Sindarin is the fictional language J.R.R. Tolkien created for the Grey-elves of Middle-earth.
Sindarin is one of Tolkien’s major Elvish languages. In the histories of Middle-earth, it developed from the speech of the Teleri who remained in Beleriand and became associated with the Sindar, or Grey-elves. By the later ages, Sindarin is widely used by Elves and also appears in names spoken by other peoples.
Tolkien designed Sindarin with a sound and historical development influenced especially by Welsh, while Quenya has often been compared with Finnish in its structure and sound. The two languages are related within Tolkien’s invented language family but are not interchangeable.
Many familiar names use Sindarin elements, including Minas Tirith, which means “Tower of Guard,” and Mithrandir, a name for Gandalf. Tolkien created grammar, vocabulary, and sound changes for Sindarin rather than merely assembling a list of fantasy words.