What is the name of the language used for the One Ring’s inscription in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works?

The language used for the One Ring’s inscription in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works is the Black Speech of Mordor. Sauron created or developed this language for the servants of Mordor, and the Ring’s inscription is its best-known surviving example.

The inscription begins, “Ash nazg durbatulûk,” translated as “One Ring to rule them all.” It continues with references to finding, bringing, and binding the Rings in darkness. The words are written in Tengwar letters, but the writing system and the language are different things: Tengwar is a script, while the Black Speech is the language of the inscription.

Readers sometimes identify the inscription as Elvish because it is written in an elegant Elvish script. Tolkien’s text makes the distinction clear. The Ring-poem is presented in several languages in The Fellowship of the Ring, including the Black Speech version spoken at the Council of Elrond. Quenya and Sindarin are Elvish languages, while Khuzdul is the secret language of the Dwarves.