain

beautiful

(fair). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

glâd

small forest

(i ’lâd, construct glad) (wood), pl. glaid (in glaid).

graug

powerful, hostile and terrible creature

(i ’raug), pl. groeg (in groeg), coll. pl. grogath (WJ:415)

gwador

sworn brother

(i ’wador), pl. gwedyr (in gwedyr). In ”N”, the pl. was gwedeir (LR:394 s.v. TOR)

hanar

brother

  1. hanar (i chanar, o chanar), pl. henair (i chenair) (VT47:14). A more archaic term is *haun (spelt ”hawn” in source) (i chaun, o chaun), pl. hoen (i choen), coll. pl. honath.

hanar

brother

(i chanar, o chanar), pl. henair (i chenair) (VT47:14). A more archaic term is ✱haun (spelt ”hawn” in source) (i chaun, o chaun), pl. hoen (i choen), coll. pl. honath.

honeg

little brother

(i choneg, o choneg), pl. honig (i chonig), also used as a play-name for the middle finger. (VT47:6, 16-17) 2) In older sources Tolkien listed different ”Noldorin” words for ”brother”: muindor (i vuindor), analogical pl. muindyr (i muindyr). Archaic/poetic †tôr (i** dôr, o thôr, construct tor), pl. teryn (i** theryn), coll. pl. toronath. In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was terein. 3) “Brother” in extended sense of “relative”: gwanur (i ’wanur) (kinsman, also kinswoman), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

hûb

small landlocked bay

(i chûb, o chûb, construct hub) (harbour, haven), pl. huib (i chuib).

mîw

small

  1. mîw (tiny, frail), lenited vîw, no distinct pl. form, 2) niben (petty), pl. nibin. Also used as a name for the the little finger. (VT48:6) 3) SMALL (and frail) nimp, no distinct pl. form (VT48:18)

mîw

small

(tiny, frail), lenited vîw, no distinct pl. form

naneth

mother

naneth (pl. nenith). Hypocoristic form (”mom”) nana, pl. nenai (but this word is probably rarely pluralized). In a higher style also †emil. No distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emillath. Variant form emel (pl. emil), also spelt emmel (pl. emmil). (VT48:17)

naneth

mother

(pl. nenith). Hypocoristic form (”mom”) nana, pl. nenai (but this word is probably rarely pluralized). In a higher style also †emil. No distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emillath. Variant form emel (pl. emil), also spelt emmel (pl. emmil). (VT48:17)

neth

sister

  1. neth (also used = ”girl”). (VT47:14-16, 33; VT48:6), pl. nith. Notice the homophone neth ”young”. Also nîth (no distinct pl. form though the plural article with show pluarlity when the noun is definite: in nîth) (VT47:14). 2) gwathel (i **wathel), pl. gwethil (in gwethil). 3) muinthel (i vuinthel), pl. muinthil (i muinthil), more usual than the shorter form thêl (stem thele-), pl. theli. In “Noldorin”, the pl. was thelei** (LR:392 s.v. THEL).

niben

small

(petty), pl. nibin. Also used as a name for the the little finger. (VT48:6) 

nimp

small

no distinct pl. form (VT48:18)

pêg

small spot

(i** bêg, construct peg) (dot), pl. pîg (i** phîg

tinu

small star

(i** dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds) (spark), analogical pl. tiny (i** thiny). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely  tinwath.

ûn

creature

ûn (pl. uin).

ûn

creature

(pl. uin).

Adûnaic

êruhînim dubdam ugru-dalad

[the Children of Eru] fell under shadow

The 2nd phrase of the Lament of Akallabêth (SD/247). Tolkien did not interpret the name Êruhînim in any version of the text, but elsewhere it is glossed “Children of God (Eru)” (SD/248). Tolkien’s gloss was “‽ fell ‽shadow under/beneath”, with the translation of the last word differing slightly in the typescript (SD/247) and manuscript (VT24/12). In ordinary English the phrase might be “the Children of Eru fell under shadow”.

The subject Êruhînim of the sentence is the subjective plural form of #Êruhin. The verb dubdam seems to be in the aorist form of #dubud- “to fall”, glossed in past tense because it is in a narrative occurring in the past. The verb has the plural marker -m in agreement with the number of the subject. The word dalad “under, beneath” is suffixed to the noun it modifies, as is usual of Adûnaic prepositions.

