Sindarin is an artificial language (or conlang) developed by J. R. R. Tolkien. In Tolkien's mythos, it was the Elvish language most commonly spoken in Middle-earth in the Third Age. It was the language of the Sindar, those Teleri which had been left behind on the Great Journey of the Elves. It was derived from an earlier language called Common Telerin. When the Ñoldor came back to Middle-earth, they adopted the Sindarin language, although they believed their native Quenya more beautiful. Before the downfall, most of the Men of Númenor also spoke the language. Knowledge of it was kept in the Númenórean realm in exile Gondor, especially amongst the learned. Sindarin is the language referred to as the Elven-tongue in The Lord of the Rings.
Tolkien originally imagined that the language which would become Sindarin was spoken by the Ñoldor (second clan of Elves). However, Tolkien later decided that it was the language of the Sindar. For this reason it is called Noldorin in the older material, such as the Etymologies. When Noldorin became Sindarin, it also adopted some features of the originally unrelated language Ilkorin. Tolkien based the sound and some of the grammar of his Noldorin/Sindarin on Welsh, and Sindarin displays of the consonant mutations that characterise the Celtic (especially Brythonic) languages. The language was also probably influenced to an extent by the Germanic languages, as Tolkien was a scholar of both Old English and Old Norse.
The written script alphabet of the Elven languages is typically Tengwar, although Cirth can also be used.
Grammar[]
Sindarin is mainly analytic, though traits of its highly inflected progenitor can still be seen.
Phonology[]
Sindarin was designed to have a Welsh-like phonology. It has most of the same sounds and similar phonotactics.
Letter | IPA | Notes |
a | ɑ | |
b | b | |
c | k | |
ch | x | |
d | d | |
dh | ð | |
e | ɛ | |
f | f, v | Represents [v] when final or before n, [f] everywhere else. |
g | g | |
h | h | |
hw | ʍ | |
i | j, i | Represents [j] when initial, [i] everywhere else. |
l | l | |
lh | l̥ | |
m | m | |
n | n | |
ng | ŋ, ŋg | Represents [ŋ] when final, [ŋg] everywhere else. |
o | ɒ | |
ǫ | ɔ | Only occurs as a long vowel in old Mithrim dialect. |
œ | œ | In more modern Sindarin replaced by e. |
p | p | |
ph | f, ff | Represents [f] when final, [ff] everywhere else. |
r | r | |
rh | r̥ | |
s | s | |
t | t | |
th | θ | |
u | u | |
v | v | |
w | w | |
y | y | Pronounced like German ü |
An accent signifies a long vowel (á, é, etc). In a monosyllabic word, a circumflex is used (â, ê, etc). However, for practical reasons, users of the ISO Latin-1 character set often substitute ý for ŷ.
Diphthongs are ai (pronounced like aisle), ei (day), ui (too young), oi (boy), and au (cow). If the last diphthong finishes a word, it is spelt aw. There are also diphthongs ae and oe with no English counterparts; Tolkien recommended to substitute ai and oi respectively if one does not care about details. If one does care, it is similar to pronouncing a or o respectively in the same syllable as one pronounces an e (as in pet).
In archaic Sindarin, there was a vowel similar to German ö (IPA: [œ]), which Tolkien mostly transcribed as œ (usually not as oe as is often found in publications like the Silmarillion, cf. Nirnaeth Arnoediad [read: Nírnaeth Arnœdiad], Goelydh [read: Gœlydh]). This vowel later came to be pronounced ɛ and is therefore transcribed as such [sc. Gelydh].
Archaic Sindarin also had a spirant m or nasal v (IPA: [ɱ]), which was transcribed as mh (though always pronounced [v] in later Sindarin).
Nouns[]
Pluralization[]
Sindarin plurals are characterised by i-affection, or umlaut. The Sindarin term for this is prestanneth (disturbance, affection). Almost all Sindarin words form their plurals like English man/men and goose/geese — by changing the vowels in the word. The plural patterns are:
- In non-final syllables:
- a > e — galadh > gelaidh
- e > e — bereth > berith
- i > i — dineth > dinith
- o > e — gowest > gewist
- u > y — tulus > tylys
- y > y — (no example available)
- In final syllables:
- a > ai — anar > enair
- â > ai — tâl > tail
- e > i — adaneth > edenith
- ê > î — hên > hîn
- i > i — brennil > brennil
- î > î — dîs > dîs
- o > y — brannon > brennyn
- ó > ý — bór > býr
- ô > ŷ — thôn > thŷn
- u > y — urug > yryg
- û > ui — hû > hui
- y > y — ylf > ylf
- ý > ý — mýl > mýl
- au > oe — naug > noeg
The reason for this kind of plural formation is that the primitive plural ending -î (still present in Quenya as -i) affected the vowels in the word by making them higher and fronter. After this sound change occurred, the suffix -î disappeared when all final vowels were lost.
Besides there are also various irregular plural formations, like changing î to ai or vice versa (thus ai to î or even to ý) or adding suffix -in (though in most but not all cases there only appears to be this ending, where in fact the singular has lost the original ending while the plural has not, cf. old *elen, pl. *eleni becoming *ele, pl. elin, later êl, pl. elin). In a few cases the basic word is in the plural and a singular form is created by adding a suffix (cf. filigod, pl. filig, though later an analogous yet etymologically wrong singular fileg was created).
