The Elven Language

Herein will be explained the basic grammar of the Elven tongue, the common
language shared by all Elves. Beginning with verbs will provide the backbone for
understanding Elven. Verbs do not change their form to agree with nouns or pronouns.
To conjugate Elven verbs, consult the chart below:

Verb Tenses
Present: -a
Past: -an
Future: -ané
Present Imperfect: Use present tense form, adding -uth
Past Imperfect: Use past tense form, adding -uth
Future Imperfect: Use future tense form, adding -uth
Imperative: Same as Infinitive
Passive Voice: Add taë- before the correct verb tense
Verb to Noun: Add ten- prefix to infinitive form;
or simply change some letters around.
One Who: Add -nitha suffix to infinitive;
or add –i suffix to a noun form
Negative: Add -kahr suffix to the proper form of the verb
Noun to Adjective: Add suffix -ra

Other basic grammar rules to note go as follows: (1) all prepositions follow their object,
attaching to the end of the noun; (2) adjectives can either follow or precede the noun
they modify; (3) adverbs follow their verbs or adjectives. Elven nouns can be understood
as having objective, possessive, and subjective suffixes, and their adjectives correspond
with the same objective or subjective suffixes. The possessive suffix is -e; the objective
suffix is -yn; and the subjective suffix is -ha. So, a possessive adjective modifying the
subject would be rendered -e-ha, and a possessive adjective modifying an object noun (if
it is not the object of the preposition) would be rendered -e-yn. In speaking, sometimes
adjectival suffixes are dropped. Elven syntax is not place-based, for the suffixes already
define what is an object and what is a subject, both for nouns and adjectives.

Some further points need to be expounded, as far as pronunciation is concerned. First,

let us look at the ë and ä phenomenon that is often seen in transcribed Elven. This
rendering is done so to avoid diphthongs in the pronunciation of two vowels together.
In the passive voice prefix taë, a diphthong is avoided with this special notation, thus
causing the word to be pronounced like 'TAH-ay,' not to rhyme with "day." The
terminal “e” sound is written –é to avoid the omission of this sound. So, for example,
the Elven house Vepalé would be pronounced Ve-PAL-lay, not Ve-PAIL. This –é is also
used to set apart single “e” sounds within a word. For example, the rainbow in Elven,
Hanélos, would be pronounced HA-nay-los, not HANE-los.
Numbers
Ordinals add -é
1: tith 11: hantith 100,000: kesrann
2: sum 12: hansum . . . 1,000,000: niët.
3: fol 20: sumhan
4: rakah 21: sumhantith . . .
5: lasan 100: kes
6: di 101: kestith . . .
7: perath 200: sumkes
8: bel 300: folkes . . .
9: jen 1000: rann
10: han 10,000: harann

Months:
1st--Dal-Asteraüth (Rose-blossoming)
2nd--Kalindreré
3rd--Meor-e-Karté (Summer’s crown)
4th--Iël Tambril (Life light)
5th--Ty Sillaür (Great Starfall)
6th--Talfri Dylak (Fields of Gold)
7th--Kol Atos (Dark Rain)
8th--Tongir Chieltir (Slumber of Chiel)
9th--Surevi Var (Silver frost)
10th--Daspril Tentervis (Winter End)
11th--Lyvariën Asteraüth (Blossoming of the Lyvarien)
12th--Hanélos (Rainbow)
13th--Ahnfer Mia (The Undying Gift)
English/Elven

