Sindarin 

im

noun. valley, valley; [N.] dell, deep vale

An archaic element meaning “valley” that survived only in compounds, a derivation of ✶imbi “between” (VT47/14). The basic sense “valley” was transferred to its more elaborate form imlad as in Imladris “Rivendell”, and †im “valley” fell out of use due to its conflicted with other words like the reflexive pronoun im.

Conceptual Development: N. imm “dell, deep vale” was mentioned in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√IMBE, alongside its elaboration N. imlad of the same meaning (Ety/IMBE).

Sindarin [VT42/18; VT47/14] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan

noun. valley

Sindarin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nand

noun. valley

Sindarin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

imrath

noun. long narrow valley with road or watercourse running through it lengthwise, *(lit.) valley course

An element in the Sindarin name Imrath Gondraich for “Stonewain Valley”, described in Tolkien’s Nomenclature of the Lord of the Rings as “a long narrow valley with road or water course running [?]lengthwise” (RC/558). Its literal meaning is im + rath = “✱valley course” and probably refers as much to the river or road running through the valley as the valley itself.

Sindarin [RC/558; UTI/Stonewain Valley] Group: Eldamo. Published by

imrath gondraich

place name. Stonewain Valley

A Sindarin name for the Stonewain Valley, written as Imrath Gondraich by Christoper Tolkien in the index of the Unfinished Tales (UTI/Stonewain Valley), and as Imrath Gondraith by Hammond and Scull based on Tolkien’s “Unfinished Index” of The Lord of the Rings (RC/558). The first word is imrath “valley with a road” (RC/558), and the initial element of the second word is clearly gond “stone”, so the final element raich/raith may be a plural of “wain”. This is perhaps from a variant (✱rach/rath) of the other attested Sindarin word for “wagon” rasg, which appeared as a plural in the other name for the Stonewain Valley: Nan Gondresgion (PE17/28).

Sindarin [RC/558; UTI/Stonewain Valley] Group: Eldamo. Published by

carn dûm

place name. ?Red Valley

Chief settlement of Angmar (LotR/146). The language and meaning of this name is unclear, but it is often suggested this it is Sindarin, a combination of carn “red” and a lenited form of tûm “valley” (as suggested by David Salo, GS/371). The name may be debased Elvish, like the name of its kingdom Angmar, since the normal Sindarin words would be caran and tum. The name also resembles an early (rejected) name N. Caron-dûn or Carndoom “Red Valley” found in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, and could be a re-emergence of that name (RS/419, 433).

Sindarin [LotRI/Carn Dûm; RSI/Carn Dûm; TII/Carn Dûm; UTI/Carn Dûm] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glornan

place name. Valley of Gold(en Light)

Sindarin equivalent of the original Nandorin name of Lórien: Lórinand (UT/253), a combination of glaur “gold” and nan(d) “valley”.

Sindarin [UT/253; UTI/Glornan; UTI/Lórien²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides, gap, gully, deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides, gap, gully, [N.] dell, glen

A common Sindarin word for “valley”, an elaboration of the more ancient element †im of similar meaning which fell out of use due to its conflicts with other words like the reflexive pronoun im (VT47/14). S. imlad was more or less the equivalent of Telerin imbe meaning “a gap, gully; low, narrow tract between high walls”; in Telerin the ancient element ✶imbi survived. More specifically S. imlad referred to a “narrow valley with steep sides but a flat habitable bottom” (RC/234, 482).

Conceptual Development: N. imlad “dell, deep vale” was mentioned in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√IMBE, alongside its shorter form N. imm of the same meaning (Ety/IMBE). N. im(b)lad was also mentioned in rough notes on irregular verbs from the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) written in 1948, with the gloss {“ravine” >>} “glen”, more accurately a “glen with a long bottom, much longer than its width, that still has much habitable ground” (PE22/127).

Sindarin [LotRI/Morgul Vale; NM/355; PE17/087; PE17/089; RC/234; RC/482; SA/lad; VT47/14] Group: Eldamo. Published by

imloth melui

place name. Lovely or Sweet Flower-valley

A rose-filled valley in Gondor (LotR/866) translated “Lovely Flowery Vale” (RC/582) or “Sweet Flower-valley” (VT42/18), a combination of †im “valley” and loth “flower” (VT42/18) with otherwise unattested melui “lovely”. In this position, an adjective like melui would ordinarily undergo soft mutation to velui, but in notes from around 1969 Tolkien indicated this was an example of the graduation loss of m-mutation in late Sindarin (PE23/138 note #12).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name was already N. Imloth Melui.

Sindarin [LotRI/Imloth Melui; PE23/136; PE23/138; RC/582; VT42/18] Group: Eldamo. Published by

imrad

noun. path or pass between mountains or trackless forest, *(lit.) valley path

A noun appearing in notes from the late 1960s for “a path or pass between mountains, hills or trackless forest”, a combination of (archaic) S. †im “valley” and S. râd “path” (VT47/14). It is probably the clearest Sindarin word for a mountain pass.

lad

noun. plain, valley, plain, valley; [G.] a level, a flat; fair dealing

An element meaning “plain” in many Sindarin names, such as S. Dagorlad “Battle-plain” (S/292) and S. Lithlad “Plain of Ashes” (LotR/636; RC/457). Christopher Tolkien translated it as “plain, valley” in The Silmarillion appendix, but it only seems to have had the sense “valley” in the word S. imlad as in S. Imladris “Rivendell”, so I think “plain” is the better translation.

Conceptual Development: This word was connected to flat things very early in Tolkien’s notions of the Elvish languages. It first appeared as G. lad “a level, a flat; fair dealing” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/52), probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√LATA (QL/51). The element -lad also appeared in many Noldorin names from the 1930s and 40s, though in this period it likely had the form N. lhad, as in N. lhaden “open, cleared” (Ety/LAT). It seems to appear in the earliest name for the “Gladden Fields” from Lord of the Rings drafts form the 1940s: N. Palath-ledin (TI/114). Here it has an unusual plural form ledin using the plural suffix -in, but whether that would have remained true in Sindarin is unclear.

Sindarin [S/292; SA/lad] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mornan

place name. Dark Valley

Valley of the Morthond described as “a dark valley” (VT42/14), a combination of morn “dark” and nan(d) “valley”, as suggested by Carl Hostetter (VT42/29 note #31).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this valley was named N. Imlad Morthond “Blackroot Vale” (WR/287).

Sindarin [UTI/Morthond; VT42/14] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan(d)

noun. vale, valley, vale, valley, [ᴱN.] dale; [N.] wide grassland; [G.] field acre

A word for “valley” or “vale” appearing as an element in many names, mostly referring to wide valleys as opposed to imlad for narrow valleys. As an element in compounds or before another word in names it generally took the form nan as in Mornan “Dark Valley” and Nan Dungortheb “Valley of Dreadful Death”. As an independent word it had the form nand: “In Sindarin this gave nand which as other words ending in nd remained in stressed monosyllables but > nann > nan in compounds” (NM/351). It was a derivative of the root √NAD (NM/351; Ety/NAD).

Conceptual Development: The first appearance of this word was as G. nand or nann “a field acre” where it was probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√NAŘA [NAÐA] as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (GL/59; LT1A/Nandini). Its use in early names like G. Nan Dumgorthin “Land of the Dark Idols” (LT2/35) and G. Nan Tathrin “Land of Willows” (GL/67; LT2A/Nantathrin) indicates the actual meaning was closer to “land”. The word reappeared as ᴱN. nann or nand “dale” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/150), consistent with the new gloss “Valley of Willows” for ᴱN. Nan Tathrin in Silmarillion drafts from the late 1920s (SM/35).

The word N. nand or nann “wide grassland” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√NAD (Ety/NAD), and the word nan(d) “valley” or “vale” was mentioned a number of times in Tolkien’s later notes (PE17/37, 83; RC/269). In notes from the late 1960s it was derived from primitived ✶nandē based on the root √NAD meaning “hollow of structures or natural features more or less concave with rising sides”. In these notes Tolkien said this word was:

> ... originally used only of not very large areas the sides of which were part of their own configuration. Vales or valleys of great extent, plains at the feet of mountains, etc. had other names. As also had the very steep-sided valleys in the mountains such as Rivendell (NM/351).

