In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the Elvish word “mellon” means “friend.”
The word appears on the Doors of Durin, the western entrance to the Mines of Moria. The inscription gives a verbal instruction: speak the password, “friend,” and enter. Gandalf initially struggles because he treats the wording as a riddle requiring a secret phrase rather than as a direct command.
The inscription is written in Tengwar, Tolkien’s Elvish writing system, while the password itself is a Sindarin word. This distinction matters because Tolkien created both languages and scripts with separate histories and structures.
Once Gandalf understands the clue and says “mellon,” the doors open. The scene is often remembered as a simple password puzzle, but it also contrasts the ancient friendship between Elves and Dwarves with the danger occupying Moria.