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Sindarin Vocabulary: Colors

Color Words Sindarin has a rich set of color terms, the majority of which appear directly in the place names and character names of Middle-earth. Almost every color word here is confirmed by an attested place name. Sindarin Plural Period English Key Examples calen / galen celin S./N. green (general, living) Calenardhon (Green Province); galen is lenited form laeg laig S. green (vivid, fresh) Laegrim (Green Elves); vivid new-growth green...
sindarin vocabulary colors colours tolkien May 31, 2026
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Sindarin Vocabulary: Numbers

Cardinal Numbers 1–10 These ten number words are attested or near-attested in Tolkien's linguistic papers ( Parma Eldalamberon , LotR appendices). Use them with confidence. Number Sindarin Noldorin IPA Notes 1 min min /mɪn/ Also er in compounds meaning "alone/single" 2 tad tad /tad/ Prefix tad- for dual compounds 3 neled neled /ˈnɛlɛd/ Prefix form nel- 4 canad canad /ˈkanɑd/ Prefix form can- 5 leben leben /ˈlɛbɛn/ Cognate with Quenya...
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Sindarin Vocabulary: Food & Drink

Core Food & Drink Words Sindarin Plural Period English Notes lembas — S. waybread, journey-bread Best-attested Elvish food word; lem- (journey?) + bas (bread) bass / mbas — N. bread Root form embedded in lembas ; rarely used standalone aphadon — ᴺS.[N.] bread (loaf) Formed with a- prefix; ph- from lenited p after prefix apharas — ᴺS.[N.] meal, sitting of food Related to faras (hunting provision?); used for a full...
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Sindarin Writing Systems

Sindarin can be written in three different systems. All three appear in Tolkien's work; Tengwar is the most commonly taught today. Three Writing Systems System Used By Appearance Used For Latin/Roman alphabet Learners, modern texts Standard letters All courses; the default romanization Tengwar Elves (and others) Elegant curved script Literary Sindarin, inscriptions, calligraphy Cirth Originally Sindarin (Dwarves adopted it) Angular runes Carving on stone/wood; Dwarf texts Most learners start with...
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Sindarin Adjectives

Sindarin adjectives have three key properties that differ from English: They come after the noun they modify (not before) They undergo soft mutation (lenition) after the noun They have plural forms (agreeing with plural nouns, via i-affection) Position: Adjective After Noun English Sindarin Notes a great man adan veleg beleg (great) → veleg after noun the green leaf lass galen calen (green) → galen a white tower mindon thíren thîren...
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Sindarin Action Words (Verbs)

Sindarin verbs are organized here by meaning category. For full conjugation details see Grammar: Verbs . Each entry shows: verb stem (infinitive base), verb class, key attested forms, and example. Communication Verb Class Period English Key Forms ped- I S. speak, say pedo! = speak! (imperative); pent = he spoke (past) lin(n)a- II S. sing, chant linnon = I sing; linnathon = I will sing naneth- — N. report, tell...
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Sindarin Consonant Mutations

Consonant mutations are the defining feature of Sindarin grammar. When you encounter a word that starts with a different consonant than its dictionary form — that's a mutation. It's not an error, it's grammar. Tolkien wrote: "The lenitions or 'mutations' of Sindarin were deliberately devised to resemble those of Welsh in phonetic origin and grammatical use; but are not the same in either phonetic origin or grammatical use." Why Mutations...
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Sindarin Sentence Structure

Basic Word Order: VSO Sindarin is Verb-Subject-Object — the verb typically comes first, then the subject, then the object. This is the same as Classical Arabic, Welsh, and Irish. Position Element Example 1 Verb Cenin (I see) 2 Subject (implied in verb suffix) — (subject encoded in -n suffix) 3 Object galadh / 'aladh (tree) Full sentence: Cenin 'aladh — "I see a tree" When the subject is a named...
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Supplement 7: Vocabulary — Military & Combat

Sindarin as a Language of War The Sindar — the Grey Elves of Beleriand — were not a peaceful forest people. They fought the First Age Wars against Morgoth through thousands of years, and many of the most important attested Sindarin words come directly from warfare contexts. The great battles of Beleriand have Sindarin names that are among the most fully attested compound phrases in the entire language corpus. Dagor...
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Lesson 20: Verbs — Future Tense

Future Tense Overview Sindarin expresses futurity — actions that will happen — through a dedicated morphological marker. Unlike English, which uses an auxiliary verb ("will"), Sindarin encodes the future directly in the verb's form using the infix/suffix element -tha- (or -thi- in some environments). The future tense marker appears between the verb stem and the personal ending, creating a recognizable three-part structure: [Verb Stem] + [-tha-] + [Personal Suffix] This...
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Sindarin Grammar

Sindarin grammar has one feature that defines it above all others: consonant mutations . These are systematic changes to word-initial consonants triggered by grammatical context — like a memory of vowels that once surrounded those consonants but were later lost. Welsh works the same way. After mutations, the key grammatical features are: i-affection plurals, a two-class verb system, and VSO word order. Grammar Topics Topic Description Mutations All 5 mutation...
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Sindarin Prepositions

