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snurtz — TUTORIAL: How to write Elvish

Published: 2007-08-29 18:07:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 111869; Favourites: 996; Downloads: 5503
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Description If you use this tutorial to make a deviation of any kind, kindly comment below and tell me so. I'd love to view your work, it, and possibly critique it, if you so desire. You don't have to credit me in the comments, seeing as I didn't actually create Elvish, but I really want to see if you used it.

This took me like, 2 or 3 days. But that's just because I'm distractable.

I also have this available as a Word document, if you want it for printing purposes. Sorry, the computer the Word document was saved on is LONG gone!!!

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References:
The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth by Ruth S. Noel
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

thanks to for this fabulous workbook !!! I suggest comparing my tutorial and this workbook to get a more rounded view on how to write in Elvish! NOTE: The workbook is a pdf, just to let you know. Apparently this workbook has disappeared!!!

Elvish fonts found at [link] ... They're fabulous, but make sure you use the character map pdf that comes with it, or what you think says "mellon" will actually say ldfyywhw! And yes, that's what it will actually say.

If there is anything else you want to know, just tell me!

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P.S.- Want a REAL challenge?? Translate THIS! [link]

P.P.S.- I just noticed this, I messed up the example for Quenya, with the word "Elemmire"... The Tehtar are pretty much all in the wrong place. The "practice" example is correct, however.

P.P.P.S.- OHOHOH. If you wanna learn real elvish, go here, it's a great website!!! [link] ...or you can get the book The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth [link] by Ruth S. Noel, it's veeeery helpful.

P.P.P.P.S.- I like P.S... hehehe. Check out this website by .

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I take requests/commissions on Elvish calligraphy such as this. Right now it’s free because I’m not a greedy person, but I don’t know how long it will stay that way. Please see my journal [link] for more information.

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Thank you to everyone for the comments and the s!
Related content
Comments: 255

snurtz In reply to ??? [2012-07-14 05:21:19 +0000 UTC]

awwww! Have fun with it

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saffyminty In reply to ??? [2012-05-15 10:23:07 +0000 UTC]

Awesome job here!!! Very indepth
Which one do you like better, Quenya or Sindarin?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to saffyminty [2012-05-15 22:44:53 +0000 UTC]

I prefer Sindarin because I write in English so much and they're similar in style... also, I know more Sindarin, although most people know more Quenya. XD

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saffyminty In reply to snurtz [2012-05-16 08:03:40 +0000 UTC]

Yep!!! Thanks, I prefer Sindarin too

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gabrielitaa [2012-05-04 11:51:15 +0000 UTC]

or uriel for example to see u

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gabrielitaa [2012-05-04 11:46:18 +0000 UTC]

this helps me a lot but can u write for me ex. julien to see how u do it?

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Silent-Snowfall In reply to ??? [2012-01-27 12:42:34 +0000 UTC]

I am trying to learn the language, this is helping me so much!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to Silent-Snowfall [2012-01-27 21:37:00 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad ^_^

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Silent-Snowfall In reply to snurtz [2012-01-27 22:07:06 +0000 UTC]

Do you have a tutorial on how to translate elvish to english?

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snurtz In reply to Silent-Snowfall [2012-01-28 00:15:07 +0000 UTC]

Elvish the language or the writing system?

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Silent-Snowfall In reply to snurtz [2012-01-28 03:33:35 +0000 UTC]

Either or both, its not easy.

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Floweraise [2011-11-21 23:45:39 +0000 UTC]

Are you writing in the sindarin type of elvish? I write in Quenya! WE BOTH KNOW ELVISH!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to Floweraise [2011-11-23 00:48:20 +0000 UTC]

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cozacat [2011-10-11 15:14:34 +0000 UTC]

*brain goes POP!*



I'm loving this though

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to cozacat [2011-10-11 19:07:57 +0000 UTC]

thanks <3

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

IrisHitatsumy13 In reply to ??? [2011-08-23 04:24:51 +0000 UTC]

oh my god! I think I wanna cry!! This tutorial is the best I've seen so far!! is helpful and super useful!

thank you very much for creating this tutorial!!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

fuudon [2011-08-23 02:48:54 +0000 UTC]

the reading for #11 confuses me
but this is really quite nice and laid out. kudos for organization!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ShaylynnAnn In reply to ??? [2011-07-29 01:48:34 +0000 UTC]

This is AMAZING. I've been trying to figure out "English in Elvish" for awhile, and this clears up some of the questions I had!

I do have a couple of questions, though. Any time you have a long vowel sound, do you have to use the long tehtar holder?
Also, for the "SH" sound (as in my name), would I use Tengwar #11, or the special character you have listed below?