This note confirms that imlad was the proper word for a steep and narrow valley, but the notion that nand was not used for “valleys of great extent” contradicts its 1930s gloss “wide grassland” (Ety/NAD), as well as its use in names like Nan Dungortheb which were the extensive plains south of Ered Gorgoroth, or in the name Nan-tathren which had no particular boundaries.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would ignore Tolkien’s late 1960s notion that this word was not used for large valleys, and apply it to wide valleys and even extensive grasslands between or below mountains, using imlad for narrow valleys and tum for deep (and round) valleys surrounded on all sides.

Sindarin [NM/351; PE17/037; PE17/083; RC/269; SA/nan(d); SA/sîr; UT/253] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan curunír

place name. Valley of Saruman

Sindarin name of the Valley of Saruman (LotR/487), also translated “Wizard’s Vale” (LotR/552). It is a combination of nan(d) “valley” and Curunír “Saruman”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Nan Gurunír (TI/420, WR/8), since at this stage both nouns and adjectives were lenited in this position.

Sindarin [LotR/0487; LotR/0552; LotRI/Nan Curunír; LotRI/Wizard’s Vale; RC/389; SD/136; SDI1/Nan Gurunír; WRI/Nan Gurunír] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan dungortheb

place name. Valley of Dreadful Death

The valley in Beleriand where the spider-children of Ungoliant dwelled, translated “Valley of Dreadful Death” (S/81). The initial word of the name is nan(d) “valley” (SA/nan(d)), but the second word is difficult to analyze. Its second element gortheb could be a variant of gorthob “horrible” or it could contain a variant of gurth “death”. The first element Dun- is hard to reconcile, however, as there are no attested Sindarin words of this form meaning anything like “dread” or “death”. Based on its earlier definitions, it might be a variant of [N.] donn “shadowy”; see below.

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this name was G. Nan Dumgorthin “Land of the Dark Idols” (LT2/35). In the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s, the form Dungorthin emerged (LB/148), and in the Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this valled was named Ilk. Nan Dungorthin (LR/261), which was designated an Ilkorin name in The Etymologies and translated “Vale of Black Horror” (Ety/DUN, NAD, ÑGOROTH). At this stage its initial element was dunn “black” (Ety/DUN), whose Noldorin form was N. donn “shady, shadowy” (EtyAC/DUN).

In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, the name was revised to Nan Dungortheb (MR/127) and given its new translation “Valley of Dreadful Death” (MR/297, footnote), but none of the published material explains how the new name and translation correspond. Absent further evidence, N. donn is my best guess for the element Dun- in this name.

Sindarin [LB/348; LBI/Nan Dungorthin; LR/299; LRI/Nan-dungorthin; LT1I/Nan Dungortheb; LT2I/Nan Dungortheb; MR/127; MR/297; MRI/Nan Dungortheb; S/081; SA/nan(d); SI/Nan Dungortheb; SMI/Nan Dungorthin; UTI/Dungortheb; WJI/Nan Dungortheb] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan elmoth

place name. *Valley of Starry Dusk

The forest where Thingol and Melian met (S/55), a combination of nan(d) “valley”, êl “star” and moth “dusk” (SA/nan(d), moth).

Conceptual Development: In “The Lay of Leithian Recommenced” from the 1950s, Tolkien considered some variant names for this forest: S. Glad-uial >> Glath-uail >> Gilammoth (LB/349). The first of these also appeared on the Silmarillion map from the 1950s (WJ/183, 188 note #48).

Sindarin [LB/349; LBI/Gilammoth; LBI/Nan Elmoth; MRI/Gilammoth; PMI/Nan Elmoth; SA/moth; SA/nan(d); SI/Nan Elmoth; WJI/Elmoth; WJI/Gladuial; WJI/Nan Elmoth] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan gondresgion

place name. Stonewain Valley

Another Sindarin name for the Stonewain Valley (PE17/28), apparently a combination of nan(d) “valley”, gond “stone”, the plural of rasg “wagon” and the suffix -ion “-land”.

Sindarin [PE17/028] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan laur

place name. Valley of Gold(en Light)

Sindarin equivalent of the original Nandorin name of Lórien: Lórinand (UT/253), a combination of nan(d) “valley” and the lenited form of glaur “gold”.

Sindarin [UT/253; UTI/Lórien²; UTI/Nan Laur] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tum

noun. valley, vale, (deep) valley, vale; [ᴱN.] flat vale

A word for a valley or vale derived from primitive ✶tumbu, specifically meaning a deep valley surrounded on all sides as described by Tolkien in notes from the late 1960s: “Those [valleys] such as the valley of Gondolin which were more or less circular, but deeply concave, and had high mountains at the rim were called ✱tumbu (NM/351)”. Its most notable use was in the name Tumladen for the hidden valley where Gondolin lay (S/115).

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, where Tolkien had {tum >>} G. tûm “valley” (GL/71), probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√TUM(B)U as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Tombo; QL/95). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had ᴱN. tumb or tum “flat vale” (PE13/154), and in The Etymologies of the 1930s there was N. tum “deep valley under or among hills” from the root ᴹ√TUB (Ety/TUB). The most complete description of this word in Tolkien’s later writings was in notes on Galadriel and Celeborn from the late 1960s, with the meaning given above (NM/351). In this late 1960s note the primitive form was given as ✶tumbu, which is the same primitive form Tolkien gave in The Etymologies (Ety/TUB).

Sindarin [NM/351; NM/363; SA/tum] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tumladen

place name. Wide Valley, flat valley with steep sides

The hidden valley within the Echoriath where Gondolin was built (S/115), translated “Wide Valley” (SI/Tumladen). It was also the name of a valley in Gondor (LotR/764) glossed as a “flat valley with steep sides” (RC/521). This name is a combination of tum “valley” (SA/tum) and laden “open, cleared”.

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this valley was named G. Tumladin with an i and the gloss “Valley of Smoothness” (LT2/163), a form that continued to appear in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/148, LR/142). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, it appeared as N. Tumladen with an e and the gloss “Level Vale”, with essentially the same derivation given above (Ety/LAT, TUB). This later form was adopted in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/57). In one late note from around 1968, Tolkien gave the name as Tumlaðen (NM/351).

Sindarin [LotRI/Tumladen; NM/351; RC/521; SA/tum; SI/Tumladen; WJI/Tumladen] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Imlad Morgul

noun. valley of black magic

im (“between, within”) + lad (“plain, valley”), morn (“dark, black”) + (n-)gûl (“magic, necromancy”) In L:427, Tolkien explains that … “the triconsonantal group (rng) then being reduced to rg”.

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

Nan Gondresgion

'Stonewain Valley'

topon. 'Stonewain Valley', so named because of the great road for heavy drags (plateforms on wheels) and wains, used in the quarries of Min-Rimmon that ran through it. Q. Nand' Ondoluncava, Ondoluncavand(do), Ondolunquanan(do), O.E. Stānwægna Dæl.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:28] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

Tumladen

noun. open valley

tum (“deep valley”) + laden (“clear, open, wide”)

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

gorgoroth

place name. Valley of Terror

A region in Mordor glossed “valley of terror” (LotR/401) as well as the short name of Ered Gorgoroth in Beleriand (S/164). It is a combination of gor “fear” and its augmented form goroth “horror” (SA/gor).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴱN. Gorgoroth first appeared in rough notes associated with the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s, apparently referring to the mountains in Beleriand (LB/272). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, N. Gorgoroth was derived from ᴹ✶gor-ngoroth (Ety/ÑGOROTH), which is probably the source Christopher Tolkien used for the derivation given above from The Silmarillion appendix. The name was first applied to the region of Mordor in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (WR/104) where it sometimes appeared as Gorgor (WR/137, SD/22). In a few placed is appeared as Gorgorath with an a as a name of the mountains (LB/350, WJ/188).

