Quenya is the fictional language associated with the High Elves in J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythology.
Tolkien developed Quenya as part of a large family of invented languages used by the peoples of Arda. He based much of its sound and structure on Finnish, while also drawing on his deep knowledge of historical linguistics and other languages. In Tolkien’s internal history, Quenya was strongly associated with the Ñoldor and other Eldarin groups.
Quenya was not the everyday language of all Elves in every period. Sindarin became more widely used in much of Middle-earth, particularly among the Grey-elves and many Elves of Beleriand. This distinction is a frequent source of confusion because both languages are central to Tolkien’s legendarium.
The word Quenya is often translated in relation to speech or language, and Tolkien used it in several historical and linguistic contexts within his invented world. He continued refining its vocabulary and grammar throughout his life rather than treating it as a finished constructed language.