galadh

noun. tree

The basic Sindarin word for “tree” (LotR/1113), derived from primitive ✶galadā and very well attested. This word dates back at least to The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. galadh “tree” appeared under the root ᴹ√GALAD (Ety/GALAD). See also orn “(tall) tree” of similar meaning.

Conceptual Development: Gnomish of the 1910s had some earlier version of this “tree” word: G. galdon >> alwen “tree” in the Name-list to the Fall of Gondolin (PE15/24) and archaic/poetic G. †alwen “tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/19), the latter probably from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” that was the basis for ᴱQ. alda “tree” (QL/29).

galadh

tree

{ð} n. tree. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

oron

noun. tree

n. Bot. tree. Also in compound -(o)rŏnō. >> orn

galadh

tree

_n. Bot._tree, like oak (nordh) and beech. A galadh was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadh

noun. tree

belegorn

masculine name. *Great-tree

The 4th ruling steward of Gondor (LotR/1039). This name appears to be a compound of beleg “mighty” and orn “tree” (SA/beleg, gaer; PM/363).

Conceptual Development: In drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices, this name first appeared as Bardhan and Belgorn (PM/219).

celeborn

proper name. Tree of Silver

A tree in Tol Eressëa (S/59), translated “Tree of Silver” (MR/155) or “Silver Tree” (UT/266). This name is a combination of celeb “silver” and orn “tree”.

Conceptual Development: The name N. Celeborn appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s with the translation “Tree of Silver” (LR/210).

galadhremmen

adjective. tree-meshed

An adjective meaning “tree-meshed” appearing in the A Elbereth Gilthoniel poem in its plural form galadhremmin (LotR/238). It was a combination of galadh “tree” and remmen “meshed” (PE17/25-26). This word is probably poetic, not in common use.

galadhrim

collective name. Tree-people

A name for the Elves of Lórien translated “Tree-people” (LotR/341). This name is a combination galadh “tree” and the class-plural suffix -rim often used in the names of peoples (Let/426, PE17/50).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s and in the 1st edition of Lord of the Rings, this name appeared as N. Galadrim as part of Tolkien’s general trend to simplify dh [ð] to d (TI/239, RC/305). In the 2nd edition he restored the proper Sindarin form Galadhrim, deciding that Galadrim was the Nandorin form (PE17/50).

galathilion

proper name. White Tree

A tree in Tirion made after Telperion and translated “White Tree” (S/59). It may be a combination of galadh “tree” and the root THIL “shine silver” (SA/sil). The final element seems to be the patronymic suffix -ion, the last of these perhaps indicating its decent from Telperion.

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, N. Galathilion was another name for Telperion (LR/209). In The Etymologies it was glossed the “White Tree of Valinor” and had the derivation given above (Ety/BAL, GALAD, THIL), though the final element -ion was not explained. In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, it was glossed “Silver Cherry”, but as Christopher Tolkien pointed out, this was not its actual meaning (RS/187).

huorn

noun. ?spirit tree

Ent-like creatures from the forest of Fangorn (LotR/705).

Possible Etymology: Clearly the final element of this word is orn “tree”, but Tolkien was unsure of the initial element. In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien considered first considered hû “spirit, shadow” < ✶hyōba (PE17/86). He then considered hû derived from ✶khōgo with a new gloss that might be “hound” or might be “heart” according to Christopher Gilson; compare N. hû “dog” from The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√KHUG (Ety/KHUG). This was followed by unglossed forms hôn or hûn derived from primitive ✶khōn-, which obviously resemble N. hûn “heart” from The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√KHŌ-N (Ety/KHŌ-N).

Thus Tolkien may have considered the possible meanings: “spirit-tree”, “shadow-tree”, “hound-tree”, “heart-tree”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, Tolkien gave these creatures Quenya names ᴹQ. Lamorni >> ᴹQ. Ornómi “Talking Trees” (WR/50).

hírilorn

place name. Tree of the Lady

A great beech-tree in Doriath (S/172), translated by Christopher Tolkien as “Tree of the Lady” (SI/Hírilorn). This name is a combination of híril “lady” and orn “tree” (SA/heru, orn).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, the tree was first named G. Golosbrindi “Queen of the Forest” (LT2/51), revised to G. Hirilorn “Queen of Trees” (LT2/18). In the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s, the name was translated “Beechen Queen” (LB/202). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, Ilk. Hirilorn was given as a Doriathrin name, most likely with the same meaning as above (Ety/NEL).

mallorn

noun. gold tree, yellow tree

Name of the golden trees of Lórien (LotR/346).

Possible Etymology: In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien considered a couple etymologies for this word. Initially he derived this word as a combination of malt “gold” and orn “tree”, saying it was “a later Sindarin word (since in earlier times the word malta was only used literally of the metal ‘gold’): older form malh-orn with long voiceless l” (PE17/51). He then considered it as the equivalent of Q. malinornë or maldorne where the initial element was based on ✶malnā “yellow”, with *ln* becoming *ll* in Sindarin as opposed to becoming *ld* in Quenya (PE17/51).

This second etymology seems to have been a transient idea. In notes from the late 1960s Tolkien said: “in The Lord of the Rings ll is used in the manner of modern Welsh for the medial voiceless l; as in mallorn < malhorn < malþorn < malt ‘gold’ and orn ‘tree’ (VT42/27)”. Thus mallorn is the best example of how ancient *lt* became *ll* (via *lþ*) in Sindarin. Whether or not the ll was voiceless in modern Sindarin is an open question, however; in other places Tolkien said ll was eventually voiced (PE17/131).

Conceptual Development: This word was already N. mallorn when it first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s (TI/226).

melthinorn

proper name. Tree of Gold

A name of Laurelin translated “Tree of Gold” (MR/155), apparently a combination of a variant form of the adjective [N.] malthen “of gold” and orn “tree” (Ety/SMAL). The initial adjective melthin- appears to be plural, though the reason why is unclear since the second element is obviously singular.

Conceptual Development: The name N. Melthinorn appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/30). It also appears in The Etymologies, which is the source of the derivation above (Ety/SMAL). In the same entry, there is an archaic form †Mellinorn, apparently containing a plural of N. mallen.

orn

noun. (tall straight) tree

A “tree” word in Sindarin, derived from primitive ✶ornē (Let/426; NM/349; UT/266). This word can be compared to the more general galadh “tree”. Of these Tolkien said:

> There was not in Sindarin much distinction in size between galað and orn. But oak (norð, Q nordo) and beech were galað for instance and birch and ash orn. A galað was more thick, dense & branching (PE17/25).

And:

> ... ✱ornē “tree” originally and usually applied to the taller, straighter, and more slender trees, such as birches [as opposed to] ... stouter and more spreading trees, such as oaks and beeches, were called in C.E. galadā “great growth” (NM/349 and note #1).