Sindarin [LB/350; LotR/0401; LotRI/Gorgoroth; PMI/Gorgoroth; SA/gor; UTI/Gorgoroth] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Imloth Melui

noun. sweet flower valley

im (“between, within”) + loth (“a head of small flowers”), mel (“dear”) + ui (adjective suffix) #M sometimes resists lenition when otherwise may cause confusion.

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

Nan Dongoroth

noun. valley of dreadful death

nan (“vally, grassland”), don (“swart, swarthy”) + goroth (“death”); Dor. Dungorthin - dunn (Dor. “black”) + (n-)gorthin (Dor. “horrible”); Dor. Dungortheb - dunn (Dor. “black”) + ngorth (Dor. “horror”) + eb (adjective suffix); the suffix -in in Dungorthin Ardalambion interprets as Dor. plural ending.

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

Nanduhirion

noun. valley of dim streams

nan (“vally, grassland”) + dú (“nightfall, dimness”) + sîr (“river”) + ion (pl. genitive suffix)

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

Orfalch Echor

noun. encircling, up-going valley

or (prefix “above, over”) + falch (“deep cleft, ravine”), echor (“encircling”)

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

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides (but a flat habitable bottom)

Sindarin [S/433, LotR/Index, VT/45:18, VT/47:14, RC/234,48] im+lad. Group: SINDICT. Published by

imloth

noun. flower-valley, flowery vale

This word only occurs in the place name Imloth Melui, a vale where roses grew

Sindarin [LotR/V:VIII, VT/42:18, RC/582] im+loth. Group: SINDICT. Published by

imrath

noun. long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise

Sindarin [UT/465, RC/558] im+rath. Group: SINDICT. Published by

lad

noun. plain, valley

Sindarin [S/433] Group: SINDICT. Published by

talath

noun. flat land, plain, (wide) valley

Sindarin [Talath Dirnen UT/465, Ety/353, S/437] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tum

noun. deep valley, under or among hills

Sindarin [Ety/394, S/438] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tum gondregain

place name. Stonewain Valley

nan

vale

_ n. _vale. >> nand, Nanduhirion

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:37:83] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

nand

vale

_ n. _vale. >> nan, Nanduhirion

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:37:83] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

imrath

valley

(long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise) imrath (pl. imraith)

nand

valley

  1. nand (construct nan) (wide grassland, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. nannath (VT45:36), 2) lâd (lowland, plain), construct lad, pl. laid, 3) (long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise) imrath (pl. imraith).

imrath

valley

(pl. imraith)

lâd

valley

(lowland, plain), construct lad, pl. laid

nand

valley

(construct nan) (wide grassland, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36)

imlad

narrow valley with steep sides

(glen, deep valley), pl. imlaid.

imlad

narrow valley with steep sides

imlad (glen, deep valley), pl. imlaid.

imlad

narrow valley with steep sides

imlad (glen, deep valley), pl. imlaid. STEEP MOUNTAIN PEAK, see HORN

imrath

narrow valley

(long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise) imrath (pl. imraith),

imlad morgul

place name. Morgul Vale

Sindarin name of Morgul Vale (LotR/694), a combination of imlad “valley” and morgul “sorcery” (RC/482).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Imlad Morghul (WR/223, note #25).

Sindarin [LotR/0694; LotRI/Imlad Morgul; LotRI/Morgul Vale; RC/482; SA/lad] Group: Eldamo. Published by

imlad

deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides

(glen), pl. imlaid;

imlad

deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides

imlad (glen), pl. imlaid;

imlad

narrow valley with steep sides

imlad (glen), pl. imlaid.

imloth

flowering valley

(pl. imlyth) (VT42:18).

imloth

flowering valley

imloth (pl. imlyth) (VT42:18)

imloth

flowering valley

imloth (pl. imlyth) (VT42:18).

imloth

flowering valley

(pl. imlyth) (VT42:18)

imrath

narrow valley

(pl. imraith)

talath

wide valley

(i** dalath, o thalath) (flat surface, plane, flatlands, plain), pl. telaith (i** thelaith). *Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath, LR:353 s.v.*

talath

wide valley

talath (i dalath, o thalath) (flat surface, plane, flatlands, plain), pl. telaith (i thelaith). Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath_, LR:353 s.v.

tûm

deep valley

tum- (i** dûm, o thûm, construct tum), pl. t**uim (i** thuim**)

tûm

deep valley

(under or among hills) tûm, tum- (i dûm, o thûm, construct tum), pl. tuim (i thuim)

tûm

deep valley

(under or among hills) tûm, tum- (i dûm, o thûm, construct tum), pl. tuim (i thuim). or

im

vale

(deep vale) im (dell), no distinct pl. form (though the pl. article in will mark the word as pl. when definite). The word typically occurs, not by itself, but in compounds like imlad, imloth, imrath, imrad (VT45:18, VT47:19)

im

vale

(dell), no distinct pl. form (though the pl. article in will mark the word as pl. when definite). The word typically occurs, not by itself, but in compounds like imlad, imloth, imrath, imrad *(VT45:18, VT47:19)***

Imloth Melui

Imloth Melui

The name Imloth Melui is translated as "sweet flower-valley".

Sindarin [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

Nan Dungortheb

Nan Dungortheb

The name Nan Dungortheb is translated as "Valley of Dreadful Death", containing the word nan ("valley").

Sindarin [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

lâd

plain

(valley, lowland), construct lad, pl. laid

nand

grassland

(construct nan) (valley, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath** (VT45:36)

palath

surface

  1. palath (i balath, o phalath), pl. pelaith (i phelaith). 2) (flat surface) talath (i dalath, o thalath) (plane, flatlands, plain, [wide] valley), pl. telaith (i thelaith). Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath_, LR:353 s.v.

parth

grassland

: 1) (enclosed grassland) parth (i barth, o pharth) (field, sward), pl. perth (i pherth), 2) (wide grassland) nand (construct nan) (valley, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. nannath (VT45:36)

talath

plain

(noun) 1) talath (i dalath, o thalath) (flat surface, plane, flatlands, [wide] valley), pl. telaith (i thelaith). Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath_, LR:353 s.v.

talath

plain

(i dalath, o thalath) (flat surface, plane, flatlands, [wide] valley), pl. telaith (i thelaith). *Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath, LR:353 s.v. DAL. Compare the Talath Dirnen or ”Guarded Plain” mentioned in the *Silmarillion.

talath

surface

(i dalath, o thalath) (plane, flatlands, plain, [wide] valley), pl. telaith (i thelaith). *Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath, LR:353 s.v. DAL. Compare the Talath Dirnen or ”Guarded Plain” mentioned in the *Silmarillion.

Gorgoroth

Gorgoroth

topon.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:134] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

bâd

noun. road, road, [N.] beaten track, pathway, [ᴱN.] way, [G.] path

This word appeared in its mutated form vâd “road” in notes from 1969 (PE23/136). The Etymologies of the 1930s had bâd “beaten track, pathway” derived from ON. bata < ᴹ✶batā̆ under the root ᴹ√BAT “tread” (Ety/BAT).

Conceptual Development: A deleted noun G. {bad “way, path”} appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, apparently replaced by bad “building, outhouse, shed”; a similar word bad- “travel” was mentioned but not deleted (GL/21). The word bad also appeared (undeleted) in the name G. Bad Uthwen or Uswen “Way of Escape” in contemporaneous narratives and name lists of the 1910s (LT2/203; PE13/102; PE15/21). In this early period it was likely derived from the early root ᴱ√VAHA having to do with departure and travel (QL/99).

ᴱN. bad “way” reappeared in the Early Noldorin Grammar of the 1920s (PE13/120) and Early Noldorin Word-lists from the same period (PE13/137, 160). A possible later variant can be seen in S. pâd “road, track” mentioned in an explanation of the name Tharbad (PE17/34); see that entry for discussion.

