Tengwar Handbook

Note

This is a work in progress, an attempt to collect and summarize in an easy-to-read format the sometimes contradictory information about Tengwar.

Please send me corrections and feedback so that I can make this information as accurate as possible.

Introduction

Tengwar is a writing system created by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is also known as the Fëanorian system, from the name of its (fictional) inventor.

It‘s important to understand that Tengwar is not a language.

Tolkien created many languages to flavor the world of Middle-Earth, including Quenya, the ancient speech of the Noldor Elves, and Sindarin, the language derived from Quenya spoken by the Grey Elves. Those languages can be written with the Tengwar script, but so can the Mannish (human) languages, including English and many more.

In this handbook we will focus on the Tengwar writing system itself. You can find elsewhere information about the grammar and vocabulary of Sindarin, Quenya and other Elvish languages.

Modes

A mode of Tengwar is a set of conventions used to transcribe a specific language. There are modes for Quenya, Sindarin, English and many other languages. Some languages even have multiple modes.

See http://at.mansbjorkman.net/teng_modes.htm

Tengwar is a flexible system and a given inscription can be represented in several ways even when using a specific mode: for stylistic reasons a transcriber may prefer to use one form over another.

We will begin by discussing the tengwar letters in general, followed by the English mode, the Sindarin mode (Gondor), the mode of Beleriand (Sindarin) and the Quenya mode.

Here is the same sentence transcribed using different modes:

English orthographic mode

{{Not all those who wander are lost}}: Not all those who wander are lost

English phonemic mode

{{english-phonemic: Not all those who wander are lost}}: /nˈɑt/ /ˈɔːɫ/ /ðˈoʊz/ /hˈuː/ /wˈɑndɚ/ /ˈɑr/ /ɫˈɔːst/; not ool dhouz huu wondər ar lost

Sindarin mode (Gondor)

{{sindarin: Law ill idh reniar gwenwin }}: Law ill idh reniar gwenwin

Tengwar Letters

A Tengwar glyph is called a tengwa which means letter in Quenya. The plural is tengwar (letters).

The modes of Tengwar can be divided into two categories: Full Modes represent vowels with distinct tengwar and Ómatehtar Modes represent vowels with diacritical marks called tehtar: Quenya signs or markings.

Sindarin mellon, friend
Full Mode (Mode of Beleriand)	{{beleriand:mellon}}
Ómatehtar (Mode of Gondor)	{{sindarin:mellon}}

The Quenya Alphabet — The Qenya Alphabet as drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1931.

The shape of the tengwa correspond to the distinctive feature of the sound it represents. Thus, the place of articulation is represented by glyphs grouped in series (témar) as follow:

Tincotéma: dental sounds such as /t/, /d/, /n/
Parmatéma: labial sounds such as /p/, /b/, /m/, /f/
Calmatéma: velar sounds such as /k/, /g/
Quessetéma: labiovelar sounds such as /k^w/, /g^w/, /ñ^w/
Tyelpetéma: palatal sounds such as /sh/, /j/

In addition, each have six corresponding manner of articulations, represented in the six rows (tyeller) of the table below:

Series 1: voiceless plosives such as /p/, /t/, /k/
Series 2: voiced plosives such as /b/, /d/, /g/
Series 3: voiceless fricatives such as /f/, /sh/
Series 4: voiced fricatives /v/, /ð/, /ɣ/
Series 5: nasals such as /n/, /m/
Series 6: approximants

Some tengwar have an extended form (with the tail extending above and below the baseline), but they are less common and may not be used at all in some modes, or used as a shorthand. For example in the English mode, "extended ando" {{ {extended-ando} }} is used as an abbreviation for "the".

Note

In Tecendil, to use some specific tengwa in a transcription input tengwar codes such as {tinco} for {{ {tinco} }} or {extended-calma} for {{ {extended-calma} }}.

	Tincotéma	Parmatéma	Calmatéma	Quessetéma
1	{{ {tinco} }} tinco	{{ {parma} }} parma	{{ {calma} }} calma	{{ {quesse} }} quessë
2	{{ {ando} }} ando	{{ {umbar} }} umbar	{{ {anga} }} anga	{{ {ungwe} }} ungwë
3	{{ {thuule} }} súlë	{{ {formen} }} formen	{{ {harma} }} harma / aha	{{ {hwesta} }} hwesta
4	{{ {anto} }} anto	{{ {ampa} }} ampa	{{ {anca} }} anca	{{ {unque} }} unquë
5	{{ {nuumen} }} númen	{{ {malta} }} malta	{{ {noldo} }} ñoldo	{{ {nwalme} }} ñwalmë
6	{{ {oore} }} órë	{{ {vala} }} vala	{{ {anna} }} anna	{{ {vilya} }} vilya
	{{ {extended-tinco} }} extended tinco	{{ {extended-parma} }} extended parma	{{ {extended-calma} }} extended calma	{{ {extended-quesse} }} extended quessë
	{{ {extended-ando} }} extended ando	{{ {extended-umbar} }} extended umbar	{{ {extended-anga} }} extended anga	{{ {extended-ungwe} }} extended ungwë