Class Plural[]
Sindarin also has several suffixes which denote a so-called class plural. For example, -ath indicates a group of something, e. g. elenath from elen (an archaic form of êl), meaning star and -ath. It means a group of stars or all the stars in the sky. Another ending, -rim, is used to indicate a race, e. g. nogothrim from nogoth — dwarf and -rim, meaning the race of dwarves. The ending -hoth is generally used in an unfriendly sense, e. g. gaurhoth from gaur — werewolf and -hoth, meaning werewolf-host.
Mutation[]
Sindarin has a complex series of mutations. There are three main different types of mutations: soft mutation (or lenition), nasal mutation and stop (occlusive) mutation. Additionaly, after certain particles or prepositions we can observe changes often referred to as mixed mutation (in fact basically lenition, but many consonants that are subject to normal soft mutation are not changed here). Finally, it is presumed that Sindarin also once had what we could call an archaic spirantal mutation (also sometimes called liquid mutation by scholars). It is still uncertain whether this mutation is still productive or if it only occurs in ancient constructs.
Initial mutations must not be confused with assimilations that may occur in compound words (such as, for instance, in the names Araphor, Arassuil and Caradhras).
The following table outlines how different consonants are affected by the different mutations.
Basic | Soft (i) | Nasal (in) | Mixed (en) | Mixed (an) | Stop (ed) | Liquid (or) | H-mutation (oh) | DH-mutation (adh) |
b | i v | i m | e-b | am b | e b | or v | o b | a b |
c | i g | i ch | e-g | an g | e ch | or ch | o ch | a ch |
d | i dh | i n | e-d | an d | e d | or dh | o d | a d |
dr | i dhr | in dr | en-dr | an dr | e dr | or dhr | o dr | a dr |
f | i f | i f | e-f | an f | eph f | or f | o f | a f |
g | i '* | i ng | e-g | an g | e g | or ' | o g | a g |
gl | i 'l | in gl | en-gl | an gl | e gl | or 'l | o gl | a gl |
gr | i 'r | in gr | en-gr | an gr | e gr | or 'r | o gr | a gr |
gw | i 'w | in gw | en-gw | an gw | e gw | or 'w | o gw | a gw |
h | i ch | i ch | e-h | an h | e ch | or ch | o ch | a h |
hw | i chw | i 'w | e-'w | an 'w | e 'w | or 'w | o chw | ath w |
l | i l | i l | e-l | an l | ed l | or l | o lh | ad l |
lh | i thl | ith l | e-'l | an 'l | e thl | or 'l | o lh | ath l |
m | i v | i m | e-m | am m | e m | or v | o m | a m |
n | i n | i n | en-n | an n | e n | or n | o n | a n |
p | i b | i ph | e-b | am b | e ph | or ph | o ph | a ph |
r | i r | idh r | edh-r | adh r | ed r | or r | o rh | adh r |
**r | i r | in r | en-r | an r | ed r | or r | o rh | ath r |
rh | i thr | i thr | e-'r | an 'r | e thr | or 'r | o rh | ath r |
s | i h | i s | e-h | an h | es s | or s | o s | a s |
t | i d | i th | e-d | an d | e th | or th | o th | a th |
tr | i dr | i thr | en-dr | an dr | e thr | or thr | o thr | a thr |
th | i th | i th | e-th | an th | eth th | or th | o th | a th |
*Here the apostrophe indicates elision. **Doriathrin-Sindarin mutation
Take, for example, the deictic article i, which triggers soft mutation. When added to a word like tâl, it becomes i dâl. In Sindarin's phonological history, t became d in the middle of a word. Because i tâl at the time was considered one word, the t became d, and thus i dâl. However, without the article the word is still tâl.
Words beginning in b-, d-, or g- which descend from older mb-, nd-, or ng- are affected differently by the mutations:
Basic | Soft (i) | Nasal (in) | Mixed (en) | Mixed (an) | Stop (ed) | Liquid (or) | H-mutation (oh) | DH-mutation (adh) |
(m)b | i m | i mb | e-mb | am mb | e mb | or b | o b | a b |
(n)d | i n | i nd | e-nd | an nd | e nd | or d | o d | a d |
(n)g | i ng*** | i ng | e-ng | an ng | e ng | or g | o g | a g |
*** Note that it is not clear whether ng represents the mere nasal or the nasal followed by g. Furthermore the nasal, mixed and stop mutation should very likely also yield nasal + stop (cf. d and b), but it is not known with certainty, how this is to be transcribed (and very likely there is nothing like the correct transcription, since Tolkien always was somewhat uncertain concerning this aspect). So the nasally mutated form in Gœlydh is most likely to be pronounced ing Gœlydh and might be transcribed as i Ngœlydh, i-Ngœlydh or even i nGœlydh, i-nGœlydh.
Mutation is triggered in various ways:
- Soft mutation, the most widely occurring mutation, is triggered by the singular article i, the prefixes athra-, ath-, go-, gwa-, ú-, and u-, as well as the prepositions ab, am, adel, be, dad, di, na, nu, and î, and after avo. It also often affects the second element in a compound, an adjective following a noun, and the object of a verb.
- Nasal mutation is triggered by the plural article in, and the prepositions an, dan, and plural 'nin.
- Mixed mutation is triggered by the genitive article en (which loses the -n), and the prepositions ben, erin, nan, 'nin, and uin.
- Stop mutation is triggered by the prepositions ed, ned, and o(d).
- Liquid mutation is presumably triggered by the preposition or and conjunction ar when prefixed in fixed idioms.
