Online Quenya Translator: English to High Elvish Dictionary
Quenya (High Elvish) is the ancient language of the Amanyar Elves who crossed the Great Sea into Valinor. In Middle-earth during the Third Age of The Lord of the Rings, Quenya functioned similarly to Latin in medieval Europe—a ceremonial language of high poetry, sacred vows, and cosmic lore.
Popular English to Quenya High Elvish Expressions (LOTR & Tolkien)
Looking for quick Quenya High Elvish translations for wedding vows, formal declarations, or custom tattoos? Here are verified high-elven phrases from Tolkien's academic lexicons:
| English Expression | Quenya High Elvish Translation | Grammatical Context & Usage |
|---|---|---|
| I love you | Melinyel (or Melme for love) | Sacred devotion / Wedding ring vows |
| Greetings / Star shines | Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo | Iconic greeting ("A star shines on our meeting") |
| Farewell / Goodbye | Namárië | Galadriel's classic poem title ("Farewell") |
| Friend | Nildo (male) / Nilde (female) | Formal high elven companionship |
| Hope | Estel | Spiritual trust and divine hope |
| Light | Cala / Cále | Illumination of Valinor |
Quenya Alphabet, Tengwar Script & Pronunciation Rules
Understanding Quenya pronunciation is essential for authentic ring engravings and elvish tattoo designs. Tolkien modeled Quenya phonetics after Finnish and Classical Greek:
- Vowels: Quenya vowels are pronounced purely: a (father), e (there), i (machine), o (more), and u (brute). Long vowels marked with acute accents (such as á, é, í, ó, ú) are held twice as long.
- Consonants: The letter c is always pronounced as 'k' (e.g. Cala = Kahl-ah), and qu is pronounced as 'kw' (as in Quenya = Kwen-yah).
- Tehtar Vowel Placement: Unlike Sindarin (which places vowel marks above the following consonant), Quenya mode places vowel markers (tehtar) above the preceding consonant symbol.
Want to compare Quenya with Third Age spoken Elvish? Check out our Sindarin Translator, try the specialized Sindarin Name Translator, or explore Tolkien Love Quotes for Rings.
Core Verified Dictionaries
Here are some of the most requested concepts mapped to their verified translation values in our database:
| English Concept | Quenya Elvish Translator Script / Notation |
|---|---|
| love | melme |
| friend | nildo |
| star | elen |
| water | nén |
| sun | anar |
| moon | isil |
| shadow | lëo |
| dark | mórë |
| light | cálë |
| flower | lóte |
| shield | turma |
| king | aran |
| hope | estel |
| heart | hórë |
| gold | laurë |
| white | ninquë |
| wedding | veryandë |
| girl | seldë |
| boy | seldo |
| earth | ambar |
| sky | menel |
| fire | nár |
| wind | súre |
| eternal | tennoio |
| life | coivië |
| death | qualme |
| soul | fëa |
| dream | olor |
| family | nossë |
| wisdom | nolmë |
| peace | sére |
| war | ohta |
| mother | amil |
| father | atar |
| brother | tôr |
| sister | seler |
| son | yondo |
| daughter | yeldë |
| man | nér |
| woman | nis |
| child | hina |
| queen | tari |
| lord | heru |
| lady | heri |
| enemy | cotumo |
| warrior | ohtar |
| sword | macil |
| bow | quinga |
| arrow | pilin |
| horse | rocco |
| wolf | ráca |
| eagle | soron |
| dragon | lócë |
| beast | laman |
| forest | taurë |
| tree | alda |
| leaf | lassë |
| branch | olva |
| stone | sardo |
| metal | tinco |
| iron | anga |
| silver | telpë |
| ring | corma |
| crown | rië |
| city | osto |
| tower | mindo |
| house | coa |
| home | már |
| road | tië |
| path | vanda |
| river | sírë |
| sea | ear |
| ocean | earon |
| rain | mistë |
| snow | lossë |
| ice | helcë |
| cloud | fanya |
| day | aurë |
| night | lómë |
| morning | arin |
| evening | andúnië |
| year | loa |
| time | lú |
| book | parma |
| word | quetta |
| song | lírë |
| voice | óma |
| hate | tëon |
| fight | mahta- |
| see | cen- |
| hear | hlar- |
| speak | queta- |
| write | tec- |
| read | parma- |
| sing | lir- |
| run | yor- |
| walk | vanta- |
| fly | wil- |
| go | lelya- |
| come | tul- |
| make | car- |
| give | anta- |
| take | map- |
| find | hir- |
| seek | sacc- |
| know | ista- |
| think | sana- |
| good | mára |
| bad | ulca |
| beautiful | vanya |
| strong | polda |
| weak | limpa |
| brave | canya |
| wise | saila |
| old | yerna |
| young | nessa |
| new | vinya |
| big | alta |
| small | pitya |
| high | tára |
| low | nacca |
| deep | nura |
| black | morë |
| red | carnë |
| green | laica |
| blue | luin |
| yellow | malina |
| hot | urya |
| cold | ringa |
| warm | lauca |
| sweet | lissa |
| true | nanwa |
| free | mirima |
| fell | aica |
| holy | airëa |
| blessed | ainima |
| *holy | aista |
| *blessed | manaquenta |
| well-done | alacarna |
| unmarred | úharin |
| eyeless | alahen |
| well | alaquenta |
| unwise | alasaila |
| glorious | alcarin(qua) |
| tree-meshed | aldarembina |
| unelvish | aleldarinwa |
| fair | wenya |
| dawn | amaurëa |
| more | amba² |
| hilly | ambuna |
| easy | hrai(a)² |
| long | anda |
| long-passed | andavanwa |
| western | núna |
| *royal | aranya |
| skilful | arimaitë |
| excelling | arya |
| visible | cénima |
| ambidextrous | ataformaitë |
| ruinous | atalantëa |
| two-handed | atamaitë |
| double | atatya |
| biped | attalya |
| *outer | ava¹ |
| move | avalda |
| refused | avanwa |
| unspeakable | úquétima |
| *light-fated | calambar |
| bright | nalda |
| active | vecca |