Quenya is the elvish language most associated with the Ñoldor in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium.
Tolkien created Quenya as a highly developed language inspired partly by Finnish, Latin, and Greek. In the mythology of The Silmarillion, it was the language of the High Elves, especially the Ñoldor, who brought it from Valinor to Middle-earth. Its structure and vocabulary were developed far beyond the needs of a few fictional phrases.
Quenya is not simply another name for every Elvish language in Tolkien’s writings. Sindarin became the everyday Elvish language of much of Middle-earth, while Quenya retained a more formal, historical, or ceremonial role. The two languages are related but distinct.
The name “Quenya” is often translated as referring to speech or language. Tolkien’s linguistic work continued throughout his life, so spellings, meanings, and forms can vary across manuscripts and posthumously edited publications.