Pronouns[]
Pronouns are perhaps the most poorly attested feature of Sindarin. What has been reconstructed by the comparative method is largely conjectural and is not agreed upon, and therefore will not be addressed in this article.
Sindarin pronouns, like those in English, still maintain some case distinction. Sindarin pronouns have nominative, accusative, genitive, and dative forms.
First Person | Second Person | Third Person | ||||
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
Nominative | im | e | ||||
Accusative | nin | men | den | hain | ||
Genitive | mín | lín | dîn, în (refl.) | |||
Dative | anim, enni | ammen | le | |||
Enclitic | -n | -m | — | -r |
The ending -ch also occurs in our corpus, but as with Noldorin pronouns ho, hon, hono, pl. huin (male), he, hen, hene, pl. hîn (female) and ha, hana, pl. hein (neuter) and various reconstructed forms there are still many discussions as to the actual meaning (it also occurs in a yet unpublished list next to -g, both being marked as second person, but there is also a good chance of it being the ending for 1.pl. inclusive, as opposed to -m for 1.pl. exclusive). Furthermore some hold the particle di, occuring in the Sindarin Pater Noster to represent the 3.pl. nominative (cf. den, dîn).
Verbs[]
Sindarin verbs are also quite complex. The number of attested verbs in Sindarin is small, so the Sindarin verb system is imperfectly known; no verb has a full paradigm of forms available. There are two main types of verbs: basic and derived. Basic verbs have stems which end in a consonant, and derived verbs have stems which incorporate some sort derivational morpheme (such as a causative ending) which ends in -a.
Basic Verbs[]
Basic verbs, though smaller in number than derived verbs, have a very complex conjugation which arises from Sindarin's phonological history.
Basic verbs form the infinitve by adding -i: giri from gir-. This ending causes an a or o in the stem to umlaut to e: blebi from blab-. Sindarin does not use infinitive forms very often, and rather uses the gerund to achieve the same meaning.
For all persons except the third person singular, the present tense is formed by the insertion of -i, and the proper enclitic pronomial ending: girin, girim, girir. As with the infinitive, -i causes an a or o in the stem to umlaut to e: pedin, pedim, pedir, from pad-. The third person singular, because it has a zero-ending, does not require the insertion of -i. This leaves the bare stem, which, because of Sindarin's phonological history, causes the vowel of the stem to become long: gîr, blâb, pâd.
The past tense of basic verbs is very complicated and poorly attested. One common reconstructed system is to use -n: darn. However, the only time this -n actually remains is after a stem in -r. After a stem ending in -l, -n becomes -ll: toll. After -b, -d, -g, -v, or -dh, it is metathesized and then assimilated to the same place of articulation as the consonant it now follows. The consonant then experiences what could be called a "backwards mutation": -b, -d, and -g become -p, -b, and -c, and -v and -dh become -m and -d. The matter is complicated even further when pronomial endings are added. Because -mp, -mb, -nt, -nd, and -nc did not survive medially, they become -mm-, -mm-, -nn-, -nn-, and -ng. In addition, past tense stems in -m would have -mm- before any pronomial endings. Because this all may seem rather overwhelming, look at these examples which show step-by-step transformations:
- cab- > **cabn > **canb > **camb > camp, becoming camm- with any pronomial endings.
- ped- > **pedn > **pend > pent, becoming penn- with any pronomial endings.
- dag- > **dagn > **dang (n pronounced as in men) > **dang (n pronounced as in sing) > danc, becoming dang- with any pronomial endings.
- lav- > **lavn > **lanv > **lanm > **lamm > lam, becoming lamm- before any pronomial endings.
- redh- > **redhn > **rendh > **rend > rend, becoming renn- before any pronomial endings.
The future tense is formed by the addition of -tha. An -i is also inserted between the stem and -tha, which again causes a and o to umlaut to e. Endings for all persons except for the first person singular can be added without any further modification: giritham, blebithar. The first person singular ending -n causes the -a in -tha to become -o: girithon, blebithon, pedithon.
The imperative is formed with the addition of -o to the stem: giro!, pado!, blabo!.
Derived Verbs[]
Derived verbs have a much less complex conjugation because they have a thematic vowel (usually a) which reduces the number of consonant combinations which occur.
The infinitive is formed with -o, which replaces the -a of the stem, e. g. lacho from lacha-.
The present tense is formed without modification to the stem. Pronomial endings are added without any change.
The past tense is formed with the ending -nt, which becomes -nne with any pronomial endings, e. g. erthant, erthanner.
The future tense is formed with -tha. With the addition of the first person singular -n, this becomes -tho.
The imperative is formed like the infinitive.