Sindarin [PE23/136] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gond

noun. great stone, rock

Sindarin [Ety/359, S/431, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gond

stone

_n. _stone, rock. Archaic S. gond > gonn. Q. ondo. >> Gondor

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:28-9] < *PQ _gondō_ stone, general as a substance or material. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gondren

adjective. (made) of stone

Sindarin [Toll-ondren TI/268, TI/287] Group: SINDICT. Published by

imrad

noun. a path or pass (between mountains, hills or trackless forest)

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

malt

noun. gold, gold (as metal)

A noun for “gold” based on the root √MALAT. The Etymologies of the 1930s specified that N. malt was “gold (as metal)” derived from the root ᴹ√SMAL “yellow” (Ety/SMAL). This is consistent with Tolkien’s later notes in which Q. malta was “gold (metal)”, as opposed to Q. laurë/S. glaur which was “gold (colour or light)” (PE17/51, 159). Note that in The Etymologies the form was revised to (h)malt indicating an archaic voiceless hm that was the result of ancient sm (EtyAC/SMAL), but this would no longer be the case after the root became √MALAT.

Sindarin [PE17/050; PE23/136; VT42/27] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

Sindarin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nand

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

Sindarin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

parth

noun. field, enclosed grassland, sward

Sindarin [UT/260, PM/330, RC/349] Group: SINDICT. Published by

sarn

noun. stone (as a material)

Sern in UT/463 is a misprint, see VT/42:11

Sindarin [Ety/385, S/437, UT/463, VT/42:11, RC/327] Group: SINDICT. Published by

sarn

noun. small stone

Sern in UT/463 is a misprint, see VT/42:11

Sindarin [Ety/385, S/437, UT/463, VT/42:11, RC/327] Group: SINDICT. Published by

talath

noun. flat surface, plane

Sindarin [Talath Dirnen UT/465, Ety/353, S/437] Group: SINDICT. Published by

talf

noun. flat field, flat land

Sindarin [Nindalf TC/195, LotR/Map] Group: SINDICT. Published by

Nanduhirion

Nanduhirion

Nanduhirion contains the elements nan(d) ("vale"), ("dimness"), sîr ("stream") and the ending -(i)on.

Sindarin [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

agor

narrow

agor (analogical pl. egyr). In archaic S agr.

agor

narrow

(analogical pl. egyr). In archaic S agr.

angol

deep lore

(magic), pl. engyl. Note: a homophone means "stench".

falch

deep cleft

(ravine[?]), pl. felch;

gond

stone

(i ’ond, construct gon) (great stone or rock), pl. gynd (i ngynd = i ñynd), coll. pl. gonnath (Letters:410).

gondrath

street of stone

(i ’ondrath) (causeway, raised stone highway), pl. gendraith (i ngendraith = i ñendraith). Archaic pl. göndreith. (WJ:340)

gondren

made of stone, stony

(stony), lenited ’ondren, pl. gendrin. Archaic pl. göndrin (TI:270).

gonhir

master of stone

(i ’Onhir), no distinct pl. form except with article (i Ngonhir = i Ñonhir), maybe primarily used as a coll. pl. Gonhirrim  (WJ:205, there spelt ”Gonnhirrim”)

gôn

stone

(i ’ôn, construct gon); pl. gŷn, coll. pl. #gonath as in Argonath.

im

deep vale

im (dell), no distinct pl. form (though the pl. article in will mark the word as pl. when definite). The word typically occurs, not by itself, but in compounds like imlad, imloth, imrath, imrad (VT45:18, VT47:19)

im

deep vale

(dell), no distinct pl. form (though the pl. article in will mark the word as pl. when definite). The word typically occurs, not by itself, but in compounds like imlad, imloth, imrath, imrad (VT45:18, VT47:19)

laden

plain

(adjective) laden (flat, wide, open, cleared), pl. ledin (suggested Sindarin forms for ”Noldorin” lhaden pl. lhedin, LR:368 s.v. LAT)

laden

plain

(flat,  wide, open, cleared), pl. ledin (suggested Sindarin forms for ”Noldorin” lhaden pl. lhedin, LR:368 s.v. LAT)

lond

narrow path

(harbour, haven, pass, strait), pl. lynd, coll. pl. lonnath (as in the name Lonnath Ernin, WR:294).

maeg

going deep in

(lenited vaeg; no distinct pl. form) (sharp, penetrating). (WJ:337);

malad

gold

(as metal) 1) malad (i valad), pl. melaid (i melaid) if there is a pl. 2) malt (i valt), pl. melt (i melt) if there is a pl. (VT42:27). ”Gold” in extended senses: glawar (i **lawar) (sunlight, radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair**) (VT41:10) GOLD (COLOUR?) *mall (i vall), pl. mail (i mail) if there is a pl. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” malt.

malad

gold

(i valad), pl. melaid (i melaid) if there is a pl.

mall

gold

(i vall), pl. mail (i mail) if there is a pl. – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” malt.

malt

gold

(i valt), pl. melt (i melt) if there is a pl. (VT42:27). ”Gold” in extended senses: glawar (i ’lawar) (sunlight, radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair) (VT41:10)

mên

road

mên (i vên, construct men, in compounds -ven) (way), pl. mîn (i mîn). Cf. also:

mên

road

(i vên, construct men, in compounds -ven) (way), pl. mîn (i mîn). Cf. also:

palath

surface

(i balath, o phalath), pl. pelaith (i phelaith).

parth

grassland

(i barth, o pharth) (field, sward), pl. perth (i pherth)

parth

field

  1. parth (i barth, o pharth) (sward, enclosed grassland), pl. perth (i pherth), 2) (low, flat field, or wetland) talf (i dalf, o thalf), pl. telf (i thelf), coll. pl. talvath. _(Names:195). Note: a homophone means ”palm”. 3) sant (i hant, o sant) (garden, yard, or other privately owned place), pl. saint (i saint) (VT42:20)_

parth

field

(i barth, o pharth) (sward, enclosed grassland), pl. perth (i pherth)

rîdh

sown field

(acre);  no distinct pl. form except possibly with article (idh rîdh)

sant

field

(i hant, o sant) (garden, yard, or other privately owned place), pl. saint (i saint) (VT42:20) 

sarn

stone

  1. (small stone, or stone as material) sarn (i harn, o sarn), pl. sern (i sern); also used as adj. ”stony, made of stone”. 2) gôn (i **ôn, construct gon); pl. gŷn, coll. pl. #**gonath as in Argonath. 3) (larger stone) gond (i **ond, construct gon) (great stone or rock), pl. gynd (i ngynd = i ñynd), coll. pl. gonnath** (Letters:410).

sarn

stone

(i harn, o sarn), pl. sern (i sern); also used as adj. ”stony, made of stone”.

sarn

made of stone, stony

(lenited harn; pl. sern); also used as noun ”small stone, pebble, stone [as material]”; as adj. also = ”stony”.

talath

dal

Dirnen or ”Guarded Plain” mentioned in the Silmarillion.

talf

field

(i dalf, o thalf), pl. telf (i thelf), coll. pl. talvath. (Names:195). Note: a homophone means ”palm”.

tofn

deep

tofn (lenited dofn; pl. tyfn) (low, low-lying), also nûr (pl. nuir). Note: homophones of the latter mean ”sad” and ”race”.

tofn

deep

(lenited dofn; pl. tyfn) (low, low-lying), also nûr (pl. nuir). Note: homophones of the latter mean ”sad” and ”race”.

Quenya 

nalda

valley

nalda adj. "valley" (used as an adjective), also "lowly" (LT1:261, QL:66)$

nandë

valley

nandë (1) noun "valley" in Laurenandë (UT:253), elided nand in the name Nand Ondoluncava (k") "Stonewain Valley" (PE17:28). Possibly the complete word is here meant to be the variant nando (PE17:80), as suggested by the alternative form Ondoluncanan(do) ("k") "Stonewain Valley". Also nan, nand- noun "valley" (Letters:308); Nan-Tasarion "Vale of Willows" (LotR2:III ch. 4) (Note that this and the next nandë would be spelt differently in Tengwar writing, and originally they were also pronounced differently, since nandë "harp" was ñandë in First Age Quenya.)

nandë

noun. valley

laurelindórenan

place name. (Land of the) Valley of Singing Gold

The full Quenya name of S. Lórien (UT/253), appearing in the even longer Entish description of that land: Laurelindórenan lindelorendor malinornélion ornemalin (LotR/467). The name is a combination of the elements laurë “gold”, lin(dë) “singing”, -ndor “land” and the suffix -nan “valley” (Let/448, UT/253). This name was crafted by Galadriel, and was an allusion to the Golden Tree of Valinor, Laurelin (UT/253).