The previous (second draft) version of this sentence (SD/312) differs only in its use of the verb form dubbudam (past tense) instead of the final version’s form dubdam (aorist). The first draft version used all the same words but differed in its grammar.

Adûnaic [SD/247; SD/312; VT24/12] Group: Eldamo. Published by

êruhin

proper name. Child of God

A title for the race of men as the children of Êru “God” (SD/247). It is only attested in the plural Êruhîn (SD/311, 358) and subjective plural Êruhînim (SD/247-8) forms “Children of God”.

Conceptual Development: This name first appeared as Eruhil(di) (SD/341, 399), probably incorporating ᴹQ. hilde “men”. In these early appearances Tolkien may have conceived of this as a Quenya word before introducing its Adûnaic form Êruhîn. In its early appearances the latter name sometimes had a short initial E: Eruhîn (SD/358), possibly another transitional form resembling later Sindarin Eruchîn. In still later writings, Tolkien coined a Quenya word Q. Eruhin of the similar meaning, encompassing both Men and Elves.

Adûnaic [PMI/Eruhîn; SD/247; SD/248; SD/311; SD/341; SD/358; SDI2/Eruhil; SDI2/Eruhildi; SDI2/Eruhîn] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ammê

noun. mother

A noun for “mother” (SD/434). Tolkien gave two forms of this word, ammî and ammê, with no indication as to which would be preferred. However, ammî resembles a plural word, and Tolkien elsewhere stated that such forms tended to change their final vowel to (SD/438), so my guess is that ammî is an archaic form. This word is probably related to the Elvish root √AM “mother”. Some authors have suggested it is directly related to ᴹQ. amme (AAD/10, AL/Adûnaic), but as Andreas Moehn points out (EotAL/MAM) such basic words are rarely borrowed from other languages, so the relationship is more likely from the Primitive Elvish root.

attô

noun. father

A noun for “father” (SD/434). Tolkien gave two forms of this word, attû and attô, with no indication as to which would be preferred. For reasons similar to those given in the entry for ammê “mother”, my guess is that attû is an archaic form, and attô was preferred by the time of Classical Adûnaic. This word is probably related to the Elvish root √AT(AR) “father”, perhaps from Primitive Elvish ᴹ✶atū.

Noldorin 

ichúrinien

collective name. The Children of Húrin

Noldorin [LR/317; LR/322; LRI/I·Chúrinien; WJI/Húrinien] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ada

noun. father, daddy

Noldorin [Ety/349] Group: SINDICT. Published by

adar

noun. father

Noldorin [Ety/349, PM/324, MR/373, LotR/II:II, VT/44:21-22] Group: SINDICT. Published by

adar

noun. father

bein

adjective. beautiful, fair

Noldorin [Ety/351, Ety/359, X/EI] Group: SINDICT. Published by

emil

noun. mother

Noldorin [VT/45:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

emil

noun. mother

Noldorin [EtyAC/AM¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwador

noun. brother (especially used of those not brothers by blood, but sworn brothers or associates)

Noldorin [Ety/394] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwathel

noun. sister, associate

Noldorin [Ety/392] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mithren

adjective. small

Noldorin [EtyAC/MIT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

muindor

noun. brother

Noldorin [Ety/394] muin+tôr. Group: SINDICT. Published by

muindor

noun. brother

muinthel

noun. sister

Noldorin [Ety/392] muin+thêl. Group: SINDICT. Published by

muinthel

noun. sister

Noldorin [Ety/THEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mîw

adjective. small, tiny, frail

Noldorin [VT/45:35] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nana

noun. mother, mummy

Noldorin [Ety/348, Ety/374] Group: SINDICT. Published by

naneth

noun. mother

Noldorin [Ety/348, Ety/374] Group: SINDICT. Published by

naneth

noun. mother

A noun for “mother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the (Noldorin-only?) root ᴹ√NAN (Ety/NAN). It apparently replaced archaic/poetic N. †emil (Ety/AM¹; EtyAC/AM¹).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon had a similar set of words for “mother”: G. maba, mabir, baba, and mavwin from the early root ᴱ√maƀ “something nice” (GL/57). The last of these appeared as G. mavwen “ancestress” in the Gnomish Lexicon Slips modifying that document, with an archaic meaning of “mother” and variant forms mafwyn and mavuin (PE13/115). In these slips, it seems the normal “mother” word was G. nân (originally glossed “father”) with variant nanwin (PE13/115). This last word is likely the direct precursor of N. naneth.