Additional Tengwar
{{ {roomen} }} rómen	{{ {arda} }} arda	{{ {lambe} }} lambe	{{ {alda} }} alda
{{ {silme} }} silme	{{ {silme-nuquerna} }} silme nuquerna	{{ {esse} }} essë	{{ {esse-nuquerna} }} essë nuquerna
{{ {hyarmen} }} hyarmen	{{ {hwesta-sindarinwa} }} hwesta Sindarinwa	{{ {yanta} }} yanta	{{ {uure} }} úrë
{{ {osse} }} osse	{{ {halla} }} halla	{{ {telco} }} telco	{{ {aara} }} ára

Punctuation

The following marks are used for punctuation:

comma (pusta)	{{ {pusta} }}
period (double pusta)	{{ {double-pusta} }} or {{ {double-pusta}{pusta} }}
colon (triple pusta)	{{ {triple-pusta} }}
semicolon	{{ ; }}
hyphen	{{ - }}
paragraph end	{{ {double-pusta}{dash} }} or {{ {quadruple-pusta} }}
question mark	{{ ? }}
exclamation mark	{{ ! }} New mark proposed with Unicode encoding.
parenthesis	{{ ( }}

Capitalization

Capital letters, also called majuscule or uppercase letters, do not exist in Tengwar.

However, it is possible to highlight some tengwar. Typically, this would be used with the first tengwa of personal names.

There are several techniques for this highlighting:

size: the highlighted tengwa can be drawn larger
color: the highlighted tengwa can be draw with a contrasting color (often red)
shape: the vertical stroke of the tengwa can be doubled

{{t}} {{T}}	{{c}} {{C}}	{{b}} {{B}}
{{v}} {{V}}	{{g}} {{G}}	{{d}} {{D}}
{{n}} {{N}}	{{l}} {{L}}	{{r}} {{R}}

Numbers

Numbers can be written in base-10 (decimal) or, more commonly, base-12 (duodecimal). Decimal numbers are indicated by a dot or bar above the digits. Duodecimal numbers may be indicated by a dot or bar below the digits. If no dots or bars are present, base-12 should be assumed.

Numbers are written with the least significant digit first. That is, twelve would be written as 21 in base-10 or 01 in base-12. An open dot (ring) is placed under the least significant digit if there are two digits or more.

The mark extended tinco {{ {extended-tinco} }} is used to indicate an ordinal number, such as 1st {{ 1st }}, 2nd {{ 2nd }}, etc...

Note

In Tecendil, to request a transcription using decimal numbers rather than duodecimal, precede the number with a # sign in the Tecendil input field.

The English Mode

Several modes have been devised by J.R.R. Tolkien and his son Christopher to transcribe English with the Tengwar writing system. They were not always consistent, sometimes using different conventions within a single document! You will find that even today people will use slightly different conventions to write Tengwar. It’s not necesarily that there is a “right” and “wrong” way. Sometimes, it’s just a stylistic difference. Think of the difference between the spelling of “color” and “colour”.

The English orthographic mode preservers the peculiarities of English orthography, for example, ph or gh for a /f/ sound in "phone" or "cough".

The English phonemic mode transcribes the sounds of English rather than the spelling of English. For example, the word "courage" would be transcribed as "keredj". The phonemic mode requires a very good understanding of English phonology and will vary based on dialectal differences. Therefore, a fully phonemic mode for English is less commonly used.

Tolkien used both phonemic and orthographic modes in various materials, and sometimes a hybrid of both. Furthermore, he also used both Full Modes and Ómatehtar Modes.

There was of course no “mode” for the representation of English. One adequate phonetically could be devised from the Fëanorian system. The brief example on the title-page does not attempt to exhibit this. It is rather an example of what a man of Gondor might have produced, hesitating between the values of the letters familiar in his “mode” and the traditional spelling of English.

— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E.

In this handbook, we follow an orthographic mode, with a phonemic representation for some common English words. It’s a very subjective and personal interpretation, of course, and you could choose a different and equally valid transcription.