Conceptual Development: This name appeared as Laurelindórinan in the first edition of The Lord of the Rings, revised to Laurelindórenan in the second (SD/73). It also appeared in a shorter variant Laurelindórë “Land of Singing Gold” (PE17/80). It seems that when Tolkien first conceived of this name, it was merely an extended, Enticized version of Lórien (PE17/80). The idea that it was the full name coined by Galadriel came later, as Tolkien further developed the etymological history of S. Lórien (UT/253).

Quenya [Let/448; LotR/0467; LotRI/Laurelindórenan; LotRI/Lothlórien; NM/351; PE17/048; PE17/080; SDI1/Laurelindórenan; UT/253; UTI/Laurelindorinan; UTI/Lórien²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laurenandë

place name. Valley of Gold

The Quenya translation of the original Nandorin name Lórinand for S. Lórien. It was the inspiration for the complete Quenya name Laurelindórenan (UT/253). This name is a compound of laurë “gold” and nandë “valley”.

Quenya [NM/351; UT/253; UTI/Laurenandë; UTI/Lórien²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan(do)

noun. (wide) valley, vale, (wide) valley, vale; [ᴹQ.] water-mead, watered plain; [ᴱQ.] woodland

A common Quenya word for “vale” or “valley”, cognate of S. nan(d) and derivative of the root √NAD (Ety/NAD; NM/351). In one place, Tolkien indicated this word was used more specifically for wide valleys (PE17/80). A narrow valley might be better described with a word like Q. imbe “deep valley”, ᴹQ. cirisse “cleft” or ᴹQ. yáwe “ravine”.

This word appears as nan(d) in numerous compounds (Let/308, UT/253, RC/384). The independent form of this word is more difficult to determine. It variously appeared as nanda (Ety/NAD, PE17/80), nando (PE17/28, 80) and nandë within the compound Laurenandë (UT/253). This entry uses nando because it looks more noun-like than nanda while avoiding conflict with [ᴹQ.] nande (ñande) “harp”, but any of these forms could be correct.

Conceptual Development: The earliest appearance of this word was as ᴱQ. nan (nand-) “woodland” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s from the early root ᴱ√NAŘA [NAÐA] (QL/64), but its use in actual names in this period indicates the actual meaning was “land”, such as ᴱQ. Hisinan “Land of Twilight” (QL/40) and ᴱQ. Tasarinan “Land of Willows” (LT2/140). It appeared as ᴹQ. nanda “water-mead, watered plain” in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√NAD (Ety/NAD), but this meaning also seems to be an aberration since it still appeared in ᴹQ. Tasarinan “Land of Willows” in this period (LR/261; TI/417). In later writings, the various nand- variants were regularly glossed “valley”, as reflected in the new gloss for Q. Tasarinan as “Willow-vale” (RC/384).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d limit this word to nando “valley”, ignoring its earlier meanings and alternate forms. For “water mead[ow]”, I’d restore the Early Qenya word ᴱQ. nendo instead.

Quenya [Let/308; NM/351; PE17/028; PE17/080; RC/384; UT/166; UT/253] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nand’ ondoluncava

place name. Stonewain Valley

A Quenya name of the hidden Stonewain Valley in the Druadan Forest (LotR/833, PE17/28). It is a compound of the elided form nand’ of nan(do) “valley” and the possessive form of ondolunca “stonewain”.

ondoluncanan(do)

place name. Stonewain Valley

A Quenya name of the hidden Stonewain Valley in the Druadan Forest appearing in Tolkien’s Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/28). It is a compound of ondolunca “stonewain” and nan(do) “valley”. A “qu” was placed above this form, indicating a variant form Ondolunquanan(do), as suggested by Christopher Gilson (PE17/28), though I think Ondoluquanan(do) is more likely given the variant for luqua of lunca.

tumba

adjective. deep valley, [ᴹQ.] deep, lowlying; [Q.] deep valley

The adjective ᴹQ. tumba “deep, lowlying” appeared in rough (and ultimately rejected) notes on irregular verbs from the Quenya Verbal System of the late 1940s as a derivative of ᴹ√TUB “fall low, go down” (PE22/127). In a 1961 letter to Rhona Beare tumba was glossed “deep valley” as an element in the Entish phrase Q. Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna Tumbaletaurëa Lómëanor “Forestmanyshadowed-deepvalleyblack Deepvalleyforested Gloomyland” (Let/308; LotR/467), but I think this is only an approximate translation, and the word is better understood as adjectival in sense: “✱like a deep valley”. As further evidence of this, in notes from the late 1960s the form tumba was changed to a more typical noun form Q. tumbo in the name Q. i Tumbo Tarmacorto “the Vale of the High Mountain Circle” (NM/351).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d treat this word as an adjective only, and use Q. tumbo for the noun.

Quenya [Let/308; NM/355] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tumbo

noun. deep vale, valley, deep vale, valley, [ᴱQ.] dale

This word was used for “valley” or “vale” for much of Tolkien’s life. In notes from the 1940s Tolkien specified it was a “deep valley with hi[gh] sides though often a wide extent” (PE22/127) and in notes from the late 1960s Tolkien described it as a valley which was “more or less circular, but deeply concave, and had high mountains at the rim” (NM/351).

Conceptual Development: The earliest appearance of this word was as ᴱQ. tumbo “dale, vale” in the Qenya Lexicon as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√TUM(B)U (QL/95). It reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹQ. tumbo “deep valley under or among hills” derived from ᴹ√TUB (Ety/TUB), and again in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 as a derivative of ᴹ√TUB with the gloss “deep valley with hi[gh] sides though often a wide extent” as noted above (PE22/127).

In Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s it was given as the equivalent of Q. tumbalë “depth or deep vale” (PE17/81). In notes from the late 1960s it was described as a valley that was “more or less circular, but deeply concave, and had high mountains at the rim” as noted above, with a primitive form ✶tumbu (NM/351), the same primitive form it had in The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/TUB). Thus it seems this word and its basic meaning was pretty well established in Tolkien’s mind.

Quenya [NM/351; PE17/081; SA/tum] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Laurelindórinan

valley of singing gold

Laurelindórinan noun "Valley of Singing Gold", an earlier name of Laurenandë (Lórien) (UT:253); laurelindórenan lindelorendor malinornélion ornemalin *"Goldenlight-music-land-valley music-dream-land of yellow-trees tree-yellow", Quenya elements agglutinated in Entish fashion; this supposedly means something like "the valley where the trees in a golden light sing musically, a land of music and dreams; there are yellow trees there, it is a tree-yellow land" (LotR2:III ch. 4, translated in Letters:308). The last word ornemalin is defined in as "bearing yellow flowers" in PE17:80.

Nando

valley, wide valley

nando (2) "valley, wide valley", variant of nandë #1, q.v. (PE17:80)

Noirinan

valley of the tombs

Noirinan noun the "Valley of the Tombs" in Númenor (evidently *noirë*, noiri- "tomb" + nan** "valley") (UT:166)

noirinan

place name. Valley of Tombs

A shallow valley at the base of Meneltarma housing the tombs of the kings and queens of Númenor, translated “Valley of Tombs” (UT/166). This name seems to be a compound of the plural of noirë “tomb” and the suffix of -nan “valley”.

Quenya [UT/166; UTI/Noirinan] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tumba

deep valley

tumba noun "deep valley" (Letters:308; SA:tum and TUB gives tumbo "valley, deep valley"); apparently an extended form *tumbalë in tumbalemorna "deepvalleyblack" or (according to SA:tum) "black deep valley", also tumbaletaurëa "deepvalleyforested"; see Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna...

tumbo

(deep) valley

tumbo (stem *tumbu-, given the primitive form ¤tumbu) noun "(deep) valley", under or among hills (TUB, SA:tum), "depth" (PE17:81). - In early "Qenya", the gloss was "dark vale" (LT1:269). See tumba.

imbilat

noun. *deep valley

tumbalë

noun. depth, deep valley

Quenya [LotR/1131; PE17/081] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan

noun. valley, vale

tumbalemorna

proper name. deepvalleyblack

A descriptive name of Fangorn appearing in the even longer Entish description of that land: Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna Tumbaletaurëa Lómëanor (LotR/467). The name is a combination of tumbalë “deep valley, depth” and morna “black” (LotR/1131, PE17/81).