Neo-Sindarin: I would use S. emel from the late 1960s as the normal word for “mother” in Neo-Sindarin, but would retain N. naneth as a dialectical or more formal variant.

Noldorin [Ety/AM¹; Ety/NAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhaug

noun. a powerful, hostile and terrible creature, a demon

Noldorin [Ety/384, S/436, WJ/415, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

thêl

noun. sister

Noldorin [Ety/392] Group: SINDICT. Published by

thêl

noun. sister

A word for “sister” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES of the same meaning, with an irregular plural thelei (Ety/THEL). It had a more elaborate form muinthel, the equivalent of muindor “(dear) brother”, with an initial element muin “dear”.

Neo-Quenya: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word nethel for “sister” from the root √NETH (VT47/14). However, I think thêl and related words might be retained to mean a “metaphorical sister”, a close female associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as gwathel “[sworn] sister, associate”. In this paradigm, I would assume muinthel still refers to a sister by blood, with an added connotation of strong affection. I think it’s best to assume the irregular Noldorin plural pattern was reformed to the normal Sindarin plural thîl.

Noldorin [Ety/THEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tôr

noun. brother

The word muindor is more usual

Noldorin [Ety/394, X/Z] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tôr

noun. brother

An (archaic) word for “brother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√TOR of the same meaning, with an irregular plural terein (Ety/TOR). In ordinary speech, it was replaced by muindor, with an initial element muin “dear”.

Neo-Sindarin: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word hanar for “brother” (VT47/14). However, I think †tôr and related words might be retained to mean a “metaphorical brother”, a close male associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as gwador “(sworn) brother, associate”. In this paradigm, I would assume muindor still refers to a brother by blood, with an added connotation of strong affection.

ûn

noun. creature

Noldorin [Ety/379] Group: SINDICT. Published by

ûn

noun. creature

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “creature” derived from the root ᴹ√ONO “beget” (Ety/ONO), perhaps from a primitive form ✱ōno with ancient ō becoming ū.

Primitive elvish

khin

root. child

A root appearing in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 with the gloss “child” (PE17/157), and again in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 with the same gloss (WJ/403). It was the basis for the words Q. hína and S. hên “child”, which were probably inspired by the Adûnaic patronymic suffix -hin that Tolkien introduced in the 1940s as part of Êruhin “Child of God” (SD/358), originally an Adûnaic word but later on used in Sindarin (Let/345; MR/330). This root might be a later iteration of the early root ᴱ√HILI from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s whose derivatives had to do with children (QL/40). As evidence of this, the Adûnaic word was first given as Eruhil (SD/341).

Primitive elvish [PE17/157; WJ/403] Group: Eldamo. Published by

khīnā

noun. child

Primitive elvish [WJ/403] Group: Eldamo. Published by

am

root. mother

For most of Tolkien’s life, the Primitive Elvish root for “mother” was √AM. This began with the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where Tolkien gave the root as ᴱ√AMA (QL/30). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was ᴹ√AM with derivatives ᴹQ. amil and (archaic) N. emil “mother” (Ety/AM¹). In Quenya prayers of the 1950s, the word for mother was Q. Amille. In the last few years of his life, however, Tolkien toyed with the notion of changing this root to √EM. In notes associated with Eldarinwe Leperi are Notessi written in the late 1960s, Tolkien first gave the root as am, but then wrote em next to it with a question mark, along with several new em-derivatives (VT48/19 note #16). The Q. affectionate word emme for “mommy” appeared in the main article, indicating Tolkien did, in fact, adopt this new root, at least for some period of time.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Quenya writing, I personally prefer to ignore this late change to the root for “mother” and stick with the √AM-forms Tolkien used for most of his life. However, the √AM-forms were less stable in the Sindarin branch of the languages, so I’d use √EM-forms like S. emel and emig, and would assume √AM and √EM were variants of the root, as they were on VT48/19 (see above).