Elvish to english[]
a: and acharn: south (to the)
ad: again, back, re-
adab, edeb: building, house
adan, edain: man (of the race of Men)
adaneth: mortal woman
adar, edeir: father, pet-name ada
adel: behind, in rear of
aderthad: reunion
aduial: evening twilight
ae: if
aear: inland sea
aearon: ocean
aeg: thorn
aeglos: a plant that grew on Amon Rûdh, also the lance of Gil-galad (literally 'snowthorn'); icicle
aelin: lake, pool
aes: cooked food, meat
aew, aewen: bird
aglar: glory, brilliance
aglareb: glorious
agor: narrow
aimenel: lark
aith: spear-point
al: no, not
alag: rushing, impetuous
alagos: storm of wind, gale
alfirin: a small white flower, also called uilos and simbelmynë
alph, elph: swan
am: up
amar: the world
amarth: doom
amben: uphill
amdír: hope born of experience
amlug: winged dragon
amon, emyn: hill
anc: jaw, row of teeth
andelu: dangerous, fell
Anfang, Enfyng: Long-beard (a tribe of Dwarves)
angweth: chain, 'iron-bound'
anrand: one Cycle (100 valinorean years)
ang, eng: iron
angol: deep lore, magic (archaic); stench
angren, engryn; of iron
Angrenost: Sindarin name of Isengard
annabon: elephant
annon, ennyn: gate, door
annûn: sunset, west
Anor: the sun
ant: gift
anw: male (for animals)
anwar: awe
ar-: beside, outside
ar-: without, privative sense
ara-: noble, high. kingly
arad: daytime, a day
aran, erain: king
aras, erais: stag, deer
ardh: realm
arnoediad: without reckoning
ast: dust
atland: sloping, tilted
atlant: oblique, slanting
ath-: on both sides, across
athelas: kingsfoil
athor, ethir: spy
athrad, ethraid: ford, river-crossing
aur: day, morning
auth: war, battle
awarth: abandonment
bach: article, ware, thing
bachor: pedlar
badhron: judge
Balan, Belain: Power, God
balch: cruel
balchoth: barbarians (orcs)
balrog: demon of might
banc: trade
bang: tyrannous, cruel, oppressive
bant: full
band: prison, duress
bar, ber: dwelling
bara: fiery, eager
barad: doomed
barad, beraid: tower, fortress
baraha: hot, burning
baran: golden-brown
basgorn: loaf, 'round-bread'
bast: bread
bata: beaten track, pathway
baudh: judgement
bauglir: tyrant, oppressor
baul: torment
baur: need
be: as
bein: beautiful
belda: strong
beleg: mighty
bellas: bodily strength
belle: strength
belt: strong in body
ben: without
bennas: angle
beren: bold
bereth: valour
beriad: protection
besteth: wedding
besu: married couple
beth: words
bo: on
boe: must (generally before a verb, and sign of obligation)
boron: steadfast, trusty, faithful
both: puddle, small pool
branda: lofty, noble, fine
brasse: white heat
brassen: white-hot
breged: violence, suddenness
bregedur: wild-fire
bregol: violent, sudden
bregolas: fierceness
brethil: silver birch
brith: gravel
brithon: pebbly
brôg: a bear
bruin: loud, noisy
brûn: old
bund: snout, nose, cape
cabed: the leap
cabor: frog
cadwar: shapely
cael: lying in bed, sickness
caeleb: bedridden, sick
caew: lair, resting-place
calf: water-vessel
callon: hero
cam, cem: hand (especially cupped or in the attitude of receiving)
cant: shape
car: house
caran: red
caras: a moated fortress
carch: fang
carth: deed, feat
caun: void, empty
caw: top
ceber, cebir: stake
cef, ceif: soil
celeb: silver
celebrin: like silver, in hue or worth
celeg: agile
celeir: brilliant
celon: river
celw: spring, source of water
cennan: potter
cerch: sickle
Cerch iMBelain: 'Sickle of the Valar', Great Bear
cevn: of earth, earthen
chae: the earth
char, chair: ship
chathol: blade
chên, chin: child
chíl: heir
chwest: puff, breath, breeze
chwîn: faintness, giddiness
chwiniol: whirling, giddy, fantastic
cîl: cleft, pass between hills, gorge
cilith: choice
cirar: too late
cirban: haven
cirdan: shipwright
cirith: a pass (in the mountains)
Cirth: the Runes
claur: (poetical) glory
coe: earth
corch: crow
corn: cupola, dome
coron, cerin: mound
corw: cunning, wily
cost: quarrel
coth: enmity, enemy
craban, crebain: raven
crann: ruddy (of face)
cram: cake of compressed flour or meal (often containing milk and honey) used on long journeys
criss: cleft, cut
crist: cleaver, sword
crom: left (as opposed to right)
crum: left hand
crumui: left-handed
crun: wile, guile
cú: arch, crescent
cugu: dove
cuil: life
cuin: alive
cumb: mound, heap
cún: bent, bowed, bow-shaped
cunn: prince
cúran: crescent moon
curunir: wizard
dad: down
dadben: downhill
dae: shadow
daedelu: canopy
daen: corpse
daer: bridegroom
dâf: permission
dagnir; bane, killer
dagor, dagyr: battle
dair: shadow of trees
dal, dail: foot
dalma: palm of hand
dalraph: stirrup
dam: hammer
dan, dain: smith, maker
dân: back (not noun), again, against
dangen, dengin: the slain, the fallen (often plural)
dannen: fallen
danwedh: ransom
dath: hole, pit
daug: orc warrior
daw: night-time, gloom
del: horror
deleb: loathsome
deloth: abhorrence, disgust
delw: deadly, hateful, fell
dess: young woman
dî: woman, female
dîl: stopper, stopping, stuffing
dim: stair
dín: opening, gap, mountain pass
dínen: silent
dîr: man, male
dirnen: guarded
dirnaith: a wedge-shaped battle-formation used by the Dúnedain
dôl: head
dolen: hidden, secret
doll: obscure, dark, dusky
dollen: late, time (like german spät)
dolt: round, knob, boss
donn: swarthy
dor: land; clan
doron, deren: oak-tree
drafu: hewn log
dram: heavy stroke, blow
drambor: clenched fist, punch, blow
draug: wolf
dring: hammer
drúadan, Drúedain: Wildman of Halifirien
dúath: shadow
dú: nightfall, late evening
dúlin: nightingale
dulu: support
duin: (long) river
dún: west
Dúnadan, Dúnedain: man of the West, Númenorean
dûr: dark, sombre
dûath: night-shade
ech: spear
echad: camp
echui: awakening
eden: new, begun again
edinar: anniversary day