Quenya [LotR/0467; LotR/1131; SA/tum] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laurë

gold

laurë noun "gold", but of golden light and colour, not of the metal: "golden light" (according to PE17:61 a poetic word). Nai laurë lantuva parmastanna lúmissen tengwiesto "may (a) golden light fall on your book at the times of your reading" (VT49:47). In Etym defined as "light of the golden Tree Laurelin, gold", not properly used of the metal gold (LÁWAR/GLÁWAR, GLAW(-R), VT27:20, 27, PE17:159). In early "Qenya", however, laurë was defined as "(the mystic name of) gold" (LT1:255, 258) or simply "gold" (LT1:248, 268). In Laurelin and Laurefindil, q.v., Laurenandë "Gold-valley" = Lórien (the land, not the Vala) (UT:253) and laurinquë name of a tree, possibly *"Gold-full one" (UT:168). Laurendon "like gold" or "in gold fashion" (but after citing this form, Tolkien decided to abandon the similative ending -ndon, PE17:58).

ondo

stone

ondo noun "stone" as a material, also "rock" (UT:459, GOND). Pl. ondor in an earlier variant of Markirya; partitive pl. locative ondolissë "on rocks" in the final version. Compounded in ondomaitar "sculptor in stone" (PE17:163), Ondoher masc.name, *"Stone-lord" (ondo alluding to Ondonórë = Sindarin Gondor, "stone-land") (Appendix A), #ondolunca ("k") "stonewain", possessive form in the place-name Nand Ondoluncava "Stonewain Valley" (PE17:28, also Ondoluncanan(do) as a compound). Ondolindë place-name "Gondolin" (SA:gond, J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator p. 193); see Ondo. Earlier "Qenya" has Ondolinda _(changed from Ondolin) "singing stone, Gondolin" (LT1:254)_

tasar

willow-tree

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

Tar-culu

gold

Tar-culu ("k"), name listed in the Etymologies but not elsewhere attested. The second element is apparently culu "gold" (a word Tolkien seems to have abandoned); Hostetter and Wynne suggest that this may be an alternative name of Tar-Calion (= Ar-Pharazôn "the Golden"); see VT45:24.

arca

narrow

arca (1) adj. "narrow" (AK)

culo

gold

[culo, culu ("k")noun "gold" (substance)] (KUL, VT49:47; the word culu_ also occurred in early "Qenya" [LT1:258], but in the Etymologies it was struck out; the regular Quenya word for "gold" is apparently _malta. In another version, culo meant "flame" [VT45:24], but this is apparently also a word Tolkien abandoned.)

lún

deep

lún adj.??? a word of obscure meaning, perhaps "deep" as used of water (VT48:28)

malta

gold

malta noun "gold", also name of tengwa #18 (Appendix E). The Etymologies (entry SMAL) instead has malda, q.v. for discussion, but according to VT46:14, the form malta originally appeared in the Etymologies as well. Also compare the root MALAT listed in PM:366.

miruvor

mead

miruvor, full form miruvórë noun "mead", "a special wine or cordial"; possessive miruvóreva "of mead" (Nam, RGEO:66; WJ:399).In the "Qenya Lexicon", miruvórë was defined "nectar, drink of the Valar" (LT1:261).

nal

dale, dell

nal, nallë noun "dale, dell" (LT1:261)

náha

narrow

náha adj. "narrow" (PE17:166)

náha

adjective. narrow, narrow, *thin

núra

deep

núra adj. "deep" (NŪ)

on

stone

on, ondo noun "stone" (LT2:342, LT1:254 probably only ondo in LotR-style Quenya, see below). Various "Qenya" forms: ondoli "rocks" (MC:213; this would be a partitive plural in LotR-style Quenya), ondolin "rocks" (MC:220), ondoisen "upon rocks" (MC:221), ondolissen "rocks-on" (MC:214; the latter form, partitive plural locative, is still valid in LotR-style Quenya).

palmë

surface

palmë noun "surface" (PAL)

palúrë

surface, bosom, bosom of earth

palúrë noun "surface, bosom, bosom of Earth" (= Old English folde) (PAL); cf. Palúrien.

ʼondō

noun. stone

PQ. stone

Quenya [PE 19:70] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

Noldorin 

nand

noun. valley

Noldorin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nann

noun. valley

Noldorin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dunruin

place name. Red Valley

Earlier name for Nanduhirion in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s that matched the river name Ruinnel “Red Way” (RS/464). It seems to be a combination of a variant form of tum “valley” and a variant or lenited form of gruin “ruddy”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/1.13).

Noldorin [RS/464; RSI/Dunruin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

narodûm

place name. Red Valley

Earlier name for Nanduhirion in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s that matched the river name Narosîr “Red Way” (RS/433). It seems to be a combination of naru “red” and a lenited form of tum “valley”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/1.6).

Noldorin [RS/433; RSI/Narodûm] Group: Eldamo. Published by

caron-dûn

place name. Red Valley

Earlier name for Nanduhirion in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s that matched the river name Crandir “Red Way” (RS/419). It appeared in a variety of forms: Carndoom, Doon-Caron and Dûn Caron (RS/433), all apparently rearrangements of the same elements. It seems to be a combination of caran “red” and a variant or lenited form of tum “valley”. This etymology was suggested by Roman Rausch, along with several other possibilities to explain why the initial d was retained when it appeared in the initial element (EE/1.13). This name strongly resembles later S. Carn Dûm in Angmar, and might be a precursor to that name.

Noldorin [RS/419; RS/433; RSI/Carndoom; RSI/Caron-dûn; RSI/Doon-Caron] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tum

noun. (deep) valley

Noldorin [Ety/TUB; RS/419] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dalath

noun. flat land, plain, (wide) valley

Noldorin [Talath Dirnen UT/465, Ety/353, S/437] Group: SINDICT. Published by

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides (but a flat habitable bottom)

Noldorin [S/433, LotR/Index, VT/45:18, VT/47:14, RC/234,48] im+lad. Group: SINDICT. Published by

nan gurunír

place name. Valley of Saruman

Noldorin [SD/136; SDI1/Nan Gurunír; TI/420; WR/004; WRI/Nan Gurunír] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tum

noun. deep valley, under or among hills

Noldorin [Ety/394, S/438] Group: SINDICT. Published by

agor

adjective. narrow

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

agor

adjective. narrow

agr

adjective. narrow

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

côl

noun. gold (metal)

Noldorin [Ety/365] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dalath

noun. flat surface, plane

Noldorin [Talath Dirnen UT/465, Ety/353, S/437] Group: SINDICT. Published by

glaur

noun. gold

Noldorin [Ety/GLAW(-R); Ety/LÁWAR; Ety/MAK; EtyAC/LÁWAR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gondrafn

noun. hewn stone

Noldorin [Ety/354] gond+drafn. Group: SINDICT. Published by

gondram

noun. hewn stone

Noldorin [Ety/354] gond+drafn. Group: SINDICT. Published by

gonn

noun. great stone, rock

Noldorin [Ety/359, S/431, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhad

noun. plain

Noldorin [EtyAC/IMBE; TI/114] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mallen

adjective. of gold, golden

Noldorin [Ety/386, RC/625, VT/46:14, Tengwestie/20031207] Group: SINDICT. Published by

malt

noun. gold (as metal)

Noldorin [Ety/386, VT/46:14, VT/42:27, Tengwestie/20031207] Group: SINDICT. Published by

malthen

adjective. of gold, golden

Noldorin [Ety/386, RC/625, VT/46:14, Tengwestie/20031207] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nand

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

Noldorin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nann

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

Noldorin [Ety/374, S/435, Letters/308, VT/45:36, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nûr

adjective. deep

Noldorin [Ety/378] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nûr

adjective. deep

palath

noun. surface

Noldorin [Ety/380] Group: SINDICT. Published by

palath

noun. surface

pel

noun. fenced field (= Old English tún)