For example, a purely orthographic transcription of:

: Though she has those things there.

could be:

: 3y^v dÉ 9iD 3iHË 3b%+ 36RÉ -

We find this more pleasant:

: {{ Though she has those things there }}

The Consonants

The table below indicate how the Tengwar are used in the English mode.

See http://at.mansbjorkman.net/teng_general_english.htm

{{ {tinco} }} T	{{ {parma} }} P	{{ {calma} }} CH `/tʃ/`	{{ {quesse} }} C `/k/`, K
{{ {ando} }} D	{{ {umbar} }} B	{{ {anga} }} J	{{ {ungwe} }} G
{{ {thuule} }} TH /θ/ ²	{{ {formen} }} F	{{ {harma} }} SH	{{ {hwesta} }} CH `/k/` ³
{{ {anto} }} TH `/ð/` ⁴	{{ {ampa} }} V	{{ {anca} }} `/ʒ/` ⁵	{{ {unque} }} GH⁶
{{ {nuumen} }} N	{{ {malta} }} M	{{ {noldo} }}	{{ {nwalme} }} NG⁷
{{ {oore} }} R⁸	{{ {vala} }} W	{{ {anna} }} Y	{{ {vilya} }} -
{{ {roomen} }} R⁹	{{ {arda} }}	{{ {lambe} }} L	{{ {alda} }} LL
{{ {silme} }} S	{{ {silme-nuquerna} }} S, C `/s/`	{{ {esse} }} Z	{{ {esse-nuquerna} }} Z
{{ {hyarmen} }} H	{{ {hwesta-sindarinwa} }} WH	{{ {yanta} }} Y ¹⁰	{{ {uure} }} W
! TH `/t/`¹¹	Q PH `/f/`	A	Z CH `/k/`¹²
@ the	W of	S	X silent GH¹³

halla {{ {halla} }} may be used for a silent H archaic? use 9 instead? Or used for silent-h instead of aspirated-h?

(2) thuule {{ {thuule} }} ⟨th⟩ as a voiceless dental fricative, as in "thing" {{ thing }}

(3) The digraph ⟨ch⟩ /k/ (as in echo {{ {hwesta}[acute]o }}) can be transcribed with this tengwa, or with extended quessë {{ {extended-quesse} }}: {{ {extended-quesse}[acute]o }}). Very rarely, for the digraph ⟨ck⟩ in "black".

(4) anto {{ {anto} }} ⟨th⟩ as a voiced dental fricative, as in this {{ this }}

(5) ⟨g⟩ as in "mirage" {{ mirage }}, ⟨si⟩ as in "illusion" {{ illusion }} or ⟨su⟩ as in "treasure" {{ treasure }}

(6) unque {{ {unque} }} ⟨gh⟩ pronounced /g/ + /h/ as in "ghost" {{ ghost }} or "aghast" {{ aghhast }}.

(7) ⟨ng⟩ is often written as x{ (g preceded by n)

(8) Used for final ⟨r⟩ or when preceding a consonant

(9) Used for ⟨r⟩ preceding a vowel.

(10) Sometimes used for consonantal Y when h is used for final or vowel Y. Mostly used for i-glide diphthongs such as "their".

(11) ⟨th⟩ pronounced as /t/ sound, for example as in "Thomas" {{Thomas}}

(12) /k/ sound, also ⟨ck⟩ as in "black" {{ black }}, ⟨ch⟩ as in "chaos" {{ chaos }}, ⟨qu⟩ as in "technique" {{ technique }}

(13) ⟨gh⟩ when silent, as in "Hugh" {{Hugh}}

Note

Shaded entries are only theoretical or poorly attested.

Need to confirm /y/ consonantal vs. not. Conflicting info.

Consonant Modifications

Doubled Consonants

Doubled (geminated) consonants are indicated by placing a horizontal line (straight bar or tilde) below the tengwa, or inside it for lambe {{ {lambe}[bar-inside] }}.

For /n/ númen {{ {nuumen} }} or /m/ malta {{ {malta} }} the line may be placed above the tengwa, as per the nasalized consonant rule.

q'	1'	j¸	t"	tP	t{
PP	TT	LL	MM

Nasalized Consonants

Nasalized consonants, e.g. nt, mp or nk, are indicated by a horizontal line (straight bar or tilde) above the tengwa.

1p	q[	z[
NT	MP	NC

Labialized Consonants

Labialized consonants are indicated by a wavy-curl placed above the tengwa.

zé

quiet	{{quiet}}
queen	{{queen}}

The Vowels

In this mode vowels are indicated by diacritics on the tengwa following the consonant.