In this second set of notes Tolkien also said “In S. orn < ✱ornē fell out of common use and was used only in verse and songs, though it survived in many names, of trees and persons. All trees were called galað < ✱galadā” (NM/349 note #1). I can find no evidence that S. orn was archaic this outside of this note. As such, I would use orn in Sindarin for tall straight trees, and galadh either for trees in generally, or where applicable for broad and spreading trees.

Conceptual Development: This word was very well established in Tolkien’s mind. In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, G. orn was the ordinary word for “tree”, as opposed to archaic/poetic G. †alwen (GL/19, 62). ᴱN. orn “tree” appeared in Early Noldorin word-lists of the 1920s where it was derived from ᴱ✶orne- (PE13/151, 164), and N. orn “tree” reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ᴹ✶ÓR-NI “high tree”, though in this document Tolkien said this Noldorin word was “used of any large tree” (Ety/ÓR-NI).

orod-na-thôn

place name. Mount of the Pine Tree(s)

A mountain in Dorthonion (LotR/469) translated “Pine-mountain” (RC/384) or “Mount of the Pine Tree(s)” (PE17/147). This name is a combination of orod “mountain”, na(n) “of” and thôn “pine-tree” (PE17/82).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as (singular) N. Orod Thon >> (plural) N. Orod Thuin (TI/420), omitting the na “of”.

thôn

noun. pine-tree

The Sindarin word for “pine-tree”, most notably as an element in the names Dorthonion “Land of Pines” and Orod-na-Thôn “Mount of the Pine Tree(s)”. Tolkien gave it as thôn < ✶stŏna in a 1955 letter to David Masson (PE17/82) and as {thaun >>} thôn in notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, derived from {✶stāna >> ✶thānĭ- >>} ✶thŏno (PE17/81).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. thaun “pine-tree” under the root ᴹ√THŌN of the same meaning (Ety/THŌN). Likely the vowel in this root was a fronted ǭ, which became *au* in both Sindarin and Noldorin.

In the 1910s and 20s, the “pine-tree” word was ᴱN./G. aigos, first glossed {“cheshnut tree”} in Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/17), with a variant form G. aiguis in the Gnomish Lexicon Slips (PE13/108), and simply as ᴱN. aigos “pine-tree” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/136, 158). It was replaced by thaun/thôn in Tolkien’s later writing, as noted above.

Bregalad

noun. 'quick tree'

prop. n. Bot. 'quick (lively) tree', Quickbeam. Tolkien notes that "_Quicken _or Quickbeam are actual names of 'rowan' or 'mountain-ash' = German Vogelbeere, Vogelbeerbaum.

Fangorn

noun. Beard of Tree

_ prop. n. _Beard of Tree. >> orn

Galadriel

noun. Strangers erroneously associated Galadriel with Silvan galad 'tree'

1c prop. n. Strangers erroneously associated Galadriel with Silvan galad 'tree'. Q. Ñaltariel, T. Altarielle.

Hírilorn

noun. lady-tree

híril (“lady”) + orn (“tree”)

Orod na Thôn

place name. 'Mount with Pine Tree'

topon. 'Mount with Pine Tree(s)'. >> na, orod, thôn

ereg

noun. holly, thorn, holly, [N.] holly-tree, [S.] thorn

The Sindarin word for “holly”, most notably as an element in the name S. Eregion “Hollin” (SA/ereg; PE17/42). N. ereg “holly-tree” first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s based on the root ᴹ√EREK “thorn”, along with a longer variant N. eregdos where the second element was N. toss “low-growing tree” (Ety/ERÉK, TUS).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had two different words for “holly”: G. criscolas “holly” = crisc “sharp” + lass “leaf” (GL/27), as well as G. sempios “holly” = sen “brown-red” + a variant of piog “berry” (GL/67).

galadhremmen

tree-tangled

pl1. galadhremmin {ð} adj. tree-tangled. _o galadh-remmin ennorath _lit. 'from tree-tangled middlelands'. Q. aldarembina.

galadhrim

noun. 'Tree-people'

pl2. n. 'Tree-people'. True S. form of Galadrim. >> Galadrim

galadrim

noun. 'Tree-people'

pl2. n. 'Tree-people'. Sylvan word, true S. Galadhrim. >> Galadhrim

huorn

noun. ? tree

n. ? tree. The question mark is in the manuscript. >> hû

lebethron

noun. a tree - its black wood was used by the woodwrights of Gondor

In the original manuscript, one of the earlier (rejected) form of this name was lebendron. Didier Willis proposed the etymology lebed+doron "finger-oak", actually a real tree name (Finger Oak or Quercus digitata)

lebethron

noun. name of a hard-wood tree growing in Gondor

n. Bot. name of a hard-wood tree growing in Gondor (Ithilien). Q lepetta. Also used as word for the wood which took a high polish, lebethorn being altered to lebethron and associated with RUN 'rub, grind, smooth, polish'. >> ron. This gloss was rejected.

mallorn

noun. 'golden-tree'

pl1. mellyrn** ** pl1. n.Bot.'golden-tree'. It was a gift from Gil-galad, who had the seed from Eressea (by way of Númenor). >> malh, mall

mallorn

noun. golden tree

mall (“golden, of gold”) + orn (“tree”)

orn

a tall tree

_n. Bot._a tall tree. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. orne. >> Fangorn, galadh, nordh

region

noun. holly-tree area

[HKF] reg (Dor. regorn “holly tree”) + ion (Dor. gen. pl. suffix) = Dor. Regornion [Etym. ERÉK-]

si loth a galadh lasto dîn

*here flower and tree listen [in] silence

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

• Patrick Wynne: “✱Here/now let flower and tree listen in silence/below” (NTTLS/11)

• David Salo: “✱now flower and tree, listen silent” (GS/211)

• Bertrand Bellet and Benjamin Babut: “✱then flower and tree, listen in silence” (GTLC)

The first word si resembles the Sindarin word sí “here”, though that word usually appears with a long vowel. All of Wynne, Salo, Bellet and Babut suggested instead that it might in this particular case be used temporally like its Quenya cognate Q. sí “now”. However, in notes published after all of their analyses, Tolkien stated that S. sí only meant “here”, and used hí for “now” (PE17/27). I think it is safer to assume that si means “here”.

The second word is loth “flower” joined by the conjunction a “and” to galadh “tree”. The fifth word lasto is the imperative form of the verb lasta- “to listen”. The last word is probably the noun dîn “silence”, though Wynne suggested it might be some form of di “beneath” (NTTLS/9).

o galadhremmin ennorath

from tree-tangled middle-lands

orgaladh

noun. fourth day of the Númenórean week, day of the White Tree

This day was formerly called orgaladhad in the Elvish calendar

brethil

noun. beech, beech-tree, silver birch

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

galadhremmen

adjective. tree-woven, tree-tangled

lalorn

noun. elm-tree

lalwen

noun. elm-tree

malhorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

mallorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

malthorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

orn

noun. (any large) tree

tathar

noun. willow (tree)

The Sindarin word for “willow”, derived from the same root √TATHAR as its Quenya cognate tasarë (SA/tathar; PE17/81). Its adjectival form tathren “of willow(s)” is an element in the name Nan-tathren “Land of Willows” (S/120).