edhel, edhil: elf
eide: a rest
eilian: rainbow
eithel: well (of water)
eket: a short broad-bladed sword
elanor: a golden flower that grew on Cerin Amroth in Lothlórien (literally 'the sun-star')
elleth: elf-maid
ellint: faster
elw: blue
emer: sheep
emlin: yellow-hammer bird
endo: grandchild, descendant
endor: middle-earth
enedh: middle, center, core
ennas: there; where
ennin: Valian year
ephel: outer fence
er: one, alone
erch: a prickle
ereb: isolated
eredh: seed, germ
ereg, erig: holly-tree
eriol: alone, single; only
ernil: prince
eru: desert, waste
eryn: wood, forest (always plural)
esgal: screen, hiding, veil
estel: hope; trust
ethir: outflow, delta (of a river)
faer: spirit, soul
falas: shore, line of surf, beach
falf: foam, breaker
falma, falmar: wave
fang: beard
far: sufficient, enough, quite
faroth: hunter
farn: enough
fast: shaggy hair
faug: thirsty
faun: cloud
fein: white
feir, fîr: mortals
fela, fili: cave
fend: threshhold
fêr: mast
fern, firn: dead (of mortals)
fileg, filig: small bird
fin: hair
findel: tress, braid of hair
firen: human
foeg: mean, poor, bad
foen: radiant, white
forn: north (sometimes forod, or for)
fuin: dead of night
gador: prison, dungeon
gael: pale, glittering
gaer: dreadful
gaia: dread
gail: fence, palissade (particularly fortified)
galad: the light
galadh, gelaidh: tree
galas: growth, plant
galen: green
galenas: pipe-weed
galvorn: a black iron (possibly meteoritic) devised by Eôl the Dark Elf, with which he made the sword Gurthang
galw: bliss, good fortune
gamp: hook, claw
gand: device, contrivance, machine
gandel: harp
garaf: wolf
garn: property
gas: hole, gap
gasdil: stop-gap
Gast: the Void
gath: cavern
gathrod: cave
gaul: wolfhowl
gaur: werewolf
gawad: howling
gell: joy, triumph
gellan: jubilation
gellui: triumphant
gemb: sickly
gern: worn, old (of things)
gil, geil (collective plural giliath): star
gildin: silver spark
girith: shuddering
glaer: long lay, narrative poem
glaew: salve
glamb: shouting, confused noise
glamor: echo
glamren: echoing
glan: border, boundary
glas: joy
glaur: gold
glî: honey
glín: gleam (particularly of the eyes)
glind: pale blue
glinn: song, air, tune
glîr: song, poem, lay
glúdh: soap
go: with, together
go-: son of (like Scottish mac-)
gobel: a walled town or village
gobennas: history
gobennathren: historical
goer: red, copper-coloured, ruddy
golf: branch
goll: wise
gollor: magician
golodh, gelydh (or golodhrim): Noldo
golw: lore (archaic)
golwen: wise, learned in deep arts
gonathras: entanglement
gond; stone
gor: horror, dread (also goroth)
gorgoroth: deadly fear
gorn: impetuous
gorneh: impetus, vigour
goron: valour
gost: terror, dread
gowest: contract, compact, treaty
grond: mace
groth: delving, underground dwelling
gûl: sorcery (also gûldur)
guil: grace
guin: with
gûr: Death
gurth: death
guru: skill
gwador, gwedeir: brother, associate
gwaedh: bond, troth, compact, oath
gwaew: wind
gwaith: people
gwaloth: blossom, collection of flowers
gwanath: death, act of dying
gwann: departed, dead
gwanod: tale, number
gwanun: sister, kinswoman
gwanur: brother, kinsman
gwarth: betrayer
gwass: stain
gwastar: hummock
gwath: shade
gwathel, gwethil: sister, associate
gwaun, guin: goose
gwaur: soiled, dirty
gwein, gwîn: evening
gwelw: air (substance)
gwelwen: lower air (realm of birds)
gwend: bond, friendship
gweneth: virginity
gwenn: maiden
gwest: oath
gwî: net, web
gwilith: the lower air
gwilwileth: butterfly
gwind: blue-grey, pale blue, grey
gwing: spindrift, flying spray
habad, hebeid: shore
had, haid: position, place, spot
hador: thrower (of spears or darts)
hae: away from
haew: custom, habit
haglath: sling (for throwing stones)
haldir: 'hidden hero' (sindarin name)
half: seashell
hall: exalted, high
hammad: clothing
hamp: garment
hand: intelligent
hannas: intelligence, understanding
harad: south
haradren: southern
hargan: left-handed
harw: wound
hast: axe-blow
hathel: broadbladed sword, axe-blade
haudh: mound (especially burial mound), barrow
haust: bed
hé: this
heir: left (hand)
helch: bitter cold
hele: small fish
heledh: glass
heledir: king-fisher,'fish-watcher'
heleg: ice
heleth: a fur, fur-coat, etc
helf: fur
hell: frost
hên, hîn: eye
henneth: window
heren: order (as in club, association)
herth: household, troop under command of a hîr
hervenn: husband
herves: wife
hethw: foggy, obscure, vague
hîm: cool
him: steadfast, abiding (continually)
hin: these
hir: river
hír, hirrim: lord
híril: lady
hith: mist
hithlain: ‘mist-thread’, rope from Lothlórien
hiw: sticky, viscous
hobas: small land-locked bay, harbour, haven
horn: driven under compulsion, impelled
host: one gross (144)
hoth: host, horde (always in a bad sense)
hû: hound
hûd: assembly
hûl: battle-cry
hûn: heart (organ)
huor: courage, 'heart-vigour'
huorn: a tree that has become entish
hûr: readiness for action, vigour, fiery spirit
hwand: sponge, fungus
iâ: void, abyss, gulf, chasm
iaeth; neck
iaew: mocking, scorn
iant: bridge; yoke
ianw: bridge
iâr: blood
iâth: fence
iau: corn
iaun: holy place, fane, sanctuary
iaur: ancient
idher: thoughtfulness
idhren: pondering, wise, thoughtful
idhrin: sun-year
iell: daughter
iest: wish
ifant: 'year-full', old (but with no connotation of weakness)
imlad: a narrow valley with deep sides
în: year (144 sun-years)
inc: guess, idea, notion
ingem: suffering from old-age, 'year-sick'
ínias: annals
inn: inner thought, meaning, heart
inw: female (for animals)
io: ago
iolf: brand
ionn: son
ior: course
ir: when, while
ist: lore, knowledge
istui: learned
ithildin: ‘star-moon’, a substance which reflected only starlight and moonlight.