The vowels are represented by the following tehtar:

`C	`V	`B	`N	`M
A	E	I	O	U

ea = `>

See also: http://www.skymind.com/~ocrow/tengwar/tehtar.html, http://www.starchamber.com/paracelsus/elvish/tengwar-textbook.pdf, p32

Silent ⟨e⟩ is transcribed with a dot under the preceding consonant.

nice	{{nice}}
there	{{there}}

Double vowels may be placed on their own vowel carrier or as a double tehta.

foot	{{foot}}
foo*t	{{foo*t}}
seen	{{seen}}
see*n	{{see*n}}

Vowel diphthongs can be represented as two consecutive short-carriers with the appropriate tehtar or by the following tengwa/tehta combinations. These special combinations should only be used when they are pronounced as one. For example ⟨ai⟩ as in main {{ main }}, rather than ⟨ai⟩ as in archaic {{ archaic }}.

{{ai}}	{{ei}}	{{oi}}	{{ui}}
AI	EI	OI	UI

{{au}}	{{eu}}	{{iu}}	{{ou}}
AU	EU	IU	OU / OW

{{ea}}	{{ae}}	{{oe}}
EA	AE	OE

plain	{{plain}}
now	{{now}}
earth	{{earth}}
aunt	{{aunt}}
feud	{{feud}}

The letter `⟨y⟩`

The letter ⟨y⟩ can be represented by several tehtar:

following a consonant, used on the preceding consonant

1Î tÌ j´

preceding ⟨y⟩

`Û

`⟨s⟩` pronounced `/z/` and `⟨ch⟩` pronounced `/k/`

When using this mode each tengwa corresponds to a specific letter or sequence of letters. However, some adjustments are frequently made to account for different pronunciations, in which case a given letter will be represented by different tengwar.

That’s the case for the letter ⟨s⟩: when pronounced as a soft-S /s/ it is transcribed with silme {{ {silme} }} or silme nuquerna {{ {silme-nuquerna} }}, but when pronounced as a hard-S /z/, it is transcribed with esse {{ {esse} }} or esse nuquerna {{ {esse-nuquerna} }}

However, a final ⟨s⟩, for example to indicate plural, is usually transcribed with a hook {{ [upward-hook] }} regardless of its proncunciation. If you prefer to us a silme {{ {silme} }} instead, add a ⟨*⟩ after the ⟨s⟩

Another example would be the digraph ⟨ch⟩: it is transcribed with a calma {{ {calma} }} when it is pronounced /tʃ/, but with a quessë {{ {quesse} }} or extended quessë {{ {extended-quesse} }} when it is pronounced /k/.

as	{{as}}
is	{{is}}
his	{{his}}
hers	{{hers}}
rings	{{rings}}
rings*	{{ rings* }}
champion	{{champion}}
Christmas	{{Christmas}} or {{ {Quesse}ristmas}}

The letter `⟨x⟩`

The letter ⟨x⟩ is usually transcribed as a quessë {{ {quesse} }} for a /k/ sound or ungwë {{ {ungwe} }} for a /g/ sound, with a hook below.

tax	{{tax}}
Alexander	{{Alexander}}

Soft and hard `⟨th⟩`

The digraph ⟨th⟩ in English can represent either a soft, voiceless /θ/ sound ("think") or a hard, voiced /ð/ sound ("this, that, these, those, then, than, they, them, their, theirs, themselves, though, there, than, thus, together, thing, smooth, soothe"). Note that aside from the words in the preceding list, most initial ⟨th⟩ are soft, most medial ⟨th⟩ are hard with a few exceptions ("earthy, healthy, pithy, wealthy") and loan words ("atheist, anthem, cathedral, author" etc...). Nouns ending in ⟨th⟩ are usually soft.

Even when using this orthographic mode, the tengwa anto {{ {anto} }} is used to represent hard ⟨th⟩ and thúlë {{ {thuule} }} for soft ⟨th⟩. By default, ⟨th⟩ is transcribed with thúlë {{ {thuule} }}. To override this and use anto {{ {anto} }} representing a hard /ð/, replace the ⟨th⟩ with ⟨dh⟩. For example:

this	{{this}} (not *{{ {thuule}{silme}[dot-above] }})
cloth	{{cloth}}
clothe	*{{clothe}}
*clodhe or cloðe	{{cloðe}}

The R-rule

To represent the /r/ sound, two tengwar can be used, rómen {{ {roomen} }} and óre {{ {oore} }}