Sindarin prepositions govern specific consonant mutations on the following noun. Learning which preposition triggers which mutation is essential for composing grammatically correct Sindarin. Prepositions Causing Soft Mutation (Lenition) Preposition Meaning Example ab after ab vaur (after the great one) — baur → vaur adel behind adel dhûn (behind the west) — dûn → dhûn am up, upon am vereth (up to the feast) — mereth → vereth dad down dad...
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Sindarin Pronouns

Sindarin pronouns are partially attested and partially reconstructed. Subject pronouns often appear as verb suffixes rather than independent words, while object and possessive pronouns are better documented. Subject Pronouns Subject pronouns in Sindarin can be expressed as: Verb suffixes (most common) Independent pronouns (for emphasis or clarity) Verb Suffixes (Subject) Person Suffix Example Translation 1st sg. (I) -n, -on tolon I come 2nd sg. fam. (thou) -g, -og tolog you...
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How to Learn Sindarin

The Fundamental Reality of Learning Sindarin Sindarin is not a natural language. This changes everything about how you approach learning it: No immersion possible — there are no native speakers, no TV shows, no music to passively absorb Incomplete by design — Tolkien never finished it; gaps are real; scholarly reconstruction is ongoing No official standard — different scholars make different choices; you'll need to develop judgment Community-driven — the...
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Lesson 34: Abstract Nouns — The -as Suffix

Introduction Every language needs ways to express not just concrete things ( tree , stone , sword ) but abstract concepts: loyalty , wisdom , grief , hope , beauty . In English we turn adjectives into abstract nouns with suffixes like "-ness" ( greatness ), "-ity" ( beauty → beautifulness ), or "-hood" ( manhood , kingship ). Sindarin has its own machinery for this: the primary abstract noun...
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Sindarin Phonology

Sindarin's sound system is the first thing to master. The good news: Sindarin spelling is nearly phonetic — once you know the rules, you can pronounce any word correctly. The bad news for English speakers: several sounds have no English equivalent. Tolkien based Sindarin's phonology primarily on Literary Welsh , so Welsh speakers have a significant head start. Vowels Sindarin has 6 vowels : a, e, i, o, u, and...
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Sindarin Vocabulary

Sindarin vocabulary is different from any natural language vocabulary you've encountered. Instead of a fixed dictionary, there are overlapping layers of Tolkien's own revisions — each with a different period label — plus fan reconstructions. Understanding these layers is essential before memorizing any words. The Layer System Period Label Time Usability Sindarin S. 1951–1973 (LotR period) Fully canonical; always prefer Noldorin N. 1930–1950 Phonologically compatible; usually usable Gnomish G. 1910–1920...
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Lesson 38: Gondorian & Mirkwood Sindarin

Introduction Sindarin is not a monolithic language. By the Third Age, it had spread across many cultures — Elves of different origins, Men who adopted it as a prestige tongue, and communities separated by vast distances and thousands of years of history. In this environment, dialects naturally developed. Two dialects are of particular interest to students of Tolkien's world: Gondorian Sindarin — as spoken by Men of Gondor, shaped by...
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Sindarin Vocabulary: People and Races

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....
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Lesson 6: Plurals Part 1

What Is I-Affection? The Sindarin plural system is one of the most linguistically fascinating features of Tolkien's construction — and one of the most practically important things to master, because plurals are used constantly. Rather than adding a suffix (as English does with -s ), Sindarin forms plurals by changing the vowels inside the word . This internal vowel-change process is called i-affection or i-umlaut . Here is the historical...
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Cirth (Elvish Runes)

Cirth ( kerth in singular; cirth is both singular and plural in some uses) are the angular runic letters native to the Sindarin Elves. While Tengwar was imported from Valinor, Cirth was developed in Beleriand — making it the indigenous Sindarin writing system. History of Cirth Origins : Devised by the Sindarin Elf Daeron (lore-master of King Thingol of Doriath) in the First Age Design principle : Angular shapes optimized...
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Lesson 16: Possessive Pronouns

Three Ways to Express Possession in Sindarin Sindarin offers three grammatically distinct strategies for expressing possession or belonging: Possessive suffixes — short endings attached directly to the possessed noun: guren = "my heart" ( gûr + -en ) Independent possessive pronouns — stand-alone words placed after the noun: i gûr nín = "the heart of mine" / "my heart" (emphasized) Genitive construction with en — the particle en (of) links...
sindarin grammar pronouns possessives intermediate May 30, 2026
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Lesson 33: Comparatives & Superlatives

Introduction Expressing comparison — "taller than," "the most beautiful," "older than all others" — is fundamental to any language. Tolkien left fewer explicit comparative and superlative forms in his Sindarin texts than in most other areas of the grammar. What we have comes from scattered examples, the Noldorin period of his language invention, and careful scholarly reconstruction. This lesson presents everything solidly attested, honestly distinguishes reconstruction from attestation, and gives...
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Sindarin Learning Levels

