What is the name of the language created by Tolkien for the Elves and called “High-elven” in his writings?

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The Tolkien language called “High-elven” in his writings is Quenya.

Quenya is one of the major Elvish languages in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. He based much of its sound and structure on languages that interested him, especially Finnish, while also developing its grammar, vocabulary, and historical changes as part of Middle-earth’s internal history.

In Tolkien’s mythology, Quenya originated among the Elves who lived in Valinor. It remained an important ceremonial and literary language, even after many Elves in Middle-earth mainly spoke Sindarin. Names such as Eärendil and many formal phrases reflect Tolkien’s constructed languages.

Quenya is often confused with Sindarin, another major Elvish language. Sindarin became the everyday Elvish language of many Elves in Middle-earth, while Quenya had an older, more formal status. Khuzdul is the secret language of the Dwarves, and Adûnaic is associated with the Númenóreans.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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