elena adj. "of the stars" (SA:êl, elen); also elenya
Quenya
elda
of the stars
elena
of the stars
-in
-in
-in dative pl. ending, seen in eldain, fírimoin, q.v.
Sindarin
elen
noun. Elf
eledh
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶eledā/elenā > eledh [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ Let/281 ✶eledā/elenā > elidh [eledī] > [eledi] > [eleði] > [eliði] > [elið] ✧ Let/281 ✶elenyā > elein [elenjā] > [elenja] > [elenia] > [eleni] > [elein] > [elain] ✧ PE17/139 ✶eledā > eleð [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ PE17/140 ✶eledā > eleð [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ PE17/141 ✶eledā > eledh [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ PE17/142 ✶elenā > Elen [elenā] > [elena] > [elen] ✧ WJ/360 ✶elenā > Elin [elenī] > [eleni] > [elini] > [elin] ✧ WJ/360 Variations
- eledh ✧ Let/281 (eledh); PE17/142; PE17/142; UTI/Edhelrim
- elein ✧ PE17/139 (elein)
- eleð ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142
- Elen ✧ WJ/363; WJ/377 (Elen); WJI/Elen
edhel
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
- S. Adanedhel “Elf-man” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Aerlinn in Edhil o Imladris “*Holy Song of the Elves of Rivendell” ✧ RGEO/62
- S. Aredhel “Noble Elf” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Aredhel “Noble Elf” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/141
- S. Caledhel “*Light Elf”
- S. Danedhel “*Nando” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141
- S. Dúnedhel “West-Elf” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/378
- S. Edhelharn “Elfstone”
- S. edhellen “elvish” ✧ PE17/045
- S. Edhellond “Elf-haven” ✧ UT/255
- S. Edhellos “Elven-flower” ✧ PM/346
- S. Glóredhel “*Golden Elf” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Gwenedhel
- S. Lindedhel “Nandorin Elf”
- S. mellyn enin Edhellion “*friends of the Elves” ✧ PE17/097
- S. Mornedhel “Dark-elf” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/377
- S. Nínedhel “?Tear(ful) Elf” ✧ PE17/139
- S. Ost-in-Edhil “Fortress of the Eldar” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Peredhel “Half-elf” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Rúnedhel ✧ PE17/141
- S. Thinnedhel “Grey-elf” ✧ PE17/139
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶edelā > eðel [edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/139 ✶edelō > eðel [edelō] > [edelo] > [eðelo] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/141 ✶edelā > edhel [edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/151 ✶edelā > eðel [edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/152 ✶edelō > Edhel [edelō] > [edelo] > [eðelo] > [eðel] ✧ WJ/360 ✶edelō > Edhil [edelī] > [edeli] > [eðeli] > [eðili] > [eðil] ✧ WJ/360 Variations
- edhel ✧ PE17/045; PE17/151; RC/780; SA/edhel; UT/255; UTI/Edhelrim
- eðel ✧ PE17/139; PE17/141; PE17/152
- Eðel ✧ PM/346
ell
noun. Elf
Cognates
- Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ Let/281; WJ/362
Derivations
- ✶eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/360
- √EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
- Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ PE17/141
- ✶eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; SA/êl; WJ/360; WJ/364; WJ/364
- √EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
- ✶elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/152
- ✶elen “star” ✧ PE17/139
- √EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360
- ✶edelā “the fair” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/151
- √DEL “*fair” ✧ PE17/151
- ✶edelō “one who goes, traveller, migrant, marcher” ✧ PE17/152
- √DEL “walk, go, proceed, travel” ✧ WJ/360; WJ/363
Derivatives
Element in
- S. Aranel
- S. Aredhel “Noble Elf” ✧ PE17/141
- S. ar in Ellath epholar eno vi Eressai “*and the Elves (?remember) still in Eressëa” ✧ VT50/19
- S. Dúnedhel “West-Elf” ✧ PE17/141
- S. Elladan “Elf-man” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/152; WJ/363
- S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/363
- S. Elrohir “Elf-knight” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elrond “Star-dome” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elros “Star-foam” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elvellyn “Elf-friends, Elf-lovers” ✧ WJ/412
- S. Glinnel “*Singer-elf”
- S. i glinn hen agorer Edain mi Velerian, ach hí in Ellath îr ed epholar “*this song Men made in Beleriand, but now the Elves alone (?remember) it” ✧ VT50/15; VT50/15; VT50/15
- S. Laegel “Green-elves”
- S. Lindel “Nando”
- S. Miniel “Vanyar”
- S. sí il chem en i Naugrim en ir Ellath thor den ammen “*now all (?hands) of the Dwarves and Elves will be (?against) to us” ✧ VT50/23
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶eldā > ell [eldā] > [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell] ✧ PE17/141 Q. elda > eld > ell [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell] ✧ PE17/141 ✶eldā > Ell- [eldā] > [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell] ✧ WJ/360 Variations
- ell ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; PE17/141 (ell); PE17/141; PE17/152 (ell)
- elt ✧ PE17/141
- Ell- ✧ WJ/363
- ell- ✧ WJ/364
penedh
noun. Elf
Derivations
Element in
- S. Morbenedh “*Dark-elf” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶kwenedē > peneð [kwenedē] > [penedē] > [penede] > [peneðe] > [peneð] ✧ PE17/140 ✶kwenedē > Penn [kwendē] > [pendē] > [pende] > [pend] > [penn] ✧ PE17/141 Variations
- peneð ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141
- Penn ✧ PE17/141
ellon
elf-man
(pl. ellyn)
avar
non-eldarin elf
pl. Evair, also called
edhelharn
elf-stone
(pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).
