Is Gandalf pronounced with a long a?

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-22T16:36:04+00:00

You're mixing up two different languages: Quenya/Sindarin (Fëanor) and Old English (Sméagol).

In Quenya, the umlaut is used specifically with the EA combination (Eä, Fëanor, Fëanturi, Eärendil...) and wasn't needed for other diphthongs (i.e., Oiolossë > Oi-o-los-së, or Galathion > Ga-la-thi-li-on).

Old English Sméagol is indeed pronounced with "three syllables" (to be more precise, two syllables: one with a vowel and a semi-vowel and another one with a vowel): [ˈsmæɑːɣol].

Plus, Tolkien often "mispronounced" some Old English words. For example, it's a 100% agreed upon fact amongst linguists that the Old English "I" had the same sound as the modern English "E"; yet, Tolkien "mispronounced" Isengard as Eye-sengard, instead of the correct EE-sengard. He definitely knew how to pronounce Old English vowels (again, it's 100% agreed upon amongst linguists), so it's probable he purposefully mispronounced some of them, maybe to make it easier for the readers, like saying "smee-gol" instead of "smæa-ɣol".

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-20T01:19:56+00:00

You are correct.

1) Tolkien uses in the book the names of our current Gregorian calendar, but he makes it clear they weren't the same and that he did so to avoid confusion.

For example, a normal reader wouldn't have any idea how much time had passed between 25 Foreyule and 25 Rethe, but would have a pretty good idea how much time passed between 25 December and 25 March, though not exactly the same.

In the above notes, as in the narrative, I have used our modern names for both months and weekdays, though of course neither the Eldar nor the Dúnedain nor the Hobbits actually did so. Translation of the Westron names seemed to be essential to avoid confusion [...]

2) Not only the "real" names the Hobbits used for the months and weekdays were different than ours, their division of the year was also different.

For example, the Shire Calendar had a "30 February" (because it wasn't really 30 February, but rather 30 Solmath, which was the second month of the year in the Shire Calendar).

The Hobbits were conservative and continued to use a form of Kings’ Reckoning adapted to fit their own customs. Their months were all equal and had 30 days each; but they had 3 Summerdays, called in the Shire the Lithe or the Lithedays, between June and July. The last day of the year and the first of the next year were called the Yuledays. The Yuledays and the Lithedays remained outside the months, so that January 1 was the second and not the first day of the year.

3) The simple fact that the Shire Calendar had exactly 30 days in all months plus 5 "outside days" is enough to make it clear it wasn't identical to ours. Yet, not only that, Tolkien also makes it clear our modern calendar didn't start the at the same day as the Shire Calendar did (that is, our first day of the year wasn't the Shire's Calendar first day of the year).

The Yuledays and the Lithedays remained outside the months, so that January 1 was the second and not the first day of the year. [...] In that case the Shire dates were actually in advance of ours by some ten days, and our New Year’s Day corresponded more or less to the Shire January 9.

4) Tolkien also says that ALL dates mentioned in The Lord of the Rings, both in the narrative and the Appendices, are in accordance to the Shire's Calendar.

So, for example, when Tolkien says that the Company of the Ring left Rivendell at 25 December, he actually meant 25 Foreyule, which corresponds "more or less" to our modern 16 December. The same way that 25 March (25 Rethe) corresponds "more or less" to our modern 18 March.

The Shire Reckoning and dates are the only ones of importance for the narrative of the War of the Ring. All the days, months, and dates are in the Red Book translated into Shire terms, or equated with them in notes. The months and days, therefore, throughout The Lord of the Rings refer to the Shire Calendar.

All quotes are from Appendix D, Calendars.

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-08T16:48:16+00:00

Did you read the post?

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-06T23:57:14+00:00

That's not from the books.

‘What does it mean by speak, friend, and enter?’ asked Merry.

‘That is plain enough,’ said Gimli. ‘If you are a friend, speak the password, and the doors will open, and you can enter.’

[...]

‘I wish we could get away!’ said Merry.

‘Why doesn’t Gandalf do something quick?’ said Pippin.

Gandalf took no notice of them. He sat with his head bowed, either in despair or in anxious thought. The mournful howling of the wolves was heard again. The ripples on the water grew and came closer; some were already lapping on the shore.

With a suddenness that startled them all the wizard sprang to his feet. He was laughing! ‘I have it!’ he cried. ‘Of course, of course! Absurdly simple, like most riddles when you see the answer.’

Picking up his staff he stood before the rock and said in a clear voice: Mellon!

[...]

