How should I say 'I love you'?

velicëmána #2041

I don't know if I would pronunce or say it right. Does that phrase even exist?

Gilruin #2042

Tolkien didn't translate the phrase, but we can try using what we know of his words and grammar rules:

  • Quenya: melin(ye) tye
  • Sindarin: melin gin

The Quenya translation is probably a valid way of saying "I love you" the Sindarin one is less certain because we lack a good example of how accusative pronouns ("you" in this case) behave.

Quirinius #2043

I would translate that phrase to Quenya and Sindarin as:

  • Q. melin(ye) tye/lye/le. tye is informal singular, lye is formal sg., and le is plural. Alternatively, you can place the object in front of the verb, to emphasise the addressed: tye/lye/le melin(ye).

  • S. gi/le/dhe melin.

Edit: I did not notice Gilruin's posting, but he is absolutely right regarding the debatable placement of pronouns in accusative, although we do have attested le linnathon, "I sing to you," and le nallon, "I cry [to you]."

Tamas Ferencz #2044

How should I say 'I love you'?

With passion...

Gilruin #2045

I did not notice Gilruin's posting, but he is absolutely right regarding the debatable placement of pronouns in accusative, although we do have attested le linnathon, "I sing to you," and le nallon, "I cry [to you]."

I believe that those are specifically dative forms and I’d suggest to mutate the verb in this construction, which just goes to show how little we know about this. (The undebatable example would be hain echant, so gin melin would be my preferred option if we front the pronoun, but we don’t know whether some kind of mutation should occure)

My current thoughts are: discord.com

Quirinius #2046

Right. It was simply to show the position of the addressed pronoun.