Tolkienian

Tolkienian is an adjective and, less commonly, a noun used to describe things associated with J. R. R. Tolkien and his body of work. It encompasses the characters, places, languages, and lore of Tolkien’s created world, primarily Middle-earth, as well as the stylistic and thematic priorities of his writing, such as mythic framing, philology, and the deliberate internal history of his legendarium.

It is commonly applied to linguistic features, including invented languages like Quenya and Sindarin, their grammars, sound patterns, and historical development within Tolkien's world. Beyond linguistics, Tolkienian usage covers world-building elements, such as maps, genealogies, and cultures, and literary aspects like archaic diction, epic tone, and interwoven mythic cycles.

In practice, the term is frequent in fan scholarship, encyclopedias, and commentary. It helps distinguish material directly drawn from Tolkien's works or modeled on his methods from other heroic fantasy. Some writers prefer more specific labels such as Tolkienese or Tolkien-inspired; Tolkienian is often used as a broader umbrella.

Notes: Tolkienian is not a formal term in Tolkien’s own writings; it is a convenient label used by readers and scholars. See also Middle-earth; Quenya; Sindarin; Tolkien linguistics.