Quenya is the Elvish language created by J.R.R. Tolkien and associated especially with the Noldor.
Tolkien developed Quenya as part of his lifelong work in invented languages. It was influenced chiefly by Finnish, with additional structural and historical ideas drawn from other languages. In Tolkien’s mythology, Quenya is an ancient and prestigious language of the Elves.
The Noldor, one of the principal Elven peoples, brought Quenya to Middle-earth after leaving Valinor. In later histories, everyday speech among many Elves shifted toward Sindarin, while Quenya remained important in formal, poetic, and historical contexts.
Quenya and Sindarin are often confused because both are Elvish languages appearing in Tolkien’s legendarium. They are distinct languages with different histories and sound patterns. Westron is the Common Speech used by many peoples, while Khuzdul is the secret language of the Dwarves. Tolkien created extensive grammar and vocabulary for Quenya, not merely a collection of decorative words.