Learn Tolkien's Elvish languages in your own language
Quenya and Sindarin step by step, together with grammar, vocabulary, reading and the Tengwar script. A sourced, honest curriculum that clearly shows whether each word comes from Tolkien's own pen or was reconstructed later.
Today's discovery
A little discovery every day: flip cards, match meanings, write Elvish.
Try it without an account.Courses
Lesson 0: Introduction to Elvish
Learn about Tolkien's linguistic adventure, the family tree of the Elvish languages and how to read the site's reliability badges. Recommended before starting either course.
Quenya
The ancient tongue of the Eldar, the 'Elven-Latin' of Middle-earth. Its rich system of case endings will remind English speakers of Latin, and its sound of Finnish, which inspired it. The recommended first course.
Sindarin
The everyday language of the Elves of Middle-earth, with a sound system inspired by Welsh and its consonant mutations. The Elvish heard most often in the films.
Tengwar
The writing of the Elves: the logic of the letter grid, the vowel signs (tehtar), the Quenya and Sindarin modes, and the Mode of Beleriand on the Doors of Durin.
Cirth
The carved script of Elves and Dwarves: the Angerthas Daeron and Moria usages, Balin's tomb and the Book of Mazarbul.
How do we teach?
Faithful to the sources
Every word is labelled: Tolkien Derived Neo Disputed
Spaced repetition
The words from lessons you finish turn into cards that come back just as you are about to forget them.
Bridges from your own language
The lessons explain Elvish by comparing it with your native language: similarities and differences are shown in boxes.
Exams and certificates
Start in the right place with the placement test; earn certificates by passing unit exams.
Reading library
Graded reading texts and line-by-line analyses of Tolkien's verses.
Tengwar and Cirth
Fëanor's letters and Daeron's runes; an instant transcriber and interactive tools.