Elvish Vs Elven

From a writing perspective, which word do you use more often? Elvish or Elven???

Why does it matter?

Well, let me explain.

If you are a fantasy writer and your fictional world contains elves, chances are likely you are going to sometimes being using one or both of the above words.

It varies upon the author, but typically it works as follows:

Elvish - The language of elves, but also used as an adjective to describe elvish words, elvish names, elvish poetry, elvish writing, elvish script, elvish semantics, etc.

Elven - An adjective used to describe things made by elves. Elven swords, elven architecture, elven magic, elven mapmaking techniques, etc.

As noted above however, it does vary with the author. Tolkien for example had his own rules for when he used elven and elvish. But at least he was consistent about it.

And therein lies the most important part. As a fantasy writer if you are going to use the words in question then you need to use them consistently.

For example, Andrzej Sapkowski, author of the Witcher book series, uses "Eldar" as the language of elves instead of Elvish. But at least he does it consistently.

In my own writing I use elvish and elven, as per the definitions above, and Eldar refers to completely different group of powerful beings known as the "Eldar Noramir".

For more about the Eldar Noramir see the Korovian Creation Myth.

But I do find it interesting that Sapkowski chose to use the word Eldar as the language of elves.

Eldar has multiple meanings in different languages:

• Eldar in Hebrew - "God Resides".
• Eldar in Old Norse - A warrior who wields fire as a weapon.
• Eldar in Turkic - Ruler or King.
• Eldar in Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic - Fire.

So there is a lot of meanings to possibly interpret there.

In Tolkien's work Eldar is a name applied to elves. The name was given to the elves by the Vala Oromë when he first found them wandering.

So Eldar has previously been used as an alternative to saying elves.

Andrzej Sapkowski might have even considered giving the book shown above a different title. eg. "Blood of the Eldar".

But then only nerds like myself would know he was talking about elves.

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Question Time!
 "As a writer, how do you depict dialogue between characters who are speaking elvish?"

That depends on who the POV (Point of View) character is.

If the main character/POV character doesn't speak Elvish, I write it in elvish so the reader doesn't know the words either.

Although for reference I use Esperanto as a way to translate English into an elvish sounding language. Esperanto is effectively my go to language for all things elvish.



If the POV character does speak elvish then I write the words in English, but I indicate to the reader which language is being spoken.

Eg. "Greetings friend, how farest thee?" asked the halfling in formal elvish.

Note also that the character's knowledge of the language might vary. Flawless elvish, formal elvish, informal elvish, crude elvish, a childish knowledge of elvish, and they probably speak with an accent if their elvish is not flawless.

Which words I choose to use in a particular situation also varies on the language.

Formal High Elvish is more flowery and flowing, prone to artistic flair and metaphor.

Dwarven is more guttural and sounds rocky, with Low Dwarven being prone to swearing.

Halfling or Habbel is more pastoral, using simpler words common to farmers, and prone to anecdotal sayings.

Minotaurs talk like vegans. Vegans who are holier than thou and very formal about it. eg. "Wouldst thou eat an ape? Then don't expectest me to eat thine cattle."

Because Korovia is so in-depth and complex I created a section on my fiction website where people can read about Korovia's complex history, culture, economics, maps, guilds, heraldry, religions and more. This way fans of my writing can find lots of background information about the world.

fiction.charlesmoffat.com/korovia/

I even made a page dedicated just to fables.

Korovian Fables

When Elves bring gifts...

I didn't write this. I found this on the blog: http://elfmaidsandoctopi.blogspot.com.

When an elf brings a gift, roll a d100.