There is no official Sindarin proficiency exam or certification — Sindarin is a constructed language with no native speakers. This learning framework is based on community consensus and the natural progression of skills. Level Overview Level Sindarin Name English Time Estimate Key Milestone Beginner Annon Gateway 30–100 hours Read A Elbereth Gilthoniel with understanding Intermediate Peleth Development 100–300 hours Compose grammatically correct paragraphs Advanced Mesteth Mastery 300–1000+ hours Engage with...
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Supplement 8: Vocabulary — Emotions & Abstract Concepts

Tolkien's Emotional Vocabulary Tolkien embedded his own theological and philosophical views directly in his Elvish emotional vocabulary. Words like estel (hope as trust, not wishful thinking) carry dense meaning that can only be understood by reading what Tolkien wrote about them in Morgoth's Ring and related texts. Learning Sindarin emotional vocabulary is therefore also a study in Tolkienian theology and moral philosophy. The emotional register of Sindarin is particularly rich...
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Supplement 10: Comparative Elvish — Sindarin vs. Quenya

The Two Great Elvish Languages Tolkien designed two primary Elvish languages — Sindarin (Grey-elvish) and Quenya (High-elvish) — with the same care a historical linguist applies to a real language family. They are related as Latin is related to Welsh: both Indo-European, but diverged for so long that they are mutually unintelligible, with different sound systems, different grammatical structures, and radically different aesthetics. Understanding both languages, and clearly distinguishing them,...
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Lesson 12: Adjectives & Adverbs

Position: Always After the Noun In Sindarin, adjectives always follow the noun they modify. This is the opposite of English ("great king" vs. aran veleg — literally "king great") and reflects a strong Celtic influence. Welsh, for example, also places adjectives after their nouns: brenin mawr = "great king" (lit. "king great"). This post-nominal position is not optional or stylistic — it is grammatical rule. An adjective placed before its...
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Lesson 26: The Verb To Be — na-

Introduction Every language needs a way to say "X is Y." The verb that links a subject to its predicate — "The king is great," "I am an elf," "It was dark" — is called the copula , from the Latin word for "link" or "bond." In Sindarin, this verb is na- , usually translated as "to be." The copula is one of the most important and most frequently used...
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Supplement 1: Historical Phonology — How Sindarin Evolved

Why Historical Phonology Matters Most learners encounter Sindarin mutations as a wall of tables: soft mutation does this, nasal mutation does that, mixed mutation is something else entirely. Without context, these tables are arbitrary rules to memorize — and they will be forgotten as quickly as they are learned. Historical phonology changes everything. Once you understand why mutations exist — that they are the fossilized remains of ancient sound changes...
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Lesson 11: Soft Mutation (Lenition)

What Is Lenition? Soft mutation — also called lenition (from Latin lenis , "soft") — is the most common and important sound change in Sindarin. It is not random; it is a systematic, historically conditioned process in which the initial consonant of a word weakens or shifts when a preceding word creates the right phonological environment. Celtic languages show exactly the same feature. Welsh, Irish, and Breton all have systems...
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Supplement 6: Vocabulary — Body Parts & Health

Why This Domain Matters Tolkien's Elves are pre-eminently healers. The Elvish healing arts pervade The Lord of the Rings : the herb athelas (a fully attested Sindarin word), Aragorn's identity as a healer-king, the Houses of Healing in Minas Tirith, and Elrond's role as the great healer of Rivendell. When Éowyn and Faramir are brought to the healing houses, the warden quotes the ancient verse: "The hands of the king...
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Learn Sindarin

Sindarin is J.R.R. Tolkien's Grey-Elvish language — the tongue of the Sindar (Grey Elves) and the primary Elvish language spoken in Middle-earth during the Third Age. It gives us the Ring Road's name Mithrandir , Legolas's name ("Green Leaf"), and the haunting A Elbereth Gilthoniel sung by Elves at the Ford of Bruinen. Phonologically inspired by Welsh, Sindarin has a full grammar, sound system, and consonant mutation system unlike any...
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Lesson 5: Eating & Drinking

Why Vocabulary-Domain Lessons? Learning a language requires two parallel tracks: grammar (the rules for combining words) and vocabulary (the words themselves). Pure grammar practice quickly becomes abstract and unmotivating if you have nothing to say. Pure vocabulary lists with no grammar framework give you building blocks but no structure. The best approach alternates between them. This lesson focuses on a specific vocabulary domain — food, drink, and dining — while...
sindarin vocabulary food beginner May 30, 2026
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Lesson 21: Conditional & Subjunctive

