Lesson 13: Prepositions
All Sindarin prepositions with their mutation triggers: soft, nasal, and mixed — with worked examples and the dative/genitive constructions.
Prepositions and Mutations
In Sindarin, every preposition governs a specific mutation. This is not optional: knowing which mutation a preposition triggers is as fundamental as knowing the preposition's meaning. A Sindarin speaker who uses the right preposition but the wrong mutation produces an error equivalent to using the wrong preposition entirely.
The three mutation types that prepositions can trigger are:
- Soft mutation (lenition) — most prepositions
- Nasal mutation — primarily an (dative "to/for")
- Mixed mutation — when a preposition fuses with the definite article i
This lesson covers each group systematically, then provides a combined reference.
Soft-Mutation Prepositions
These prepositions trigger the standard soft mutation on the initial consonant of the following noun.
| Preposition | Meaning | Mutation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ab | after, behind | soft | ab dhîr | after the man (d→dh) |
| adel | behind, in the rear of | soft | adel varad | behind a tower (b→v) |
| am | up, upon, on | soft | am vorn | upon the dark (m→v) |
| dad | down, downward | soft | dad galen | downward green (c→g) |
| di | beneath, under | soft | di daur | beneath the forest (t→d) |
| na | to, toward | soft | na vaear | toward the sea (b→v) |
| nu | under, beneath | soft | nu dhôr | under the land (d→dh) |
| o / od | from, of | soft | o veleg | from the great (b→v) |
| trî | through | soft | trî varan | through a pass (b→v) |
| ú- | without, un- (privative) | soft | ú-'aladh | without a tree (g→zero) |
Extended Examples
Preposition na (to, toward):
- na vaear — toward the sea (baear "sea" has b→v)
- na Valinor — toward Valinor (theoretical; in names b/v alternation)
- na vedui! — "at last!" (na + medui "last" → vedui, m→v) — this is attested in Tolkien!
- Na vedui, Dúnadan! = "At last, Dúnadan!" (Fellowship of the Ring)
Preposition o / od (from, of):
- o Menel — from Heaven/the sky (Menel begins with m, which would give o Venel under strict soft mutation; the attested form o Menel shows that m after o may not mutate, or that o is variably applied)
- o Eregion — from Eregion (vowel initial: no consonant to mutate)
- od is used before vowel-initial words: od Ithilien (from Ithilien)
Preposition nu (under):
- nu dhôr — under the land (d→dh)
- nu Haudh-en-Ndengin — "under the Mound of the Slain": nu + H- → nu Ch-... but Haudh is a proper noun and the h→ch change may be suppressed; the attested compound preserves the H
Preposition ú- (without, privative negative):
- ú-'aladh — without a tree / tree-less (g in galadh disappears)
- ú-chebin — "I have not kept" (attested: ú-chebin estel anim = "I have kept no hope for myself") — here ú- is a verbal negation prefix with hebin (I have kept), and chebin shows h→ch mutation
Preposition ab (after, behind):
- ab dhîr — after the man (d→dh)
- ab varad — behind the tower (b→v)
Preposition am (up, upon):
- am vorn — upon/over the darkness (m→v)
- am benn — downward... wait, am means up; am + pend (slope, declivity) → am bend (up the slope, p→b)
Nasal Mutation Preposition: an
The preposition an (to, for — dative) is the primary trigger of nasal mutation. This is a distinct and separate mutation from soft mutation; the changes affect stops differently.
The Nasal Mutation Table (Caused by an)
| Original Initial | After an (Nasal Mutation) | Process |
|---|---|---|
| p | b | voiceless stop → voiced (historical np → mb → b) |
| t | d | voiceless stop → voiced |
| c | g | voiceless stop → voiced |
| b | m | voiced stop → nasal (same place) |
| d | n | voiced stop → nasal (same place) |
| g | ng | voiced stop → nasal (same place) |
| m | m | already nasal; unchanged |
| gw | ngw | labiovelar → nasal labiovelar |
| s | h | (same as soft mutation) |
Compare nasal mutation vs. soft mutation for stops:
| Original | Soft Mutation | Nasal Mutation |
|---|---|---|
| p | b | b (same result here) |
| t | d | d (same result) |
| c | g | g (same result) |
| b | v | m (different!) |
| d | dh | n (different!) |
| g | (zero) | ng (different!) |
The critical difference is in the voiced stops: soft mutation turns them into spirants (v, dh, zero), while nasal mutation turns them into nasals (m, n, ng).
