Learn Elvish Insults In 6 Minutes | Quenya Phrases

[@atanvardo5730]

The word *quetë* has no relation to "quiet". This is just a coincidence, indeed. Unlike "quiet", *quetë* is not an adjective; it is the verb "to speak" in the Quenya infinitive. In Quenya (as in English) the infinitive is used to combine verbs - for example: *méran quetë* "I want to speak", where *méran* (also *méranyë* ) "I want", or literally "I am wanting", is the verb "to want", "to wish", "to desire" used in the Quenya present tense (which denotes an ongoing verbal action), and *quetë* "to speak" is an infinitive. Aside from the present tense, there is another type of present in Quenya, the aorist, which denotes a "timeless" action (rather than an ongoing action). The third person singular aorist is identical to the infinitive, so *quetë* can mean "speak(s)" (aorist) or "to speak" (infinitive) - it depends on the context. For example, when using the verb "to speak" in the aorist to say *quetin Quenya* "I speak Quenya" (first person singular aorist), you are saying that you speak or can speak Quenya at any time (a "timeless" action), whereas when you use the verb in the present tense, *quétan Quenya* "I'm speaking Quenya" (can also be translated "I speak Quenya") , you are saying that you are speaking Quenya now, at this moment, or also in a period of time that could be described as "in the present time". However, this is not that rigid... The aorist and the present tense are interchangeable in Quenya; so that sometimes the aorist is used in place of the present tense and vice-versa. *Áva quetë!* means literally "don't speak!", althgouh it can, of course, be translated "be silent!" (the meaning is the same). This phrase consists of the verb "to speak" used in the negative imperative, where *áva* is a negative verb equivalent to "don't", "doesn't" in English, followed by a verb form identical to the infinitive: *quetë* . This same verb form is used in the imperative (not the negative imperative), but instead of *áva* "don't", "doesn't", the imperative particle *á* is placed before *quetë* , like this: *Á quetë!* "Speak!". This is the traditional form of the imperative. But there are two other forms to express the imperative in Quenya.

[@Artreii]

I knew it was just a coincidence, but it definitely makes it easy to remember this expression. Thank you for this incredible linguistic explanation though, I really appreciate it!

[@atanvardo5730]

@@Artreii Uh, that's right! It's easy to remember *quetë* if you highlight the resemblance with "quiet".

[@b_lea]

When I use ava/áva I add it to the other word » avaleva! = Don't move! Do you think it is wrong? Lot of people around me does so 🤔 and huge thank you for this long explaning of diferent times in english/quenya, in czech we don't use it and its still confusing even after 10 years of english in school

[@atanvardo5730]

@@b_lea I'm not in touch with Elvish for a good while, but I can't remember of an instance in which *_áva_* / *_ava_* is prefixed to a verb _in Quenya_ . In Sindarin, though, the use of *_avo_* (analog to *_áva_* ) as a prefix is attested at least in one example I can remember: *_avogaro_* or *_avgaro_* "don't do (it)". I will refer back to the sources I learned Quenya from so I can tell you whether *_áva_* / *_ava_* can or cannot (or would better not) be prefixed to verbs.

[@atanvardo5730]

@@b_lea I'm sorry, I *completely* forgot of your request!! Well, I hope it's not too late to answer. No, there are no examples in which *áva* / *ava* is prefixed to other verbs. So it is better not do it.

[@konohashinobi71037]

Aiya Artreii!!! Hantanyel órenyallo!!! Thank you so much for these videos!! Nányë Mary ( I have not yet found my elvish name) I remember two years ago, when I was 12 years old, I read the Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion and I loved them. I learned everything I could ( names, places, events) but I could not learn languages. Since then I have also read the Hobbit, the Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien and the Unfinished Tales. I live in Greece ( I am half Greek ) and some things are not available here...😭 I have never met another Tolkien fan and that that bothers me a lot.. Anyway, I have always admired Tolkien's languages especially Quenya and Sindarin (but I prefer Quenya). I never thought I could learn them although I really wanted to.... thank you so much!!! I hope you do more Quenya videos!!!

[@Artreii]

Thank you so much! It's really inspiring for me hearing stories like these, I should be the one thanking you ;)

[@atanvardo5730]

Mary is the English form of Maria, which is the Latin form of Miriam, which is either an Egyptian or an Hebrew name, but the exact meaning is not known. The site councilofelrond.com, besides an excelent Quenya course and an excelent Sindarin course too, also has a very good Elvish names database (www.councilofelrond.com/elvishname/). Below I am giving you the direct link to your name's page: www.councilofelrond.com/elvishname/miriam/

[@atanvardo5730]

Are you really just 14?!! It is hard to belive... You communicate like an adult and seem to be too intelligent for a teenager (no offense to teenagers intended). You learned Quenya on your own, and you can communicate in it correctly. Congrats!