Introduction In Lessons 17–20 we mastered the four main Sindarin tenses: present, past, future, and the continuous aspect. But Sindarin — like all natural languages — also needs ways to express things that are not simply happening or certain. We need to say "if I were to watch," "I would sing," "may they live long," or "perhaps he comes." These hypothetical, wished-for, or uncertain situations belong to the conditional and...
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Lesson 8: Pronouns — Nominative

How Sindarin Handles Subject Pronouns In English, subject pronouns are required: you cannot simply say "Watches" for "He watches" — the pronoun "he" must be present. Sindarin works differently. Like Latin, Spanish, or Welsh, Sindarin encodes the subject in the verb ending itself . The verb form tiron already means "I watch" — the -on ending carries the first-person singular information, so no separate "I" pronoun is needed unless you...
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Lesson 29: Numbers & Mathematics

Introduction Numbers in Sindarin are among the most thoroughly documented elements of Tolkien's language. Tolkien provided complete cardinal number lists for both Noldorin (the precursor language) and Sindarin in his linguistic papers, published in Parma Eldalamberon (PE) and referenced in The Lord of the Rings appendices. Some number words also appear embedded in attested place names and personal names, giving us independent confirmation. This lesson covers the full Sindarin number...
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Sindarin Greetings and Phrases

Essential Greetings Sindarin Period English Notes Mae govannen! S. Well met! Standard Elvish greeting; lit. "good we-have-met"; mae = well; govannen = we have met (past participle) Hannon le S. Thank you (to one) hannon = I thank; le = thee Le hannon S. I thank you alternate word order Navaer S. Farewell na- (to) + vaer (good/soft mut. of maer ) Cuio vae ᴺS. Live well cuio (live, imperative)...
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Tengwar for Sindarin

Tengwar is Tolkien's primary script for Sindarin. There are two Sindarin Tengwar modes; this page covers both in detail. For casual learners, master the Standard Mode first. The Mode of Beleriand (used on the Doors of Durin) is more beautiful and easier to read but less commonly taught. What Makes Sindarin Tengwar Different from Quenya Tolkien wrote most of his Tengwar samples in Quenya, so many online resources describe Quenya...
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Lesson 15: Nasal Mutation

What Is Nasal Mutation? Nasal mutation is the second of Sindarin's three main initial consonant mutation systems (the others being soft mutation and mixed/stop mutation). It is triggered by a preceding nasal consonant — the n of certain grammatical words causes the following initial consonant to shift in a nasal direction. Historically, Old Sindarin had nasal consonants at the end of certain grammatical words (the plural definite article, the dative...
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Lesson 3: Origins & Place Names

Sindarin's Origins Tolkien's Elvish languages were not invented all at once for The Lord of the Rings . They began around 1915 — more than three decades before LotR was published — as private linguistic experiments. Sindarin's earliest ancestor was a language Tolkien called Gnomish , which he later revised into Noldorin , which eventually became Sindarin as he refined the mythology. Throughout all these revisions, one constant remained: Sindarin...
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Supplement 3: Poetry Composition — Linnyd and Aerlinn Forms

Tolkien as Poet-Linguist J.R.R. Tolkien was not a linguist who happened to write fiction. He was, at his core, a philologist — a scholar of language who loved language for its own sake, for its sound and its history and the way it encodes culture. His two constructed Elvish languages were not just invented vocabularies and grammars; they were phonologically engineered to be beautiful in verse . The sound system...
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Lesson 40: Liquid and Stop Mutations

Introduction This lesson completes the Sindarin mutation system. In Lessons 11, 15, and 30 we covered: Soft Mutation (Lenition) — the most common; triggered by articles, prepositions, many particles Nasal Mutation — triggered by an (dative/benefactive) and the plural article in Mixed Mutation — triggered by prepositions that fused with the article ( erin , uin , ammin ) Now we add the two final mutations: Liquid Mutation — triggered...
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Sindarin Beginner Level (Annon — Gateway)

Level: Beginner ( Annon — Gateway) Time estimate : 30–100 hours Key milestone : Read A Elbereth Gilthoniel word-by-word and understand it without looking anything up Prerequisites None. No linguistics background required. If you've read The Lord of the Rings you have an advantage — you already know many Sindarin words from place names and character names, even if you didn't know they were Sindarin. Goals By the end of...
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Lesson 17: Verbs — Present Tense

Two Verb Classes Sindarin verbs fall into two main conjugation classes, determined by the form of the infinitive (the citation form): Class 1: Primary Verbs (Consonant-Stem) These verbs have a root ending in a consonant. In the infinitive (dictionary form), they are cited by their bare root with a hyphen: tir- , ped- , cen- , car- . They are the older, "strong" class of verbs. Examples: tir- — to...
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Sindarin Verbs

Sindarin's verb system is the second most challenging aspect of the grammar (after mutations). Much of it must be reconstructed from limited attested forms, and different scholars sometimes reach different conclusions. This page follows the most widely accepted Neo-Sindarin reconstruction. Two Verb Classes Class Also Called Description Examples Primary verbs (I-class) Consonant-stem verbs Stem ends in consonant; one syllable; ancient tol- (come), men- (go), car- (do/make), cab- (leap), ped- (speak)...
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Lesson 14: Prefixes