Rómen {{ {roomen} }} is used before vowels except before a final silent-e

Óre {{ {oore} }} is used before consonants and at the end of words.

red	{{red}}
story	{{story}}
car	{{car}}
there	{{there}}
art	{{art}}

Shorthand

A few English words are transcribed with a shorthand tengwa.

and	{{ {and-shorthand} }} or {{ {ando}[bar-above] }}
of	{{ {of-shorthand} }}
the	{{ {the-shorthand} }}
of the	{{ {of-the-shorthand} }}
a, an	{{ 1 }} (tengwa for 1) ^[1]
on	{{ {anna}[bar-above] }} (anna + bar above) ^[2]
in	{{ {telco}[acute][bar-above] }} (elwe + bar above) ^[2]

[1] The Book of Marzabul
[2] The King’s Letter, used in full mode only

Variants

Although JRR Tolkien left extensive material using the English mode, his son Christopher Tolkien also contributed writings in Tengwar. In some cases, he used slightly different conventions than his father. Some of it could be considered personal preferences or perhaps regional variations, much like the words "color" and "colour".

Here are some of these differences:

	JRR Tolkien	Christopher Tolkien
soft G (e.g. "age")	ungwë {{ {ungwe} }}	anga {{ {anga} }}
WH		reversed formen
EA		{{ {telco}[acute][triple-dot-below] }}
vocalic Y	{{ {telco}[breve] }}	{{ {telco}[dot-above] }} or {{ {anna} }}
Nasal ND or NT	{{ nd }} and {{ nt }}	{{ n'd }} and {{ n't }}
Yanta {{ {yanta} }}	diphthong ending in -E	diphthong ending in -I
Diphthong ending in -U	{{ {vala} }}	{{ {uure} }}
Double-O, OO	{{ {telco}[right-curl]{telco}[right-curl] }}	{{ {aara}[right-curl] }}
Silent H (John, Christopher)	hyarmen {{ {hyarmen} }} and hwesta {{ {hwesta} }} or extended quessë {{ {extended-quesse} }}	halla {{ {halla} }}
S	Always silme {{ {silme} }}	Sometimes with osse {{ {osse} }}
Voiced S	esse {{ {esse} }}	silme {{ {silme} }}
Final -S	sa-rince {{ {telco}{hook} }}	silme {{ {silme} }}
Word to	{{ {tinco}{telco}[right-curl] }}	{{ {tinco}[right-curl-below] }}

Source for this section: /u/machsna.

Full Mode for English

English can be transcribed using a Full Mode where each vowel is represented by a distinct tengwa. This mode is available as the Westron Orthographic in Tecendil.

See this analysis.

The English Mode: Exercises

The answers are at the end of the book.

English Mode: Writing 1

mom

dad

cat

dog

orc

fig

big

bug

bag

gold

gap

car

ark

my

was

English Mode: Writing 2

all

wet

paw

zoo

toe

now

then

there

look

good

only

hole

from

English Mode: Writing 3

the

of

with

one

time

think

make

ant

day

bye

ink

mix

her

ray

English Mode: Writing 4

ball

door

house

know

again

before

when

away

eyes

Frodo

Gandalf

Aragorn

hobbits

Gimli

Legolas

rings

English Mode: Reading

{{In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit}}: ...
{{You shall not pass}}
{{It's the job that never started that takes the longest to finish}}
{{Home is behind, the world ahead}}
{{All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you}}
{{A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to}}
{{Even the smallest person can change the course of the future}}
{{One does not simply walk into Mordor}}
{{Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars}}
{{But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass}}
{{His old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front}}

The Sindarin Mode

Sindarin is written in one of two modes:

Mode of Gondor: Omatethar Mode where the vowels are represented with diacritics (tehtar) on the following tengwar, different tengwar are used to represent some sounds (/g/, etc...). This is the mode described in this section.
Mode of Beleriand: a Full Mode where vowels are represented by separate tengwar. See the following section for details.

