Tengwar is the writing system most associated with the Elves in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
Tolkien designed the Tengwar, also called the Fëanorian characters, as a script used for writing several languages. Its letters represent consonants and vowels through a structured system of tehtar and other marks. The script appears in examples such as the inscription on the One Ring.
Tengwar is not the only script in Tolkien’s legendarium. The Cirth, or runes, is another important writing system, especially associated with Dwarves and later adopted by other peoples. Sarati is an earlier script created by Tolkien for the Elvish languages, while Angerthas refers to expanded runic arrangements based on the Cirth.
The script’s appearance can vary depending on the language being written and the mode being used. Thus, Tengwar is a writing system rather than a single spoken language, and it should not be confused with Quenya or Sindarin.