Tara's Translations

Translating from one language to another is an interesting, and sometimes tricky, challenge! That is made even more difficult when one translates verse and needs to take rhyme and meter into account. Some of these have been translated with the intention of getting the meaning the same without regard to rhyme or meter; others have been translated with an emphasis on rhyme and meter and are not literal.

These translations were done over a period of time, during which my knowledge of and theories about Sindarin grew and altered. Please forgive any inconsistencies. As a fan of Sindarin, not a professional linguist, I have quite likely made mistakes. Also, Sindarin is a language with many unknowns; I have followed the ideas I believe most likely.

~ Tolkien verses ~ LoTR Movie Songs ~ Real Life Names ~ Miscellaneous Translations ~

Tolkien Verses

Song of the Wandering Elves
The Fall of Gil-galad
Legolas' Song of the Sea
The Riddle of Strider
The Ring Verse
In Western Lands (Sam's Song)
Galadriel's Song
Song of Lebennin
The Old Walking Song
Frodo's Walking Song
Bilbo's Song
Frodo's Lament for Gandalf
Lament for Boromir

Laer in-Edhil Reniol	Song of the Wandering Elves
A Fanuilos, Brennil gelair	Snow-white! Snow white! O Lady clear
Athan Aear Annui, Bereth	O Queen beyond the Western Seas
Calad ammen i reniar	O Light to us that wander here
Mi 'aladhremmin Ennorath	Amid the world of woven trees!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel	Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
I chîn a thûl lín míriel	Clear are thine eyes and bright thy breath
A Fanuilos! Linnam allen	Snow-white! Snow white! We sing to thee
Athan Aear min ndôr chae hen	In a far land beyond the Sea
Elin i ned în ben-Anor	O stars that in the Sunless Year
Na gam hilol na hen rennin	With shining hand by her were sewn
Mi dailf 'waerin lim a gelair	In windy fields now bright and clear
Celweloth lín reviennin	We see your silver blossoms blown!
Gilthoniel, A Elbereth	O Elbereth Gilthoniel!
Min ndôr chaeron hen din gelaidh	We still remember, we who dwell
Me i ndorthar sí renim ui	In this far land beneath the trees
'ilgalad buin Aeair Annui	Thy starlight on the Western Seas.
Back to the top
Dant Gilgalad	The Fall of Gil-galad
Gilgalad nant Edhel-aran.	Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
O hon telegain linnar naer:	Of him the harpers sadly sing:
I ben vedui geri ardh vain	The last whose realm was fair and free
A lain min Ered ah Aear.	Between the Mountains and the Sea.
Magol hún and, ah ech hún laeg	His sword was long, his lance was keen,
Thôl hilol hún palan-gennen;	His shining helm afar was seen;
Geil ernediaid dalf menel	The countless stars of heaven's field
Cennin mi thand hún chelebren.	Were mirrored in his silver shield.
Dan io anann palan-regiant,	But long ago he rode away,
Uben pôl peded ias dortha;	And where he dwelleth none can say;
An nedh i vôr gîl hún dant	For into darkness fell his star
Mi Vordor ias dúath gaedar.	In Mordor where the shadows are.
Back to the top
Aearlinn Legolas	Legolas' Song of the Sea
Nan aear, nan aear! In gwael 'lain nallol,	To the Sea! To the Sea! The white gulls are crying,
I hûl ribiel, ah falf 'lan reviol.	The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying.
Annûn, annûn chaeron, Anor gorn dannol,	West, west away, the round sun is falling,
Cair vithren, cair vithren, hain lathrach canel,	Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling,
I lamath en-gwaith nín i vennir nu nin?	The voices of my people that have gone before me?
Gwannathon, gwannathon daur i onnant nin;	I will leave, I will leave the woods that bore me;
Oer vín methol ah idhrinn vín firiel.	For our days are ending and our years failing.
Trevedithon nîn laind ereb ciriel	I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing.
Aind i falfath bo Falas Vedui dannol	Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling,
Lind i lamath i vin Dôl Vannen canel	Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling,