(to) abandon fereg fereg

academy kenpel kEnpel
(t0) afflict betas betAs
affliction, scourge sabet sAbet
against khala Kala
age (i.e., of time) besu besU
alone tholé Tole
always ulti 5ltI
and a 1
arm tekin tEkIn
around ziré zIre
arrow, flight monseril mOnsEril
arrow, sheaf dirsunil dIrsUnil
as vor vor
(to) avenge filel filil
(to) awake lebir lebir
ban hynar hynar
(to) ban, forbid efion 2fi4n
barrier perbis perbos
battle dûn dWn
bay uram 5ram
(to) be uth 5T
(to) bear (a child) ors 4rs
beast, animal eïné 23ne
because, for thros Tros
(to) begin jihaüd jIha5d
beloved tarkiën tArkI2n
bent, evil ma m1
(to) beware vorlad vorlad
birth orsé 4rsE
black veha veha
blade tor tOr
(to) bleed riël ro2l
blood miël mI2l
(to) blossom aster 1stEr
body mivis mIvis
bond lasdel lasdEl
book talas tAlas
border nualihn nu1lihn
bow mûl mWl
(to) break, sunder ram ram
breastplate klai kla3
bright, shining simsel sImsEl
brook, small river giël gI2l
brother ilékar 3lekAr
but gûn gWn
by meta mEtA
can (i.e., possibility) thes Tes
captive thre Tre
(to) carve rag rag
cave grûl grwl
chain vaël va2l
child kalen kAlen
circle khula Kula
citadel molfethen mOlfeTen
city duil dU3l
cold il 3l
coma, death-sleep tongrahn tOngrahn
(to) come pralik pralik
coral grel grel
cradle ataën 1tA2n
crescent limak limAk
crest (i.e., top of) rammad rammAd
crown karté kArtE
cruel kithra kITra
cycle muër mU2r
darkness, night kol kOl
dawn arlluvia 1rlluvi1
the dead irgahn-nitha 3rgAhnniTa
death ahn 1hn
deathless, undying ahnfer 1hnfer
deceiver felvioth felvi4T
deep chalé cale
deer arad 1rad
desert thana Tana
(to) desire shalar Salar
desolation visara vasAra
diamond riosé ri4sE
(to) die irgahn 3rgAhn
discontent toki tOkI
(to) divide, separate khared Kared
divine mirel mIrel
(to) do sur sUr
(t0) drink luok lu4k
dragon khalabaksin KalabaksIn
each (person) dersol dErsOl
ear sperr sperr
east pedish pedIS
(to) eat uok 54k
elf alfreth 1lfreT
elf, Gold dylakai dYlakA3
elf, White sirai sIra3
emerald galadrin gAladrin
(to) enchant srel srel
(to) end, finish, complete tervis tErvis
eternal inarmiros 3narmIros
evening alonar 1lonar
eye sela sEla
faerie thiséfel TisEfel
fair (i.e., beautiful, great) lara lara
fair ones Larenai larena3
falcon alaren 1laren
(to) fall laür la5r
fang dumuïr dUmU3r
father siréh sIreh
(to) fear igleïs 3gle3s
fear iglesi 3glesI
fence, border nualihn nu1lihn
field (i.e., meadow) talfri tAlfri
finger marin mArin
fire rudril rudril
fish ursé 5rsE
flame mana mAna
flower astrellia 1strelli1
foot oûdus 46dUs
forest briën, brios bri2n bri4s
,