Ithron, Ithryn: Wizard, member of the Heren Istarion
iûl: embers
iuith: use
lad: plain, valley
laden: wide
laer: song, tale
- lairelossë: 'summer-snow-white', an ever-green tree brought to Númenor by the Eldar
lalaith: laughter
lalven, lelvin: elm-tree
lamír: necklace
lammen: tongue
lanc: bare, naked
lang: warm
lanthir: waterfall
lár: a league (nearly 3 miles)
las: leaf
laurin: golden
lebethron: a tree with very black wood
lein: free, freed
leithian: release, freeing
lembas: way-bread
len: journey
lhach: leaping flame
lhaeg: sharp, keen, acute
lhaes: babe
lhadon, lhedin: cleared, open
lhamb: tongue
lhanc: throat
lhand: wide, level, open space
lhang: cutlass, broad sword
lhant: clearing in forest
lhath: leather thong
lhathron: hearer, listener, eaves-dropper
lhaws: hair
lhebed: finger
lhegin: swift, rapid
lhend: tuneful, sweet
lhewig, lhaw: ears (of one person)
lhimp: wet
lhimb: fish
lhimlug: sea-serpent, 'fish-dragon'
lhîn: pool
lhoch: ringlet, lock of hair
lhoeg: fresh
lhong: heavy
lhonn: narrow path, strait, pass
lhoth: flower
lhû: a time, occasion
lhug: snake, serpent
lhûg: dragon
lhum: shade
lhumren: shady
lhûn: blue
lhunt: boat
lhûth: spell, charm
lhûthien: enchantress
lim: fast
lin: pool, mere
lith: ash, sand
lom: echo
lond: landlocked haven
lonn: path
loss: snow
lost: empty
mablung: heavy-handed
mae: well
maeg: sharp, piercing
mael: lust; stain
maelui: lustful
maen: skilled, clever
maenas: craft, handicraft, art
maer: useful, fit, good (of things)
maeth: battle, fight (of only a few individuals)
maethor: warrior
maew: gull, seagull
magol, megil: sword
magor: swordsman, warrior
maiga: pliant, soft
mâl, meil: pollen, yellow powder
malen, melin: yellow, golden in colour
mallorn, mellyrn: tree of Lothlórien
mallos: a golden flower of Lebennin
malt: gold (metal)
malthren: of gold, golden
malw: fallow, pale
man: what; who
mân: departed spirit, spirit of the dead
manadh: doom, final end, fate, final bliss
mar: land
marth: fate
maur: gloom
med: wet
megli: a bear, 'honey-eater'
meglin: bear-like
meglivorn: black bear
meidh: pale, fallow, fawn
melch: greedy
meldir: boy friend
meldis: girl friend
meleth: love
melethril: lover
melethron: lover
mell: dear
mellon, mellyn: friend
men: way, road
menel: the heavens
ment: point
meren: festive, gay, joyous
mereth: feast
mesg: wet
meth: end
methen: end
methed: last
mídh: dew
mîl: love, affection
milui: friendly, loving, kind
minas: tower
min: between
mindon: tower
minei: single, distinct, unique
minuial: dawn, first light
mír: jewel, precious thing, treasure
miruvor: the cordial of Imladris
mist: error, wandering
mistrad: straying, error
mith: grey, white fog, wet mist
mithril: true silver, or 'Moria Silver', this metal had more worth than gold, and was only to be found in Moria, and, before its downfall, in Númenor
moe: soft
moeas: dough
moed: handy, skilled
mor: dark, black (poetic and archaic)
morgul: the black arts
moru: black
moth: dusk
muil: drear, dreary
muin: dear
muindor, muindyr: brother
muinthel, muinthil: sister
mûl: slave, thrall
na: to
nâ: out
nad: thing
nadhor, nadhras: pasture
nadír: despair
nae: alas
naeg: pain
naer: dreadful
naeth: biting, gnashing of teeth, despair
naew: jaw
naith: gore, spear-head
nan: valley
nand: wide grassland
naneth: mother, nana: pet-name for mother
nâr: rat
nardh: knot
narn, nern: tale, saga
narw: red
nass: point, sharp end; angle, corner
nath: web
nathron: weaver, webster
naud: bound
Naug, Naugrim: dwarf (literally 'the Stunted People')
Naugol: dwarf (diminutive and insulting)
naur: flame
nauth: thought
naw, nui: idea
ne: in
nedhw: bolster, cushion
nêl, neleg: tooth
neldor: beech
nell: bell
nelladel: ringing of bells
nelthil: triangle
nemb: nose
nen, nîn: water
nend: watery
- nessamelda: 'beloved of Nessa', a fragrant ever-green tree brought to Númenor by the Eldar
neth: young
nibin: petty
nîd: damp, wet
nienor: mourning
nîf: front, face
nimp: pole
nim: white
nimred: pallor
nín: tear
níniel: tearful
nínim: snow-drop
ninn: thin, fragile
ninniach: rainbow
niphred: pallor
niphredil: a white flower like a star which originated in Doriath the night Lúthien was born, it also grew in Lothlórien on Cerin Amroth (literally 'pale radiance')
nír: grief
nirnaeth: lamentation
nîth: youth
no: before