Conceptual Development: The earliest form of this word was G. tathrin “willow” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/69), cognate to ᴱQ. tasarin derived from the early root ᴱ√TASA (QL/53). This was an element in the early names G. Nan Tathrin and G. Dor-tathrin “Land of Willows”, but as a noun rather than an adjective. ᴱN. tathrin “willow” reappeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/153), but in The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien split it into two words: noun N. tathor “willow” and adjective N. tathren “of willow” under the root ᴹ√TATHAR (Ety/TATHAR).

In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien revisited the noun, first having [deleted] S. taur or taor derived from √TASĀR, which he revised to S. tathar derived from √TAÞAR, as noted above (PE17/81). The adjectival form S. tathren continued to appear in Silmarillion drafts of the 1950s and 60s as well (WJ/80).

tathar

noun. willow-tree

thôn

noun. pine-tree

galadh

tree

1. galadh (i **aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302). 2) orn (pl. yrn**). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

galadh

tree

(i ’aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302).

orn

tree

(pl. yrn). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

ecthelorn

noun. spruce, fir-tree

A neologism for “spruce, fir-tree” coined by Hialmr on VQP (VQP), a combination of [N.] ecthel “point” and orn “(tall) tree”.

lebethron

oak tree

. An unidentified tree (or its wood) is the lebethron.

mallorn

golden-tree

E (a species of tree specific to Middle-earth, apparently beech-like) mallorn (i vallorn), pl. mellyrn (i mellyrn).

neldor

beech tree

neldor (pl. neldyr), also brethorn (i vrethorn), pl. brethyrn (i mrethyrn) (VT46:3). The mallorn or ”golden-tree” found in Lórien was supposedly beechlike: mallorn (i vallorn), pl. mellyrn (i mellyrn).

neldor

beech tree

(pl. neldyr), also brethorn (i vrethorn), pl. brethyrn (i mrethyrn) (VT46:3). The mallorn or ”golden-tree” found in Lórien was supposedly beechlike: mallorn (i vallorn), pl. mellyrn (i mellyrn).

thôn

pine-tree

thôn (pl. thŷn, coll. pl. ?thonath). In the linguistic scenario of the Etymologies, the ”Noldorin” word for ”pine-tree” was thaun pl. thuin, and thôn was rather ”Ilkorin”. However, when Tolkien revised his legendarium so that Sindarin replaced Ilkorin as the native Elven-tongue of Beleriand, names like Dorthonion ”Land of Pines” must be interpreted as containing a Sindarin word for pine. Adj. #thonion ”having pine trees” (isolated from the name Dorthonion), pl. thonyn

thôn

pine-tree

(pl. th**ŷn, coll. pl. ?thonath). In the linguistic scenario of the Etymologies, the ”Noldorin” word for ”pine-tree” was thaun pl. thuin, and thôn was rather ”Ilkorin”. However, when Tolkien revised his legendarium so that Sindarin replaced Ilkorin as the native Elven-tongue of Beleriand, names like Dorthonion ”Land of Pines” must be interpreted as containing a Sindarin word for pine. Adj. #thonion ”having pine trees” (isolated from the name Dorthonion), pl. thonyn**

toss

low-growing tree

(bush) toss (i doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word. Specific trees, see BEECH TREE, BIRTH TREE, ELM, ””,

toss

low-growing tree

(bush) toss (i doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word.

toss

low-growing tree

(i doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word.

toss

low-growing tree

(i** doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i** thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word. Specific trees, see

neldor

noun. beech

A Sindarin word for “beech” appearing in the names Taur-na-Neldor “Beech-forest” (LotR/469; RC/384) and Neldoreth, the name of a forest with beeches (S/55; PE17/81).

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Ilk. neldor was an Ilkorin word based on ᴹ√NÉL-ED “three”, which Tolkien said was “properly name of Hirilorn the great beech of Thingol with three trunks = neld-orn ? [question mark from Tolkien]” (Ety/NEL). In the 1910s and 20s, ᴱQ. neldor “beech” was an Early Qenya word (PE16/139; QL/65), and its cognates in this period were G. deldron “beech” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/30), G. deil(i)an or delwen “beech” in Gnomish Lexicon Slips (PE13/112), and ᴱN. {de(i)lian >>} deilian “beech-tree” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/142).

Possible Etymology: The Ilkorin derivation from √NELED is no longer suitable in Sindarin, since we would expect [[s|[d] > [ð]]] as in S. neledh “three”. It is possible Tolkien simply never reexamined the etymology of this word after it became Sindarin. Alternately, it could be nel- “tri-” + taur “forest” or -dor “-lord” or something similar.

collorn

noun. laburnum, *(lit.) orange-tree

A neologism for a “laburnum” coined by Ríon in 2021 on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) based on Q. culumalda of the same meaning.

ruindol

noun. flame tree, peacock flower, royal poinciana, phoenix flower, flame of the forest, Delonix regia, (lit.) blazing-head

A neologism coined by Echuidor posted on 2025-03-25 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of ruin “blaze” and dol(l) “head”.

aebin

noun. cherry (tree)

brethil

birch tree

1. brethil (i vrethil), pl. same as sg. except with article (i mrethil), coll. pl. ?brethiliath.

brethil

birch tree

(i vrethil), pl. same as sg. except with article (i mrethil), coll. pl. ?brethiliath. 

doron

oak tree

doron (i dhoron), pl. deryn (i neryn). In "Noldorin", the pl. was deren.

doron

oak tree

(i dhoron), pl. deryn (i neryn). In "Noldorin", the pl. was deren.

galadhremmen

tree-tangled

*galadhremmen (pl. galadhremmin) (word used to describe the woodlands of Middle-earth)

galadhremmen

tree-tangled

(pl. galadhremmin) (word used to describe the woodlands of Middle-earth)

huorn

walking tree of fangorn

huorn (i chuorn, o chuorn), pl. huyrn (i chuyrn).

huorn

walking tree of fangorn

(i chuorn, o chuorn), pl. huyrn (i chuyrn).

lalorn

noun. elm-tree

lalven

elm tree

lalven (also spelt lalwen), pl. lelvin (lelwin). Alternative form lalorn (pl. lelyrn), also short form lalf (pl. lelf according to LR:348 s.v. ÁLAM; David Salo would read Sindarin leilf to go with eilph ”swan”).

lalven

elm tree

(also spelt lalwen), pl. lelvin (lelwin). Alternative form lalorn (pl. lelyrn), also short form lalf (pl. lelf according to LR:348 s.v. ÁLAM; David Salo would read Sindarin leilf to go with eilph ”swan”).

lebethron

oak tree

.

mallorn

golden-tree

(i vallorn), pl. mellyrn (i mellyrn).

nothlir

family line, family tree

nothlir (no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath) Û-

nothlir

family tree

nothlir (family line); no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath.