Dôl Ereb, Maredhellen, û adan hir	In Eressëa, in Elvenhome that no man can discover;
Ias laiss ú-dhannar: dôr en-gwaith nín anuir	Where the leaves fall not: land of my people for ever!
Back to the top
Embid o Bador	The Riddle of Strider
Naid vellin bain ú-thiliar	All that is gold does not glitter,
Gwaith ú-bain eglain idh reviar	Not all those who wander are lost;
I ben iaur a vell ú-fîr	The old that is strong does not wither,
I chelch ú-drasta thynd nuir	Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
Edin lith naur echuiatha	From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
Ed dúath calad tuiatha	A light from the shadows shall spring;
Acharnen hathol narchannen	Renewed shall be blade that was broken:
Pen ben-rî adesta aran	The crownless again shall be king.
Back to the top
Glîr en-Gorf	The Ring Verse
Neled cyrf an Erain Edhellin nuin menel,	Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Odog a Chîr Nogothrim min thaim hernui huin,	Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Neder an Edain Firib beraid af fired,	Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
Er enin Brannon-dûr bo archam vorn hún	One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
Min Ardh Mordor ias i Núath caedar.	In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Min Corf a thorthad hain phain,	One Ring to rule them all,
Min Corf a chired hain,	One Ring to find them,
Min Corf a thoged hain	One Ring to bring them all
A ne môr an noded hain,	And in the darkness bind them,
Min Ardh mordor ias i Núath caedar.	In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Back to the top
Mi Ndýr Annui	In Western Lands
Mi norath annui di Anor	In western lands beneath the Sun
Loth Echuir aen eriar,	The flowers may rise in Spring,
Gelaidh tuiar aen, nîn rimmar,	The trees may bud, the waters run,
Filig merin linnar.	The merry finches sing.
Egor ennas dû alfanui	Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night
Brethil lilthol celir	And swaying beeches bear
'eil edhellin, silivrin mîr,	The Elven-stars as jewels white
Min finnel în ngylfui.	Amid their branching hair
Si caedon na vethed-e-lend	Though here at journey's end I lie
Nu dhúath dolen nûr,	In darkness buried deep,
Athan beraid bain vill a dynd,	Beyond all towers strong and high,
Athan ered veraidh.	Beyond all mountains steep,
Or 'uruthos bain bâd Anor,	Above all shadows rides the Sun
A geil anuir dorthar:	And Stars for ever dwell:
Ú-bedithon i aur gwannen,	I will not say the Day is done
Egor'ni Ngeil navaer.	Nor bid the Stars farewell.
Back to the top
Laer Galadriel	Galadriel's Song
Linnen o laiss, o laiss vellin,	I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold
a ennas galler laiss velthin	and leaves of gold there grew
O hûl linnen, sûl doll ennas	Of wind I sang, a wind there came
a rimp min gylf.	and in the branches blew.
Athan Anor, athan Ithil,	Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon,
buin Aear i falf	the foam was on the Sea
A nan falas Ilmarin	And by the strand of Ilmarin
gall 'aladh valthen.	there grew a golden tree.
Nuin geil e-dû uireb	Beneath the stars of Ever-eve
sill mi Maredhellen,	in Eldamar it shone,
Mi Maredhellen nan raim	In Eldamar beside the walls
Tirion edhellen.	of Elven Tirion.
Ennas i laiss anann galler	There long the leaves have grown
am beliad idhrinn	upon the branching years
Ir sí, athan in aeair i ú-erthar	While here beyond the Sundering Seas>
si dannar i nîr edhellin	now fall the Elven-tears.>
Ae Lórien! I thrîw dôl,	O Lórien! The winter comes,
i aur lanc a pen-laiss;	the bare and leafless day;
I laiss dannar min nen,	The leaves are falling in the stream,
i Hîr rimma hae;	the River flows away;
Ae Lórien! Anann dorthannen	O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt
nef Falas;	upon this Hither Shore;
Ah echannen rî belol	And in a fading crown have twined
nan elanor valthen.	the golden elanor.
Dan ae si linnon o gîr,	But if of ships I now should sing,
man cair enni telitha?	what ship would come to me
Man cair nin achelitha anuir	What ship would bear me ever back