01 Leaf wrapped vegetarian Long Life Rations 2d6 days, no weight
02 Cloak of Elven kind helps wearer hide in forest or mountains or against unworked rock
03 Boots of Elven Kind helps wearer move silently when trying to sneak
04 Musical Instrument worth d6x100gp and +1 to any musical skills
05 Silver Dagger glows if goblinoids or orcs within 6"
06 Spear that changes length from dagger to spear to long spar or lance
07 Set of single edged silver shortswords with fine scabbards
08 Goodberries 2d4 in a bag heal a HP each or supplies a days food
09 Jaunty Elfish Hunting Cap +1 to spotting things rolls
10 Elfin silver sabre sword d8 damage
11 Pot of d10x100 gold pieces that melts outside elfland within 24 hours
12 Acorn if left in larder fills with 30 days of food by dawn
13 Bottle of addictive elf wetnurse milk incredibly delicious and equals a day of food
14 Lump of Coal that burns for a month
15 Glowing marsh melon makes light as a candle for month or 3"radius if burst for a hour
16 Jack O'Lantern if lit and placed near door will arise as scarecrow if strangers enter house
17 Honey Comb drizzles a spoon of honey a day or can use up by summoning a bear
18 Teabag that lasts a year with tasty refreshing herbal tea
19 Ground Roast Spiced Chicory Powder makes tasty warm drink, enough for 20 doses
20 Bottle of White Desert Wine excellent vintage worth 60gp
21 Magic Beans, if planted becomes a plant sprite overnight d4 in bag
22 Wolf Weed Seed, if planted grows into a loyal pet vegetal wolf beast
23 Acorns that grow a tree overnight as if 30 years had passed d6 in a bag
24 Acorns of healing cure d4 with d6 in bag
25 Flower Seeds each covers 1" square in thick pretty flowers in pack of d6
26 Goblin Seeds each grows a warrior goblin in 24 hours, pack of d6
27 Vine Belt can grow lengths of strong climbing and swinging vine, d6" per day
28 Hair Seeds make flowers grow in your air for a d6 months, d6 doses in pack
29 Fire Pinecone inflicts d4 in a 1" square
30 Berryseeds, a handful of seeds grow a 1" patch of fruiting berry bushes by dawn
31 Arrow that always points home
32 Quiver of 12 long range arrows that get no rage penalties
33 Quiver of 12 silver +1 arrows
34 Lycanthropy Arrow, most frequently inflicts victim with werewolf disease if they fail save
35 Charming Arrow hit as a charm person spell and causes no damage
36 Plague arrow, causes disease if target fails to save
37 Quiver of 20 silver arrows
38 Arrow of Healing cures 2d8+4 HP on struck target (causes no damage)
39 Iron Arrow is +5 and does 2d8 damage vs supernatural and magical creatures and races
40 Leafhead Arrows in quiver of 20 bump up bow damage to d8
41 Elf Cat loyal 20lb cat, expert at hiding and climbing HD 1+1 AC16 Dd6 MOVE 16"
42 Elf Hunting Hound with nice hair HD 1+1 AC14 Dd6 MOVE 24" Sprint
43 Elf Hunting Falcon, will catch rabbits and birds skillfully and warns of hazards ahead
44 Elf Magic Goat can translate many animal, human and Elf conversations and has milk
45 Elf Finch can carry whispered messages from person to person
46 Elf Work a small pocket size stinging snake that protects purses
47 Attractive but grumpy fairy in bottle who dances in hopes of being released or fed
48 Faerie trapped in amber looks shocked, if carefully removed is very grateful to rescuer
49 Elfin Peacock, decorative alarm, hates snakes and screams if strangers approach home
50 Pet Squirrel, gather and sort scattered items very quickly if commanded, adorable
51 Boar Tusk Comb, makes existing hair grow 20% faster if used daily to brush
52 Stag Helm, gives a antler headbutt attack extra for a d6 damage once a turn (10 min)
53 Owls Crown allows a human to see in the night like a owl, needs some light to see
54 Bull's Torc gives the wearer +1 CON if standing on unworked earth or stone or wood
55 Beavers Teeth, if implanted in holes left by teeth, gain ability to eat wood like a beaver
56 Weasel Claws are gloves that improve climbing abilities while worn, d3 unarmed attack
57 Badgers Claws are gloves for digging, move a foot of earth per round, d4 unarmed attack
58 Otters Gloves are for swimming add +4 to your MOV in water, very warm and dry
59 Bats Ears fuse with your ears providing sonar vision and perfect dark vision
60 Toad leather vest makes you toxic to eat while wearing, bite attacks save or avoid
61 Moss Potion covers d4 1" squares with rich thick soft moss, lichen and ferns
62 Moon Tree Potion grants permanent second sight near full moon for 3 days
63 Celestial Tear Potion allows drinker to levitate to the moon and back in a single night
64 Golden Orb Potion if used drinker glows 3" radius that undead find repulsive -2 to hit
65 Star Potion if drunk gives visions of dreamland suggesting a quest and travel there
66 Brazen Noon Potion makes the drinker immune to natural fire till next dawn
67 Blue Mushroom Potion makes drinker sense the nearest d3 gates within 12 hours march
68 Heavenly Lotus Potion makes drinker gain +1 Level for a d6 hours
69 Dragon Ambergris Potion, can vomit fire bolt 4" 3d8 damage once
70 Unicorn Horn Potion cures poisoned person or nuetralizes a poison in liguid
71 Name of fairy knight who will negotiate to fight once in return for a promise or pact
72 Name of a fairy lady who will attack a supernatural enemy for you once if called
73 Name of the Blue Lady who if called brings a letter from your fairy godmother once
74 Name of the faerie knight who will carry you and your servants as per teleport once
75 Name of a faerie princess who will conjure a mile long fog bank that lasts for a hour once
76 Names the king and queen of bright elves and dark elves, befriend faction of elves once
77 Names of the Harlequinade, calls a creepy elven carnival to a location for a single day
78 Name of the Tree Ancestor, if called will sprout a plant with d6 goblins in pods, once
79 Name of the Horned One , if called by night will send a servitor gargoyle for night, once
80 Name of the Wild Hunt can be called to set upon a villain or fugitive, once
81 Lesser demon bound in rock freed if broken might fight if freed as favour but don't trust it
82 Faerie Swarm Bottle acts as a insect swarm spell, an choose to take coins instead of HP
83 Pipes of the Satyr are able to play a single lascivious tune by anyone who plays it
84 Horn of the Banshee if used by night all within mile afraid to go out side, one use
85 A Hand Mirror with a pocket universe complete with cursed undying eccentric occupants
86 Ancestral bundle of human bones from the dawn age returned to your race after aeons
87 A grumpy argumentative faerie in a jar but a good scout and spotter glad for release
88 Moss of the Tree Men allows user to speak to plants for a hour d4 doses a bag
89 Wrist sundial, a time piece and navigational aid in a attractive bronze bracelet
90 Wolf Biscuits, if fed to a wolf it becomes friendly towards feeder, d6 per box
91 Holly Leaf Crown +1CON when worn on head
92 Silver Moon Bow makes every arrow fired act as if silver
93 Living Branch Bow grows d6 arrows from it each day as long as watered
94 Silver Torc gives wearer +1 DEX in night or darkness
95 Copper Ringlet allows you to speak to one common animal
96 Silken slippers make you immune to spider or magic webs and improve your dancing
97 Sprite Idol can be awoken as a sprite to serve for on hour once
98 Silver Ring can call for help from sylvan beings once for a rescue
99 Ivory Ring wearer can turn into wild boar under a full moon (three days per month)
100 Thorn Crown can cast Entangle three times a week

Elven Villages and Architecture

Elves live in all sorts of place where they can be close to nature. Trees, forests, swamps, marshes, waterfalls, rocky mountains...

Elven Village in a Valley

Elven Village in a Swamp