Terms used for
Elven languages and people
until circa 1930

by Ninni M. Pettersson

Introduction

The impetus to this paper was a series of meetings in the Mellonath Daeron in the beginning of 1997, when we discussed the different Elvish languages and peoples and became more aware of the shifting meanings of the names Tolkien used.

Since people often discuss the Elvish languages in the context of Tolkien's later writings, I felt an urge to start at the beginning instead. This list is a compilation of the terms Tolkien used for the various Elvish languages and peoples until circa 1930, and it is also an attempt to chart their shifting meanings. It is hopefully reasonably free from errors of the more blatant kind.

As sources I have used "The Book of Lost Tales" and "Appendix - Names in the Lost Tales" (extracts from the Qenya and Goldogrin Lexicons) found in volumes I and II of the History of Middle-earth series, and "The Sketch of the Mythology" and "The Quenta Noldorinwa" found in volume IV. (For more information see the Abbreviations and References sections at the end of this document.)

List of terms

Dark-Elves
Used once of the Elves that remained in Palisor. (BLT)
Used as a synonym of Ilkorins. (QN)

Eldalie
Sometimes used of all Elves, sometimes used in contrast to Gnomes / Noldoli. (BLT)
Term used for 'the people of the Elves'. (Sketch)
Used interchangeably with Eldar. (QN)

Eldar
Name given by the Gods to the Elves. After the flight of the Noldoli usually used in contrast to Gnomes / Noldoli. (BLT)
All Elves. (Sketch)
The Elves name for themselves. Used interchangeably with Eldalie. (QN)

Eldarissa
The language of the Eldar / Elves. Used in contrast to the language of the Gnomes / Noldoli. (BLT)

Elfin
The language of the Eldar / Elves. Usually used in contrast to Gnomish. (BLT)
Used in contrast to Gnomish on one occasion. (Sketch)

Elves
Sometimes used of all Elves, sometimes used in contrast to Gnomes / Noldoli. (BLT)
Mostly used to mean all Elves, but a few times stated to properly only mean the Quendi / Qendi. (Sketch, QN)

Fairies
Sometimes used of all Elves, sometimes used in contrast to Gnomes / Noldoli. (BLT)

Gnomes
The most common name for the Noldoli. (BLT, Sketch, QN)

Gnomish
The language of the Noldoli. (BLT, Sketch, QN)

Goldogrin
The language of the Noldoli. (GL)

Ilkorindi
The Eldar of the Great Lands / the Darkness. Used of all those who remained, whether they refused to set out or lingered along the way. (BLT)
All Elves who never dwelt in Côr. Used less frequently than Ilkorins. (Sketch, QN)

Ilkorins
All Elves who never dwelt in Côr. The most frequently used term. (Sketch, QN)

Inwir
The royal clan of the Teleri. (BLT)

Koreldar
The Eldar of Kôr. (BLT)
Elves who had dwelt in Côr. (Sketch)

Lindar
The First Kindred. A late change from Quendi. (QN)

Noldoli
The Second Kindred. Mostly called Gnomes. (BLT, Sketch, QN)

Noldorissa
The language of the Gnomes / Noldoli. This term only occurs in 'The Name-list to The Fall of Gondolin'. (BLT)

Qendi
Originally the name of all Elves and preserved by those who remained in Palisor. Afterwards adopted as the name of the reunited clans in Tol Eressea. (BLT)
The First Kindred. Also spelled Quendi. (Sketch)

Quendi
The First Kindred. A variant spelling of Qendi. (Sketch)
The First Kindred. A late change replaces it with the term Lindar. (QN)
Used once of the Eldalie in a late addition. (QN)

Qenya
The language of the reunited clans of Tol Eressea. (QL)

Solosimpi
The Third Kindred. Also called The Shoreland Pipers. (BLT)
Used once of the Third Kindred. (Sketch, QN)

Teleri
The First Kindred. Includes the Inwir. (BLT)
The Third Kindred. (Sketch, QN)

Abbreviations

GL Goldogrin Lexicon, c. 1915 - 1918
QL Qenya Lexicon, c. 1915 - 1918
BLT The Book of Lost Tales, c. 1916 - 1918
Sketch The Sketch of the Mythology, c. 1926 -1930
QN The Quenta Noldorinwa, c. 1930

References