nothlir

family line, family tree

(no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath)

nothlir

family tree

(family line); no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath.

omlos

noun. chestnut tree, *chestnut

tulus

poplar tree

tulus (i dulus, o thulus), pl. tylys (i thylys)

tulus

poplar tree

(i dulus, o thulus), pl. tylys (i thylys)

alaf

noun. elm

The Sindarin word for “elm” appearing in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/153).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien used similar “elm” words for much of his life. The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. lalm or larm “an elm, elm-wood” along with a more elaborate form G. {lalmin >>} lalmir “an elm tree” (GL/52). These were clearly cognates to ᴱQ. alalme “elm (tree)” under the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29). Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had an unrelated form ᴱN. {aulin >>} ólin “elm” (PE13/151). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien reverted to N. lalf or N. lalven “elm-tree” under the root ᴹ√ÁLAM of the same meaning (Ety/ÁLAM). This root had a variant ᴹ√LÁLAM, under which Tolkien had N. lhalwen or lhalorn “elm-tree” (Ety/LÁLAM).

Neo-Sindarin: In theory the 1930s “elm” words might be used with some adaptations like ᴺS. lalorn for N. lhalorn, but I’d simply stick to the 1959 “elm” word alaf for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

brethil

noun. silver birch

_n. Bot. _silver birch, an emblem of Elbereth. Because of its association with Elbereth, Elves associated this tree with stars, and the word was often interpreted as 'daughter of the Queen', 'princess'. >> fimbrethil, nimbrethil

brethil

noun. silver birch, silver-birch; [N.] beech

A word for a “silver-birch”, an element in the names Nimbrethil and Fimbrethil (SA/brethil). According to Tolkien it was associated with bereth “queen”:

> ... since this tree was an emblem of Elbereth, was associated by Elves with the stars, and the word by them often interpreted as “daughter of the Queen, princess”. Fuller forms nimbrethil “white princess” and fimbrethil “slender princess” were also used (PE17/23).

Tolkien went on to add that “the ordinary non-mythological word for birch was ... S chwind, whinn”, so it seems brethil was only for the specific species of birch associated with Elbereth, and the ordinary word for “birch” was whinn. In this note, Tolkien also derived brethil from √BARATH, but he may have changed his mind later; see the entry to bereth “queen” for discussion.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. brethil was “beech (tree)” and it was derived from the root ᴹ√BERETH of the same meaning (Ety/BERETH, NEL). In later writings, “beech” was S. neldor; see that entry for discussion.

faran

noun. rowan, rowan, *ash

A Sindarin word for a “rowan” [a species of ash tree], cognate to Q. farnë and derivative of √PHAR(AN) (PE17/83), possibly a later iteration of N. †fêr “beech-tree” from the root ᴹ√PHER(EN) (Ety/PHER).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. soros “ash-tree” of unclear derivation (GL/68).

nordh

oak

{ð}_n. Bot._oak. A tree of the orn kind. Q. nordo. >> galadh, orn

galadhon

of or related to trees

(lenited ‘aladhon, pl. galadhoen). Archaic ✱galadhaun. The latter is based on David Salo’s analysis of the name Caras Galadhon; others have interpreted the last word as some kind of genitive plural, maybe influenced by Silvan Elvish.

galadhrim

people of the trees

(Elves of Lórien). Adj.

mallorn

Mallorn

The word comes from malt ("gold") and orn ("tree"). In Gondor Sindarin the same word was pronounced Malthorn. Malinornë is the Quenya translation of Mallorn.

rêg

holly

rêg (construct reg) (thorn), pl. rîg (idh rîg). See also LOW-GROWING TREE

tathren

adjective. of willow(s)

alaf

noun. elm

_ n. Bot. _elm. Q. albe.

chwind

noun. ordinary non-mythological word for birch

_n. Bot. _ordinary non-mythological word for birch. Q. hwinde. >> brethil, whinn

ereg

noun. holly

_ n. Bot. _holly. >> Eregion

galan

elm

pl1. gelain _ n. Bot. _elm. . This gloss was rejected.

nimbrethil

noun. 'Silver Birches'

prop.n. 'Silver Birches'. >> brethil I, nim

nordh

noun. oak

A word for “oak” in notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/25). See the entry N. doron for earlier forms of the word.

tathar

noun. willow

n.Bot. #willow. >> taor, taur

tathren

adjective. of willow, having willows

thaun

pine

pl1. thoen n.Bot. #pine. Presented as a noldorized S. form. >> Dor I thoen, thôn. This gloss was rejected.

thôn

noun. pine

n.Bot. #pine. Presented as a noldorized S. form. >> thôn, thaun . This gloss was rejected.

thôn

noun. pine

n.Bot. #pine. Presented as a noldorized S. form. >> Dor I thoen, thôn. This gloss was rejected.

whinn

noun. ordinary non-mythological word for birch

_n. Bot. _ordinary non-mythological word for birch. Q. hwinde. >> brethil, chwind

whinn

noun. birch

The ordinary non-mythological word for “birch” in notes from the mid-1960s, as opposed to brethil “silver-birch” for the subspecies associated with Elbereth (PE17/23).

finios

noun. larch

fêr

beech

†fêr (stem feren-, pl. ferin) (mast);

fêr

beech

(stem feren-, pl. ferin) (mast);

pechol

noun. hazel

A neologism for “hazel” coined by Hjalmar Holm in VQP (VQP), inspired by ᴱQ. kottule “hazel” but updated to use the initial element [ᴺS.] pech for “nut”.

rêg

holly

(construct reg) (thorn), pl. rîg (idh** rîg**). See also

tathar

willow

tathar, also tathor (i dathar/-or; o thathar/-or), pl. tethair (i thethair) or (if tathor has an analogical plural) tethyr (i thethyr). Adj.

tathar

willow

also tathor (i dathar/-or; o thathar/-or), pl. tethair (i thethair) or (if tathor has an analogical plural) tethyr (i thethyr). Adj.

tathren

of willow, having willows

tathren (lenited dathren, pl. tethrin)

tathren

of willow, having willows

(lenited dathren, pl. tethrin)

alda

noun. tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch

The basic Quenya word for “tree” (LotR/1113), derived from primitive ✶galadā and very well attested. This word dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where ᴱQ. alda “tree” appeared under the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29). Tolkien seems to have switched its derivation to ✱galadā in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where ᴹQ. alda “tree” appeared under the root ᴹ√GALAD of the same meaning (Ety/GALAD). See also ornë “(tall) tree” for a discussion of another similar word.