Noldorin [Ety/380] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rîdh

noun. sown field, acre

Noldorin [Ety/383, VT/46:11] Group: SINDICT. Published by

sarn

noun. stone (as a material)

Sern in UT/463 is a misprint, see VT/42:11

Noldorin [Ety/385, S/437, UT/463, VT/42:11, RC/327] Group: SINDICT. Published by

sarn

noun. small stone

Sern in UT/463 is a misprint, see VT/42:11

Noldorin [Ety/385, S/437, UT/463, VT/42:11, RC/327] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tathor

noun. willow-tree

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

Khuzdûl

duban

noun. valley

bizar

noun. a dale or valley

Khuzdûl [PE17/037; RS/466] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Nandorin 

lórinand

place name. Valley of Gold(en Light)

Nandorin [NM/347; NM/351; PE17/048; TII/Lórinand; UT/252; UT/253; UTI/Lórien²; UTI/Lórinand] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nand

noun. valley

Isolated from Lindórinand, Lórinand (q.v. for reference). While this word is not given in the Etymologies, it is clearly derived from the stem NAD (LR:374) and hence a close cognate of the similar Doriathrin word nand "field, valley". The Quenya cognate nanda (meaning "water-mead, watered plain") indicates a primitive form *nandâ; as in most cases, the final is lost in Nandorin.

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:374)] < NAD. Published by

lórinand

place name. Valley of Gold

Altered from Lindórinand, q.v. (UT:252-253). This word would seem to point to lóri- (the independent form may differ somewhat) as the Nandorin word for "gold, golden light", transparently a derivative of the stem LÁWAR (LR:368) that covers precisely this meaning; a primitive form laurê is given in the Etymologies. This word alone testifies a Nandorin shift au > ó. (However, the final vowel of laurê would be expected to come out as -a in Nandorin; cf. hrassa from khrassê; it may be that lóri- rather represents a colour-adjective lauri; if so the final -i may be preserved before endings and in compounds only, the independent form being lór.) >> Lórien

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (UT:252-253:368)] < LÁWAR. Published by

lóri

noun. gold

Nandorin [NM/347; PE17/048] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Primitive elvish

imbē

noun. deep valley, wide ravine

Primitive elvish [NM/355; PE17/092] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dalath

noun. deep valley or valley enclosed with woods

Primitive elvish [PE21/71] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nandē

noun. a valley, bottom (originally used only of not very large areas the sides of which were part of their own configuration)

Primitive elvish [NM/351] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tumbu

noun. deep vale

Primitive elvish [NM/351; NM/355] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mal

root. gold, yellow, gold

This was the root for Elvish words meaning “yellow” for much of Tolkien’s life, though with some minor variations. It appeared as ᴱ√MALA “yellow” (usually mali-) in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. malina “yellow” and ᴱQ. malikon “amber” (QL/58). It also appeared in a list of M-roots at the end of that section (QL/63). It had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. malon “yellow” and G. malthos “butter cup” (GL/56).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s it seems Tolkien first gave this root as ᴹ√MAL (EtyAC/MAL) but rejected this and replaced it with ᴹ√SMAL “yellow” (Ety/SMAL). It had derivatives like ᴹQ. malina/N. malen “yellow”, ᴹQ. malta/N. malt “gold (as metal)” and ᴹQ. malo/N. hmâl “pollen, yellow powder” (< ᴹ✶smalu), with some revisions in Noldorin forms as Tolkien vacillated on whether or not primitive sm- resulted in voiceless nasal hm- or a voiced nasal m-.

This √SMAL vs. √MAL variation seems to have continued into Tolkien’s later writings, as seen in Common Eldarin: Noun Structure from the early 1950s where ✶malu >> ✶smalu “dust, grit” (PE21/80), probably a later iteration of ᴹ✶smalu “pollen, yellow powder” from The Etymologies. But it seems Tolkien settled on √MAL as evidenced by the extended root √MALAT “gold” from The Shibboleth of Fëanor from 1968 (PM/366).

Primitive elvish [SA/mal] Group: Eldamo. Published by

malat

root. gold

Primitive elvish [PM/366] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nek

root. narrow, narrow; *angular, sharp

A root appearing in notes on words and phrases from The Lord of the Rings from the late 1950s or early 1960s, serving mainly as the basis for S. naith “angle” (PE17/55). It was also mentioned in a discussion of the death of Isildur at the Gladden Fields, again as the basis for S. naith among other words, where the root √NEK was glossed “narrow” (UT/281-2, note #16). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. naith was derived from ᴹ√SNAS or ᴹ√SNAT, but the precise derivation was unclear, and in any cases seems to have been replaced by Tolkien with a more straightforward derivation from √NEK.

The root √NEK also appeared in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957 with the gloss “deprive”, serving among other things as the basis for S. neithan “one deprived” (PE17/167), which was the name adopted by Túrin after he became an outlaw (S/200). The root appeared again in notes on Elvish numbers from the late 1960s glossed as either “divide, part, separate” (VT47/16) or “divide, separate” (VT48/9), where it served as the basis for √ENEK “six” as the dividing point between the lower and upper set of numbers in the Elvish duodecimal system.

It is not clear whether Tolkien intended all these various meanings for the root √NEK to be connected. For purposes of analysis, I’ve split √NEK “narrow” from √NEK “separate; deprive”, but conceivably the sense “narrow” could be a semantic extension of “separate” or vice-versa.

Primitive elvish [PE17/055; PE17/167; UT/282] Group: Eldamo. Published by

palad

noun. plain

Primitive elvish [PE21/71] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Adûnaic

pharaz

noun. gold

A noun meaning “gold”, the only Adûnaic word defined in The Lord of the Rings (LotR/1114).

Conceptual Development: This noun also appears in “Lowdham’s Report on the Adunaic Language” from the 1940s (SD/426).

Adûnaic [LotR/1114; PE17/120; SD/426] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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!

Gnomish

tûm

noun. valley

Gnomish [GL/71; LT1A/Tombo] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lothengriol

place name. Lily of the Valley, Flower of the Plain

Gnomish [GL/32; GL/55; LB/149; LBI/Loth-a-ladwen; LBI/Lothengriol; LT1/172; LT1I/Lothengriol; LT2/158; LT2/202; LT2A/Lósengriol; LT2A/Loth; LT2I/Lósengriol; LT2I/Lothengriol; PE13/102; PE15/28] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tumbol

adjective. valley-like, hollow, excavated

Gnomish [GL/72; LT1A/Tombo] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tumladin

place name. Valley of Smoothness

Gnomish [LT2/163; LT2A/Tumladin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

amlad

noun. surface

Gnomish [GL/19; GL/52; PE13/109] Group: Eldamo. Published by

bladwen

noun. plain

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “a plain” (GL/23), probably derived from the root ᴱ√PALA “flatness” as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Palúrien; QL/071).

Gnomish [GL/23; LT1A/Palúrien; LT2A/Ladwen-na-Dhaideloth] Group: Eldamo. Published by

clochiol

adjective. stone

An adjective for “stone” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s appearing as an element in G. gôf·clochiol “stone-fruit” (GL/40), derived from G. cloch “a stone” (GL/26).

culu

noun. gold

Gnomish [GG/14; GL/26; GL/27; GL/38; LT1A/Ilsaluntë; LT1A/Kulullin; LT2A/Glingol; PE15/22] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dolc

adjective. deep

fing

adjective. narrow

glôr

noun. gold

Gnomish [GG/12; GL/40; LT1A/Glorvent; LT1A/Laurelin; LT2A/Glingol; LT2A/Glorfalc; PE15/22; PE15/25; QL/051] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gond

noun. stone

tumli

noun. dale

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “a dale” (GL/72), probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√TUM(B)U as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Tombo; QL/95).

Gnomish [GL/72; LT1A/Tombo] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

nan-dairon

place name. *Valley of Dairon

An Ilkorin place name appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, likely a combination of nand “valley” and the name Dairon (Ety/DAY).

