What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s invented language for the High Elves called?

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J.R.R. Tolkien’s invented language for the High Elves was called Quenya.

Quenya is one of Tolkien’s Elvish languages and is associated especially with the High Elves, including the Ñoldor and Vanyar. Tolkien developed it with detailed vocabulary, grammar, and historical changes, drawing inspiration from languages such as Finnish, Latin, and Greek. It was not merely a collection of fantasy names; Tolkien treated it as part of a connected linguistic history.

Sindarin is the other major Elvish language encountered in The Lord of the Rings. It became the everyday language of many Elves in Middle-earth, whereas Quenya often carried a more formal, ancient, or ceremonial role. This distinction is a frequent source of confusion.

Tolkien’s language-building influenced the names, poetry, and mythology of his fictional world. Quenya appears in names such as Eärendil and in the poem beginning ‘Namárië,’ spoken by Galadriel.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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