Vowels

The vowels are:

`C	`V	`B	`N	`M	`×
A	E	I	O	U	Y

A telco {{ {telco} }} (vowel carrier) is used if there is no suitable tengwa, e.g. at the end of a word.

pedo, speak

In Roman transcription, long vowels are indicated with a circumflex or acute accent above the vowels. The tehta for long vowels is placed on a aara {{ {aara} }} (long vowel carrier).

dûn, west	{{sindarin: dûn}}
dîr, hard	{{sindarin: dîr}}

Diphthongs

lE	lY	hE	hR	hU	.E
AE	OE	AO	EI	UI	AU

Initial /i/ followed by a vowel is pronounced as a consonantal /y/ and transcribed with yanta {{ {yanta} }} in this mode.

iarwain, old-young

Consonants

Tincotéma		Parmatéma		Calmatéma		Quessetéma
1	t	q	p	a	—	z	c/k
2	d	w	b	s	—	x	g
3	th	e	f/ph	d	—	c	ch
4	dh	r	v/f	f	—	v	–
5	n	t	m	g	—	b	ng
6	–- r ¹	y	—	h	i-glide	n	w –
7	r ²	u	rh	j	l	m	lh
8	s	i	s	k	ss	,	ss
9	h	o	hw	l	e-glide	.	u-glide
š	mh

(1) Final r.

(2) Non-final r.

See p. 16 of http://www.starchamber.com/paracelsus/elvish/tengwar-textbook.pdf for vowels

Consonant Modifications

The letter /r/ is written with rómen {{ {roomen} }}, except in final position where óre {{ {oore} }} is used.

curunír, wizard	{{sindarin: curunír}}
aníra, to desire	{{sindarin: aníra}}
gelir, merry	{{sindarin: gelir}}
aran, king	{{sindarin: aran}}

Nasalized consonants (/nt/, /nd/, /mp/, /mb/, /ŋk/, /ŋg/) are indicated by a bar placed above the tengwa.

thond, root	{{sindarin: thond}}
lembas, waybread	{{sindarin: lembas}}
Ennorath, Middle-Earth	{{sindarin: Ennorath}}

An overbar is used to indicate that a /n/ or /m/ preceeds the tengwa that it is placed above.

Doubled (geminated) consonants are written with a bar above for /m/ and /n/, bar inside for /l/ and a bar below for /r/, and with esse {{ {esse} }} for /s/.

mm	{{ {malta}[bar-above] }}
nn	{{ {nuumen}[bar-above] }}
ss	{{ {esse} }}
ll	{{ {lambe}[bar-inside] }}
rr	{{ {roomen}[bar-below] }}

lamm, echo	{{sindarin:lamm}}
linn, song	{{sindarin:linn}}
loss, snow	{{sindarin:loss}}
mallen, golden	{{sindarin:mallen}}
Rohirrim, riders of Rohan	{{sindarin:Rohirrim}}

When tehtar are placed above /s/ silme {{ {silme} }} and /ss/ esse {{ {esse} }}, silme nuquerna {{ {silme-nuquerna} }} and esse nuquerna {{ {esse-nuquerna} }} can be used instead.

Sindarin has two unvoiced consonants: r and l, transcribed as arda {{ {arda} }} ⟨rh⟩ and alda {{ {alda} }} ⟨lh⟩. These are always initial. An ⟨rh⟩ or ⟨lh⟩ in non-initial position is a coincidence and should be represented by separate tengwar.

rhae, easy	{{sindarin: rhae}}
rhîw, winter	{{sindarin: rhîw}}
lhûg, serpent	{{sindarin: lhûg}}
lhê, filament	{{sindarin: lhê}}

The Mode of Beleriand (Sindarin)

The mode of Beleriand is a full mode for Sindarin where vowels are represented by separate Tengwar.

aglareb, glorious

Vowels

The vowels are:

{{beleriand: a}}	{{beleriand: e}}	{{beleriand: i}}	{{beleriand: o}}	{{beleriand: u}}	{{beleriand: y}}
A	E	I	O	U	Y

An acute accent (andaith {{ {acute} }}), is placed above the vowel to indicate a long vowel.

dûn, west	{{beleriand: dûn}}
dîr, hard	{{beleriand: dîr}}

Diphthongs

Sindarin has six diphthongs:

]Ý	hÝ	]Õ	lÕ	.Ö	]é
AE	OE	AI	EI	UI	AU/AW

iarwain, old-young

Note

In this mode, the diphthongs /ae/ and /oe/ are sometimes written as two tengwar.

aear, sea

{{beleriand:aear}} or {{beleriand:a'ear}}

Consonants

The shaded cells in the table below indicate the Tengwar that are specific to this mode.