Why Prefixes Matter Sindarin builds a large portion of its vocabulary through compounding and prefixation . Unlike languages that rely heavily on suffixes for derivation, Sindarin front-loads its morphology: meaning is frequently added to the beginning of a base word to create a new word with a specialized or extended meaning. This has practical consequences for learners: Knowing prefixes lets you decode unfamiliar names and words you have never seen...
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Sindarin Courses

Essential Courses Sindarin Crash Course URL : sindarincrashcourse.neocities.org Level : Beginner → Intermediate Cost : Free The most systematically organized free Sindarin course. Built around 6 grammar units, each covering a part of speech in depth. Also includes interactive tools that are unavailable elsewhere. 6 Core Grammar Units: Unit Sindarin Name Topics Covered 1 Emith (Nouns) Plurals, i-affection, definite articles, direct objects 2 Ceraith (Verbs) Aorist, suffixes, present continuous, past...
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Lesson 22: Irregular Verbs

Introduction In Lessons 17–20 we studied Sindarin verb conjugation systematically: present/aorist, past, future, and continuous. Those lessons focused on regular verbs that follow predictable patterns. Now we must face the inevitable: the most frequently used Sindarin verbs are also the most irregular . This is a universal feature of natural languages. The verbs meaning "to be," "to do," "to go," "to come," and "to give" are almost always irregular in...
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Lesson 4: Questions

Basic Word Order in Sindarin Before studying questions, it helps to have the declarative (statement) word order clearly in mind. Sindarin, like Welsh, follows VSO order in basic clauses: Verb → Subject → Object Examples: Tir i aran i orch = "The king watches the orc" ( tir = watches, i aran = the king, i orch = the orc) Linnathon = "I will sing" (verb carries subject in its...
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Lesson 13: Prepositions

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...
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Lesson 30: Mixed Mutation

Introduction Congratulations on reaching Lesson 30. In Lesson 11 you learned soft mutation — the most common Sindarin mutation, triggered by the article i , many prepositions, and adjectives. In Lesson 15 you learned nasal mutation — triggered by the plural article in , the preposition an (for), and certain other constructions. Now we complete the mutation trilogy with the third and final type: mixed mutation . Mixed mutation is...
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Lesson 25: Negation

Introduction Every language needs ways to say "no," "not," and "don't." Sindarin has a rich and varied set of negation strategies, each used in different grammatical contexts. Crucially, several of these negation forms are directly attested in Tolkien's texts — meaning we have actual, published Sindarin negative sentences to study. This lesson covers all six major negation strategies in Sindarin: ú- — prefix for negating verbs and forming negative compounds...
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Lesson 39: Doriathrin Sindarin

Introduction If Gondorian Sindarin (Lesson 38) is the Sindarin of Men — learned, preserved, influenced by a different culture — then Doriathrin is the Sindarin of the First Age Elves at the height of their civilization: the language of Thingol's court in Menegroth, of Lúthien dancing in the moonlit forest of Neldoreth, of Daeron inventing the Cirth runes, of the most ancient and noble Elvish culture Middle-earth ever knew. Doriathrin...
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Sindarin Intermediate Level (Peleth — Development)

Level: Intermediate ( Peleth — Development) Time estimate : 100–300 hours (after beginner foundations) Key milestone : Write a short Sindarin paragraph with correct mutations and grammar; read fan Neo-Sindarin texts with occasional dictionary help Prerequisites Before starting intermediate work: Pronounce all Sindarin sounds correctly Know ~200 vocabulary words Understand soft mutation (lenition) — at least for adjective-after-noun Can read A Elbereth Gilthoniel with understanding Know basic noun plurals Goals...
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Lesson 37: Name Making Part 2 — Personal Names

Introduction A Sindarin personal name is a gift — a compressed poem that captures something essential about a person's nature, appearance, lineage, or destiny. Tolkien's Elves treated naming as a high art, and the names he invented for his characters are among the most beautiful words in any constructed language: Galadriel , Lúthien , Celebrimbor , Glorfindel , Tinnúviel . Each is a miniature world of meaning. In this lesson...
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Lesson 27: Relative Pronouns & Uncertainty

Introduction In Lesson 24 we introduced relative clauses as part of complex sentence structure. This lesson goes deeper — giving a complete treatment of the Sindarin relative pronoun i , its interaction with the definite article, advanced relative clause patterns, and the related topic of expressing uncertainty and possibility in Sindarin. The relative clause and the uncertainty particle ma are closely linked: both involve a kind of "subordinate" or "embedded"...
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Lesson 36: Name Making Part 1 — Place Names

