Sindarin Vocabulary: People and Races

Sindarin words for people, races, relationships, titles, and names for individuals.

The Races of Middle-earth

Sindarin Plural Period English Notes
adan edain S. Man, mortal man Atani in Quenya; Edain used for the noble Three Houses
edhel edhil S. Elf General term for all Elves
elleth ellith S. Elf-woman
edhelharn S./N. Elfstone Elessar in Quenya
hadhod hedhyd S. Dwarf
nogoth nogyth S. Dwarf possibly slightly different usage
naugrim S. Dwarves (collective/pejorative) "Stunted People"
perian periain S. Halfling, Hobbit
pherian pheriain S. Halfling (lenited form) as used in Periannath
onod enyd S. Ent Onodrim = Ents (collective)
orch yrch S. Orc
drûg drúin S. Wild Man, Wose Drúedain people
ithryn S. Wizards (pl.) ithron = wizard sg.

Elvish Kindreds

Sindarin English Notes
sindar Grey Elves The Sindarin people (those who stayed west, never went to Valinor)
noldor Noldor Elves Deep-elves from Valinor
silvan Silvan/Wood Elves Forest Elves; eastern
galadhrim Tree-people Elves of Lothlórien
mirkwood elves Eryn Lasgalen elves (Thranduil's people)
falathrim Shore people Coastal Sindarin Elves
laiquendi Green Elves (mostly Quenya; Sindarin laegrim)
avari Unwilling (refused the Great Journey)

Titles and Roles

Sindarin Plural Period English
aran erain S. king
bereth berith S. queen, spouse of king
caun coen S. lord, chieftain, prince
hîr hîr S. lord, master
hiril hiril S. lady, mistress
ithron ithryn S. wizard
randir S. wanderer, pilgrim (also adj.)
saew S. poison (person who uses it?)
taur S. master, lord (also forest)
tirith S. watch, guard (role)

Family Terms

Sindarin Period English Notes
adar S. father Ada is informal
naneth S. mother Nana is informal
ion S. son ionn in some analyses
iell S. daughter
gwanur S. kinsman, sibling
hawn S. brother
thêl S. sister
orod N. ancestor
onneth S. begetter, parent

Gender Markers

Sindarin has ways to mark masculine and feminine:

Pattern Example Notes
Base form (often masc.) edhel (elf) works for male or generic
+ -iel suffix Galadriel feminine descendant-of / daughter-of
+ -wen suffix Arwen, Morwen maiden, girl
+ -eth suffix elleth, bereth feminine agent
benn (man-husband) vs bess (woman-wife) separate vocabulary items
hîr (lord) vs hiril (lady) separate vocabulary items

Personal Name Elements

Common elements used in Sindarin personal names:

Element Meaning Examples
Ar-, Ara- royal, noble Aragorn, Arwen, Aranarth
Beleg- mighty, great Belegorn
Calad- light Galadriel (from calad+riel)
Celeb- silver Celeborn, Celebrían, Celebrimbor
El- star Elrond, Elrohir, Elendil
Fin- hair, tress Finduilas, Glorfindel
Gal- light, shine Galadh, Galadriel
Gil- star, bright ray Gil-galad, Gildor
Glor- golden Glorfindel
Hir- lord Hirgon, Hirluin
Lúth- enchantment Lúthien
Mir- jewel Míriel, Eärmir
Mor- dark, black Morwen, Morthond
Nar- red, fiery Narvi, Narya
Roh- horse Rohan, Rohirrim
Tar- high, noble Tar-Elmar (Quenya format usually)

Collective Terms for Peoples

Sindarin uses several suffixes for collective groups:

Suffix Meaning Examples
-rim people, host Galadhrim (tree-people), Rohirrim (horse-lords)
-ath collective plural Periannath (all halflings), Elenath (all stars)
-waith people, host Gwaith-i-Mírdain (people of the Jewel-smiths)
-naith folk, group