Hey guys, there's a quote from Galadriel that I love, and I have attempted to roughly translate it into Quenya using ElfDict.com. I'm having fun trying to learn Quenya and Tengwar after re-reading the appendices.

^("Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet, though you do not see them.")

kwí i tië lye ciluva nátensi nu tálilda, ai, nás hurin

Maybe the path you shall see is already under your feet, alas, it is hidden

From looking at another post, it appears that "you" (lye) may be unnecessary.

I'm also guessing that "nátensi**"** serving as (is already) is cumbersome, and there's some sort of modifier of "nu tálilda" (beneath your feet) to indicate tense and avoid the adverb.

If anyone is willing to take a look at this that would be awesome.

Does anyone knows what would be a good translation of "foreign" to Quenya? I'm looking for the female version of it, if gender is important. My research said "ettelëa" would be a good call, but I know how to properly gender the word or even if this is a good trabslation... Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I'm about to legally change my name (was dreaming of it for years and finally have a chance to do it now) and looking for inspiration from Tolkien. I read LotR and Silmarillion when I was little girl and I'm still in love with Tolkin's works and his world, so I'm thinking about adopting elvish self-made name and need help from someone more experienced then me. I want something with the meaning like "maiden with stars in her braids" or "moon-braided maiden". Hair/braids is findë, star in elen, moon is isil/ithil, is it correct to just combine these words? Is Isilfindë, Elenfindë, Findëisiliel or Findëleniel correct, cause it sounds a bit strange to me? Like I'm missing something or I need to modify it a little bit, yet I'm confused. I'd appreciate your help so much!

I have a Maia character (same character from before if you've seen my other post...) that I'm writing up a title/name for, specifically something along the lines of Tide-shifter (they are a Maia associated with the moon and sea, powers relating to the tides). I considered luimë and nanwë for tide, but I found the elder Quenya sóla more fitting. My main issue is with the word for "move," I simply am not sure what to use. There's rum/ruma or maybe sirya for flow. However, I always get stuck on the idea of the name sounding good in my head. Any help would be appreciated

Where did Gandalf's name "Mithrandir" come from?

Also how do I get a cool name like that and how does name giving work in these languages, Thanks!

Hey guys,
I want to surprise a friend with a cute little something - I need something that would be viable as her name in Quenya for that. Doesn't need to be a super close match, but I'd like it to sound pretty and feminine. So I tried my best looking up any terms with relevant meaning on Parf Edhellen, but ...found myself rather lost. Her name is Lisa. Would anyone be able to give me some pointers regarding what could work? :)

Appreciate any help! <3

Hi folks,

Whilst I'm a big enough of a Tolkien fan to want a ring engraved accurately in Quenya, this is my first real attempt to piece it together.

The phrase I'm trying to translate is: "My sails are set. I'm coming home."

My best translation is: "Lútinyar Nár Panyë. Túlan mélamarnya."

I'd appreciate a critique of my translation and any recommended corrections. Thanks very much!

-PART 1-

Lútë / Lúti = Sail / Sails (pl.)?

-nya / -nyar = My / My (pl.)?

Lútinyar = My sails ?

Ná / Nár = Is / are?

Panya- / Panyë = Set / Set (past tense)?

-PART 2-

Túlan = I am Coming

Mélamar = true home? Emotional (as opposed to a building.)

Mélamarnya = My Home

https://preview.redd.it/edly5zvfbt3e1.jpg?width=2338&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b528c4f9cad558257ccf7ae706262720a91b458

I've been dabbling in Quenya and decided to make an elvish name. Does the name Teldaer make sense grammatically?

Hello So I want to say change of mind(set)/imagination in Quenya but there are many different words for both change and mind.