Primitive elvish [VT48/17; VT48/19] Group: Eldamo. Published by

amal

noun. mother

Primitive elvish [PE21/83; VT48/17; VT48/19] Group: Eldamo. Published by

amas

noun. mother

amma

noun. mother

amme

noun. mother

at(ar)

root. father

As the basis for “father” words, √AT and its extended form √ATAR date all the way back to Tolkien’s earliest ideas. The root itself did not explicitly appear in the Qenya or Gnomish Lexicons of the 1910s, but forms like ᴱQ. atar, G. †ador “father” indicate its presence (QL/33; GL/17). The root ᴹ√ATA “father” did appear in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives ᴹQ. atar, N. adar (Ety/ATA) and the base √AT(AR) “father” was mentioned again in late 1960s notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals (VT48/19). In this late period, the Elvish words for “father” remained Q. atar and S. adar (PM/324).

Primitive elvish [VT48/19] Group: Eldamo. Published by

atar

noun. father

Primitive elvish [PE21/71; PE21/74; PE21/75; PE21/76; PE21/77; PE21/83] Group: Eldamo. Published by

banya

adjective. beautiful

Primitive elvish [PE17/165; PM/402] Group: Eldamo. Published by

em

root. mother

emel

noun. mother

emer

noun. mother

khan

root. brother

A root for “brother” that Tolkien introduced in notes on finger-names from the late 1960s as a companion to √NETH “sister” (VT47/14, 26, 34). It conflicts with, and possibly replaces, earlier uses for √KHAN such as √KHAN “back” in notes from around 1959 serving as the basis for the prefix Q. han- in hanquenta “answer” (PE17/166). The root ᴹ√KHAN also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “understand, comprehend”, with various derivatives in both Quenya and Noldorin of similar meaning (Ety/KHAN).

It is unlikely that all these uses of √KHAN coexisted, but I think at a minimum both √KHAN “brother” and ᴹ√KHAN “understand, comprehend” should be retained for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, as the latter has no good replacements in Tolkien’s later writing. As for hanquenta “answer”, it might be reinterpreted as “a saying providing understanding”, and so be derived from ᴹ√KHAN “understand”.

Primitive elvish [VT47/14; VT47/26; VT47/34] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nik

root. small

One of various roots for “small” Tolkien used in his later writings. The root √NIK “small” first appeared in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s (VT47/26; VT48/18), but was connected to the diminutive suffix ✶-i(n)ki which had a much longer conceptual history. One of the earliest known diminutive suffix was ᴱQ. -íne(a) in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s from the root ᴱ√INI “small” (QL/42), which might be a precursor to √NIK; these suffixes reappeared in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s (PE14/49, 81). In the Gnomish Grammar of the 1910s, the word G. inc “small” was used as the basis for the “diminutive superlative” -inci (PE11/16).

In the Qenya Lexicon, Tolkien connected ᴱ√INI “small” to the root ᴱ√MINI of similar meaning (QL/42, 61). There are no signs of ᴱ√MINI “small” in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon, but the word G. migin “little” (GL/57) hints at a (hypothetical) variant root ✱ᴱ√MIKI. Further support for ✱ᴱ√MIKI can be found in other diminutive forms in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s such as prefixal diminutive ᴱQ. mike- along adverbial ᴱQ. mike “little” (QL/48, 81), the latter appearing with the gloss “a bit” in the English-Qenya Dictionary from this period (PE15/70) along with other similar words in both the dictionary and the grammar. This ✱ᴱ√MIKI might be another precursor to √NIK. An early hint at √NIK itself might appear in the word ᴹQ. nikse “minnow, little fish” from the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s (PE21/27).

In Noldorin and Sindarin, the primary diminutive suffix became -eg, which was connected to the Common Eldarin suffix -iki elsewhere in notes on hands and fingers (VT47/14 note #21). In the notes where √NIK “small” appeared in the late 1960s, Tolkien gave the primitive diminutive as -inkĭ along with variants ikki, -iksi, -si, -ensi, -ki.

One of the main competing roots for “small” was ᴹ√PIK [see the entry for √PI(N)], itself with a lengthy conceptual history. The shift of pitya >> nitya “little” in the father name of Amrod from the late 1960s may represent a replacement of √PIK by √NIK (PM/365), but I think it is likelier the two roots coexisted with slightly different meanings, as was the case for their earlier precursors. In the notes from the late 1960s, √NIK was also contrasted with √NIP “small (usually with connotation of weakness)” (VT48/18), from which the word S. niben “petty” was derived, as in S. Nogoth Niben (WJ/388).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would assume √NIK meant “small” in a neutral sense, √PIK “tiny” (along with variants √ and √PIN) and √NIP “small and weak”. I would use these as the major Eldarin roots for “small” words, along with a number of other more specialized roots.

