Elvish Dictionary
187 Elvish words and their meanings, grouped by theme. Enough to understand an Elvish name, invent one, or write a few words in the language of the elves.
Sky, stars and light · Water, sea and rivers · Land, mountains and places · Trees, flowers and plants · Animals · Colours and metals · Seasons, day and night · Wind, mist and fire · People, family and titles · Qualities, spirit and feelings · Objects and lore · Endings used to build names
Sky, stars and light
- elenS·Qstar · used by the generator: Elen-
- gilSbright star, spark · used by the generator: Gil-
- elenathSall the stars of the sky
- giliathShost of stars
- menelS·Qsky, the heavens
- anorSsun · used by the generator: Anor-
- anarQsun
- ithilSmoon · used by the generator: Ith-
- isilQmoon · used by the generator: Isil-
- silmëQstarlight
- isilmëQmoonlight
- calaQlight · used by the generator: Cal-
- galadSradiance, bright light · used by the generator: Gal-
- tinuSspark, small star · used by the generator: Tin-
- tinna-Sto sparkle · used by the generator: Tin-
Water, sea and rivers
- nenSwater, lake, stream · used by the generator: Nen-
- nénQwater
- aelSlake, pool · used by the generator: Ael-
- loegSpool
- aerSsea · used by the generator: Aer-
- gaearSsea, ocean
- eärQsea, ocean · used by the generator: Eär-
- sîrSriver · used by the generator: Sîr-
- duinSgreat river
- lanthirSwaterfall
- rosSfoam, spray · used by the generator: Ros-
- falasSshore, beach
- londShaven, harbour
- nîrStear
Land, mountains and places
- dorSland, country
- nórëQland, country, people
- orodSmountain
- eredSmountains · used by the generator: Ered-
- amonShill, mount
- dolShill, summit · used by the generator: Dol-
- tolSisland
- nanSvalley
- imladSdeep valley, glen
- talathSflat land, plain
- cirithSpass, cleft in the rock
- gondSstone
- brithSgravel, pebbles · used by the generator: Brith-
- ostSfortress, walled city · used by the generator: Ost-
- baradStower
- minasStower
- annonSgreat gate
- iantSbridge
- menSway, road
- rhûnSeast
- annûnSwest, sunset
- forodSnorth
- haradSsouth
Trees, flowers and plants
- taurSforest · used by the generator: Taur-
- erynSwood
- ornStree · used by the generator: Orn-
- galadhStree
- aldaQtree
- lasSleaf
- lassëQleaf
- golasSfoliage
- lothSflower, blossom · used by the generator: Loth-
- lótëQflower
- doronSoak
- tatharSwillow
- brethilSsilver birch
- thônSpine tree
- eregSholly
- salabSherb
- parthSfield, sward
Animals
- rochShorse
- thoronSeagle
- draugSwolf
- brôgSbear
- alphSswan
- aewSsmall bird
- dúlinSnightingale ("dusk singer")
- tuilinnSswallow ("spring singer")
- hûSdog
- lhûgSserpent, dragon
Colours and metals
- nimSwhite · used by the generator: Nim-
- glosSdazzling white, snow-white
- celebSsilver · used by the generator: Celeb-
- mithSgrey, pale grey · used by the generator: Mith-
- glaurSgolden light, gold · used by the generator: Glor-
- maltSgold (the metal)
- laurëQgold, golden light · used by the generator: Laur-
- caranSred
- calenSgreen
- luinSblue
- baranSbrown, golden brown
- mornSblack, dark
- mîrSjewel, precious stone · used by the generator: Mír-
Seasons, day and night
- ethuilSspring
- laerSsummer
- iavasSautumn
- rhîwSwinter · used by the generator: Rhîw-
- aurSday, morning
- minuialSdawn, morrowdim
- aduialSevening twilight
- dûSnight, dimness, dusk
- dûrSdark, sombre · used by the generator: Dûr-
- fuinSgloom, deep night
- uirSeternity
- iaurSancient, old
Wind, mist and fire
- sûlSwind · used by the generator: Sûl-
- hîthSmist · used by the generator: Hîth-
- fânScloud, veil · used by the generator: Fan-
- rossSfine rain, dew
- naurSfire
- nárQfire · used by the generator: Nar-
- ruinSred flame, blaze · used by the generator: Ruin-
- lachSleaping flame
People, family and titles
- edhelSelf
- eldaQelf
- aranS·Qking
- berethSqueen, spouse
- táriQqueen
- ernilSprince
- hîrSlord, master
- hirilSlady
- brennilSlady
- adarSfather
- nanethSmother
- ionSson
- iellSdaughter
- muindorSbrother
- muinthelSsister
- mellonSfriend
- nossSfamily, clan, house
- rimShost, people, multitude
- maethorSwarrior