Worked Examples with an
| an + Noun | Result | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| an + perian | an berian | for a hobbit (p→b) |
| an + tîr | an dîr | for the man (t→d) |
| an + calen | an galen | for the green (c→g) |
| an + barad | an marad | for a tower (b→m) |
| an + dîr | an nîr | for the man (d→n) |
| an + Gondor | an Ngondor | to Gondor (g→ng) |
| an + mellon | an mellon | for a friend (m unchanged) |
| an + gwaith | an ngwaith | for the people (gw→ngw) |
| an + sûl | an hûl | for the wind (s→h) |
Attested: an in Tolkien
The dative an appears in attested Sindarin:
- Guren bêd enni — "My heart tells (it) to me" — the enni here is an + ni (me), contracted
- The dative suffix forms like nin ("to me") derive historically from an + pronoun
Genitive Construction: en (of, possessive)
The genitive particle en (singular "of the") creates possessive/associative relationships between nouns. It triggers soft mutation on the following noun.
| Genitive Phrase | Analysis | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| i aran en dôr | king of [the] land | the king of the land |
| i barad en Gondor | the tower of Gondor | |
| i gûr en aran | the heart of the king | |
| en Eglamar | of the Eglamar | from place names |
The genitive en is often seen in place names and titles:
- Haudh-en-Ndengin = "Mound of the Slain" (en + Ndengin, showing nasal mutation of deng- group → Ndengin; this is exceptional and reflects historical forms)
- Cerin Amroth = hill of Amroth (no en here; genitive by juxtaposition)
- Amon Hen = hill of sight (juxtaposition without en)
Definite Prepositions (Mixed Mutation — Preview)
When certain prepositions fuse with the definite article i ("the"), the resulting contracted form triggers mixed mutation, which is a combination of nasal mutation on stops and lenition elsewhere. Full coverage is in Lesson 30, but here is the key table:
| Preposition | + Article i | Contracted Form | Mutation Triggered |
|---|---|---|---|
| an | + i | erin | mixed (nasal of stops, lenition elsewhere) |
| o | + i | uin | mixed |
| na | + i | nei / nîn | mixed or soft |
| nu | + i | nuin | mixed |
| am | + i | eim / aim | mixed |
Example: erin Dolothen = "upon the eighth" — erin = am + i (upon the), triggering mixed mutation on dolothen (which begins with d → mixed treatment: d→n or d→dh depending on which mutation applies).
For now, when you see these contracted preposition+article forms, recognize them as triggers of a special mutation you will study in Lesson 30.
Preposition + Pronoun Fusion
Some prepositions fuse with personal pronouns to create contracted dative/prepositional pronouns. These do not require mutation since the pronoun itself changes form:
| Preposition + Pronoun | Contracted Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| an + in (me) | enni / nin | to me |
| an + le (thee) | le / aníl | to thee |
| an + den (him) | anden | to him |
| na + in | nîn | to/for me |
| o + nin | onin | from me |
Attested: Guren bêd enni = "My heart tells me" (enni = to me, from an + pronoun).
Attested Prepositional Phrases from Tolkien's Texts
Ten prepositional phrases from Tolkien's Sindarin writings, with analysis:
| Phrase | Preposition | Analysis | Translation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Na vedui, Dúnadan! | na (toward/at) | na + medui → vedui (m→v) | At last, Dúnadan! | Fellowship |
| o menel | o (from) | from heaven | from the sky | Namárië area |
| nef aear | nef (on this side) | this side of the sea | on this side of the sea | A Elbereth |
| nu Haudh-en-Ndengin | nu (under) | under the mound | under the Mound of the Slain | Silmarillion |
| o Eregion | o (from) | from Eregion | from the land of holly | LotR Appendix |
| am Amon | am (up) | up the hill | up the hill | theoretical |
| ú-chebin estel anim | ú- (without) | not-kept hope for-myself | I have kept no hope for myself | Shibboleth |
| trî i ven | trî (through) | through the road | along/through the road | grammatical example |
| ab dhîr | ab (after) | after the man | after/behind the man | grammar notes |
| an Ngondor | an (to/for) | for Gondor, nasal mut. | to/for Gondor | grammar notes |
Essential Preposition Summary
Complete quick-reference table:
| Preposition | Meaning | Mutation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ab | after, behind | soft | temporal and spatial |
| adel | behind (spatial) | soft | position only |
| am | up, upon | soft | directional |
| an | to, for (dative) | nasal | the key nasal trigger |
| dad | down, downward | soft | directional |
| di | beneath, under | soft | position |
| en | of (genitive) | soft | possession/association |
| erin | upon the (art.) | mixed | am + i contracted |
| na | to, toward | soft | movement toward |
| nef | on this side of | (none/soft) | |
| nu | under, below | soft | position |
| nuin | under the (art.) | mixed | nu + i contracted |
| o / od | from, of | soft | origin; od before vowels |
| ó- / go- | together (prefix) | — | prefix, not standalone |
| trî | through | soft | movement through |
| ú- | without, un- | soft | privative negative |
Practice
Apply the correct preposition and mutation:
- "toward a friend" — use na + mellon
- "from a tower" — use o + barad
- "for the king" — use an + aran (aran begins with vowel — no mutation; use it directly)
- "under the land" — use nu + dôr
- "without hope" — use ú- + estel
- "after the man" — use ab + dîr
- "through the gate" — use trî + annon
- "for a hobbit" — use an + perian
Answers:
- na vellon (m→v)
- o varad (b→v)
- an aran (vowel — no consonant mutation; though a doesn't change)
- nu dhôr (d→dh)
- ú-estel (vowel initial — no consonant mutation, u- + vowel)
- ab dhîr (d→dh)
- trî annon (vowel — no consonant change)
- an berian (p→b, nasal mutation)