Primitive elvish [VT47/26; VT48/18] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nimpĭ

adjective. small

Primitive elvish [VT48/18] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ninkĭ

adjective. small

Primitive elvish [VT48/18] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nēthā

noun. sister

Primitive elvish [VT47/14] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Telerin 

atta

noun. father

emmë

noun. mother

hanna

noun. brother

háno

noun. brother

néþa

noun. sister


Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Early Quenya

tombo

proper name. Gong (of the Children)

The “Gong of the Children” in the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/15). It is simply tombo “gong” used as a name (LT1A/Tombo).

Early Quenya [LT1A/Tombo; LT1I/Tombo; PE15/07] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ar

noun. child

Early Quenya [PE13/160; PE16/135; PME/032; QL/032] Group: Eldamo. Published by

arne

noun. child

hil(de)

noun. child

Early Quenya [GL/49; PME/040; QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

(m)ambe

noun. mother

Early Quenya [PE16/135] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ama

noun. mother

Early Quenya [PME/030; QL/030] Group: Eldamo. Published by

amaimi

noun. mother

ambe

noun. mother

ambi

noun. mother

Early Quenya [PME/030; QL/030] Group: Eldamo. Published by

amis

noun. mother

Early Quenya [PME/030; QL/030] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ammi

noun. mother

atar

noun. father

Early Quenya [LT1A/Ilúvatar; PE14/077; PE15/72; PE15/76; PME/033; QL/033] Group: Eldamo. Published by

atto

noun. father

attu

noun. father

Early Quenya [PE16/135; PME/033; QL/033] Group: Eldamo. Published by

herendo

noun. brother

A word for “brother” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with numerous variants: herendo or herēro, hestaner, and hesta(noi)nu, all based on the early root ᴱ√HESE that was the basis for “brother” and “sister” words (QL/40). Of these Tolkien said herendo/herēro was the “ordinary word”, and herendo appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/40).

Early Quenya [PME/040; QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

heresse

noun. sister

A word for “sister” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with numerous variants: heresse, hesta(noi)ni, and hestaqin, all based on the early root ᴱ√HESE that was the basis for “brother” and “sister” words (QL/40). Of these Tolkien said heresse was the “ordinary word”, and it also appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/40).

Early Quenya [PME/040; QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

heréro

noun. brother

hestaner

noun. brother

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hestani

noun. sister

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hestanoini

noun. sister

hestanoinu

noun. brother

hestanu

noun. brother

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hestaqin

noun. sister

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mailina

adjective. beautiful

Early Quenya [PE14/056] Group: Eldamo. Published by

minwa

adjective. small

Early Quenya [QL/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pinilya

adjective. small

Early Quenya [MC/220; PE16/076] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pínea

adjective. small

Early Quenya [QL/073; QL/095; VT40/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tatto

noun. father

tetta

noun. baby

Early Quenya [PE16/135] Group: Eldamo. Published by

âmi

noun. mother

Gnomish

pui

noun. child

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “child” (GL/64), probably derived from the early root ᴱ√PU(HU) “generate” (QL/75).

ador

noun. father

aina

adjective. small

amaith

noun. mother

amil

noun. mother

Gnomish [GL/19; PE13/109] Group: Eldamo. Published by

bâb

noun. father

A word for “father” in the Gnomish Lexicon Slips (PE13/111). In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s itself, G. babi or baba was “mummy, mamma” (GL/21, 57). As pointed out by Gilson, Welden, Hostetter and Wynne, there is a complementary change of {nân “father” >>} G. nân “mother” elsewhere in the Gnomish Lexicon Slips (PE13/115).

gwandra

adjective. beautiful

Gnomish [GG/09; GG/15; GG/16; GL/44; LT1A/Vána] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwanin

adjective. beautiful

hethir

noun. sister

A word for “sister” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, a feminized form of G. heth “brother or sister, ✱sibling”, along with several (archaic) variant forms hethwin, hestril, and hethril (GL/48). It was ultimately derived from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE?] (QL/40).

hethos

noun. brother

A word for “brother” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, a masculinized form of G. heth “brother or sister, ✱sibling”, along with several (archaic?) variant forms {hethweg >>} hethwig, hestron, and hethron (GL/48-49). It was ultimately derived from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE?] (QL/40).