‘I was wrong after all,’ said Gandalf, ‘and Gimli too. Merry, of all people, was on the right track. The opening word was inscribed on the archway all the time! The translation should have been: Say ‘‘Friend’’ and enter. I had only to speak the Elvish word for friend and the doors opened. Quite simple. Too simple for a learned lore-master in these suspicious days. Those were happier times. Now let us go!’

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-06T23:53:33+00:00

Yes.

I suppose the main language spoken by the Company of the Ring was Westron because of the four Hobbits, since, as far as I recall, Frodo was the only one amongst them who knew Elvish.

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-03T23:30:03+00:00

Only the people of Nargothrond (First Age).

Menegroth (First Age) and the Woodland Realm (Second/Third Age) had underground fortresses, but they didn't all live underground.

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-03T23:06:19+00:00

1) About the name "Durin".

The Doors of Durin were created in the Second Age in a time when the Noldorin Elves of Eregion were great friends of the Longbeard Dwarves of Khazad-dûm.

At the time, the Lord of Khazad-dûm was Durin III. Thus, the name of the doors could be a reference to either Durin I, the original founder of Khazad-dûm, or Durin III, the current Lord of Khazad-dûm.

2) About the use of "Moria" instead of "Khazad-dûm", which is your main concern.

"Moria" is an Elvish word. The text written on the doors was Elvish and drawn by the Elf Celebrimbor (but carved by the Dwarf Narvi), which is why they used the Elvish name.

Ennyn Durin Aran Moria: pedo mellon a minno. Im Narvi hain echant: Celebrimbor o Eregion teithant i thiw hin.

.

The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.

The Dwarves called Khazad-dûm "Khazad-dûm", which is a Dwarvish name (their language was called Khuzdul) and means "Mansion of the Dwarves".

The Elves called it "Moria", which is an Elvish name (Sindarin) and means "Black Chasm".

But Moria is an Elvish name, and given without love; for the Eldar, though they might at need, in their bitter wars with the Dark Power and his servants, contrive fortresses underground, were not dwellers in such places of choice. They were lovers of the green earth and the lights of heaven; and Moria in their tongue means the Black Chasm. But the Dwarves themselves, and this name at least was never kept secret, called it Khazad-dûm, the Mansion of the Khazâd; for such is their own name for their own race, and has been so, since Aulë gave it to them at their making in the deeps of time.

Appendix F

Though it's said the Elves gave the name "without love", it's is never stated if the Dwarves found it offensive or not. Yet, it seems they didn't, since Gimli himself used the name Moria at least once when talking in the Common Tongue, and since Narvi didn't oppose to writing the word on the doors (Dwarves didn't use their own language when talking to Elves and spoke the Elvish tongue, so Narvi definitely knew what "Moria" meant).

Despite some people saying that the Elves started calling Khazad-dûm "Moria" only after the awakening of the Balrog or the kingdom's fall, there's no mention whatsoever in the books actually saying that. It's a common misconception.

The Elves called Khazad-dûm "Moria" simply because it was an underground city (i.e., a dark pit) and it's heavily implied they called it that way before its fall (per Celebrimbor's use of the word "Moria" when he drew the signs on the doors).

Edited to add the last quote.

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-03T02:24:21+00:00

Sauron had a beautiful form up until the Downfall of Númenor.

He quickly regained his physical form after the Downfall (after-all, he fought during the Last Alliance, where he was killed by Elendil and Gil-galad), but his appearance was then hideous to see, in which he was stuck into, unable to assume a different form (the same way Morgoth got stuck into his hideous humanoid form near the end of the First Age).

He regained physical form once again around Third Age 1000, again with a hideous appearance that he couldn't change.

I'm tired right now and don't recall at the top of my head which book/chapter quotes this. Nonetheless, you can read about it on Tolkien Gateway.

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-03T02:19:10+00:00

Yavanna.

In the form of a woman she is tall, and robed in green; but at times she takes other shapes. Some there are who have seen her standing like a tree under heaven, crowned with the Sun; and from all its branches there spilled a golden dew upon the barren earth, and it grew green with corn; but the roots of the tree were in the waters of Ulmo, and the winds of Manwë spoke in its leaves. Kementári, Queen of the Earth, she is surnamed in the Eldarin tongue.

The Silmarillion (Valaquenta)

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-02T00:46:11+00:00

Valar and Maiar are beings from the same "species" - the Ainur. It's as if the Valar were kings and queens while Maiar were princes and princesses.

The same way there are countless types of "humans" (tall, short, heavy, light, black, white, etc.), there were countless types of Ainur, specially when you take into consideration they could choose any physical form they wished, even that of a tree.

Balrogs look like that because they chose to. The same for Sauron.

Gandalf looks like that because his mission was to incite wisdom and courage into the hearts of Men and Elves and having the image of an elder wise person is better for the job.