Introduction Creating Sindarin place names is one of the most rewarding applications of the language — and one of the most treacherous if done without care. Middle-earth fan-fiction, RPG campaigns, and worldbuilding projects all benefit from Elvish names that feel authentic. This lesson teaches you Tolkien's own method for constructing place names: the element vocabulary, the two compound patterns, mutation at the seam, and all the common descriptive qualifiers. The...
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Lesson 32: Possessive & Diminutive Suffixes

Introduction Sindarin's vocabulary is not static; it grows through a rich system of derivational suffixes — endings attached to noun or verb stems to produce new words with modified or extended meanings. In Lesson 16 we studied possessive pronouns ( guren , my heart; iest lîn , your wish). In this lesson we revisit those possessive forms and then explore additional nominal suffixes: diminutives (making something smaller or more intimate),...
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Sindarin Websites

Grammar References Website URL Level Notes Gwaith-i-Phethdain elvish.org/gwaith/ Intermediate Ryszard Derdzinski's grammar summary; phonetics, mutations, noun system; thorough Ardalambion ardalambion.net Advanced Helge Fauskanger's complete Sindarin analysis; verb conjugations, phonology, text analyses Ambar-Eldaron ambar-eldaron.com/thorsten/ Intermediate Thorsten Renk's grammar articles: mutations in detail, verb system, historical context RealElvish Academy academy.realelvish.net Beginner–Advanced 45+ grammar lesson posts; Fiona Jallings Science & Fiction science-and-fiction.org/elvish/ Advanced Sindarin past tense analysis; technical but authoritative Sindarin Hub sindarinlessons.weebly.com...
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Lesson 41: Elision

Introduction This is the final lesson of the core Sindarin course. We close with a topic that touches everything we have learned: elision — the dropping or contraction of vowels when words flow together in speech and poetry. Elision is the "connective tissue" of spoken Sindarin; it is what makes the language sound fluid and musical rather than halting. We also revisit three punctuation marks Tolkien uses in his Sindarin...
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Lesson 28: Timekeeping — Calendar, Months & Time

Introduction Tolkien was a professor of Anglo-Saxon and a deep student of medieval literature, where the rhythms of the year — saints' days, seasons, harvest, frost — permeated everything. He carried this sensibility into his world-building, designing detailed calendrical systems for the peoples of Middle-earth. The Elves, as immortal beings who watched the turning of Ages, had particularly elaborate and meaningful ways of measuring time. This lesson explores Sindarin time...
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Supplement 9: Vocabulary — Expanded Nature & Animals

Nature in Tolkien's Vision Tolkien loved botany, was a passionate naturalist, and grew up in the English countryside. His Elvish nature vocabulary is among the richest and most thoroughly attested domains in Sindarin. The reasons are structural: many attested Sindarin phrases come from place names, and place names in Middle-earth are overwhelmingly about natural features — hills, rivers, trees, stars, weather. Amon Sûl (Hill of Wind), Hithaeglir (Misty Mountains, literally...
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Sindarin Advanced Level (Mesteth — Mastery)

Level: Advanced ( Mesteth — Mastery) Time estimate : 300–1000+ hours Key milestone : Read and understand Vinyar Tengwar articles; evaluate competing Neo-Sindarin reconstructions; create grammatically correct compound names; write Sindarin poetry Prerequisites Before advanced work: All grammar checkpoints from beginner and intermediate completed ~600+ words known including verbs with full conjugation Can write in Tengwar Standard Mode Have worked through at least one full intermediate course ( A Fan's...
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Supplement 2: Complete Verb Paradigm Reference

Using This Reference This supplement is a master reference document , not a lesson. It assumes you have completed Lessons 17–22 (verbs: present, past, intransitive, future, conditional, irregular) and want a single place to look up complete paradigms. Use it alongside those lessons rather than as a substitute for them. All paradigms here follow the RealElvish Academy / Strack reconstruction as the primary framework, with Jallings' Learning Sindarin as a...
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Lesson 24: Complex Sentence Structure

Introduction In previous lessons we have constructed many Sindarin sentences, but most have been simple sentences — a single clause with one verb, one subject, one object. Real Elvish speech and poetry, however, uses complex sentences : multiple clauses linked by conjunctions, relative pronouns, or participial phrases. This lesson brings together everything learned so far and shows how Sindarin sentences can grow into rich, layered constructions. We will analyze real...
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Lesson 10: Colours & Introduction to Soft Mutation

Colour Vocabulary Sindarin has a rich set of colour terms, many of which appear directly in the names of Middle-earth locations and characters. Learning colours also gives an immediate practical payoff: you can start analysing place names from Lesson 3 in even greater depth. Sindarin English Period Notes and appearances calen green (general, living green) S./N. Calenardhon = "Green Province" (old name of Rohan); eryn lasgalen has galen (lenited form)...
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Sindarin Nouns

Sindarin has no grammatical gender and no noun cases (unlike Latin or German). Grammatical relationships are expressed through word order, mutations, and prepositions. The most striking feature of Sindarin nouns is their plural formation by vowel change — a system called i-affection. I-affection: How Plurals Work Sindarin plurals are formed by changing the vowels inside the word, not by adding a suffix. This happened historically because a final -i (now...
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Lesson 35: Further Suffixes