ineg

adjective. small

inig

adjective. small

A word for “small” in the Gnomish Lexicon with variants ineg and G. inc (GL/51). Tolkien said this word was “especially used in quantitative sense as opposite of odog [great]”, as in inig bast no odog saith “✱small bread then great hunger”. It was clearly based on the early root ᴱ√INI “small” (QL/42).

mab(a)

noun. mother

Gnomish [GL/29; GL/57] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mabir

noun. mother

nanwin

noun. mother

nathon

noun. father

Gnomish [GL/17; GL/59] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nân

noun. mother

puthli

noun. baby

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “baby” (GL/64), probably derived from the early root ᴱ√PU(HU) “generate” (QL/75).

Early Noldorin

arn

noun. child, child, [G.] son

A word appearing as G. arn “son” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/20), also appearing with the same form and meaning in Gnomish Lexicon Slips modifying that document, but with a new plural form eirn (PE13/110). The word reappeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s but there its gloss was changed from “son” to “child” (PE13/137). In the Early Noldorin Dictionary of the 1920s its only gloss was “child” (PE13/160). There is no sign of this word thereafter.

Early Noldorin [PE13/137; PE13/160] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhigin

adjective. small

ligen

adjective. small

Solosimpi

ar

noun. child

Solosimpi [PE13/160] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

aran

noun. child

This word first appeared as ᴱQ. ar (arn-) “child” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/32) and its stem form arn- appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/32). The word reappeared in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/135), but in the Early Noldorin Dictionary the Qenya form was given as arne. In the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s, the word appeared as ᴹQ. aran (arn-) “child” (PE21/19), but there is no sign of it from this point forward, probably displaced by Q. aran “king”.

seldo

noun. child, child [m.], *boy

A word for a (male) child in The Etymologies of the 1930s added to its entry when the meaning of the root ᴹ√SEL-D was changed from “daughter” to “child” (Ety/SEL-D). It was written above its feminine equivalent ᴹQ. selde and an apparently neuter form ᴹQ. selda was written to the right, making seldo likely the masculine form as suggested by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne (EtyAC/SEL-D), hence = “✱boy”.

Qenya [Ety/SEL-D; EtyAC/SEL-D] Group: Eldamo. Published by

-(n)ikka

suffix. small

A suffix used in Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 to form correlatives for smallness in quantity or amount, such as ᴹQ. manikka “how small, ✱how little” and ᴹQ. tanikka “✱that small, that little” (PE23/108). Tolkien specified that it was “only used in interrogatives and demonstratives”. It was probably related to diminutive ✶-i(n)ki and the root √-NIK “small”.

amil

noun. mother

amme

noun. mother

Qenya [Ety/AM¹; PE22/023] Group: Eldamo. Published by

atar

noun. father

Qenya [Ety/ATA; LR/061; PE22/018; PE22/046; PE22/047; PE22/118; PE22/119; PE23/081; PE23/105] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mitsa

adjective. small

onna

noun. creature

seler

noun. sister

A noun for “sister” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES of the same meaning, with an irregular plural selli (Ety/THEL), where the stem form sell- is because the Quenya syncope caused the second e to be lost and then the ancient ls became ll.

Neo-Quenya: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word nésa for “sister” (VT47/14). However, I think seler might be retained to mean a “metaphorical” sister, a close female associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as meletheldi “love-sister, ✱close female friend” or ᴹQ. oselle “sworn sister”. In this sense, nésa would be limited to biological relationships, but seler would refer to sisterly (or sister-like) affection.

tet(ta)

noun. baby

A word in the Declension of Nouns of the early 1930s glossed “baby” with short and long variants tet and tetta (PE21/19).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. tyetl “a tiny baby” under the early root ᴱ√TYETE “give suck” (QL/50), a word that also appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa with the gloss “babe” (PME/50). This became ᴱQ. tetta “baby” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/135), and finally tet/tetta in the Declension of Nouns of the early 1930s as noted above. There are no signs of this word thereafter.

Qenya [PE21/19; PE21/24] Group: Eldamo. Published by

toron

noun. brother

A noun for “brother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√TOR of the same meaning, with a somewhat irregular plural torni (Ety/TOR). Its stem form is torn-, since with most inflected forms the Quenya syncope comes into play and the second o is lost.