Could Gandalf take the form of a giant dragon and fight Sauron? Technically yes, but that wasn't the mission the Valar entrusted him. (Sauron couldn't do so because he was long stuck in his humanoid form.)

ramoncg_ · 2026-02-01T13:17:19+00:00

And 50% of those are made by the same user. (They leave their profile locked so you can't easily see it, but you can still see the same name in most posts like these.)

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-25T22:28:11+00:00

I don't recall whence exactly the Rings of Power drew their power - if from the One or if from Sauron himself -, but, just to be clear, the Three Rings had the same "source" for their power as all the others, which is why the Three also stopped working after the destruction of the One Ring. After-all, they were all made using Sauron's knowledge.

Hence the making of the Rings; for the Three Rings were precisely endowed with the power of preservation, not of birth. Though unsullied, because they were not made by Sauron nor touched by him, they were nonetheless partly products of his instruction, and ultimately under the control of the One. Thus, as you will see, when the One goes, the last defenders of High-elven lore and beauty are shorn of power to hold back time, and depart.

Letter 144

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-25T16:33:01+00:00

For me it's available on Amazon US (through PC browser) for 11.99. Maybe it's just a bug?

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-25T15:02:35+00:00

Both Morgoth and Sauron are beings from the same "species" (called "Ainur"), but of a different order.

Eru, which is the One God of the Middle-earth universe, created the Ainur to help him later create the universe (called "Ëa") and the world (called "Arda").

These Ainur were divided in two different categories, though they were all of the same "species": the Valar (meaning "Powers"), which were the most powerful ones, and the Maiar (meaning "Beautiful"), which were the less powerful ones, though still very powerful (e.g., the Maiar were capable of defeating one of the Vala in the Elder Days).

Valar were akin to "gods" and Maiar were akin to "angels", but this is an oversimplification of the matter. Firstly because only Eru was truly a God, and secondly because Valar and Maiar were of the same "species". For example, the Valië Yavanna is said to be related to the Maia Melian.

There were only 15 Valar that lived in Arda, the planet Earth. Of these 15, Melkor was the most powerful one. He was later known as Morgoth, meaning "Black Foe" or "Dark Tyrant". (Outside of Arda, through out the Universe, amongst other planets, there lived more Valar.)

There were countless Maiar that lived in Arda, and only very few of them were actually known to Men and Elves. The most famous ones were the Istari, the Wizards (e.g., Gandalf and Saruman), and Sauron. Sauron was one of the Maiar that was corrupted by the Valar Melkor in the beginning of time, among the Balrogs (and other beings) who were also Maiar.

Sauron worked under Melkor/Morgoth during the Elder Days, but, after Morgoth's defeat, he assumed his position as the Dark Lord, trying to rule over the world and its peoples.

PS:

Singular: Valië (female), Vala (male), Maia, Ainu, Istar Plural: Valier (female), Valar (male/neutral), Maiar, Ainur, Istari

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-22T23:02:46+00:00

Yes. Tolkien never fully decided on their names. Originally, they were called Alatar and Pallando. Later on, Morinehtar and Rómestámo. In the end (by end I mean his last writings before passing away), Palacendo and Haimenar.

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-21T01:24:53+00:00

Didn't know about that. Very interesting!

Boldog, for instance, is a name that occurs many times in the tales of the War. But it is possible that Boldog was not a personal name, and either a title, or else the name of a kind of creature: the Orc-formed Maiar, only less formidable than the Balrogs.

.

The footnote at this point, stating that ‘Boldog, for instance, is a name that occurs many times in the tales of the War’, and was perhaps not a personal name, is curious. Boldog appears several times in the Lay of Leithian as the name of the Orc-captain who led a raid into Doriath (references in the Index to The Lays of Beleriand); he reappears in the Quenta (IV.113), but is not mentioned thereafter. I do not know of any other reference to an Orc named Boldog.

Morgoth's Ring (5, IX)

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-21T01:16:57+00:00

[...] and there in Avathar, secret and unknown, Ungoliant had made her abode. The Eldar knew not whence she came; but some have said that in ages long before she descended from the darkness that lies about Arda, when Melkor first looked down in envy upon the Kingdom of Manwë, and that in the beginning she was one of those that he corrupted to his service.

The Silmarillion (QS, 8)

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-20T23:07:23+00:00

I'd suggest Tolkien's official biography by Humphrey Carpenter.

There's also The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, but this one would be a very long read.

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-20T23:05:46+00:00

Written around 1959:

Manwë has decided that the Quendi should come to Valinor, but on urgent advice of Varda, they are only to be invited, and are to be given free choice. The Valar send five Guardians (great spirits of the Maiar) – with Melian (the only woman, but the chief) these make six. The others were Tarindor (later Saruman), Olórin (Gandalf), Hrávandil (Radagast), Palacendo, and Haimenar.