Introduction Lessons 32 and 34 introduced possessive, diminutive, and abstract suffixes. This lesson extends the survey with the remaining major derivational suffixes: the augmentative -on , the tree suffix -orn , the person/male suffix -dir , the son-of suffix -ion , and the territorial suffix -an / -waith . Together, Lessons 32–35 give you a near-complete reference for Sindarin word-formation through suffixes. The highlight of this lesson is the Name...
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Sindarin Books and Journals

Essential Books A Gateway to Sindarin — David Salo (2004) Publisher : University of Utah Press Level : Advanced (reference) ISBN : 978-0874808001 (original), 978-0874809121 (revised) The single most important print resource for Sindarin grammar. David Salo was the primary linguistic consultant to Peter Jackson for the Lord of the Rings film trilogy — he is the reason Sindarin and Quenya sound so convincing in the films. What it covers...
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Lesson 19: Intransitive Verbs & Irregular Stems

What Is an Intransitive Verb? An intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object. It describes an action or state that is complete in itself. In Sindarin, this has direct consequences for word order: Transitive (verb + subject + object): Tiron i varad — "I watch the tower" (VSO) Intransitive (verb + subject only): Linna i edhel — "The elf sings" (VS) With an intransitive verb,...
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Supplement 5: Neo-Sindarin Composition Rules

What Is Neo-Sindarin? Neo-Sindarin is Sindarin as reconstructed and extended by scholars and enthusiasts for creative use — for writing names, composing poetry, translating texts, roleplaying, and creating tattoos, artworks, and inscriptions in a living Elvish tradition. The distinction between attested Sindarin and Neo-Sindarin is fundamental: Attested Sindarin (S.): Forms that J.R.R. Tolkien himself wrote in his manuscripts, letters, or published works. These are the gold standard. They cannot be...
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Thematic Vocabulary

Thematic vocabulary lists make it easier to learn related words together. All words are labeled by source period (S. = Sindarin 1951–1973; N. = Noldorin 1930–1950; ᴺS. = Neo-Sindarin). Section Topics Nature Sky, sun, moon, stars, water, mountains, trees, seasons People & Races All races, relationships, titles, names for people Places & Geography Structures, geographic features, cardinal directions Time Days, months, years, seasons, Elvish calendar Actions Core verbs with all...
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Lesson 1: Pronunciation

Why Pronunciation Matters in Sindarin J.R.R. Tolkien was not merely a fantasy author — he was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford and one of the leading philologists of the twentieth century. He did not invent Sindarin by scattering exotic letters at random; he constructed it as a living linguistic system with a coherent historical phonology. Sindarin descends from an invented ancestor language (Common Eldarin) just as French...
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Lesson 18: Verbs — Past Tense

Two Past Tense Systems Sindarin's past tense divides along the same class lines as the present tense: primary verbs form the past tense one way (strong past), and A-stem verbs form it another (weak past). This parallels the distinction in English between strong verbs ("sing → sang") and weak verbs ("walk → walked"). Class Past Formation Example Primary verbs Nasal infixion (+ sometimes vowel change) tir- → tirn- → tirnant...
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Lesson 23: Dual Forms

Introduction In Lessons 6 and 7 we studied Sindarin plurals: the complex system of internal vowel changes ( i -affection) and consonant mutations that mark plural nouns. Sindarin, however, actually has three grammatical numbers, not just two: Singular : one thing/person Plural : three or more things/persons Dual : exactly two things/persons The dual is one of the most archaic features of Elvish grammar. It is a grammatical number found...
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Lesson 7: Plurals Part 2

Review of Lesson 6 Patterns Before advancing, confirm these three core patterns: Pattern Shift Example 1 Final a → ai ; non-final a → e adan → edain 2 Final e → i ; all e s shift edhel → edhil 3 Final o → y ; non-final o → e orod → eryd Everything in Lesson 7 builds on these foundations. Monosyllabic Plurals Monosyllables — words of a single...
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Sindarin Communities

Online Communities Discord: Vinyë Lambengolmor Platform : Discord Level : All (advanced-focused) How to join : Find invite link through r/Tolkienlinguistics or Parf Edhellen forums The most active current community for Tolkien linguistic scholars. "Vinyë Lambengolmor" = "New Loremasters." Has channels for: Sindarin grammar and composition Quenya study Writing systems (Tengwar, Cirth) Neo-Elvish composition feedback Scholarly discussions (VT/PE content) Beginner help Many professional and semi-professional linguists participate. Getting feedback on...
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Attested Sindarin Words