elleth
elf-woman
(pl. ellith) (WJ:363-64, 377)
elvellon
elf-friend
(pl. elvellyn, coll. pl. elvellonnath (WJ:412);
gwanwel
elf of aman
(”departed” Elf), pl. gwenwil (in gwenwil), coll. pl. gwanwellath. (WJ:378) Also gwanwen; see
edhel
elf
(pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). (WJ:363, 377-78; the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > *Elrim*** may also occur). But since elin** also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.
lefn
elf left behind
pl. lifn.
send
grey-elf
(i hend, o send, construct sen) (probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda), pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim (the only attested form).
dúnedhel
elf of beleriand
(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*). (WJ:378, 386)*
calben
elf of the great journey
(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin).
laegel
green-elf
pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK: *Lhoebenidh* or *Lhoebelidh*. The Green-elves of Beleriand were also called Lindel (pl. Lindil), also Lindedhel (pl. Lindedhil) *(WJ:385)*.
miniel
first elf
(i Viniel), pl. Mínil (i Mínil), coll. pl. Miniellath. (WJ:383)
peredhel
half-elf
(pl. peredhil) (PM:256, 348).
mornedhel
dark elf
(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. **(WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil**).
Telerin
ella
noun/adjective. Elf
Cognates
- Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ WJ/362; WJI/Eldar
Derivations
Element in
- T. Ellálië “Elvenfolk” ✧ WJ/375
ello
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
- T. Audel “Elf who left for Aman” ✧ WJ/364
Noldorin
penedh
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > penedh [kwenedē] > [penedē] > [penede] > [peneðe] > [peneð] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED) ᴹ✶kwenedē > penidh [kwenedī] > [penedī] > [penedi] > [peneði] > [peniði] > [penið] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED) Variations
- peneð ✧ EtyAC/SET (peneð)
penn
noun. Elf
Cognates
- ᴹQ. Qende “Elf”
Derivations
- ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf”
Element in
- N.
Morbenn“Dark Elf” ✧ EtyAC/MOR (Morbenn)Variations
- penn ✧ PE22/067
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!
Qenya
elda
noun. Elf
Changes
Elda→ Elda “‘departed’ Elf” ✧ Ety/ELEDCognates
Derivations
Element in
- ᴹQ. andalúme Eldar oianer Valinoresse, masse oiar sí “for a long while the Elves lived in Valinor, where are they/do they live now?” ✧ PE22/125
- ᴹQ. Eldakar “Elfhelm”
- ᴹQ. Eldahar
- ᴹQ. Eldakan “Elf-bold”
- ᴹQ. Eldalie “People of the Elves, Elf-folk” ✧ Ety/ELED
- ᴹQ. Eldamar “Elvenhome” ✧ Ety/ELED
- ᴹQ. Eldanor “Elfland”
- ᴹQ. Eldanyáre “History of the Elves”
- ᴹQ. Eldar alphírimar “Elves are Immortals” ✧ PE22/124
- ᴹQ. Eldar Alphírimor “Elves are Immortals” ✧ PE22/124
- ᴹQ. Eldar ando kakainen loralyar Koivienenissen “the Elves were long lying asleep at Koivienéni” ✧ VT27/07
- ᴹQ. Eldarin “of the Elves, Elvish” ✧ Ety/ELED
- ᴹQ. Eldavel “Elfwold”
- ᴹQ. Eldamir “Elfstone”
- ᴹQ. en kárielto eldain Isil, hildin Úr-anar; toi írimar “for Elves they made the Moon, but for Men the red Sun; which are beautiful” ✧ LR/072; LR/072
- ᴹQ. Ilu Ilúvatar en káre eldain a fírimoin “the Father made the World for Elves and Mortals” ✧ LR/072
- ᴹQ. intin Eldalin “they (are or were) (some) Elves” ✧ PE22/124
- ᴹQ. Laiqeldar “Green-elves”
- ᴹQ.
