Sindarin

Sindarin or Grey-elven is the most common language of the Elves in the Third Age. Originally used by the Sindar (Grey-elves) of Doriath in Beleriand, it was picked up by the Noldor in exile, who started to speak their language, Quenya, only when amongst themselves. After the War of Wrath and the destruction of Beleriand, the remnants of these Elves fled to the kingdoms of their cousins, the Silvan Elves. The Sindarin tongue was quickly adopted and replaced the Silvan tongue, which now survives mainly in the names of various places.

Sindarin was also used by the Men of Númenor, whose ancestors learned it from the Elves. It fell out of use as most Númenóreans forsook their friendship with the Elves, but the Faithful, those who remained Elf-friends, kept it. Sindarin was used in the realms these Elf-friends founded after the destruction of Númenor: Gondor and Arnor. Even then, however, Westron was much more commonly spoken, and among Men Sindarin has come to be used mostly only for names of places and people. In Gondor, Sindarin is only spoken daily by those living around Minas Tirith and Dol Amroth.

As it is such a widespread language, many places where Sindarin is not spoken, and their people and creatures, are commonly referred to by Sindarin names by outsiders. A good example of this is Forochel "Northern Ice" and its inhabitants the Lossoth "Snow-horde", who call themselves Lumi-väki, and the Gauredain "Wolf-men".

Sindarin has grammatical rules unlike many other languages. Chief among these are mutation and umlaut. Mutation refers to the modifying of initial consonants in words following other words and in compounds. Umlaut is the "heightening" of vowel sounds, used forming compounds containing i and in plurals.

Common Terms

See External Links for many more definitions and details.