I came up with Sáma virya but wanted some opinions before using it. Thanks in advance.

as a first exposure to quenya i decided to do something absurd and transelate a old german poem about learning how to fight with a sword by Johannes Liechtenauer. my hope is to keep the original intent of the poem while still having it rhyme and be memorable in quenya.

it is probably riddled with mistakes since its my first project of this sort ever but thats why i post it here to get honest feedback. I used https://www.elfdict.com as a dictionary and https://eldamo.org/content/language-pages/lang-q.html as a reference for grammar, lastly i used chatgpt for general questions and to help me find words to look at. heres the result:

Full Poem in Quenya

Tulë, hlarë ar parë,
Laitimalya ar i melildë,
Ala laitimalya ar curwëlya.
Ala macilcurwëlya,
Pan parë ar túrë.
Nai Ringë hya cotë,
as macil, quinga, sicil,
kamta tana a nacil.
Carë inga, harya rië,
Lá alta, loita hya petë
Túra, lelya i túrinna,
A lárë lelyallo lúmë.
Na hlarë úvë,
Linde ar coa na lúmë.

Full Poem in English

Come, listen, and learn;
To worship Eru and those you love;
Honor and skill will grow.
Praise your swordcraft,
Because your learning leads to mastery.
May you wrestle or fight,
With sword, bow, or knife,
Adaptation decides a victor.
Strike first, hold the crown,
Unimportant if you miss or hit,
Take control, go into mastery.
And wait, going from the time
Grasp this understanding,
Art and skill, with time and measure.

Poem in Quenya with Notes

1. Tulë, hlarë ar parë,
(Come, listen, and learn)

• had the choise to add "Arquén" here as a word for knight, decided against it.
• "Tulë" (Come) and "hlarë" (listen) create an invitation to engage actively in learning.
• "Parë" (learn) directly emphasizes the goal of gaining knowledge.

2. Laitimalya ar i melildë,
(To worship Eru and those you love)

• "Laitimalya" (to honor, praise) implies reverence, which was aligned with the idea of worship.
• "Melildë" means love, showing devotion your loved ones. addig i suffex to make it many and the suffix for plural "you" (2nd person plural) is -ldë. making it "your loved ones"

3. Ala laitimalya ar curwëlya.
(Honor and skill will grow)

• "Ala" (honor) emphasizes the importance of reverence, and "curwëlya" (your skill) focuses on the mastery one gains by honoring the art.

4. Ala macilcurwëlya,
(Praise your swordcraft)

• "Macilcurwëlya"(made up word) blends macil (sword) and curwë (craft), explicitly referring to swordcraft and its development.

5. Pan parë ar túrë.
(Because your learning leads to mastery)

• "Pan" (because) connects this line with the prior one, with "türë" (mastery) reflecting the culmination of learning.

6. Nai mahta hya Túrë,
(May you wrestle or fight)

"Nai" is a verb expressing a wish or blessing ("may"). "mahta" means fight or do battle, referring to the act of combat.

7. as macil, quinga, sicil,
(With sword, bow, or knife)

• "Macil" (sword), "quinga" (bow), and "sicil" (knife) list the weapons available in battle, reflecting the tools of combat.

8. kamta tana a nacil.
(Adaptation decides a victor)

• "Kamta" means adapt, referring to adjusting tactics during combat. "Nacil" (victor) indicates the result of combat.

9. Carë inga, harya rië,
(Strike first, advance with power)

• "Carë" (action), "inga" (first), and "harya - rië" (posses the crown) convey the need for initiative in battle.

10. Lá alta, loita hya petë,
(Unimportant if you miss or hit.)

• "Loita hya petë" = "Miss or strike" (loita = miss, hya = or, petë = strike).
• "Lá alta" = "Not great," meaning unimportant.

11. Túra, lelya i túrinna,
(Mastery, move forward with your might)

• Túra, lelya i túrinna – "Take control, go into mastery." (túra = imperative "take control"; lelya = "go"; i túrinna = "into the mastery" using the allative -nna to indicate forward motion) making Túrinna the elvish word for "vor" (before (german)) that referes to the agresive roll in the initiative.