athra lannon aear?	across so wide a sea?
Back to the top
Laer Lebennin	Song of Lebennin
I sîr sirar celebrin o Chelos na Erui	Silver flow the streams from Celos to Erui
Min dailf gelin Lebennin!	In the green fields of Lebennin!
Gala tond ennas i thâr. Nan hûl uin Aear	Tall grows the grass there. In the wind from the Sea
In innil 'lain lilthar.	The white lilies sway.
A nill velthin nellenin bo vallos ah alfirin	And the golden bells are shaken of mallos and alfirin
Min dailf gelin Lebennin,	In the green fields of Lebennin,
Nan hûl uin Aear.	In the wind from the Sea!
Back to the top
Laer Iaur Baded	The Old Walking Song
I ven bâd lim a lim uireb	The road goes ever on and on
Dad uin annon ias sa heriant	Down from the door where it began.
Si palan-vannen i Ven	Now far ahead the Road has gone,
A han padathon ae pelin	And I must follow, if I can,
Han aphadol na dail verai	Pursuing it with eager feet,
Nalú ertha go vád annaur	Until it joins some larger way
Ias raid a taiss gevedir	Where many paths and errands meet.
Na man sad? Ú-belin peded	And whither then? I cannot say.
Back to the top
Laer Baded o Frodo	Frodo's Walking Song
Os vennas dartha aen	Still round the corner there may wait
Bád eden egor annon thurin	A new road or a secret gate;
Lui evyr bennin athan hain	And though I oft have passed them by,
Dan aur na vedui telitha ir	A day will come at last when I
Padathon idh raid dhelin i vedir	Shall take the hidden paths that run
Annûn od Ithil, amrûn od Anor	West of the Moon, East of the Sun.
~ Dambed in-Edhil: ~	~ Reply of the Elves ~
Renim uireb, me i ndorthar	We still remember, we who dwell
Mi nôr chae hen din gelaidh	In this far land beneath the trees
'ilgalad buin Aeair Annui	The starlight on the Western Seas.
Back to the top
Laer Bilbo	Bilbo's Song
Herin nan naur a renin	I sit beside the fire and think
Nadath bain cennin,	of all that I have seen,
Loth pairth a 'wilwilith	of meadow-flowers and butterflies
Ned laer si gwennin;	in summers that have been;
I laiss velin a thling	Of yellow leaves and gossamer
Ned ievais si gwennin,	in autumns that there were,
Go chîth aur ah Anor geleb	with morning mist and silver sun
A hûl mi finnel nín.	and wind upon my hair.
Herin nan naur a nauthon	I sit beside the fire and think
Ian ardhon thiatha	of how the world will be
Ir rhîw tôl pen-echuir	when winter comes without a spring
I allú cenithon.	that I shall never see.
An nadath evyr darthar	For still there are so many things
I allú cennin:	that I have never seen:
Mi eryn bain ned ethuil	in every wood in every spring
Ennas galen vinai.	there is a different green.
Herin nan naur a renin	I sit beside the fire and think
'waith od io and,	of people long ago,
A gwaith i cenithar ardhon	and people who will see a world
I allú istathon.	that I shall never know.
Dan panlú ir herin nauthol	But all the while I sit and think
O lui si gwennin,	of times there were before,
Laston a thail atholel	I listen for returning feet
A lammath nan fen.	and voices at the door.
Back to the top
Naergon Frodo am Mithrandir	Frodo's Lament for Gandalf
Ir aduial min Drann thiant thind	When evening in the Shire was grey
Teldainn hún buin Amon lastennin;	his footsteps on the Hill were heard;
Ned minuial so palan-vant	before the dawn he went away
Al lend and pe-pheth.	on journey long without a word.
O Thraw na falas Annui	From Wilderland to Western shore,
O eru forodren na amon charadren,	from northern waste to southern hill,
Trî gaew amlug a fen dholen	through dragon-lair and hidden door
A glaid dhuir so bant ben innas hún.	and darkling woods he walked at will.
Go Nauf a Perian, Edhil ah Edain,	With Dwarf and Hobbit, Elves and Men,
Go 'waith firin ah alfirin,	with mortal and immortal folk,
Go aew bo 'olf a lavan mi dorech,	with bird on bough and beast in den,
Iuithol lammath thyrin în so pent.	in their own secret tongues he spoke.
Magol dhelu, cam nestol,	A deadly sword, a healing hand,
Rhaw norn di gaul în;	a back that bent beneath its load;
Lam sui rom, ylf vara,	a trumpet-voice, a burning brand,