forge dhotril Dotril

(to) forget neomir ne4mIr
(to) forsake mirm mIrm
fortress ghan Gan
fountain subraël sUbra2l
frost surevi sUrevi
gate pyrish pyriS
gem aëtha 12Ta
giant (i.e., monster) Nohr nohr
gift mia mI1
glade sei sE3
glory aniëk 1ni2k
(to) go ragor ragOr
god shivar Sivar
gold dylak dYlak
grass ra r1
great ty t7
grey tûnn tWnn
grief firgha firGa
(t0) grieve firgahn firGan
gryphon tsujatha tsUjATa
(to) guard risal risAl
guard (i.e., a person) risal-nitha risAlniTa
hair delis dElis
hall intoh 3ntOh
hand mar mAr
(to) hate sken skEn
he guan gU1n
head aram 1ram
heart kiënesh kI2neS
high lion li4n
home amir 1mIr
(to) honor, honor thiron Tiron
horn (i.e., of an animal) onthé 4nTe
hot el 2l
house (i.e., genealogy) miliël mIli2l
house (i.e., structure) amin 1mIn
human bris bris
I thé T2
ice dryos dri3s
Ice Deep Fortress Chalédryos caledri4s
in ulas 5las
inferno manada mAnadA
into heïdh he3D
it lusi lusI
jade naülfal na5lfal
journey, trip halja haljA
king alyn 1lyn
(to) know shiën Si2n
lake kavis kAvis
land gadha gaDa
(to) lead out arkast 1rkAst
led out ones Arkastanai 1rkAstAna3
leg tané tAne
life iël 32l
light tambril tAmbril
lightning kiskleth kIskleT
(to) live viël vi2l
(to) long for shalar Salar
lord saren sAren
(to) lose naïn na3n
(to) love kiën kI2n
mage miri mIri
magic mir mIr
man (i.e., male adult) jeré jEre
many erusik 2rusIk
message shik Sik
messenger othik 4Tik
more pyr pyr
morning lira lira
most pyré pyre
mountain mol mOl
mountain chain molen mOlen
mouth nessa nessA
music delanaë dElana2
name kifu kIfu
negative suffix kahr kAhr
night, darkness kol kOl
no (i.e., not any) in 3n
no (opp. of yes) y 7
noble kelvir kElvir
north tineïl tIni2l
nose taban tAban
oblivion nemor nemOr
of til tIl
often ilem-ilem 3lemIlem
onyx sûëlé sW2le
or tes tEs
palace telvan tElvan
path versid versId
peak (i.e., of a mountain) voäkrin vo1krin
pearl koralin kOralin
(to) pierce tirn tIrn
place alon 1lon
plain (i.e., vast expanse) rian ri1n
(possessive article) e 2
precious tar tAr
(to) prevail mefor mEfor
prince rhyl rhyl
princess rhylan rhylan
pure arveth 1rveT
queen alléyn 1lle7n
race (i.e., species) dolûn dOlwn
rain atos 1tOs
rainbow hanélos hanelos
red nivala nivala
(to) rest lafor lafor
ring nelos nelos
river gial gI1l
root abehn 1behn
rose dal dAl
rose children Dal-Kalen dAlkAlen
(to) rotate alsutith 1lsUtIT
round red fruit of Dylak Thana chan can
(to) sail ajatal 1jAtAl
sailor ajatal-nitha 1jAtAlniTa
sand barin barin
savage tamar tAmAr
savage ones Tamari tAmAri
(to) scatter kharas Karas
sea aras 1ras
(to) see mavel mAvel
shadow arith 1riT
shame basu basU
she guën gU2n
shield sar sAr
shining simsel sImsEl
sight malvé mAlve
sign vel vel
silent nesed nesEd
silver var var
silver trees of Briën Amir lyvariën lyvari2n
sister ilékaré 3lekAre
sky aijalon 13jAlon
sleep, slumber tongir tOngIr
smoke atha 1Ta
son eïron 23ron
sorrow marah mArah
soul ve v2
south ralthel ralTel
(to) speak som sOm
spear honel honel
spire sion sI4n
spring lorin lorin
star sil sIl
stone ellés 2lles
story dhoavra Do1vra
strength tari tAri
summer meor mE4r
sun anbar 1nbar
(to) sunder khalan Kalan
sweet lia li1
sword kir kIr
symbol, token vel vel
tale dhoavra Do1vra
telepath atori 1tOri
telepathy ator 1tOr
(to) tell dhovar Dovar
they maë mA2
(to) think vaër va2r
(to) throw nesh neS
thunder verin verin
time (period of) isam 3sAm
to lis lis
token vel vel
tomb dirak dIrak
top adu 1dU
tower dulak dUlak
true ell 2ll
truth ellon 2llon
under mûn mWn
vampire miëldumuïr

mI2ldUmU3r
vehaDotril
Veirakai’s Black Forge Vehadhotril
vengeance filani filani
volcano pebo pebo
(to) wander thelvil Telvil
war kirish kIriS
water aja 1jA
wave ramma rammA
we kora kOra
(to) weep krudel krudEl
west fajhastim fajhastIm
when koia kO31
white sira sIra
white night-blossoming flowers orlahnna 4rlahnna
who (interrogative) khel Kel
wight vethre veTre
wind neva neva
winged serpent of shadow fanzaër fanzA2r
winter daspril dAspril
with furi furi
woe shûl Swl
woman (i.e., female adult) jerei jEre3
(to) write kod kOd
yes mei mE3
you (sing.) le l2
you (pl.) olath 4laT
Elven/English