These are words directly attested in Tolkien's Sindarin writings from the LotR period (1951–1973), marked S. All appear in The Lord of the Rings , its appendices, or in linguistic journals ( Vinyar Tengwar , Parma Eldalamberon ) published with Tolkien's authority. N. words are from the Noldorin period (1930–1950) and are usable for Neo-Sindarin. They are marked clearly. Nouns: Natural World Sindarin Plural Period English Notes amon emyn S....
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Sindarin Nature Vocabulary

Sky and Celestial Bodies Sindarin Plural Period English anor enyr S. sun ithil S. moon gil gîl S. star elenath S. star-host, all the stars (collective) menel S. heaven, firmament aear S. sea, ocean aearon S. great ocean (augmented) glawar S. golden light (sunlight quality) galad S. light, radiance aglar S. glory, radiance celeb S. silver (material/adj. base) mîr S. jewel luin S. blue fain S. radiant, white (adj.) Water...
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Sindarin Dictionaries

The Three Essential Dictionaries 1. Parf Edhellen (elfdict.com) URL : elfdict.com Coverage : 135,773 words across all Tolkien Elvish languages Type : User-friendly general dictionary Cost : Free; open-source What it is : "Parf Edhellen" means "Elvish Book" in Sindarin. The most accessible and comprehensive online dictionary for Tolkien's languages. Covers Sindarin, Quenya, Telerin, Gnomish, Noldorin, and more. Strengths : Very user-friendly interface Includes definitions from multiple sources (Eldamo, Quettaparma,...
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Sindarin Vocabulary: Places and Geography

Structures and Settlements Sindarin Plural Period English annon S. great gate, great door bar bair S. home, dwelling barad beraid S. tower, fortress caras ceraiss S. moated fortress/city gobel S. village, walled hamlet minas S. tower (with view, projecting peak) ost yst S. city, fortress ram raim S. wall tirith S. guard, watching-tower Geographic Features Sindarin Plural Period English amon emyn S. hill, mountain cirith S. cleft, narrow pass dol...
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Sindarin Learning Resources

Quick Reference: Best Resources by Level Level First Resource Dictionary Community Beginner Sindarin Crash Course Parf Edhellen r/elvish Intermediate RealElvish Academy Eldamo Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Advanced A Gateway to Sindarin (Salo) Eldamo + VT/PE Lambengolmor mailing list All Resource Sections Section Contents Courses All online courses — Sindarin Hub, Crash Course, RealElvish, Ardalambion Dictionaries Parf Edhellen, Eldamo, Hiswelókë — how and when to use each Books Grammar books, textbooks, primary...
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Sindarin Vocabulary: Time

Basic Time Words Sindarin Plural Period English aur oer S. day (daylight, daytime) fuin S. night, darkness dû S. night (poetic) minuial S. morning twilight, dawn (lit. "time of opening") aduial S. evening twilight, dusk (lit. "time of closing") undome S. starlit twilight tîn N. sparkle (of stars at twilight) lómë S. night (poetic, from an older layer) erin N. on the day of pen S. without (temporal use in...
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Lesson 9: Pronouns — Object & Dative

Review: Subject Pronouns from Lesson 8 In Lesson 8 we established: Subject information is normally carried in the verb ending : tiron = "I watch," tirog = "thou watchest" Independent pronouns ( im , le , hain ) add emphasis or contrast Key attested pronouns: im (I), le (thee/you), hain (them) Now we turn to what happens when these same persons are the object of an action or the recipient...
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Sindarin Lessons

This course teaches Sindarin — the Grey-elven language of Middle-earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien — from first sounds to advanced composition. Tolkien was a professional philologist, and Sindarin is a fully consistent linguistic system with its own phonology, morphology, and grammar. It draws heavily on Welsh in its sound patterns and uses a system of initial consonant mutations that will feel familiar to Celtic language learners. The 41 lessons are...
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Supplement 4: Graded Reading Practice

How to Use This Supplement This supplement contains graded Sindarin reading passages arranged from beginner to advanced level. Each passage is: Presented in Sindarin first, without any translation Followed by a complete word-by-word gloss (morpheme-by-morpheme analysis) Followed by grammatical notes explaining the constructions Followed by cultural and narrative commentary The Right Way to Use These Passages Step 1 — Attempt cold: Read the passage in Sindarin first, without looking at...
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Lesson 2: Greetings & Basic Phrases

Tolkien's Attested Phrases One of the most exciting features of Sindarin — compared to many constructed languages — is that Tolkien embedded real, grammatically analysable phrases throughout The Lord of the Rings , its appendices, and his unpublished manuscripts (many of which appeared in The History of Middle-earth series and Parma Eldalamberon journals). This means that a learner's first sentences can be genuine Tolkien, not inventions of later fans. Every...
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Lesson 31: Class Plurals

Introduction In Lessons 6 and 7 we studied the i-affection plural — the standard Sindarin plural formed by vowel changes in the stem ( aran → erain , galadh → gelaidh ). That plural simply signals "more than one X." But Sindarin possesses a second, entirely different plural system called the class plural (or collective plural ). Class plurals do not merely count items; they express a group viewed as...
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