Thank you SO MUCH for writing this up, by the way.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Karajo [2011-07-15 15:44:50 +0000 UTC]

this will be sooo helpfull
thx

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Lamorien In reply to ??? [2011-07-13 23:10:42 +0000 UTC]

niceeeeee this is very helpful

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

NordicLynx [2011-07-08 20:07:43 +0000 UTC]

Very interesting. Good work

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

WillowForrestall [2011-07-07 18:16:10 +0000 UTC]

What a coincidence I just put up my Earth robe and on the edge is Elven English lettering on the edge. Timing for today is amazing

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

PakPolaris In reply to ??? [2011-07-07 17:55:38 +0000 UTC]

beautiful work and I am sure laboriously done 11/10

<3

P.S. I wish you had included the One Ring inscription as well, just for fun

P.P.S. I like to use P.S. too, I am so happy I am no the only weirdo doing it

P.P.P.S. weirdo was an in appropriate word, more befitting would be unique

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

meliruth [2011-07-04 05:31:44 +0000 UTC]

Thank you sooo much for making the tutorial

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Vortex6457 In reply to ??? [2011-06-06 14:28:19 +0000 UTC]

This is really amazing btw... one of the best i've found and i was wondering about the practice english... i think you made a mistake on 'winter' but i could be wrong? i'm confused by the use of the use of the symbol for a double letter and its placing. but i might be wrong. lol

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to Vortex6457 [2011-06-06 20:54:37 +0000 UTC]

Nope, "winter" is just fine! When the symbol is OVER the letter it indicates a nasal blend (nt, nd, mp, mb). When the symbol is UNDER the letter, it indicates a double consonant.

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StrawberryJam1313 In reply to ??? [2011-06-03 10:20:15 +0000 UTC]

Wow, this is awesome, thank you so much! 8D So helpful~ And I got the Quenya and English practices xD (After looking like, a thousand times) and I'll probably do the Feanorian one soon. *sadly not interested in Sindarin*

Um, I have a question, if you translate the practice-Quenya into English, what does it mean?

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snurtz In reply to StrawberryJam1313 [2011-06-03 22:04:27 +0000 UTC]

I don't remember what it means xD

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StrawberryJam1313 In reply to snurtz [2011-06-04 05:19:28 +0000 UTC]

Ahaha that's okay 8D Thank you so much anyway!

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TypicalWatson In reply to ??? [2011-05-30 01:48:30 +0000 UTC]

Woah this if fantastic. I always wondered about Elvish. Think I may have found a new hobby!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to TypicalWatson [2011-05-30 15:21:22 +0000 UTC]

It's so much fun, you'll love it!

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Langue-Skulptur [2011-05-13 05:52:17 +0000 UTC]

Oh my god there's actually grammar structure and vocab to Lotr elvish?! Wow it's like Klingon.

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snurtz In reply to Langue-Skulptur [2011-05-13 20:10:07 +0000 UTC]

Better than Klingon.

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Langue-Skulptur In reply to snurtz [2011-05-13 22:27:05 +0000 UTC]

Yeah true. I'm not much of a Klingon fan. Romulans b4 Klingons.

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TessAnna60 In reply to ??? [2011-04-22 17:07:57 +0000 UTC]

It's me again I forgot one word to translate it's karma.

thanks!

xoxo

Tess

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TessAnna60 [2011-04-22 15:00:58 +0000 UTC]

Hello! Really nice job here. Now I know that everybody asking you that but can you translate 4 words for me please? That's for a tattoo. The words are: Love, Music, Freedom and Life. Thanks a lot in advance!

xoxo

Tess

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LadySkyelar In reply to ??? [2011-03-22 05:07:39 +0000 UTC]

Would you be able to help me write a phrase "properly" (as in the vowels are set up correctly in the words) for a potential future tattoo? I'm attempting to do it at the moment with my limited knowledge, but I always get confused (like with the word "all" and "who")

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snurtz In reply to LadySkyelar [2011-03-22 15:28:38 +0000 UTC]

Absolutely! What is the phrase/word?

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LadySkyelar In reply to snurtz [2011-03-23 15:43:08 +0000 UTC]

I know you already got my note, but in case anyone else is interested.. it's "Not all who wander are lost"..

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primulatook In reply to ??? [2011-03-03 03:46:34 +0000 UTC]

nice!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to primulatook [2011-03-03 20:47:17 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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TSR92 In reply to ??? [2011-02-24 22:41:14 +0000 UTC]

hey! ok so i have been searching around websites like this b/c i am debating getting a tattoo with some phrases in elvish but i really dont want to be running around for the rest of my life with something that some random person was just like... ya this is how you do it and it end up not being correct at all! because your tutorial seeme pretty legit do you think you could translate some things for me? i mean i could most likely figure it out myself but i don't really want to risk messing it up :/

- TSR

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snurtz In reply to TSR92 [2011-02-24 23:07:09 +0000 UTC]

Sure, just note me with your request and I'll get on it ASAP!

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TSR92 In reply to snurtz [2011-02-25 00:33:16 +0000 UTC]

ahh THANK YOU! ok here are the possibilities....


-Just Be-
-To Be Is To Do-
-Live And Let Live-
-Simply Live-
-Just Do It-
-The Mind Is Everything, What You Think You Become-

i hope you can do it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

cha011 In reply to ??? [2011-02-17 06:01:32 +0000 UTC]

Very Nice

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LotrAnimeGirl In reply to ??? [2011-01-20 15:37:09 +0000 UTC]

YUS!!!!! hehe I've been looking for something like this all night!!! Thank ya!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

snurtz In reply to LotrAnimeGirl [2011-01-24 22:02:57 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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Eiremauve [2011-01-19 02:08:33 +0000 UTC]

This is great! Thank you.

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JenicaRoseHeart In reply to ??? [2011-01-03 23:25:20 +0000 UTC]

Neat! I've always been curious about this. Thanks!

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Nightflinger [2010-12-20 14:56:55 +0000 UTC]

Hmm. I like the concept, but two things prevent me from learning this...
1. I can't write calligraphy worth bothering; I shake too bad.
2. I'll stick with my Illythiiri, thank you.

Gre'as'anto tlu xuil dos, jhal kyorl dosst rath.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


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