Neo-Quenya: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word háno for “brother” (VT47/14). However, I think toron might be retained to mean a “metaphorical brother”, a close male associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as melotorni “love-brother, ✱close male friend” or ᴹQ. otorno “sworn brother”. In this sense, háno would be limited to biological relationships, but toron would refer to brotherly (or brother-like) affection.

Qenya [Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

sel(d)

root. child, child; *daughter

A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s, initially glossed “daughter” but later “child” with derivatives ᴹQ. selde, ᴹQ. seldo, ᴹQ. selda = female, male and neuter “child” (Ety/SEL-D). In Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 Tolkien gave sel-de “daughter” (PE17/170), while S. sel(l) = “daughter” appeared in both the King’s Letter from the late 1940s (SD/129) as well as the Túrin Wrapper from the 1950s (VT50/5). The diminutive form for “daughter” appeared as Q. selyë in notes from the late 1960s (VT47/10).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I prefer √YEL for “daughter” as a variant of ᴹ√SEL(D) under the influence of √YON “son”, mostly so I can still use the 1930s “child” words for other genders, at least in the Quenya branch. I would still use Q. seldë and S. sell for “daughter”, however, with a bit of semantic drift, with “girl” words becoming Q. nettë and S. neth.

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/SEL-D; Ety/TIN; EtyAC/TIN; EtyAC/YEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

am

root. mother

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/AM¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

amī̆l

noun. mother

Middle Primitive Elvish [PE21/66] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ata

root. father

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/ATA] Group: Eldamo. Published by

atar

noun. father

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/ATA; PE21/66] Group: Eldamo. Published by

atū

noun. father

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/ATA] Group: Eldamo. Published by

bányā

adjective. beautiful

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/BAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mit

root. small

A deleted root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “small” with various Quenya and Noldorin derivatives of similar meaning (Ety/MIT).

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/MIT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mitra

adjective. small

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/MIT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

thel(es)

root. sister

Tolkien gave this root in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√THEL and extended form ᴹ√THELES with the gloss “sister” and derivatives like ᴹQ. seler and N. thêl of the same meaning, both derived from the extended root as made clear by the Noldorin plural thelei < ON. thelehi (Ety/THEL). Hints of the roots continued use appear in the 1959 term Q. meletheldi “love-sisters” for close female friends (NM/20). In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien gave Q. nésa and S. nethel as the words for “sister”, both from the root √NETH. Nevertheless, I think it is worth retaining ᴹ√THEL(ES) to represent more abstract notions of “sisterhood” for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, for “metaphorical sister”s as opposed to Q. nésa/S. nethel for sisters by blood.

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR; Ety/WŌ] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tor

root. brother

Tolkien gave this root in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√TOR “brother” with derivatives like ᴹQ. toron and N. tôr of the same meaning (Ety/TOR). Hints of the roots continued use appear in the 1959 term Q. melotorni “love-brothers” for close male friends (NM/20). In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien gave Q. háno and S. hanar as the words for “brother”, both from the root √KHAN. Nevertheless, I think it is worth retaining ᴹ√TOR to represent more abstract notions of “brotherhood” for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, for “metaphorical” brothers as opposed to Q. háno/S. hanar for brothers by blood.

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR; Ety/WŌ] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

ini

root. small

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/18; LT1A/Inwë; QL/042] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

adar

noun. father

The Ilkorin word for “father” derived from primitive ᴹ✶atar[ă], also attested in its plural form edrin (Ety/ATA). It is identical to its Noldorin cognate N. adar having undergone similar phonetic changes from its primitive form, possibly ✱✶atară.

Doriathrin [Ety/ATA] Group: Eldamo. Published by

aman

noun. mother

Ilkorin for “mother” (Ety/AM¹), also appearing in its plural form emnin (EtyAC/AM¹).

Doriathrin [Ety/AM¹; EtyAC/AM¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

thele

noun. sister

Old Noldorin [Ety/THEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

toron

noun. brother

Old Noldorin [Ety/TOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wator

noun. brother

Old Noldorin [Ety/TOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Primitive adûnaic

miy

root. small

A root glossed “small” that Tolkien wrote in its full-form ✶Ad. √MIYI (SD/427). For consistency this entry has normalized it to the basic form of biconsonantal roots. Although glossed as “small”, all of its attested derivatives have to do with babies.

Primitive adûnaic [SD/427] Group: Eldamo. Published by