Quenya is the language Tolkien created for the Elves of Valinor.
In Tolkien’s linguistic mythology, Quenya was associated especially with the High Elves, including the Ñoldor and Vanyar, and with the realm of Valinor. Tolkien modeled aspects of its sound and structure on Finnish, while also developing its grammar, vocabulary, and history as part of his invented world.
Quenya is one of several Elvish languages in Tolkien’s legendarium. Sindarin is another major Elvish language and became more widely spoken in Middle-earth during the later histories. The two names are therefore not interchangeable.
Tolkien’s language invention preceded and supported much of his fictional world-building. He often created linguistic histories, sound changes, and relationships between languages before or alongside the stories that used them. Quenya appears in names, poems, titles, and ceremonial passages throughout Tolkien’s mythology.