[@konohashinobi71037]

@@atanvardo5730 Thank you so much!!!! And thank you for the link, it was very helpful!! Yeah I was really 14 when I wrote that comment (now I am 15) Tolkien's work means very much to me, and I was fascinated by Quenya so I had to learn it!!😂

[@atanvardo5730]

I would like to make two notes regarding two Quenya words you used in your comment ( *aiya* and *nányë* ). But it does not mean you said anything wrong. You actually didn't. *Aiya* "hail", "behold", "lo", is described by Tolkien as a call for help and attention, only addressed to great or holy persons as the Valar, or to Eärendil (he was a great person, after all...) - as in Frodo's non-sense cry on Shelob's lair: *Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!* "Hail, Eärendil, Brightest of Stars!". *Aiya* was also used, in Fingon's cry before the Fifth Battle, to address the People of the Eldar (Eldalië) and the Fathers of Men (Atanatári): *Utúlie’n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie’n aurë!* , translated "The day has come! Behold, people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come!" (which makes sense to me, because both the Eldalië and the Atanatári could be described as great, reverenced people). If you are a purist and prefer not to use *aiya* when addressing common persons, you could use *namárië* "be well" instead. It is a famous farewell phrase (and is often translated "farewell"), but was also used by the Elves as a greeting. But if you are not a purist, you can simply use *aiya* when addressing common people, if you want to, since this usage for the word is widely accepted among real people who know Quenya. With regards to *nányë* , perhaps *nanyë* is preferable, although it does not seem to be a consense. It may be better not to use long vowels before consonant clusters or before digraphs like *ny* , *ty* , *ly* , *nw* , *qu* . But *nányë* is not necessaritly wrong. Both *nanyë* and *nányë* are attested.

[@houlioo]

Amazing! Thank you so much

[@weronikaswistak]

In -4:10 At first I've heard "kapusta", which in polish means cabbage🤣 You can remember this word in "stop eating cabbage (kapusta) because it's disgusting" or sth like that😁

[@Artreii]

Oh yeah that's also a good one lol

[@teczawy]

now it's more confusing lmao

[@helous9985]

That was amazing! I love this series and i hope there will be more episodes! hanon le for this series

[@Artreii]

Thank you so much! Quenya is a nice change I think

[@kapnkerf2532]

"Aica umbar" is easy to remember because it sounds a little bit like "Ay caramba!" which is what Bart Simpson says when something outrageous happens.

[@Artreii]

Wow that's a great association, I knew it sounded familiar ;)

[@atanvardo5730]

Huhuh, very good!!

[@carsonpiano1]

I'm still so confused about why you're not more popular

[@houlioo]

In the "you're insane" one , we can also say nát necindo , as "nat" is a shorter form of "natyë" . Bonus fact ;) Verb to be : Nan/nanyë = I am Nat/natyë = you are Nas/naryë = he/she/it is Nalvë = we are Nal/nallë = you are Nantë = they are

[@Artreii]

Oh wow, now that is awesome, thank you for sharing!

[@atanvardo5730]

Also, *natyë* and *nát* have *-tyë* and *-t* , which are informal (familiar) versions of "you", whereas *nalyë* / *nallë* and *nal* have *-lyë* / *-llë* and *-l* , which are formal (polite) versions of "you". *-Tyë* and its short form *-t* , as well as *-lyë* / *-llë* and their short form *-l* , are singular pronouns. We also have *-ldë* , which is a plural "you". It doesn't appear to have a short form.

[@b_lea]

From my teacher I've learnd to say inye instead of nanye and elye + erye for nalye and narye, also ,,we are" I would say like ,,namme" (if i speak as a member of group to someone outside of that group) And ,,nalme" (when i speak to people in my group). I was also told that Tolkien used all the words for me, you etc. for more than only one "person" (sorry for my english skills... I ment that lye could have been ,,you" in some year and than it could have been changed to ,,they" for example {i didn't study it, so i don't know if this Is right example, probably not, but i think you know what i mean}).

[@b_lea]

@@atanvardo5730 agree in that, and I've learnd that elves were very formal to everybody who wasn't their family member or closest friend, also they were informal to their worst enemies like Feanáro to Melkor.

[@atanvardo5730]

@@b_lea I don't remember this information but I guess it's true. It makes a lot of sense.

[@ZemplinTemplar]

I also like to think of "Orro !" as the (polite) Quenya equivalent of "Damn !" or "Dammit !". :-)) Yes, pusta would mean "empty", "barren" or "desolate" in Polish. Pustá (accented a) would be the same in Slovak and Czech. The Hungarian term puszta is a Slavic loanword, but the meaning was applied to a large, flat, barren grassland or steppe (especially the puszta region of southeast Hungary). On a sidenote, the Slovak translation of the Desolation of Smaug (the area) translates it accordingly as "pustatina", a "desolate/barren area", a wasteland.

[@Artreii]

Yeah, nice analogy, and thanks for the further info, I was referring just to the pronunciation of the Quenya word ;)

[@atanvardo5730]

*orro!* or *horro!* ("ouch!", "ew!", "ugh!", "alas!", "ow!") expresses horror, pain or disgust.

[@Artreii]

Oh thanks for all the translations, I really like this word ;)

[@atanvardo5730]

Ma ëa quén ye ista quet' Eldarin sissë? Na pen i ista beded Edhellen sis?

[@Haru8ht]

this video is as cool as always...might find it rather useful if i'll meet... an orc. thank you for the video.Keep it going ;^)

[@Artreii]

Thanks, hopefully you'll be able to use them one day ;)

[@atanvardo5730]

When you meet an Orc, you may want to say: "Death to the Orcs!" = *Gurth 'ni Yrch!* in Sindarin, or *Nuru i Urcunnar!* in Quenya.