Conceptual Development: There were a few instances where the word alda had a different meaning. In Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s, alda was glossed “branch” (PE16/139). In notes from 1959 Tolkien said “✱galadā, originally only large flourishing plant, as tree, and especially one that flowered, Q alda, S galað; the general word for ‘tree’ was Q orne ‘upstanding plant’ (PE17/153)”. But in its numerous appearance elsewhere, alda was simply a general word for “tree”.

alda

tree

alda noun "tree" (GALAD, GÁLAD, SA, Nam, RGEO:66, LR:41, SD:302, LT1:249, LT2:340, VT39:7), also name of tengwa #28 (Appendix E). Pl. aldar in Narqelion; gen. pl. aldaron "of trees" in Namárië. Etymology of alda, see Letters:426 and UT:266-7. The latter source states that primitive ¤galadā, whence Quenya alda, originally applied to stouter and more spreading trees such as oaks or beeches, while straighter and more slender trees such as birches were called ¤ornē, Quenya ornë - but this distinction was not always observed in Quenya, and it seems that alda became the general word. According to PE17:25, primitive galada (sic) referred to "a plant (large) and was a general term". Place-name Aldalómë ""tree-night" or "tree-shade-night" (LotR2:III ch. 4, translated in PE17:82); Aldarion masc. name, *"Son of (the) Trees" (Appendix A), Tar-Aldarion a Númenorean King (UT:210). Aldaron a name of Oromë (Silm); aldinga "tree-top" (VT47:28), aldarembina (pl. aldarembinë attested) adj. "tree-tangled", the cognate of Sindarin galadhremmin**(PM:17:26).Aldúya fourth day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to the Trees (Appendix D). The word seems to include Aldu, a dual form referring to the Two Trees. The Númenóreans altered the name to Aldëa (presumably < aldajā), referring to one tree (the White) only. The dual Aldu seems to occur also in Aldudénië** "Lament for the Two Trees" (a strange word, since Quenya does not permit intervocalic d as in this word perhaps the Vanyarin dialect of Quenya did) (Silm)

ornë

tree

ornë noun "tree" _(Letters:308, SD:302: "when smaller and more slender like a birch or rowan", Etym stem ÓR-NI: "tree, high isolated tree"). For the etymology, see Letters:426; for (original) difference in meaning between ornë and alda, see alda. In ornemalin "tree-yellow"; see laurelindórenan lindelorendor... (LotR2:III ch. 4; cf. Letters:308), also as final element in malinornë "yellow-tree, mallorn" (q.v.) Masc. name Ornendil *"Tree-friend" (Appendix A)_, compound Ornelië "tree-folk" (Quenya name of the Galadhrim, the tree-people of Lórien) (TI:239).

alda

noun. tree

aldalómë

place name. Tree-twilight

An older name of Fangorn forest (LotR/469). It is a compound alda “tree” and lómë “twilight” (RC/385).

aldamir

masculine name. *Tree Jewel

The 23rd king of Gondor (LotR/1038). His name seems to be a compound alda “tree” and mírë “jewel”.

aldarembina

adjective. tree-meshed

Quenya cognate to S. galadhremmen “tree-meshed” (PE17/136) from the Sindarin poem A Elbereth Gilthoniel (LotR/238). It is a combination of Q. alda “tree” and Q. rembina “meshed” (PE17/25-26).

aldinga

noun. tree-top

A word for “tree-top” in notes from the late 1960s, a combination of alda “tree” and inga “top” (VT47/28).

culumalda

noun. laburnum, *(lit.) orange-tree

Quenya name for a “laburnum” described as “a tree with hanging yellow blossoms (prob[ably] a laburnum) growing in Ithilien espec[ially] at Cormallen” (RC/626). Helge Fauskanger suggested it is probably [ᴹQ.] culuma “orange” + alda “tree” (QQ/culumalda).

malinalda

proper name. Tree of Gold

Another name of Laurelin (S/38), a compound of malina “yellow, golden” and alda “tree” (SA/alda, mal).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Malinalda also appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/210), likely with the same meaning and etymology.

malinornë

noun. mallorn, (lit.) golden/yellow tree

The usual Quenya name for the mallorn tree, most notably appearing in the Entish phrase Laurelindórenan lindelorendor malinornélion ornemalin (LotR/467; Let/448). It is a combination of malina “yellow, golden colour” and ornë “tree”. In one place Tolkien considered an alternate form maldorne where the initial element was instead derived from primitive ✶malnā with ancient *ln* becoming *ld* (PE17/51).

ornendil

masculine name. *Tree-friend

Eldest son of king Eldacar of Gondor, slain by Castamir the Usurper (LotR/1047). This name seems to be a compound ornë “(tall) tree” and the suffix -(n)dil “-friend, -lover”, making it a tree-name similar to that of his younger brother Aldamir “✱Tree Jewel”.

ornendur

noun. tree-keep, forester, woodsman

A word in 1959 notes Tolkien described as “a tree-keep, a forester, a ‘woodsman’, a man concerned with trees as we might say ‘professionally’ (NM/20)”. It was given as an example of the use of the suffix -(n)dur, and its initial element is ornë “tree”.

ornë

noun. (tall) tree, (tall) tree, [ᴹQ.] high isolated tree

A word for a “(tall) tree” in Quenya, derived from primitive ✶ornē (Let/426; PE17/25, 50). This word can be compared to the more common alda “tree”. Talking about the primitive forms Tolkien said:

> ... ✱ornē “tree” originally and usually applied to the taller, straighter, and more slender trees, such as birches [as opposed to] ... stouter and more spreading trees, such as oaks and beeches, were called in C.E. galadā “great growth” (NM/349 and note #1).

I would use ornë in Quenya only for tall straight trees, and alda as either the general word for “tree”, or where applicable for broad and spreading trees.

Conceptual Development: The earliest precursor to this word seems to be ᴱQ. orond- “bush”, cognate to G. orn “tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/62). It became {orne &gt;&gt;} ᴱQ. orme “tree” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/139) and then ᴹQ. orne “high isolated tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ᴹ✶ÓR-NI “high tree” (Ety/ÓR-NI). It retained the form orne thereafter.

telperion

proper name. ?Silver Tree

The common name of the White Tree of Valinor, the one of the Two Trees which shone with silver light (S/38). The exact meaning of this name is unclear, but its initial element is the word telpë “silver” (SA/celeb, UT/266). The original Quenya name of this tree was †Tyelperion, but it became Telperion when Quenya speakers adapted older †tyelpë into telpë under the influence of Telerin telpe (UT/266, Let/426).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this tree was usually called ᴱQ. Silpion (LT1/73). The name ᴹQ. Telperion first appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s as an alternate name of Silpion (LR/209, 211). In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, Telperion became its primary name and while Silpion became a secondary name (MR/59, note §5).

Possible Translations: This name is glossed “Silver Tree” in the index of the 50th anniversary edition of The Lord of the Rings (LotRI/Silver Tree), but I cannot find this translation anywhere else. In their Reader’s Companion, Hammond and Scull tentatively translate Telperion as “?silver-white” (RC/637), and in a 1964 interview (www.bbc.co.uk), Tolkien also described Telperion as “White Silver” as opposed to Laurelin “Golden Song” (hat-tip to Vyacheslav Stepanov for the reference to the interview). In English the tree is usually referred to as the “White Tree”, but this was also applied to the earlier name Silpion and is perhaps a better translation of that name (given its incorporation of the root √SIL “shine white or silver”). Absent any other information, “Silver Tree” seems to be the most straightforward translation, although probably not strictly correct.