noediad: reckoning, count
noer: sad, lamentable
nogoth, noegyth: dwarf
noi: lament
nordh: cord
norn: twisted, knotted, crabbed, contorted
noss: clan, family, 'house'
nu: under
nû: noose, snare
nûd: bond
núr: sad
nûr: race; deep
o: from; about, concerning
odhron, odhril: parent
oel, oelin: pool, lake
oeg: sharp, piercing, pointed
oegas: montain peak
oeruil: sea-weed
ohtar: warrior, soldier
- oiolairë: 'ever-summer', a fragrant ever-green tree brought to Númenor by the Eldar
ôl: dream
old: torrent, mountain stream
onnad: beginning
Onod, Enyd: the Ents
or: over, above
orch, yrch: orc
orchel: superior, lofty, eminent
orn, yrn: tree
orod, ered: mountain
ortheli: roof, screen above
orthelian: canopy
osp: reek, smoke
ost: fortress
othrad: street
othrod: fortress, city in underground caves
ovor: abundant
ovras: crowd, heap
palan: far, from afar
palath: surface
pân, pein: plank of wood, fixed board
panas: floor
pann: courtyard; wide
pant: full
parch: dry
parf, perf: book
parth: field, lawn, grassy place
path: smooth
pathred: fullness
pathw: level space, sward
paur: fist
paw: sickness
peich: juice, syrup
pel, peli: fenced field
pelthaes: pivot
pend: declivity
pendrad, pendraid: passage up or down a slope, stairway, ladder
peng: bow (for shooting)
pennas: history
penninar: last day of the year
pent: tale
perian, periannath (sometimes periain): hobbit
perin: half
pesseg: pillow
pethron: narrator
pichen: juicy
pigen: tiny
pin, pinnath: ridge
phelenn, philinn: arrow
pôd, pyd: animal's foot, paw
post: a stop, halt
prestannen: affected, changed
prestanneth: 'affection' of vowels
puig: clean, tidy, neat
rach, raich: wagon
râd: path, track
ram, rammas: wall
ranga: a Númenorean unit of measurement slightly longer than a yard, a pace
rant: course (of river, usually)
ras: horn
rath: course, river-bed; street
redda: sown field, acre
rhaen: crooked
rhaes: horn
rhaew: fathom
rhafu: wing, horn, extension at side
rhain: edge, border
rhanc, rhenc: arm
rhand: metal
rhandh: hollow, cavernous
rhandir: wanderer, pilgrim
rhann: errant
rhass: precipice
rhaug: demon
rhaw: wilderness; bank of a river
rhaw, rhui: lion
rhein: slot, spoor, track, footprint
rhemb: frequent, numerous
rhî: crown
rhîf: edge, border, hem
rhim: crowd (collective plural)
rhîn: crowned
rhinc: twitch, jerk, sudden move
rhing: cold
rhingorn: circle
rhinn: circle, circular
rhîs: queen
rhis: ravine
rhoeg: wrong
rhofal, rhofel: wing, pinion (eagle)
rhom: horn, trumpet
rhomru: sound of horns
rhón: body
rhond: cave
rhosc: brown
rhoss: rain
rhovanion: wilderland (also the region of
Mirkwood)
rhû: loud sound, trumpeting (poetic and archaic)
rhui: hunt, hunting
rhûn: east, sunrise
rhyn: hunting dog
ril: brilliance
rim: great number, host (commonly used to form plurals)
rín: remembrance
ring: cold, chill
roch, rych: the horse
rochon, rechyn: rider
rog: demon
rond: vaulted or arched roof, or a chamber with such a roof
roquen, roquin: knight
ros: foam, spray
rûdh: bald
ruin: red flame
rûth: anger
sadron, sedryn: the faithful
saer: bitter
saew: poison
salab, seleb: herb
salf: broth
samnar: diphtongs
sarch: grave
sarn: stone (as building material or adjective)
saw: juice
sein, sîn: new
sell: girl, maid (poetic and archaic)
sereg: blood
seregon: type of plant with blood-red flowers, hence its name, 'Blood of stone'
si: already, now
sîdh: peace
sigil: dagger
sîn: thus
siniath: news, tidings
sinnarn: novel tale
sir: river
sirith: flowing
solch: root (edible)
sûl: goblet
sûth: drought
tachol: pin, brooch
tadol: double
taen: long and thin
taes: nail
taew: holder, socket, hasp, clasp, staple
talad: an incline, a slope
talaf: ground, floor
talagant: harper
talan, telain: elvish tree-house, flet
talath: flat land, plain
talt: slipping, falling, insecure
tanc: firm
tang: bowstring
tar-: stiff, obstinate, tough
tarag; horn (of animal); steep mountain path
tarlanc: stiff-necked
taro: king
tars: labour, task
tathar: willow
tathren: willowy
tavor: wood-pecker
taur: great wood, forest
taus: thatch
taw: wool, woollen
tawar: wood (as material)
tawaren, tewerin: wooden
te: line; way
tegol: pen (for writing)
teilien: sport, play
teith: mark (in writing)
telch, tilch: stem
tele, telei: end, rear, hindmost part
tellen: sole of foot
telu: dome, high roof