Randír benorf buin men.	a weary pilgrim on the road.
Brannon idhren bo archam so harn,	A lord of wisdom throned he sat,
Na rûth lagor a lalaith geleg;	swift in anger; quick to laugh;
Adan iaur mi garab 'ern	an old man in a battered hat
I iuithant 'olful egui.	who leaned upon a thorny staff.
So darn amin iant erui	He stood upon the bridge alone
A maethant dan Naur a Dû;	and Fire and Shadow both defied;
Golful hún narchannen buin harn,	his staff was broken on the stone,
Mi Voria ist hún gwannant.	in Khazad-dûm his wisdom died.
Back to the top
Naergon am Moromir	Lament for Boromir
Trî Rochan or lô a parth ias thâr and gala	Through Rohan over fen and field where the long grass grows
I Hûl Annûn tôl badol, a bâd os raim.	The West Wind comes walking, and about the walls it goes.
"Man siniath uin Dûn, A sûl reviol, tegil enni ne fuin hen?	"What news from the West, O wandering wind, do you bring to me tonight?
Cennil Voromir i Dond di Ithil egor gilgalad?"	Have you seen Boromir the Tall by moon or by starlight?"
"Hon cennin regiol or sîr odog, or nîn laind a vith;	"I saw him ride over seven streams, over waters wide and grey;
Hon cennin padol mi nýr lyst, nalú so palan-'wannant	I saw him walk in empty lands, until he passed away
Min dúath Forod. Hon achennin allú,	Into the shadows of the North. I saw him then no more.
I Hûl Forod poll aen lastad i rom en ion Denethor."	The North Wind may have heard the horn of the son of Denethor."
A Boromir! Uin raim braind annûn palan-dirnin;	"O Boromir! From the high walls westward I looked afar;
Dan ú-dellich uin nýr lyst ias alkedain dorthar."	But you came not from the empty lands where no men are."
Uin ethir Aear Sûl Harad revia, uin dund lith a gynd;	From the mouths of the Sea the South Wind flies, from the sandhills and the stones;
Côl i nallaid in-gwael, a nan annon côr thlyss.	The wailing of the gulls it bears, and at the gate it moans.
"Man siniath uin Harad, A sûl thlossol, tegil enni ned aduial?	"What news from the South, O sighing wind, do you bring to me at eve?
Si ias Boromir i Vain? So abdollen a naedon."	Where now is Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve."
"Avambedo nin ias so dortha, aes rim ennas caedar	"Ask not of me where he doth dwell, so many bones there lie
Buin felais fain a felais dhuir di venel alagossen;	On the white shores and the dark shores under the stormy sky;
Pin-evyr bennir dad Anduin hired Aear hiriol.	So many have passed down Anduin to find the flowing Sea.
Ambedo Hûl Forod as siniath o hyn Sûl Forod dêg enni!"	Ask of the North Wind news of them the North Wind sends to me!"
"A Boromir! Athan annon i ven-nan-aear bâd na charad,	"O Boromir! Beyond the gate the seaward road runs south,
Dan ú-dellich guin gwael nallol uin ethir en-aear vith.	But you came not with the wailing gulls from the grey sea's mouth."
Uin Annon Erain Sûl Forod regia, ah os lenthir vrui;	From the Gate of Kings the North Wind rides, and past the roaring falls;
A lim a ring os vinas rom vrui hún cân.	And clear and cold about the tower its loud horn calls.
"Man siniath uin Forod, A sûl veleg, tegil enni aur hen?	"What news from the North, O might wind, do you bring to me today?
Man siniath o Voromir i Veren? So bannen anann."	What news of Boromir the Bold? For he is long away."
"Di Amon Hen lastannen ganed hún. Ennas dagrant gyth rim.	"Beneath Amon Hen I heard his cry. There many foes he fought.
Thand drammen sún, magol narchannen sún, i nen hain tyngir.	His cloven shield, his broken sword, they do the water brought.
Dôl arod sún, thîr vain sún, rainc hún sy caedar na îdh;	His head so proud, his face so fair, his limbs they laid to rest;
A Rauros, Lenthir Rauros velthin, hon caedant a phalath în."	And Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, bore him upon its breast."
"A Boromir! Minas Tirith tiritha anuir na Forod	"O Boromir! The Tower of Guard shall ever northward gaze
Na Rauros, Lenthir Rauros velthin, nalú i vethed oer."	To Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, until the end of days."
Back to the top

