Telerin

Telerin is a branch of Tolkien's Elvish languages (Eldarin), named for the Teleri, one of the three principal Elven kindreds who journeyed from Cuiviénen to Aman. In the legendarium, Eldarin languages split early into several tongues, and Telerin is regarded as the source for later Elvish varieties such as Sindarin and the Nandarin/Nandic group spoken by the Nandor.

Historically, the Teleri who remained in Aman and those who traveled to Middle-earth developed distinct dialects. Sindarin, the Grey Elvish of Beleriand, is described as a descendant of the Telerin tongue, while the Nandarin (Nandic) languages emerged among the Nandor of Ossiriand and related regions. Over time, these branches gave rise to various regional Elvish varieties, including those of the Silvan Elves.

The phonology and grammar of Telerin are not exhaustively documented in Tolkien’s published works. What is known comes from later notes and supplementary writings, and descriptions of Telerin’s features vary by source. It is considered part of the Eldarin family, sharing core traits with Quenya and Sindarin but exhibiting its own characteristic sound changes and vocabulary that influenced the development of Sindarin and related tongues.

In contemporary Tolkien scholarship and fan scholarship alike, Telerin is treated as a historical stage of the Elvish languages rather than a fully realized, independently spoken language in the later ages. It serves as a key conceptual link explaining the origins and diversification of Sindarin and Nandarin within Aman and Middle-earth.