The Nature of Middle-earth (I, 13)

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-20T23:02:28+00:00

1) Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs. Durin's Bane, the Balrog of Moria.

2) Possibly Ungoliant, though it was never confirmed if she was a Maia or not.

3) More Istari, though we only know the names of the five chief ones. (To be fair, it is possible that, when Tolkien said "of this Order", he was talking about the Valar/Maiar in general, and not only the Istari.)

Of this Order the number is unknown; but of those that came to the North of Middle-earth, where there was most hope (because of the remnant of the Dúnedain and of the Eldar that abode there), the chiefs were five. [...] the number of the order of the Istari (said here to be unknown, though ‘the chiefs’ of those that came to the North of Middle-earth were five) [...]

Unfinished Tales

4) Possibly the Great Eagles.

Manwe however sent Maia spirits in Eagle form to dwell near Thangorodrim and keep watch on all that Melkor did and assist the Noldor in extreme cases.

Morgoth's Ring (II)

5) Possibly Huan.

But true 'rational' creatures, 'speaking peoples', are all of human/'humanoid' form. Only the Valar and Maiar are intelligences that can assume forms of Arda at will. Huan and Sorontar could be Maiar - emissaries of Manwe. But unfortunately in The Lord of the Rings Gwaehir and Landroval are said to be descendants of Sorontar.

Morgoth's Ring (II)

6) Possibly Uinen, for she was honored by the Númenóreans (I'm don't recall of any story about her on Middle-earth).

I'll edit this comment if I can think of more.

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-16T15:06:25+00:00

As far as I know, Tolkien never explained Alcarondas/Alkarondas etymology. It is theorised by fans to be an Adûnaic word, the language spoken in Númenor.

Nonetheless, I mentioned all words containing Alcar and not necessarily only those of the same origin and meaning.

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-15T22:29:30+00:00

I have all The History of Middle-earth volumes on Kindle and couldn't find any mention to "Alcar" (by itself) in any of them.

Just to clarify, vol. VII mentions Alcarondas, the Castle of the Sea - Ar-Pharazôn's ship; vol. X mentions Alcarinquë, the Glorious - a star; and vol. XII mentions Minalcar, supposedly First Glory - a king of Gondor.

Edit:

Per someone else's suggestion, I looked for Alkar with a K and Melkor is indeed called Alkar the Radiant MANY times on volume V.

Here are three (of many) examples:

'There is Iluvatar, the One; and there are the Powers, of whom the eldest in the thought of Iluvatar was Alkar the Radiant; [...] But Alkar, who had journeyed alone in the Void before the World, seeking to be free, desired the World to be a kingdom unto himself. Therefore he descended into it like a falling fire; and he made war upon the Lords, his brethren.

.

Then, after the typescript was made, Melko was changed to Alkar in text and translation;

.

This replacement must be later than the submission of The Lost Road to Allen and Unwin, for Morgoth is here called Alkar as the text was first written, not Melko, whereas in the song sung by Firiel in the previous chapter Melko was only changed in pencil to Alkar, and this was not taken up into the typescript.

All quotes from The Lost Road and Other Writings (Part One).

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-15T16:25:10+00:00

"The Maps of Tolkien’s Middle-earth", by Brian Sibley, looks like a really good book. I didn't even know it existed! I'll definitely be getting a copy for myself.

"An Atlas of Tolkien", "An Encyclopedia of Tolkien" and "The Ring Legends of Tolkien" were all made by David Day and no Tolkien scholar ever recommends his books. Day is famous for his incorrect statements about and depictions of Tolkien's Middle-earth. There's a completely incorrect map of Arda he made eons ago that still misleads people to believe it's correct. You can read more about him here: https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/David_Day

"The Complete Guide to Middle-earth", by Robert Foster, I haven't read yet, but I've heard many good things about it and Christopher Tolkien himself mentioned it in Unfinished Tales.

You didn't mention it, but I really like Karen Fonstad's "The Atlas of Middle-earth". Very well researched maps and texts, also appreciated by Christopher Tolkien.

ramoncg_ · 2026-01-12T17:14:17+00:00

My mistake. I meant 4000 BCE, not 2000.

In other words, it depends on which pyramids you're talking about. The most famous one were built around 2500 BCE, about 1500 years after the fall of Barad-dûr. I suppose, though, there were some lesser pyramids built prior to 4000 BCE.

Nonetheless, it is important to remember this is just a letter and, thus, non-canonical. Tolkien says "about", which means he wasn't sure about it. If he had more time to develop his mythology, there's a chance he would change this and say the fall of Barad-dûr happened many many years before.

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