Esselda“*First-elf”- ᴹQ. Moreldar “Dark-elves”
- ᴹQ. Naneldar “Danian Elves”
- ᴹQ. Pereldar “Half-eldar”
- ᴹQ. Veaneldar “Sea-elves”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ√ELED > Elda [eleda] > [elda] ✧ Ety/ELED ᴹ√ÉLED > Elda [eleda] > [elda] ✧ Ety/ELED ᴹ✶edela > eleda [edela] > [eleda] ✧ EtyAC/EDE Variations
- eleda ✧ EtyAC/EDE (
eleda)
qen
noun. Elf
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶qend(ǝ)mēn > qenwen [kwendemēn] > [kwendmēn] > [kwenmēn] > [kwenwēn] > [kwenwen] ✧ PE21/25 Variations
- qen ✧ PE21/19; PE21/25
qende
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > qende [kwenedē] > [kwendē] > [kwende] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED) ᴹ✶kwĕndĕ > qende [kwende] ✧ PE21/69 Variations
- qende ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED); PE21/69
Doriathrin
cwend
noun. Elf
A Doriathrin noun meaning “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (EtyAC/KWEN(ED)), an example of the Ilkorin syncope.
Conceptual Development: This word is nearly identical to earlier Gnomish Cwenn “Elf” before Tolkien revised the phonological history of the Noldorin language so that [[on|[kw] became [p]]].
Cognates
- Dan. cwenda “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > cwend [kwenedē] > [kwenede] > [kwende] > [kwend] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
Ossriandric
cwenda
noun. Elf
A noun for “Elf” developed from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (Ety/KWEN(ED)). It is an example of the Danian syncope, with second unstressed [e] vanishing after the identical vowel. It is also one of the Danian words for which a long final vowel developed into short final [a].
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > cwenda [kwenedē] > [kwendē] > [kwenda] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
edel
noun. Elf
A noun for “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶edel-, an inversion of the primitive root ᴹ√ELED (Ety/ELED). Unlike most similar Danian nouns, it did not undergo the Danian syncope and retained its second vowel. One possible explanation is that the primitive form of this noun ended in a short vowel, ✱✶edelă, and this short final vowel vanished before the period of the syncope, preventing it from occurring in this word. Helge Fauskanger originally suggested a theory much like this one (AL-Nandorin/edel).
Conceptual Development: In an earlier version of this entry, the Danian word for Elf was given as Elda (Ety/ELED).
Cognates
- ᴹQ. Elda “Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED; Ety/ELED
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ√ÉLED > Elda [eledā] > [eldā] > [elda] ✧ Ety/ELED ᴹ✶edel- > Edel [edela] > [edel] ✧ Ety/ELED Variations
- Elda ✧ Ety/ELED (
Elda)
Middle Primitive Elvish
kwen(ed)
root. Elf
Derivatives
Variations
- KWENED ✧ PE18/034; PE18/061
kwenedē
noun. Elf
Derivations
- ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
Derivatives
Element in
- ᴹ✶morikwende “Dark-elf” ✧ PE19/057; PE19/059
Variations
- kwènedḗ ✧ PE19/057; PE19/059
- kwendḗ ✧ PE19/059
- kwĕndĕ ✧ PE21/69
Gnomish
cwenn
noun. Elf
Changes
Cwend→ Cwenn ✧ GL/28Cognates
- Eq. Qen “Elf” ✧ GL/32; PE13/099; PE14/009
Element in
- G. Cweneglin “*Elvish (Qenya)” ✧ GL/28
Variations
- Cwend ✧ GL/28 (
Cwend)
Early Noldorin
egol
noun. elf
gwenn
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
- ᴱ✶Gwendi ✧ PE13/146
Element in
- En. Gwennian
idhel
noun. elf
ileth
noun. elf
uidhol
noun. elf
uigol
noun. elf
Early Quenya
qen
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
- ᴱ✶Gwendi ✧ PE13/146
Element in
- Eq. Qenya “Elvish”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴱ✶Gwendi- > Qen [gʷend] > [gʷen] > [kʷen] ✧ PE13/146 Variations
- qende ✧ PE14/009
qende
noun. Elf
elda 1. originally adj. "of the stars", but wholly replaced (WJ:362) by: 2. noun (Elda) = one of the people of the Stars, (high-)elf, an Elf (SA:êl, elen, Letters:281, ELED, ÉLED; notice that Tolkien abandoned a former etymology with "depart"), chiefly in the pl. Eldar (WJ:362, cf. GAT(H), TELES).The primitive form Tolkien variously cited as ¤eledā / elenā(Letters:281, PE17:152) and ¤eldā(WJ:360). Partitive pl. Eldali (VT49:8), gen. pl. Eldaron (WJ:368, PM:395, 402);dative pl.eldain "for elves", for Eldar (FS); possessive sg. Eldava "Elf's" (WJ:407); possessive pl. Eldaiva (WJ:368), Eldaivë governing a plural word (WJ:369). The word Eldar properly refers to the non-Avari Elves only, but since Eldar rarely had any contact with the Avari, it could be used for "elves" in general (in LT1:251, Elda is simply glossed "Elf"). See also Eldo. The plural form Eldar should not require any article when the reference is to the entire people; i Eldar refers to a limited group, "(all) the Elves previously named"; nevertheless, Tolkien in some sources does use the article even where the reference seems to be generic (i Eldar or i-Eldar, VT49:8).