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

laur

noun. gold

A Doriathrin noun for “gold” developed from primitive ᴹ✶laurē, properly golden light rather than the metal (Ety/LÁWAR).

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

Early Quenya

nalda

adjective. lowly, valley (aj.), dale (aj.)

An adjective in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with the gloss “lowly, valley (aj.), dale (aj.)” and variants nalda and nalba, both derived from the root ᴱ√NḶĐḶ (QL/66).

Early Quenya [LT1A/Murmenalda; QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nes

noun. mead, valley, land

A noun given as archaic ᴱQ. †nes (ness-) “mead, valley, land” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the root ᴱ√NEŘE [NEÐE], but Tolkien indicated it should be transferred to ᴱ√NESE, which is a much more plausible root for this word (QL/66).

Early Quenya [PME/066; QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qiqilla

noun. Lily of the Valley

A word for “Lily of (the) Valley” in the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, an elaboration of ᴱQ. qiqi- “hang, droop” (PME/77; QL/77).

Early Quenya [PME/077; QL/077] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nalba

adjective. lowly, valley (aj.), dale (aj.)

endillos

place name. Flower of the Plain

Qenya name for G. Lothengriol in early name lists (PE13/102), probably a compound of endl “plain” and some variant of losse “rose, flower”.

Early Quenya [PE13/102] Group: Eldamo. Published by

arwa

noun. field

Early Quenya [PME/032; QL/032] Group: Eldamo. Published by

enga

noun. mead

A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “mead” in the sense “✱meadow”, a derivative of ᴱ√EŊE (QL/36).

Early Quenya [QL/036] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fingwa

adjective. narrow

Early Quenya [QL/038] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kulu

noun. gold

Early Quenya [LT1/100; LT1A/Laurelin; LT2A/Glingol; LT2A/Parma Kuluinen; MC/220; PE14/046; PE14/050; PE14/071; PE14/083; PE14/084; PE14/110; PE15/22; PE15/72; PE15/73; PE16/057; PE16/060; PE16/062; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/077; PME/049; QL/049; QL/051] Group: Eldamo. Published by

palante

noun. plain

palume

noun. plain

Early Quenya [QL/071; QL/072] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vasta

noun. road

A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “road” under the early root ᴱ√VAHA having to do with travel and going away (QL/99).

Early Quenya [QL/099] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

tumladin

place name. Smooth Valley

Early Noldorin [LBI/Tumladin; MC/217; SM/148; SMI/Tumladin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dir tumledin hin nebrachar

over Tumledin (the Smooth Valley) from Nebrachar

Early Noldorin [MC/217] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gurthrond

place name. Valley of the Dead Awaiting

Early Noldorin [LB/020; LB/028; LBI/Gurthrond] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nan tathrin

place name. Valley of Willows

Early Noldorin [LB/061; LBI/Nan-Tathrin; LBI/Tasarinan; SM/035; WJI/Nan Tathren] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dalath

noun. vale

Early Noldorin [MC/217] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nann

noun. dale

Early Noldorin [PE13/150] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glór

noun. gold

Early Noldorin [PE13/144] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gorgoroth

place name. Gorgoroth

Early Noldorin [LB/272] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwas

noun. field

Early Noldorin [PE13/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ladwen

noun. plain, plain, [G.] heath; levelness, flatness; plane; surface

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “levelness, flatness; a plain, heath; plane; surface”, a more elaborate form of G. lad “a level, a flat” (GL/52). It reappeared in the Lays of Beleriand of the 1920s as an element in the name ᴱN. Loth-a-ladwen “Lily of the Plain” (LB/149), but there is no sign of it thereafter.

Early Noldorin [LB/149] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nand

noun. dale

sarn

noun. stone

Early Noldorin [PE13/156] Group: Eldamo. Published by

teloth

noun. plain, plain; [G.] roofing, canopy, shelter

A noun appearing as G. teloth in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s with the gloss {“roofing, cover, shelter” >>} “roofing, canopy, shelter” derived from the root ᴱ√tel- “cover in” (GL/70). It was an element in the name G. Dor-na-Dhaideloth “[Land of] the Heaven Roof” (LT2/287). In the Lays of Beleriand of the 1920s the element Deloth in this name was glossed “Plain” (LB/49). Both these meanings were later abandoned, and this name eventually became S. Dor Daedeloth “Land of Great Dread” (WJ/183).

Early Noldorin [LB/049] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

tumbo

noun. deep valley (under or among hills, with high sides)

Qenya [Ety/TUB; PE22/127] Group: Eldamo. Published by

arka

adjective. narrow

landa

noun. plain

A noun for “a plain” in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) of the 1940s derived from ᴹ√LAD “lie flat, be flat” with variants landa and lanna (PE22/126), the latter probably derived from ✱ladna with the voiced stop d becoming a nasal before nasal n. It might simply be the noun form of adjective ᴹQ. landa “wide” from The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/LAD).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d stick to the form landa, which appears in an inflected form landannar “to the plains” early in QVS (PE22/125).

Qenya [PE22/125; PE22/126] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lanna

noun. plain

laure

noun. gold

Qenya [Ety/GLAW(-R); Ety/LÁWAR; PE19/037; PE22/019; PE22/046] Group: Eldamo. Published by

núra

adjective. deep

palme

noun. surface

tasar(e)

noun. willow-tree

Middle Primitive Elvish

tumbu

noun. deep valley under or among hills

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

akrā

adjective. narrow

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

gonod

root. stone

The Elvish words for “stone” were established very early as Q. ondo and S. gond. In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s Tolkien gave the root of these words as ᴱ√ONO “hard” with derivatives like ᴱQ. ondo “stone, rock” and ᴱQ. onin “anvil” (QL/70). But its Gnomish derivatives like G. gonn “stone” and G. gontha “pillar” (GL/41) indicate the actual root was ✱ᴱ√ƷONO, since initial ʒ &gt; g in Gnomish.

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave the root as ᴹ√GONOD or √GONDO “stone” with essentially the same Elvish forms: ᴹQ. ondo and N. gonn (Ety/GOND). The root itself did not appear in later writings, but Tolkien continued to state, with great frequency, that the primitive form of the word was ✶gondō (Let/410; PE17/28; PE18/106; PE21/81; PM/374; RC/347).

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/GOND; EtyAC/GOND] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nur

root. deep

A root mentioned in The Etymologies as an extension of ᴹ√NU with the gloss “deep” and derivatives ᴹQ. núra and N. nûr of the same meaning (Ety/NU). Possibly related is the later word Q. nurtalë “hiding” as in Q. Nurtalë Valinóreva “Hiding of Valinor” (S/102).

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

nūrā

adjective. deep

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

tatharē

noun. willow-tree

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

tubnā

adjective. deep

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

Rohirric

stānwægna dæl

place name. Stonewain Valley

Rohirric [PE17/028] Group: Eldamo. Published by

emnet

noun. plain

Rohirric [UTI/Wold] Group: Eldamo. Published by

English

Stonewain Valley

Stonewain Valley

The name was given because of the "wains (sleds or drays) passed to and fro from the stone-quarries" along the long, narrow defile. In Quenya it was called Nand' Ondolunkava or Ondolunkanan(do), in Sindarin Nan Gondresgion and in Rohirric Stānwægna Dæl. Another Sindarin name, a translation of "Stonewain Valley", was Imrath Gondraich, where imrath meant "a long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise."

English [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

Undetermined

dale

Dale

The word dale means "valley", as it was built in the Celduin valley between two arms of Erebor.

Undetermined [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

kulu

root. gold

Early Primitive Elvish [LT1A/Kulullin; QL/049] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kulū

noun. gold

Early Primitive Elvish [PE14/071] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Ossriandric

laur

noun. gold

A noun for “gold” developed from primitive ᴹ✶laurē, and one of the few words explicitly marked as Ossiriandic (Ety/LÁWAR). In this word the long final vowel was lost. Unlike the rules described in the Comparative Tables, this [[dan|[au] did not become [ō]]], so perhaps Tolkien changed his mind on the development of [au] in Ossiriandic.

Ossriandric [Ety/LÁWAR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Edain

bor

noun. stone