12. A lárë lelyallo lúmë.
(And rest as you await the right moment.)

• A lárë lelyallo lúmë – "And wait, going from the time." (lárë = "wait"; lelyallo = "from the path/journey" using the ablative -llo; lúmë = "the time") making lume the word for "nach"("after"(german)) that referes to the defencive roll in the initiative.

13. Na hlarë úvë,
(Grasp this understanding)

• "Na" (take) and "hlarë" (understanding) make the invitation to grasp the knowledge imparted.

14. Linde ar coa na lúmë.
(Art and skill, with time and measure.)

• "Linde" (art/song) represents any learned craft, while "coa" (measure) ties the skill to balance and refinement, ultimately requiring time and effort.

Explanation of Where This Poem Comes From

This poem is inspired by a German medieval-style battle poem, which is part of the teaching style of Johannes Liechtenauer, a 14th-century fencing master. The original poem serves as an introduction to his martial arts teachings. The poem stresses the balance of attack and defense, mastery of combat, and the importance of knowledge and preparation. The translation into Quenya seeks to preserve the spirit of the original poem while adapting it into Quenya.

Side-by-Side of the German and English original poem

German
"Jungk ritter, lere
Gott liebhaben, fröwen ia ere,
so wöchse dein ere.
Übe ritterschaft und lere
kunst, die dich ziert,
in kriegen zu ern hoffiert.
Ringet gut, fesser
glefen, sper, schwert und messer
manlich bederben.
Haw drin hart dar! Rausch hin:
triff oder las farn
daß ihn die wysen
hassen, den man sicht brysen.
Daruff dich fasse:
alle kunst haben lenge und masse."

English
"Young knight, learn
To love God, rejoice in His realm,
So your honor will grow.
Practice chivalry and learn
The skills that adorn you,
In wars, to earn your renown.
Fight well, wield
Spears, pikes, swords, and knives
With manly valor.
Strike hard there! Storm forth:
Hit or miss,
The wise will hate
The one who seeks to force them.
Grasp this understanding:
All art has length and measure."

This side-by-side presents the original German text and it's English translation, showing the key elements of the poem: which were adapted into Quenya while keeping the original intent.

Hello! Could anyone tell me if there is a specific Quenya word for "sunlight" or "ray of sun"? I've been combing through several books and websites unsuccessfully.

good day everyone, I would like to know if these sites are accurate on their translation?

I'm trying to translate "I etch my legacy where light and shadow meet, A soul forged in struggle, unyielding, complete. With sword and shield, I adapt and transcend, My crown and armor guide me until the end." and wanted to get the accurate translation for getting a tattoo. thank you very much.

translator links

1. https://www.jenshansen.com/pages/online-english-to-elvish-engraving-translator
2. https://www.tecendil.com/

My attempt at a translation of the war cry of the Finnish cavalry (Hakkaa päälle pohjanpoika, 'Cut them down, sons of the north, lit. hack/cleave/beat on/towards, sons of the north, often abbreviated to just 'Hakkaa päälle'). Copying the Finnish construction, which might be a bit "elvish as she is spake", but seems more permissible with Finnish in particular. Alternative not using a reconstructed quenya verb might be 'Palpa pánna', but I think the former flows better. Thoughts/criticism?

Trying to start a new band and this is what I want. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Time sensitive, need for an engraving by December

The word I'm looking into is coloitië , meaning fortitude/endurance etc

I just want to know if this is a word Tolkien actually wrote/referenced, or if it is neoquenya in the sense that it has been put together from other things? Sorry if that doesn't make sense, hopefully someone can help me understand the whole language better!

The Gloria Patri is a traditional Christian prayer, usually translated into English as

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Tolkien translates the first line as Alcar i ataren ar i yondon ar i airefean. Has anyone attempted to finish the translation into Quenya?

