Tengwar is the invented script J.R.R. Tolkien designed for languages including Quenya and Sindarin.
The name comes from the Quenya word tengwa, meaning a sign or character. Tolkien developed the script as part of the writing systems of his fictional world, giving it a distinctive history and several modes adapted to different languages.
Tengwar is often recognized by its curved letters and vertical stems. In Tolkien’s mythology, the Elf Fëanor is credited with creating it, while Tolkien’s descriptions explain how different peoples used or adapted the script. The appearance of Tengwar therefore reflects both linguistic design and fictional cultural history.
Cirth is a different writing system associated especially with the Dwarves, though other peoples also used it. Sarati is an earlier script in Tolkien’s invented tradition. These related names are common sources of confusion when identifying Middle-earth writing systems.