The Elvish languages in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium have a wide variety of words for common animals, including multiple words for “dog”. Determining the specific Elvish word for “dog” requires an examination of the key Elvish languages Quenya and Sindarin, as well as an understanding of the different types of dogs found in Middle-earth.
The Elvish Languages
There are two main Elvish languages that have vocabulary around dogs:
Quenya
Quenya was the ancient language of the Noldorin Elves. It was strongly influenced by the Elvish languages Valarin and Telerin. Quenya was brought to Middle-earth during the exile of the Noldor and was used in the land of Beleriand. After the War of Wrath, Quenya evolved into a more updated version used in Valinor. Quenya is a highly inflected language and was used mainly for ceremonial and poetic purposes.
Sindarin
Sindarin was the common Elvish language of Beleriand. It evolved from Common Telerin and was influenced by Noldorin Quenya. Following the War of Wrath and the destruction of Beleriand, Sindarin became the dominant Elvish language of Middle-earth. It was used for daily speech by Elves and mixed with other languages like Westron. Sindarin has less complex grammar than Quenya.
Types of Dogs in Middle-earth
There are several breeds and types of dogs found in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien:
Huan the Hound
Huan was no ordinary hound, but rather a Maia in the form of a dog. He accompanied Lúthien on the Quest for the Silmaril and battled Sauron and other evil creatures. Huan could not be killed except by the greatest wolf to ever live.
Carcharoth
Carcharoth was a great wolf servant of Morgoth who bit off Beren’s hand and consumed a Silmaril. He is sometimes described as a “werewolf” rather than a natural wolf. Carcharoth fatally wounded Huan in their battle.
Hounds of Oromë
Oromë the Vala used supernatural hounds for hunting. His hounds helped hunt the creatures of Melkor. The Elves would keep hounds descended from Oromë’s pack.
Mearas
The Mearas were horses kept by the Rohirrim, but they also had “hounds swift as deer” that helped them hunt. So the Rohirrim had breeds of dogs swift enough to keep up with horses.
Watchdogs
Guard dogs and watchdogs are mentioned several times, including hounds that guarded the approaches to Gondolin, watchdogs that guarded Hobbit holes, and the dogs that attacked the Fellowship in Moria.
Pet Dogs
There are a few examples of Elves and Hobbits keeping dogs as pets. For example, Huan served as a pet to Lúthien in some versions of the story. Hobbits had dogs for hunting small game like rabbits.
Quenya Words for “Dog”
In Quenya, there are two main words that mean “dog”:
racco
This seems to be the most common Quenya word for an ordinary dog or hound. It likely comes from primitive Elvish *rakkâ.
hón
This Quenya word refers to larger dogs and hounds used for hunting or attack. It’s related to Sindarin “haug”.
Some examples of Quenya compound words using racco or hón:
– Raccofindë = “hound of the enemy”
– Raccamo = “noisy hound”
– Hónroca = “wolf-hound”
Sindarin Words for “Dog”
Sindarin also has a couple main words for “dog”:
hôn
This is the most direct word meaning simply “dog” or “hound”. It comes from primitive Elvish *khu-nâ.
haug
Like Quenya hón, this refers to larger dogs used for hunting, tracking, or guarding. It is related to Quenya hón.
Some example Sindarin compounds include:
– Cúhaug – “bow-hound” = hunting dog
– Haugbuzraug – “hound of the loud bark”
– Haugen – “fell hound” = wolf
Words for Specific Dogs
In addition, there are some special Elvish names referring to legendary dogs and wolves:
Huan
Huan’s name in Quenya was Huan, which means “great hound”. His Sindarin name was Huan too.
Carcharoth
His name means “Red Maw” in Sindarin, likely referring to the burning Silmaril inside him.
Oromë’s hounds
Oromë’s dogs are just called “Oromë’s hounds” in both Quenya and Sindarin.
Conclusion
To summarize, the most common Elvish words for an ordinary dog are “racco” in Quenya and “hôn” in Sindarin. Specialized hunting dogs are called “hón” in Quenya and “haug” in Sindarin. And legendary dogs like Huan and Carcharoth had unique names tied to their characters. So there are many options for how to say “dog” in Elvish! When creating Elvish names or translating texts, the choice of dog terminology would depend on the type of hound and the distinguishes between dialects.
| Language | Word for “dog” | Word for “hunting hound” |
|---|---|---|
| Quenya | racco | hón |
| Sindarin | hôn | haug |