Which character says “My precious” about the One Ring in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works?

The story behind the answer

Gollum says “My precious” about the One Ring in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. The phrase reflects his intense attachment to the Ring, which he calls his “precious” after possessing it for centuries beneath the Misty Mountains.

Gollum was once a river-hobbit named Sméagol. He obtained the Ring after murdering Déagol, who had found it while fishing. The Ring’s influence and Gollum’s long isolation transformed him physically and psychologically, producing the divided personality represented by the names Sméagol and Gollum.

Bilbo later wins the Ring from Gollum in The Hobbit, while Frodo encounters him during the journey through Emyn Muil and the Dead Marshes. Gollum ultimately reaches Mount Doom with the Ring, where his attempt to reclaim it causes its destruction. The phrase is associated with Gollum, although the Ring also tempts other characters.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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