Directions

forod, forn - north

rhûn, amrûn - east

harad, harn - south

dûn, annûn - west

Colours

baran - golden brown

calen, laeg - green

caran, naru, ruin - red

celebrin - silvery

glaur - gold

luin - blue

malen - yellow

mith, thin(d) - grey

morn - black

nim, fain - white

rhosc, rhosg - brown

ross - coppery

Geography

ael, loeg - pool

amon, dol - hill

cirith - cleft

duin, sîr - river

eryn, glâd, taur - forest

falas - shore

gwaith - region, folk

imlad, nan - valley

lang - passage

orod - mountain

nen - water, lake

parth - field

talath - plain

tol - island

-an(d), (n)dor, -ian(d), -ien - land

Habitations

bar, bâr - home

barad, minas - tower

gobel - (walled) town

lond - haven

ost, garth - fortress

Places

Adannon - Back-gate

Amon Amrûn - Sunrise Hill

Amon Môth - Dusk Hill

Amon Raith - Path Hill

Amon Thanc - Cloven Hill

Andrath - Long-climb

Annúminas - West-tower

Annúndir - Sunset-watch

Ariant - King-bridge

Arthobel - Noble-town

Bâr Faroth - Hunters' House

Barad Eithel - Well Tower

Barad Harn - South Tower

Barad Narthan - Beacon Tower

Barad Rath - Mountain Tower

Barad Tharsír - Cross-river Tower

Barandalf - Brown-plains

Canadiach - Four-crossing

Celondim - River Dell

Cirith Núr - Sad Cleft

Cirith Rhîw - Winter Cleft

Clorhir - Glory-river

Dol Dínen - Silent Hill

Dol Haedír - Far-watch Hill

Dol Nendír - Lake-watch Hill

Dol Ringwest - Cold-breath Hill

Duillond - Riven-haven

Duintham - River-hall

Echad Garthadir - Camp Defender

Edhelion - Elf-son

Egladil - Elven-point

Emyn Hoedh - Tomb Hills

Emyn Uial - Twilight Hills

Esteldín - Hidden Hope

Falathlorn - Water's Shore

Fornost - North-fort

Gaerannon - Sea-gate

Gilminuial - One-star Twilight

Glírost - Song-fort

Goetham - Terror-hall

Gondamon - Stone-hill

Gorthost - Dead-fort

Gwaelband - Wind-prison

Gwantham - Dead-hall

Haudh Eglan - Forsaken Tomb

Haudh Iarchith - Blood-mist Tomb

Haudh Lin - Tomb Lake

Haudh Methernil - Tomb of the End-prince

Haudh Taenthond - Height-root Tomb

Hautham - Tomb-hall

Lithost - Ash-fort

Lhúngobel - Lune-village

Lin Giliath - Pool of Stars

Meluinen - Sweet-water

Men Erain - Way of Kings

Menelband - Sky-prison

Merenost - Festive-fort

Minas Erain - Citadel of Kings

Minas Vrûn - East Citadel

Minathranc - Forked-tower

Nan Amlug - Dragon Vale

Nan Orngon - Tree-stone Vale

Nan Wathren - Shadow-lands Vale

Nen Harn - Helmet Lake

Nen Hilith - Lake Silver-light

Noglond - Dwarf-haven

Núrsir - Sad-stream

Orodost - Mountain-fort

Ost Alagos - Fort Storm

Ost Barandor - Fort Brown-land

Ost Baranor - Fort Eager-fire

Ost Crithlanc - Fort Cleft-end

Ost Forod - Fort North

Ost Galumar - Fort Blessed-home

Ost Gorthad - Fort Wraith

Ost Lagorath - Fort Rapids

Ost Lagoros - Fort Swift-rain

Ost Heryn - Fort Lady

Ost Nuaran - Fort West-king

Parth Aduial - Evening Field

Rantost - Channel-fort

Rath Teraig - Mountain Path

Rhunenlad - East-plain

Sarnúr - Wide-rock

Taerhad - High-place

Taur Gonwaith - Stone-folk Wood

Talath Ondren - Rocky Flatlands

Tham Amothir - Marsh-lord Hall

Tham Andalath - Long-leash Hall

Tham Gelair - Brilliant Hall

Tham Habad - Shore Hall

Tham Laegamon - Green-hill Hall

Tham Lorn - Quiet-water Hall

Tham Nambarth - Judge-fate Hall

Tham Ornen - Tree-lake Hall

Tham Sarch - Grave Hall

Tharbad - Crossroads

Tinnudir - Dusk-watch

Tirband - Watch-prison

Tollobel - Island-town

Tum Agor - Narrow Gorge

Tûm Fuin - Gloom Gorge

Tyl Annûn - Sunset Islands

Tyl Ruinen - Fire-water Islands

Tyl Thand - The Shield Isles

Tyrn Fornech - North-spine Downs

People

bess - woman

adan - Man (the race, particularly those whose ancestors were the Elf-friends of Beleriand)

dîr - man (adult male)

edhel - Elf

-eth - feminine suffix

gwaith - folk

gwen - maiden

hadhod, naug - Dwarf

iell, sell - daughter

ion - son

-on - masculine suffix

orch - Orc

perian - Hobbit

Persons

Ancalagon - Biting-storm

Aragorn - Revered-king

Arathorn - Steadfast-king

Arvedui - Last-king

Arwen - Noble-maid

Barahir - Fiery-lord

Baranor - Eager-fire

Boromir - Steadfast-jewel

Celeborn - Silver-tree

Celebrían - Silver-queen

Celebrimbor - Silver-first

Círdan - Ship-wright

Elrond - Star-dome

Fëanor - Fire-spirit

Galadriel - Light-wreath

Gil-galad - Star-light

Legolas - Green-leaf

Maenadar - Skilled-father

Mithrandir - Grey-pilgrim

Thadúr - Rotten-master

Objects and Substances

amath, thand - shield

ang - iron

celeb - silver

crist - cleaver

gond, sarn - stone

hathol - axe

lang, magol, megil - sword

malt - gold

raud - metal

rust - copper

sigil - dagger, necklace

tawar - wood

External Links

• Sindarin - Tolkien Gateway
• Realelvish.net - site with many resources for learning Sindarin
• Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary - dictionary featuring English-to-Sindarin and Sindarin-to-English word lists
• Parf Edhellen - searchable dictionary site featuring Tolkien's languages, including a lot of Sindarin