a and
abehn root
adu top
aëtha gem
ahn death
ahnfer deathless, undying
aijalon sky
aja water
ajatal (to) sail
ajatal-nitha sailor
alaren falcon
alfreth elf
alléyn queen
alon place
alonar evening
alsutith (to) rotate
alyn king
amin house (i.e., structure)
amir home
anbar sun
aniëk glory
arad deer
aram head
aras sea
arith shadow
arkast (to) lead out
Arkastanai led out ones
arlluvia dawn
arveth pure
aster (to) blossom
astrellia flower
ataën cradle
atha smoke
ator telepathy
atori telepath
atos rain
barin sand
basu shame
besu age (i.e., of time)
betas (to) afflict
briën, brios forest
bris human
chalé deep
Chalédryos Ice Deep Fortress
chan round red fruit of Dylak Thana
dal rose
Dal-Kalen rose children
daspril winter
delanaë music
delis hair
dersol each (person)
dhoavra tale, story
dhotril forge
dhovar (to) tell
dirak tomb
dirsunil arrow, sheaf
dolûn race (i.e., species)
dryos ice
duil city
dulak tower
dumuïr fang
dûn battle
dylak gold
dylakai Gold Elf
e possessive article
efion (to) ban, forbid
eïné beast, animal
eïron son
el hot
ell true
ellés stone
ellon truth
erusik many
fajhastim west
fanzaër winged serpent of shadow
felvioth deceiver
fereg (t0) abandon
filani vengeance
filel (to) avenge
firgha grief
firgahn (to) grieve
furi with
gadha land
galadrin emerald
ghan fortress
gial river
giël brook, small river
grel coral
grûl cave
guan he
guën she
gûn but
halja journey, trip
hanélos rainbow
heïdh into
honel spear
hynar ban
iël life
igleïs (to) fear
iglesi fear
il cold
ilékar brother
ilékaré sister
ilem-ilem often
in no (i.e., not any)
inarmiros eternal
intoh hall
irgahn (to) die
irgahn-nitha the dead
isam time (period of)
jeré man (i.e., male adult)
jerei woman (i.e., female adult)
jihaüd (to) begin
kahr negative suffix
kalen child
karté crown
kavis lake
kelvir noble
kenpel academy
khala against
khalabaksin dragon
khalan (to) sunder
kharas (to) scatter
khared (to) divide, separate
khel who (interrogative)
khula circle
kiën (to) love
kiënesh heart
kifu name
kir sword
kirish war
kiskleth lightning
kithra cruel
klai breastplate
kod (to) write
koia when
kol darkness, night
kora we
koralin pearl
krudel (to) weep
lafor (to) rest
lara fair (i.e., beautiful, great)
Larenai fair ones
lasdel bond
laür (to) fall
le you (sing.)
lebir (to) awake
lia sweet
lion high
lira morning
limak crescent
lis to
lorin spring
luok (to) drink
lusi it
lyvariën silver trees of Briën Amir
ma bent, evil
maë they
malvé sight
mana flame
manada inferno
mar hand
marah sorrow
marin finger
mavel (to) see
mefor (to) prevail
mei yes
meor summer
meta by
mia gift
miël blood
miëldumuïr vampire
miliël house (i.e., genealogy)
mirel divine
mir magic
miri mage
mirm (to) forsake
mivis body
mol mountain
molen mountain chain
molfethen citadel
monseril arrow, flight
muër cycle
mûl bow
mûn under
naïn (to) lose
naülfal jade
nelos ring
nemor oblivion
neomir (to) forget
nesed silent
nesh (to) throw
nessa mouth
neva wind
nivala red
Nohr giant (i.e., monster)
nualihn fence, border
olath you (pl.)
onthé horn (i.e., of an animal)
orlahnna white night-blossoming flowers
ors (to) bear (a child)
orsé birth
othik messenger
oûdus foot
pebo volcano
pedish east
perbis barrier
pralik (to) come
pyr more
pyré most
pyrish gate
ra grass
rag (to) carve
ragor (to) go
ralthel south
ram (to) break, sunder
ramma wave
rammad crest (i.e., top of)
rhyl prince
rhylan princess
rian plain (i.e., vast expanse)
riël (to) bleed
riosé diamond
risal (to) guard
risal-nitha guard (i.e., person)
rudril fire
sabet affliction, scourge
sar shield
saren lord
sei glade
sela eye
shalar (to) desire, long for
shiën (to) know
shik message
shivar god
shûl woe
sil star
simsel bright, shining
sion spire
sira white
sirai White Elves
siréh father
sken (to) hate
som (to) speak
sperr ear
srel (to) enchant
subraël fountain
sûëlé onyx
sur (to) do
surevi frost
taban nose
talfri field (i.e., meadow)
talas book
tamar savage
Tamari savage ones
tambril light
tané leg
tar precious
tari strength
tarkiën beloved
tekin arm
telvan palace
tervis (to) end, finish, complete
tes or
thana desert
thé I
thelvil (t0) wander
thes can (i.e., possibility)
thiron (to) honor
thiséfel faerie
tholé alone
thre captive
thros because
til of
tineïl north
tirn (to) pierce
toki discontent
tongir sleep, slumber
tongrahn coma, death-sleep
tor blade
tsujatha gryphon
tûnn grey
ty great
ulas in
ulti always
uok (to) eat
uram bay
ursé fish
uth (to) be
vaël chain
vaër (to) think
var silver
ve soul
veha black
Vehadhotril Veirakai’s Black Forge
vel symbol, sign, token
verin thunder
versid path
vethre wight
visara desolation
viël (to) live
voäkrin peak (i.e., of a mountain)
vor as
vorlad (to) beware
y no (i.e., opp. of yes)
ziré around