LoTR Movie Songs

Into the West
Song of the Steward
May It Be
In Dreams
Gollum's Song

Nan Annûn	Into the West
Hodo nôl velui alorven lín	Lay down your sweet and weary head
Môr danna; le tollen na vethed lend	Night is falling; you have come to journey's end
Losto hi, ah oltho o 'waith i thellir	Sleep now and dream of the ones who came before
Athra falas chaeron cenir.	They are calling from across a distant shore
Amman nallal? Man i nîr hin buin thîr lín?	Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face?
Cenithal gwannathar echais bain lín	Soon you will see all of your fears will pass away
Beriannen min rainc nín, lostal	Safe in my arms, you're only sleeping
Man pelil cened buin rain amar?	What can you see on the horizon?
Amman in gwael 'lain nallar?	Why do the white gulls call?
Ithil 'ael eria athan Aear	Across the Sea a pale moon rises
I chîr tellin a choled le na mar	The ships have come to carry you home
Sui cheledh geleb nadath thiathar	And all will turn to silver glass
Calad buin nen, faer bain athradar	A light on the water, all souls pass
Estel pêl nan ardhon dû	Hope fades into the world of night
Trî dhúath dannol ed rîn a lú	Through shadows falling out of memory and time
Avo bedo me tellin sí nan methen	Don't say we have come now to the end
Felais 'lain nallar, ageveditham	White shores are calling, you and I will meet again
Hodathal sí min rainc nín, lostol	And you'll be here in my arms, just sleeping
Man pelil cened buin rain amar?	What can you see on the horizon?
Amman in gwael 'lain nallar?	Why do the white gulls call?
Ithil 'ael eria athan Aear	Across the Sea a pale moon rises
I chîr tellin a choled le na mar	The ships have come to carry you home
Sui cheledh geleb nadath thiathar	And all will turn to silver glass
Calad buin nen, cîr thind gwannar	A light on the water, grey ships pass
Nan Annûn.	Into the West.
Back to the top
Estel	May It Be
Sílo 'îl aduial am mâd lín	May it be an evening star shines down upon you.
Ir dû danna, no thenin gûr lín	May it be when darkness falls, your heart will be true.
Padal ven ereb, hae o mbar lín	You walk a lonely road, oh how far you are from home.
Môr tollen. Estelio a hirithal râd lín	Darkness has come. Believe and you will find your way.
Môr dannen. Dorthar nedh le in estil vín	Darkness has fallen. A promise lies within you now.
Revio chae i ganed en-guruthos	May it be the shadow's call will fly away.
Ebedo le a thogo ngeil nan aur	May it be you journey on to light the day.
Ir môr orthornen, erio a chired Anor	When the night is overcome, you may rise to find the sun.
Môr tollen. Estelio a hirithal râd lín	Darkness has come. Believe and you will find your way.
Môr dannen. Dorthar nedh le in estil vín	Darkness has fallen. A promise lies within you now.
Back to the top
Laer Orchenion	Song of the Steward
Bar adel nin, i ardhon nu	Home is behind, the world ahead
Raid evyr boe enni padad	And there are many paths to tread
Trî Dhúath, nan rîw môr nalú	Through Shadow, to the edge of night
Giliath thennin na galad	Until the stars are all alight
Hîth a Dúath, fân a gwath	Mist and Shadow, cloud and shade
Pelithar, pelithar nadath	All shall fade, all shall fade
Back to the top
Ned Elei	In Dreams
Ir i chelch thrîw tôl	When the cold of winter comes
Dû ben-ngeil tobatha aur	Starless night will cover day
Ab 'wathred Anor	In the veiling of the sun
Padatham di ross haer	We will walk in bitter rain
Dan ned elei lathron eneth lín	But in dreams I still hear your name
A ned elei ageveditham	And in dreams we will meet again
Ir aeair ah ered dannar	When the seas and mountains fall
A telim na vethed oer	And we come to end of days
Mi dhû lathron ganed, canel nin ennas	In the dark I hear a call, calling me there
Bedithon ennas ah athelithon	I will go there and back again
Back to the top
Laer Sméagol	Gollum's Song
Ias calad cuinant, si môr dannen	Where once was light, now darkness falls
Ias meleth cuinant, si meleth gwannen	Where once was love, love is no more
Avbedo navaer, avbedo han ú-vaethannen	Don't say goodbye, don't say I didn't try
Nallam nîr sui ross dannol	These tears we cry are falling rain
Nan bith úanu pennich ammen, i naeg, i 'weriad	For all the lies you told us, the hurt, the blame
A nallatham, me eglain	And we will weep to be so alone
Ú-'erim estel, ú-belim abaded	We are lost, we can never go home
Nan methed darthathon im	So in the end I will be what I will be
Ú-'ernin vellon thenin	No loyal friend was ever there for me
Si pedim navaer, ven awarthannech pedim	Now we say goodbye, we say you didn't try
I nîr nallach abdollen	These tears you cry have come too late
Mabo i phith úanu, i naeg, i 'weriad	Take back the lies, the hurt, the blame
A nallathach a chened erui i vethed	And you will weep to face the end alone
Ú-erich estel, ú-belich abaded	You are lost, you can never go home
Back to the top

Real Life Names

Lots of people want an Elvish name. Sometimes they want to create something for themselves, but sometimes they want a translation of their real life name. Here I offer some of the possible translations ~ sometimes the result is too complicated or tangled to list. Some names cannot be translated because of lack of Sindarin vocabulary.

~ Masculine Names ~ Feminine Names ~ Back to the top ~

Return to the Table of Contents ~ Close the book