There's a recent viral trend of a streamer's clip being crudely dubbed in just about any language you can think of and I thought Quenya would be a fun addition.
Original clip: https://youtu.be/dpTte1scAm0?si=QFsfwDppHQau-Pf6
German: https://youtu.be/J2yv1WV4nY8?si=tCZFNrnbDTiK9zg_
Klingon: https://youtu.be/l0VSy2xFfq4?si=3HRcMuK3sPfuYgC-

Here's the playlist if you want to see the rest of what people have done:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY1a7EKjUvB82u73OLjevKKKLmWcyproX&si=M54GHFoMmiCRhxhs

If anyone's down to dub it, put in however much effort you want to lip sync it to that original clip etc., and ship the audio to me via vocaroo or raw file via email here:
jerma_dub_noise@proton.me

No hard or fast rules, just try to have fun with it!

Also if anyone also knows Dothraki feel free to give an attempt for that too

Hi everyone, Looking for two English quotes to be translated over to elvish.

Part of Gandalf quote, "Even Darkness must pass." I suffer from depression and this always helps me along with the whole quote but just wanted this as a reminder.

Now I am also a hopeless romantic and love the quote from Dracula "I have crossed oceans of time to find you" if someone can translate these over in elvish that would mean the world to me. Thank you.

I've been a Tolkien fan for many years. It's very close to my heart. I want to use Quenya to give my gf a beautiful name. I know of meldanya, ammelda, and melmë. All very pretty names.

I call her my princess often. I'd love a word/phrase that expresses both, the title and love behind it

Thank you!

Hi! So, I'm a little new at this but I've got a character who's name is the (originally Turkic) name Aysel. Ay meaning moon and sel meaning flood - however in context, the sel means 'of' so - it could translate as moonlight, flood of the moon, or simply of the moon. I know there are a few options to translate it into Quenya(and Sindarin, but this isn't the subreddit for that) such as the word Cala for light, and the words Isil and Rana for moon. My trouble here is making the name sound...nice and not clunky? Any help would be appreciated!

edit: I've just realized there is a term for moonlight (isilme) although, I am still open to suggestions.

Good morning, it is a month that I have approached and I am slowly learning the language. I try to write something proficient and I started with writing some haikus.

Do it that however lead me with a doubt. You see, I am Italian and in my language there are some peculiar rules in poetry. One of them is that if a word end in a vowel and the next word began also with a vowel, then you can count the two syllables as one.

For example, “caro amato” (“Dear beloved”) have five syllables: ca-ro-a-ma-to. However for poetic purpose I can count it as four syllables: ca-ro a-ma-to

I was asking if there is such a rule in Quenya or it is not. I leave you an haiku of mine (if you don’t know, haiku has a 5-7-5 syllables metre) that has this “problem”.

Nairea lirë Hláranyë i ománya Imbë i híser

In English this means "Thus always to tyrants."

The best I could do was 'sië illumë ulcor' which is literally "thus always evils" but I am not sure how to make the "to" part, and any conjugations. Also, any better words for "tyrants"?

Thanks for any help!

I've been focused on Sindarin, with my main goal really being to learn about linguistics, and I'm considering the IPA in relation to the Tengwar.

I am fluent in English and Spanish, and I'm intermediate 4b in Italian. Is it true that Quenya sounds more like Latin or Italian? If so, then it might be worth switching to Quenya.

Hi. I want to train my cat with Quenya words. I have no idea of the language other than loving lotr and wanting to use training words not in a language that’s well known. I would love any and all help. List of words I’ll be using: Sit, stay, come, heel, up, down, bite/attack, spin left/right, roll left/right, stop, fetch, find, dad, mom, sister. Literal translation would be nice but isn’t necessary as my cat will learn the meaning. Pronunciation would be amazing.

Please and thank you!

About the second sentence: Sinomë maruvan ar Hildinyar tenna Ambar-metta. maruvan(yë) can be broken down into [live-will-i]. This is singular because Elendil is the subject of the sentence, but what about his plural heirs? Does it matter that "heirs" is plural and maruvan is not?

A few weeks ago, I started learning Quenya seriously using Helge Fauskanger's textbook, which I liked and whose PDF form was more convenient for me than Eldamo.

1. Any tips/resources?

2. Is Paul Strack's course significantly better/more current? Am I missing out?