Aldëa

tree-shadowed

Aldëa noun,what the Númenóreans called the fourth day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to Telperion, the White Tree (Appendix D). The day was originally called Aldúya, referring to both of the Two Trees, but Númenóreans altered the name to Aldëa (presumably < *aldajā), referring to one tree (the White) only. (Appendix D) Early "Qenya" also has an adjective aldëa "tree-shadowed" (LT1:249).

aipio

plum tree, cherry tree

aipio noun "plum tree, cherry tree" (GL:18)

alalmë

elm, elm-tree

alalmë (2) noun "elm, elm-tree" (ÁLAM, LÁLAM, LT1:249). Cf. alvë in a post-LotR source.

aldarwa

having trees, tree-grown

aldarwa adj "having trees, tree-grown" (3AR). See -arwa.

feren

beech, beech-tree

feren (stem fern-, as in pl. ferni) noun "beech, beech-tree". Also fernë. (BERÉTH, PHER/PHÉREN)

fernë

beech-tree

fernë noun "beech-tree" (pl. ferni given). Also feren. (PHER/PHÉREN)

lairelossë

noun. summer-snow-white, species of tree in Númenor

Name of a species of tree in Númenor (UT/167), a combination of lairë “summer” and lossë “snow-white”.

lalmë

elm-tree

lalmë noun "elm-tree" (ÁLAM). Cf. alvë in a post-LotR source.

laurinquë

noun. yellow-flowered tree

A species of tree in Númenor with low hanging clusters of yellow flowers translated “golden rain” (UT/167; NM/333). Its initial element seems to be laurë “gold (colour)”.

malinornë

yellow-tree

malinornë noun "yellow-tree" (malina + ornë), fictional species of tree (Sindarin mallorn; in Quenya also called maldornë) (PE17:50). Cf. malinornélion "of yellow-trees"; see laurelindórenan lindelorendor... (LotR2:III ch. 4; cf. Letters:308). Malinornélion is partitive pl. genitive of malinornë (UT:167, normal pl. malinorni, UT:168).

oiolairë

noun. ever-summer (a species of tree)

A species of tree in Númenor translated “ever-summer” (UT/179), a combination of oi(o) “ever” and lairë “summer”.

ornemalin

noun. [tree] bearing yellow flowers

A name for a tree “bearing yellow flowers” (PE17/80), appearing in the Entish description Lórien: Laurelindórenan lindelorendor malinornélion ornemalin (LotR/467). It is a compound of ornë “tree”, malin(a) “yellow” (Let/448, PE17/80), and may be another name for the malinornë (S. mallorn).

silpion

proper name. White Tree

A name for the White Tree of Valinor, the one of the Two Trees which shone with silver light (S/38). The exact meaning of this name is unclear, but its initial element is from the root √SIL “shine (white or silver)” (SA/sil) or possibly from its extended form ᴹ√SILIP (Ety/SIL).

Conceptual Development: The very first name of this tree was ᴱQ. Valpio “Holy Cherry”, appearing in the Qenya Lexicon from the 1910s (LTA2/Silpion, QL/55). In the earliest Lost Tales, however, it was called ᴱQ. Silpion (LT1/73). At this early stage, the name was translated “Cherry-moon” (LT2/215), using the same element ᴱQ. pio “cherry” as its predecessor Valpio. It is unlikely this meaning persisted into later writings. In The Etymologies from the 1930s, the name ᴹQ. Silpion was glossed “White Tree of Valinor” (Ety/BAL). Although not exact, "White Tree" is the best available later translation of this name.

tasar

willow-tree

tasar, tasarë (þ) noun "willow-tree" (TATHAR). In Tasarinan "Willow-valley", Nan-tasarion "Valley of willows" (SA:tathar)

taulë

great tree

taulë noun "great tree" (LT1:267)

tyulussë

poplar-tree

tyulussë noun "poplar-tree" (TYUL)

táva

great tree

táva noun "great tree" (PE17:115)

táva

noun. great tree

A noun appearing as tāva “great tree” in a list of “large &amp; small” roots from around 1968 derived from the root √TAW “wood”.

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. taule “great tree” under the early root ᴱ√TAVA “beam”, a homonym of ᴱQ. taule “pillar” under the early root ᴱ√TAW̯A (QL/90).

vardarianna

noun. fragrant evergreen tree

Name of a species of tree in Númenor (UT/167), a combination of Varda as well as (perhaps) ría “garland” plus anna “gift”.

maldorne

noun. golden/yellow tree

tyelperion Archaic

proper name. ?Silver Tree

The archaic Quenya name of Telperion, from archaic †tyelpë “silver” (UT/266).

amaldar

trees

amaldar ??? (Narqelion; may include aldar "trees")

aicassë

pinetree

aicassë ("k") (2) noun "pinetree" (GL:17; this "Qenya" word is evidently obsoleted by #1 above.)

eccalda

noun. cactus, (lit.) spine tree

A neologism for “cactus” coined by Orondil on 2022-04-07 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of [ᴹQ.] ekko “spine” and alda “tree”.

milpialda

noun. olive tree

A neologism for a “olive tree” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), a combination of [ᴺQ.] milpio “olive” and alda “tree”.

nindornë

noun. palm-tree

A neologism for “palm tree” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT). The second element is ornë “tree”, and the first element might be ninda “wet” or [ᴹQ.] ninde “slender”. I prefer ᴺQ. paltalda “palm tree” adapted from ᴱQ. paltyalda.

relyávalda

noun. fig-tree

A neologism for “fig-tree” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), a combination of [ᴺQ.] relyávë “fig” and alda “tree”.

ruinalda

noun. flame tree, peacock flower, royal poinciana, phoenix flower, flame of the forest, Delonix regia

A neologism coined by Luinyelle posted on 2025-03-25 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of ruinë “flame” and alda “tree”.

sánë

noun. pine

In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien had Q. {sāne &gt;&gt;} th-, sāne- “pine” derived from {✶stāna &gt;&gt;} ✶thānĭ-, but this note was deleted (PE17/81). It was replaced by a marginal note in which S. thôn “pine” was derived from ✶thŏno.

Neo-Quenya: In light of the final primitive form ✶thŏno, I would update the Quenya word to ᴺQ. sono [þ] “pine” for purposes of Neo-Quenya. Petri Tikka instead proposed ᴺQ. sónë [þ] in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s inspired only by S. thôn “pine”, before the above primitive forms were published in 2007.