Tincotéma		Parmatéma		Calmatéma		Quessetéma
1	t	q	p	a	c/k	z	—
2	d	w	b	s	g	x	-
3	th	e	f/ph	d	ch	c	—
4	dh	r	v/f	f	—	v	—
5	nn	t	mm	g	ng	b	—
6	n	y	m	h	o	n	w –
7	r	u	rh	j	l	m	lh
8	s	i	y	k	ss	,	ss
9	h	o	hw	l	e	.	u
		`	i	~	i –	]	a

See p. 16 of http://www.starchamber.com/paracelsus/elvish/tengwar-textbook.pdf for vowels

Consonant Modifications

The letter /r/ is always written with rómen {{ {roomen} }}.

curunír, wizard	{{beleriand: curunír}}
aníra, to desire	{{beleriand: aníra}}
gelir, merry	{{beleriand: gelir}}
aran, king	{{beleriand: aran}}
bŷr, follower	{{beleriand: bŷr}}

Nasalized consonants (/nt/, /nd/, /mp/, /mb/, /ŋk/, /ŋg/) are indicated by a bar placed above the tengwa.

thond, root	{{beleriand: thond}}
lembas, waybread	{{beleriand: lembas}}

Unlike other modes, the letter /n/ is written with óre {{ {oore} }} and /m/ with vala {{ {vala} }}. Geminated (doubled) /n/ is written with númen {{ {nuumen} }} and geminated /m/ with malta {{ {malta} }}. Other geminated consonants are doubled.

n	{{ {oore} }}
m	{{ {vala} }}
nn	{{ {nuumen} }}
mm	{{ {malta} }}
ss	{{ {esse} }}
ll	{{ {lambe}{lambe} }}
rr	{{ {roomen}{roomen} }}

mellon, friend	{{beleriand: mellon}}
anim, for myself	{{beleriand: anim}}
rammas, great wall	{{beleriand: rammas}}
Ennorath, Middle-Earth	{{beleriand: Ennorath}}
brannon, lord	{{beleriand: brannon}}
bess, wife	{{beleriand: bess}}

The Quenya Mode

Quenya is transcribed using an ómatehtar mode where the tehtar (diacritics) are on top of the preceding consonant.

Examples

{{quenya:Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen, yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!}}: Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen, yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!

Vowels

`C	`V	`B	`N	`M
A	E	I	O	U

Diphthongs

{{quenya: ai}}	{{quenya: oi}}	{{quenya: ui}}	{{quenya: iu}}	{{quenya: eu}}	{{quenya: au}}
AI	OI	UI	IU	EU	AU

Consonants

Tincotéma		Parmatéma		Calmatéma		Quessetéma
1	t	q	p	a	c (k)	z	qu
2	nd	w	mb	s	ng	x	ngw
3	th 〉s	e	f	d	-h	c	hw
4	nt	r	mp	f	nc	v	nqu
5	n	t	m	g	ñ 〉n	b	ñw 〉nw
6	-r	y	v	h	(g 〉ɣ 〉)ø	n	w (〉v)
	Additional Tengwar
7	r-	u	rd	j	l	m	ld
8	s	i	s	k	ss	<	ss
9	h-	l	-i	.	w	½	h (before `/l/` or `/r/`)
`	short vowel carrier	~	long vowel carrier

Samples

JRR Tolkien and his son Christopher produced Tengwar inscriptions in English, Sindarin, Quenya, Latin and Old English. Some were included in their published works, and others were part of their unpublished work. Below are a few examples.

Namarie — DTS 20

{{quenya:Namaarie}}
{{quenya:Altariello nainië Loriendesse}}

{{quenya:Ai laurië lantar lassi súrinen,}}
{{quenya:yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!}}
{{quenya:Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier}}
{{quenya:mí oromardi lisse-miruvóreva}}
{{quenya:Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar}}
{{quenya:nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni}}
{{quenya:ómaaryo airetári-lírinen.}}

{{quenya:Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?..}}

{{quenya:An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo}}
{{quenya:ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë,}}
{{quenya:ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë;}}
{{quenya:ar sindanóriello caita mornië}}
{{quenya:i falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië}}
{{quenya:untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë.}}
{{quenya:Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!}}

{{quenya:Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar!}}
{{quenya:Nai elyë hiruva! Namárië -}}

Ah! like gold fall the leaves in the wind, 
long years numberless as the wings of trees! 
The years have passed like swift draughts 
of the sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West, 
beneath the blue vaults of Varda 
wherein the stars tremble in the song of her voice, holy and queenly. 

Who now shall refill the cup for me? 

For now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the Stars, 
from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds, 
and all paths are drowned deep in shadow; 
and out of a grey country darkness lies on the foaming waves between us,
and mist covers the jewels of Calacirya for ever. 
Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar!

Farewell! Maybe thou shalt find Valimar. 
Maybe even thou shalt find it. Farewell!

