Quenya is the high-elven language created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Tolkien developed Quenya as one of the languages of the Elves in his legendarium. Its sound and structure were influenced especially by Finnish, while its vocabulary and history were shaped within Tolkien’s invented world. The language is associated particularly with the Ñoldor and Vanyar, and it has a prestigious, ancient status in Middle-earth.
Quenya is not simply a modern translation of English into “Elvish.” Tolkien constructed it with grammar, vocabulary, sound changes, and historical relationships. He also created related languages and dialects, giving Middle-earth a fictional linguistic history.
Sindarin is the other major Elven language and is more commonly spoken in many later Middle-earth settings. Khuzdul belongs to the Dwarves, while the Black Speech is associated with Sauron. These names are therefore related to Tolkien’s linguistic world but are not alternatives to Quenya.