Which Elvish language did J.R.R. Tolkien call Quenya?

J.R.R. Tolkien called Quenya a High-elven language. Within his fictional history, Quenya developed among the Elves who lived in Valinor and was associated especially with the Noldor and Vanyar.

Tolkien constructed Quenya with extensive vocabulary, grammar, sound patterns, and historical development. Its structure was influenced partly by languages he studied or admired, including Finnish, Greek, and Latin, though Quenya is not a direct version of any real-world language.

Quenya is one of several Elvish languages in Tolkien’s legendarium. Sindarin is another major Elvish language and became more widely spoken among many Elves of Middle-earth. The two are therefore often confused by readers, especially because both appear in names, poems, and ceremonial speech.

The term “High-elven” points to Quenya’s cultural status rather than simply meaning that every Elf spoke it daily. In Middle-earth, it often functioned as an elevated, historical, or literary language.