The Jacket Namarie — DTS 19

Namarie Jacket — Front jacket of The Road Goes Ever On

Lord of the Rings Title Page — DTS 5

{{english-classical:Of Westmarch by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Herein is set forth}}
{{english-classical:the history of-the War of-the Ring and the Return of the King as seen by the hobbits}}

Of Westmarch by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Herein is set forth
the history of the War of the Ring and the Return of the King as seen by the hobbits.

The Silmarilion

{{english-classical:The tales of the First Age when Morgoth dwelt in Middle Earth}}
{{english-classical:and the elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils}}

The tales of the First Age when Morgoth dwelt in Middle Earth
and the elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils

{{english-classical:to which are appended the Downfall of Numenor and the history of the}}
{{english-classical:Rings of Power and the Third Age in which these tales come to their end}}

to which are appended the Downfall of Numenor and the history of the
Rings of Power and the Third Age in which these tales come to their end.

Unfinished Tales

{{english-classical:In this book of Unfinished Tales by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien}}
{{english-classical:which was brought together by Christopher Reuel Tolkien his son}}

In this book of Unfinished Tales by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
which was brought together by Christopher Reuel Tolkien his son

{{english-classical:are told many things of men and elves in Numenor and in Middle}}
{{english-classical:Earth from the Eldar Days in Beleriand to the War of the Ring and}}
{{english-classical:an account is given of the Druedain, the Istari and the Palantiri}}

are told many things of men and elves in Numenor and in Middle
Earth from the Eldar Days in Beleriand to the War of the Ring and
an account is given of the Druedain, the Istari and the Palantiri.

Sources

The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E., by J.R.R. Tolkien
DTS: Mellonath Daeron Index of Tengwa Specimina
Amanye Tenceli, by Måns Björkman
Writing Sindarin with Tengwar (PDF), by Per Lindberg
Font Tengwar Annatar by Johan Winge

Answers

English Mode: Writing 1

mom: {{mom}}
dad: {{dad}}
cat: {{cat}}
dog: {{dog}}
orc: {{orc}}
fig: {{fig}}
big: {{big}}
bug: {{bug}}
bag: {{bag}}
gold: {{gold}}
gap: {{gap}}
car: {{car}}
ark: {{ark}}
my: {{my}}
was: {{was}}

English Mode: Writing 2

all: {{all}}
wet: {{wet}}
paw: {{paw}}
zoo: {{zoo}}
toe: {{toe}}
now: {{now}}
then: {{then}}
there: {{there}}
look: {{look}}
good: {{good}}
only: {{only}}
hole: {{hole}}
from: {{from}}

English Mode: Writing 3

the: {{the}}
of: {{of}}
with: {{with}}
one: {{one}}
time: {{time}}
think: {{think}}
make: {{make}}
ant: {{ant}}
day: {{day}}
bye: {{bye}}
ink: {{ink}}
mix: {{mix}}
her: {{her}}
ray: {{ray}}

English Mode: Writing 4

ball: {{ball}}
door: {{door}}
house: {{house}}
know: {{know}}
again: {{again}}
before: {{before}}
when: {{when}}
away: {{away}}
eyes: {{eyes}}
Frodo: {{Frodo}}
Gandalf: {{Gandalf}}
Aragorn: {{Aragorn}}
hobbits: {{hobbits}}
Gimli: {{Gimli}}
Legolas: {{Legolas}}
rings: {{rings}}

English Mode: Reading

{{In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit}}: In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit
{{You shall not pass}}: You shall not pass
{{It's the job that never started that takes the longest to finish}}: It's the job that never started that takes the longest to finish
{{Home is behind, the world ahead}}: Home is behind, the world ahead
{{All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you}}: All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you
{{A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to}}: A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to
{{Even the smallest person can change the course of the future}}: Even the smallest person can change the course of the future
{{One does not simply walk into Mordor}}: One does not simply walk into Mordor
{{Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars}}: Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars
{{But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass}}: But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass
{{His old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front}}: His old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front

go	{{go}}
be	{{be}}
hero	{{hero}}
lady	{{lady}}

ô	õ	ö
4	5	6
canta	lempë	enquë

÷	ø	ù
7	8	9
otso	toldo	nertë

ú	û	ð
10 (A₁₂)	11 (B₁₂)	0
quain	minquë	munta

2016 =1200₁₂	{{/annatar:2016}}
3rd and 4th	{{/annatar:3rd and 4th}}
#3000	{{/annatar:#3000}}
#18/#1/#1892	{{/annatar:#18/#1/#1892}}

ñ	ò	ó
1	2	3
min	atta	neldë

Tengwar Handbook