Which fictional race did J.R.R. Tolkien call the Sindar?

J.R.R. Tolkien called the Sindar the Grey Elves.

In Tolkien’s legendarium, the Sindar were Telerin Elves who remained in Beleriand during the First Age instead of completing the journey to Valinor. Their name is associated with “grey,” and they are also called the Grey-elves or Grey Elves. Their king was Elu Thingol, and their chief realm was Doriath.

The Sindar are distinct from the Noldor, often called the Deep Elves or Exiles after their return to Middle-earth, and from the Silvan Elves of the woodland realms. The terminology reflects both language and history, not simply appearance or geography.

The name can be difficult because Tolkien used several Elvish languages and overlapping English translations. “Grey Elves” is the standard English rendering of Sindar, while “Sindarin” is the name of their language. The two terms are related but are not interchangeable: one identifies the people, and the other identifies their language.