Conceptual Development: The Early Qenya “pine” word was ᴱQ. aiqaire “fir or pine” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, an elaboration of ᴱQ. aiqa “steep” (QL/29). It became ᴱQ. aikasse “pine-tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, a cognate to G. aigos and derivative of primitive ᴱ✶aikasse (GL/17). This in turn became ᴱQ. aikor “pine-tree” in the Early Noldorin Dictionary of the 1920s, derived from ᴱ✶aikos-sa and still a cognate to G. aigos (PE13/158).

paltalda

noun. palm tree

mapalin

noun. plane tree [Platinus], sycamore, (lit.) hand-flat

niermelda

noun. linden tree, (lit.) beloved by the bee

A neologism coined by Luinyelle posted on 2025-03-25 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of [ᴱQ.] nier “bee” and melda “beloved”.

olmos

noun. chestnut tree, *chestnut

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2023 specifically for Eldamo, inspired by G. omlos of the same meaning (GL/62).

parda

noun. bark (of a tree)

A neologism coined by Luinyelle posted on 2024-05-28 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), derived from ✱par-dā based on √PAR “peel”.

pulco

noun. trunk, bole of tree, *torso, body

sunca

noun. cone (of a tree, as in pine cone)

A neologism coined by Arael posted on 2024-05-28 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), based on the Neo-Root ᴺ√THUK “resin”.

sónë

noun. pine tree

súcë

noun. resinous tree, pine or fir

alvë

noun. elm

A word appearing as alve or albe “elm” in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/146, 153).

Conceptual Development: This word was ᴱQ. alalme (alalmi-) “elm (tree)” in the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29; PME/29). It was ᴱQ. alalme “elm” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/140), and ᴹQ. alalme or lalme “elm-tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the roots ᴹ√ALAM or ᴹ√LALAM (Ety/ÁLAM, LÁLAM). The change to alve/albe was fairly late, as noted above.

farnë

noun. ash, rowan, ash, rowan; [ᴹQ.] foliage

A Quenya noun for the rowan-tree, appearing in an explanation of the name Orofarnë “Mountain Ash” in notes from the 1950s, though Tolkien marked it with a “?” as uncertain (PE17/83). Its older form was either fărnĭ or primitive ✶pharne; if the former, its stem form would be farni-.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies from the 1930s, a similar word ᴹQ. feren/ferne appears as the Quenya word for “beech-tree” under the root ᴹ√PHER(EN) (Ety/PHER). Conversely, ᴹQ. farne appeared with the gloss “foliage” as a derivative of {ᴹ√PHARAN &gt;&gt;} ᴹ√PHAS (EtyAC/PHARAN, PHAS). As names of trees, it is possible that Tolkien intended to replace ferne &lt; ᴹ√PHER(EN) with farnë &lt; √PHAR(AN).

Neo-Quenya: For the purpose of Neo-Quenya writing, I think it is worth retaining both ᴹQ. feren “beech” and Q. farnë “ash, rowan” (along with its Sindarin cognate S. faran) as etymological variants referring to two distinct species of trees. For the sense “foliage”, it is probably better to use the later word olass(i)ë.

norno

noun. oak

A word appearing as norno “oak” in both The Etymologies of the 1930s and the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the early 1950s derived from primitive ✶[[p|dor[o]no]] and the root ᴹ√DORON (PE19/80; Ety/DÓRON). The appearance of an initial n- is unusual, since generally [[aq|initial [d] became [l]]] in Ancient Quenya. But sometimes ancient [[aq|initial [d] assimilated to following nasal]] instead, as was the case with this word.

Conceptual Development: Variants of this word date all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, which had ᴱQ. nor (norn-) “oak” and ᴱQ. norne “oak-tree” under the early root ᴱ√NOŘO [NDOÐO?] (QL/67). The form ᴱQ. norne “oak” was mentioned in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/140), but it became ᴹQ. norno in The Etymologies of the 1930s, as noted above.

Neo-Quenya: Tolkien introduced words Q. nordo and S. norð “oak” in notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/25), possibly to avoid conflict with Norno “Dwarf” (WJ/388). I prefer the form norno “oak” as better-established and more etymologically interesting.

nessornë

noun. sapling

A neologism for “sapling” created by Petri Tikka and Ales Bican in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s, a combination of [ᴹQ.] nessa “young” and ornë “tree”.

tasar(ë)

noun. willow

The Quenya word for “willow” appearing as both tasar (PE17/81) and tasare (SA/tathar), derived from the root √TATHAR. This form of the word dates back to The Etymologies of the 1930s where ᴹQ. tasar, tasare “willow” appeared under the root ᴹ√TATHAR (Ety/TATHAR).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had a slightly different word ᴱQ. tasarin (tasarind-) “willow” under the early root ᴱ√TASA, though Tolkien marked it with a “?” (QL/89). This became tassarin “willow” with a double-s in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/139) before Tolkien adopted the form tasar(e) [þ] in the 1930s, as noted above.

sono

noun. pine

alalmino

elm

alalmino noun? "Elm"-something? (Narqelion)

albë

noun. elm

alvë

elm

alvë noun "elm" (PE17:146), also pronounced albë. In an earlier source, the word for "elm" is given as alalmë, lalmë.

ercassë

holly

ercassë ("k") noun "holly" (ERÉK)

hwindë

birch

hwindë (1) noun "birch" (PE17:23)

hwindë

noun. birch

A word for “birch” in notes from the mid-1960s (PE17/23).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. silwin (silwind-) “birch” under the early root ᴱ√SILI (QL/83).

neldor

beech

neldor noun "beech" (LT2:343)

nordo

oak

nordo noun "oak" (PE17:25), possibly replacing norno (q.v.) in a pre-LotR source.

nordo

noun. oak

A word for “oak” in notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/25), possibly introduced to avoid conflict with Norno “Dwarf” (WJ/388). Its Sindarin cognate was S. norð, indicating derivation from primitive ✱nordō. See the entry Q. norno for earlier forms of the word.

norno

oak

norno (1) noun "oak" (DÓRON); a later source has nordo (PE17:25)

sánë

pine

sánë (þ) noun "pine" (PE17:81), stem sáni- (? the primitive form is given as ¤thānĭ, which would normally give Quenya sánë/sáni-, but the Quenya noun is also cited as sáne- as if e persists before an ending).

tasarin

willow

tasarin noun "willow" (LT2:346; in Tolkien's later Quenya tasar, tasarë)

mavaina

noun. maple, (lit.) hand-clad

polondë

noun. alder

siquilissë

noun. weeping willow; lamentation

tamuril

noun. yew

galadh

noun. tree

orn

noun. tree

galadh

noun. tree

fêr Archaic

noun. beech-tree

A word for “beech-tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√PHER(EN) “beech” (Ety/PHER). Tolkien said that “Exilic fêr was usually replaced by brethil”, indicating that fêr was probably archaic. In The Etymologies, N. brethil was “beech-tree” (Ety/BERÉTH).