- randirSwanderer, pilgrim
- tirithSwatch, guard
Qualities, spirit and feelings
- melethSlove · used by the generator: Mel-
- mel-Sto love · used by the generator: Mel-
- estelShope, trust
- faerSspirit, soul · used by the generator: Faer-
- fëaQsoul
- indSheart, inner mind
- bellSstrong · used by the generator: Bel-
- belegSmighty, great
- thalionSdauntless, steadfast
- gollSwise
- bainSbeautiful, fair
- vanimaQbeautiful
- maerSgood
- alassëQjoy
- gellSjoy, triumph
- galuSblessing, good fortune
- îdhSpeace, rest
- nestadShealing
- dînSsilence · used by the generator: Dín-
- lindS·Qsong, melody · used by the generator: Lin-
- glîrSsong, poem
Objects and lore
- megilSsword
- cûSbow
- thôlShelm
- sigilSdagger, necklace
- corfSring
- cairSship
- lamStongue, language
- pethSword
- parfSbook
- certhSrune
Endings used to build names
- -ielSdaughter, "daughter of…"
- -wenSmaiden
- -ethSfeminine ending, lady
- -rielSgarland-crowned maiden
- -táriQqueen
- -rilSbrilliance, "the radiant one" (feminine ending)
- -dirSman, hero (in names)
- -ionSson, "son of…"
- -hírSlord
- -aranS·Qking
- -thorSeagle (from thoron)
- -randirSwanderer, pilgrim
- -ndilQfriend, one who loves
- -lasSleaf
- -mirSjewel
- -henSeye
- -bethSword (softened form of peth)
- -dorSland
- -rimSpeople, kin
- -londShaven
- -norSrealm, land
- -nossShouse, family
- -ostScitadel
No word found. Try another word, or check the spelling.
A few Elvish phrases
- Mae govannen Well met! (a greeting)
- Suilad Greetings
- Le hannon Thank you
- Namárië Farewell
- Novaer Farewell, be well
- Gi melin I love you
Sindarin or Quenya?
Fantasy literature gave the elves two great invented languages. Sindarin (marked S in this dictionary) is the everyday language of the elves: its words are short, often one or two syllables, like taur (forest) or loth (flower). Quenya (marked Q) is an older, more solemn language, a bit like Latin for us: its words often end in a vowel, like alda (tree) or lótë (flower).
The two languages are cousins, and many words look alike, like ithil and isil for the moon. Some words in this dictionary are forms reconstructed by enthusiasts from known roots, sometimes called "Neo-Sindarin".
How do you pronounce Elvish?
- c is always a hard "k": celeb sounds like "KEH-leb".
- ch sounds like the German "Bach" or Scottish "loch", never like "church": roch.
- th sounds like "think", and dh like "this".
- u sounds like "oo": duin sounds like "DOO-in". Sindarin y is like the French "u" or German "ü".
- e is always pronounced, even at the end of a word: lótë sounds like "LOH-teh".
- Accents (á, é, í, ó, ú) mark a long vowel, and the circumflex (â, î, û) an extra-long one.
- ae and ai sound like "eye": aer sounds like "ire".
- r is rolled, as in Spanish or Italian.
How are Elvish names formed?
An Elvish name is almost always a compound: a root that carries the meaning, plus an ending that says who you are. Elen (star) + -wen (maiden) gives Elenwen, "maiden of the stars". Taur (forest) + -dir (man, hero) gives Taurdir, "hero of the forest".
In Sindarin, consonants often soften when two words are joined, which is called mutation. So peth (word) becomes -beth at the end of a name, t often turns into d, and c into g. That's what gives Elvish names their soft sound.
Words marked "used by the generator" are the ones our Elvish name generator uses to build your name.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "star" in Elvish?
"Star" is elen, in both Sindarin and Quenya. Sindarin also has gil, a bright star or spark, and elenath for all the stars of the sky.
How do you say "friend" in Elvish?
In Sindarin, "friend" is mellon. It also appears at the end of names as -ndil or -dil, "friend of" or "one who loves".
How do you say "I love you" in Elvish?
You can say "gi melin" in Sindarin, from the verb mel-, to love. Love itself is meleth.
Is this Elvish dictionary complete?
No: the Elvish languages have thousands of words, many known only from notes or proper names. This dictionary gathers the most useful words for understanding and creating elf names, and it keeps growing.