Elven Phonetic Sounds:

a i u û e o b d f g h j gh th kh k l m n p r rh s t v z y sh dh

áäíïéëóúûü
 The Elven Alphabet

kAgres or Kagres

1234567kgr
szfvlntdTDSJ
KG
a e i o u û y k g r s z f v l n t d th dh sh jh kh gh

jmhpbc
j m h p b ch

1234567890
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Some points:
1. Vowels that immediately succeed a consonant sound are placed either above or
below the consonantal characters, depending on their shape.
2. If another vowel follows after that, it is written normally.
3. If a word starts with two vowels in succession, the second vowel is not written under
the first, but both are written normally. A vowel is never written above or below
another vowel.

Nethrin’s arrows read, “The life is in the blood.”

32lhamI2lul
asUTa0
Nethrin’s bow reads, “I will not go unaccompanied.”

TehakWnane
kAhrTole0
Sarel-Tamir’s shield reads, “No blade will prevail against you.”
tOrha3nhale
KalamEforan
e0
Tsujatha’s poem:

KulaharagOr
azIre
Kulahava2lu
Ta
Kelynle2mIli
2lSi2na
14rsEkIfu2llv
orlad
KulaharagOr
ezIre
Kulahanelos
UTa
ri4sE7nkOlh
e3DneS
tEsle2sIllorin
ulasna3nane
KulaharagOr
ezIre
2llesmWnJih
a5dA5TtErvi
sA5T
mAtIltA24rs
SwllistA24rs
1hnhadErsOl
lisTolepralik
A
Sillara’s poem:

tOrhana3na
nuTagWnra
mAnkAhr
lusI2Do1vra
TrosDovaran
kAhruTa
112TasIravel
sImsEldYlaks
IltIluTa
kI2neSkArtE
ra1ni2kYnSa
lara
li4nTironankI
fu
gWnmArahr
a5ltIli1pyreD
o1vra5Ta
larapyresIlm
Ana5lasIrgA
hna