Neo-Sindarin: In Tolkien’s later writings, he typically said S. brethil was a type of silver-birch. I would assume the ordinary Sindarin word for “beech” was instead neldor (LotR/469; RC/384), but would keep †fêr as an archaic word for “beech”.

toss

noun. bush, low-growing tree

A noun for a “bush” or “low-growing tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶tussā under the root ᴹ√TUS (Ety/ÓR-NI, TUS). According to Tolkien, the bush-like trees described by this word include maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc. Such trees cannot be called orn “(tall) tree” (Ety/ÓR-NI), but presumably could be referred to with the more general term galadh “tree”.

tulus

noun. poplar-tree

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “poplar-tree”, cognate to ᴹQ. tyulusse, both derived from the root ᴹ√TYUL “stand up (straight)” (Ety/TYUL).

Conceptual Development: Earlier words for a poplar tree include G. cwithwiros “poplar” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s based on G. cwitha- “murmur” (GL/29) and ᴱN. {aigir &gt;&gt; lalath &gt;&gt;} loloth “poplar-tree” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/136, 149).

In Tolkien’s later writings he decided that initial palatized dentals like ty- were no longer a feature of Primitive Elvish, and he revised other derivatives of the root ᴹ√TYUL to use kyul- instead, most notably ✶kyul(u)mā &gt; Q. tyulma “mast” (SD/419; PE21/74, 80).

Neo-Sindarin: I ignore this particular change for purposes of Neo-Eldarin as it requires us to abandon too many words; see the entry on how [[at|[j] was lost after initial dentals]] for further discussion. As such, I would retain tulus “poplar-tree” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin. If, however, you want to follow the later paradigm, you should adopt this Noldorin word as ᴺS. ✱culus “poplar-tree”.

galadhrien

feminine name. Tree-lady

An early name for S. Galadriel appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s as a combination of galadh “tree” and the lenited form of rhien “lady” (TI/249). There were also (rejected) variants Rhien and Galdri(e)n.

Conceptual Development: Tolkien soon changed her name to Galadriel (TI/246), but it likely that at this early stage, her name still included galadh “tree”, since Tolkien often represented [ð] with “d” instead of “dh” in Lord of the Rings drafts: compare N. Caradras with S. Caradhras. The derivation of Galadriel’s name from S. galad “light” is probably a later innovation.

galathir

masculine name. Tree-lord

An early name for S. Celeborn appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s as a combination of galadh “tree” and the lenited form of hîr “lord” (TI/249).

ereg

noun. holly-tree

argalad

noun. Tree Day

celeborn

proper name. Tree of Silver

eregdos

noun. holly, holly-tree

galadrim

collective name. Tree-folk

galbedir

proper name. Talking Tree

lalf

noun. elm-tree

lalven

noun. elm-tree

lhalorn

noun. elm-tree

mallorn

noun. gold tree

melthinorn

proper name. Tree of Gold

tathor

noun. willow-tree

brethel

noun. beech, beech-tree, silver birch

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

eregdos

noun. holly, holly-tree

fêr

noun. beech-tree

galathilion

proper name. White Tree of Valinor

glaur

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

glawar

noun. sunlight, radiance (of the golden tree Laurelin)

glor-

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

lalf

noun. elm-tree

lalven

noun. elm-tree

lebethras

noun. Gondorian tree

lhalorn

noun. elm-tree

lhalwen

noun. elm-tree

lhalwen

noun. elm-tree

nothlir

noun. family line (esp. as family tree, genealogical tree)

orn

noun. (any large) tree

tathor

noun. willow-tree

thaun

noun. pine-tree

thaun

noun. pine-tree

toss

noun. bush, low-growing tree (as maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.)

tulus

noun. poplar-tree

doron

noun. oak

A word in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√DORON (Ety/DÓRON).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. Dorna “ilex, holm oak” (GL/30), cognate of ᴱQ. norne “oak-tree” which was derived from the early root ᴱ√NOŘO [NDOÐO?] in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon (QL/67). The Gnomish word became dorn “oak” in Gnomish Lexicon Slips modifying that document (PE13/113). See ᴱN. gorw “oak” for other early “oak” words.

Neo-Sindarin: Tolkien introduced words S. norð and Q. nordo “oak” in notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/25). I prefer the form Q. norno “oak” as better-established and more etymologically interesting. I would thus use [N.] doron “oak” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, which make it easier for us to retain N. nordh “cord” as well (Ety/SNUR).

brethil

noun. beech

brethel

noun. beech

doron

noun. oak

tathren

adjective. of willow, having willows

tathren

adjective. of willow

galad

noun. tree

galadrim

collective name. Tree-people

galad

noun. tree

Derived from galadâ "great growth", "tree", applied to stout and spreading trees such as oaks and beeches (UT:266, Letters:426; in the latter source, the root GAL is defined as "grow", intransitive). It is interesting to notice that this word, given in a source much later than the Etymologies that provides most of the Nandorin material, nonetheless agrees well with the older words cited by Tolkien: again we see the loss of original final -â, whereas original post-vocalic d is unchanged as in the word edel.

galad

noun. tree

>> Galadrim

alm

noun. elm-tree

Notice that Quenya alalme and Sindarin lalf clearly descend from different, if related forms) Based on other Nandorin forms we might have expected ealm or elm instead.

galada

noun. tree

galla

noun. tree

galadarembinā

adjective. tree-meshed

galadā

noun. great plant, tree

ornē

noun. (straight) tree

maltornē

noun. gold-tree

alab

root. elm

A root for “elm” in etymological notes probably written around 1959-1960 (PE17/146, 153). It seems to be a replacement for the root ᴹ√(L)ALAM from The Etymologies of the 1930s. This earlier root was connected to √AL(A) “blessed”, and the later variant may have had the same relationship. Tolkien made a point that the later version of this root was not related to √GAL “grow” or the words for “tree” after rejecting alternate roots √GALAB (?“flower”) and √GALAM for “elm” (PE17/146). The derivation ✶galmā &gt; Q. alma “flower” was allowed to stand, so perhaps √GALAM remained valid with the alternate sense “flower”.

dorno

noun. oak

galam

root. elm

phar(an)

root. *rowan

A root appearing in connection to notes on the name Q. Orofarnë “Mountain Ash” in both short form √PHAR and extended form √PHARAN, serving as the basis for Q. farnë/S. faran “rowan” or “ash” (PE17/83). It is most likely a later iteration of the root ᴹ√PHER or ᴹ√PHÉREN “beech” from The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. feren/N. †fêr “beech” (Ety/PHER). As for ᴹ√PHARAN, that root also appeared in The Etymologies, but was replaced by ᴹ√PHAS.

Neo-Eldarin: 1950s √PHAR(AN) and 1930s ᴹ√PHER(EN) probably did not coexist in Tolkien’s conception of Elvish, but for purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it better to treat them as etymological variants, to retain both Q. farnë/S. faran “rowan, ash” and ᴹQ. feren “beech”, with archaic N. †fêr being replaced in modern Sindarin by S. neldor “beech” and S. brethil/S. whinn “birch”.

stona

noun. pine

tathar

root. *willow

tathari

noun. *willow

thŏno

noun. pine

malthorn

noun. gold tree