thafu: post, pillar
thalion, thelyn: strong, dauntless, steadfast; hero
tham: hall
thamas: great hall
thanc: cleft, forked
thang: oppression, tyranny
thangail: 'shield-fence', a defensive battle-formation used by the Dúnedain
thar: beyond
thâr: stiff grass
tharas: hassock, footstool
tharn: stiff, rigid, withered
thavron: carpenter, wright, builder
thaur: abominable, abhorrent
thaw: corrupt, rotten
thela: point of spear
thêl, thelei: sister
thenin: firm, true, abiding
thent: short
thin: grey, pale; evening (poetic and archaic)
thinna: evening
thinnas: shortness
thîr: look, face, expression, countenance
thlaew: sickly, ill
thle: spider's thread
thlein, thlîn: lean, meagre, thin
thling: spider's web, cobweb
thlinn: slender, fine
thliw: sickness
thloss: a whisper or rustling sound
thôl: helm, helmet
thôn, thonion: pine-tree
thond: root
thôr, thoron: eagle
thorod: torrent
thû: stench
thûl: breath
thurin: a secret
til: point, horn
tilion: horned (also a name; Tilion is the name of the Man in the Moon)
tim: spark
tinc: metal
tindumh: dusk, twilight, early night (moonless)
tint: spark
tinw: spark, small star
tîr: straight, right
tirith: watch, guard
tithen, tithin: little, tiny
tîw: letter (of the alphabet)
tó: that
tobas: roofing
tofu: lowlying, deep, low
tol, tyl: isle
tolog: stalwart, trusty
tond: tall
tong: taught (of strings)
torn, tyrn: down, small hill
toss: bush, low growing tree
trenarn: account, tale
trî: through (also as prefix)
trîw: fine, slender
trum: shield
tû: muscle, sinew; vigour; physical strength
tûg: fat, thick
tuilinn: swallow (bird), 'spring-singer'
tuin: those
tuiw: a sprout, bud
tulu: support, prop
tulus, tylys: poplar-tree
tum: deep valley
tump: hump
tund: hill, mound
tur: power, mastery, control
turo: master
ú- : negation
úan: monster
uanui: monstrous, hideous
ui: world-walls
ui-: twi-, both, two
uial: twilight
uil: trailing weeds
uir: eternity
uireb: eternal
ûl: odour
úlairi: the Ringwraiths
ulund: monster, deformed and hideous creature
ûn: creature
ungol: spider
ûr: fire
urun: copper
vad, vaid: path
- vardarianna: fragrant ever-green tree brought to Númenor by the Eldar
vinya: new
wen: maiden
wing: foam, spray
- yavannamírë: 'Jewel of Yavanna', an ever-green tree with scarlet flowers brought to Númenor by the Eldar
1 min 2 tad
3 neled
4 uitad
5 leben
6 eneg
7 odog
8 toloth
9 neder
10 caer
11 minc
12 rasad
20 tachaen
30 nelchaen
40 canachaen
50 lebechaen
100 haran, herain
1000 meneg, menig
Dialects[]
During the First Age there were several dialects of Sindarin:
- Doriathren or the language of Doriath, a form of the language which preserved many archaic forms;
- Falathren or the language of the Falas, later also spoken in Nargothrond;
- Mithrimin, the dialects originally spoken in Dorthonion and Hithlum by the Sindar, these dialects contained many unique words and were not fully intelligible with the Sindarin of Beleriand proper.
- Gondolidhren
With the exception of Doriathren, the dialects were changed under Ñoldorin influence, and adopted many Quenya features. The distinct dialects disappeared after the Ñoldor and Sindar were dispersed during the later Battles of Beleriand. In the refuges on the Isle of Balar and the Mouths of Sirion a new dialect arose under the refugees, which mainly took after Falathrin. During the Second Age and Third Age Sindarin was a lingua franca for all Elves and their friends, until it was displaced as the Common tongue by Westron, a descendant of Adûnaic which was heavily influenced by Sindarin.
Sindarin is actually a Quenya term. The Sindarin word was perhaps Edhellen ("Elvish").
Reference[]
- The original version of this article was written for Everything2.
See also[]
Languages of Middle-earth, Quenya, Middle-earth
External links[]
- Hisweloke's Sindarin dictionary project
- I Lam Arth - The Noble Tongue
- Parma Tyelpelassiva, with
- Ardalambion, a site dedicated to the languages of Middle-earth
- Gwaith-i-Phethdain, with grammar, poetry, etc.
- German Sindarin lexicon
- Eternal Sailorpig (Chinese Traditional)
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Sindarin. The list of authors can be seen in that page's history. As with Tolkien Languages, the content of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |