The ordinary Quenya word for “twelve”, whose use dates back to at least the Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s (PE14/49, 82). In notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals (HFN) from 1968, Tolkien said its primitive form ✶yūnekē was an elaboration of √ENEK “six” meaning “two (or both) sixes” (VT47/41; VT48/9-10). In Quenya it then picked up a w so that k > kw, either under the influence of minquë “eleven” (VT48/7) or from dual we (VT48/10). Compare also suffixal [ᴹQ.] -rasta “twelve” in duodecimal counting words like yurasta “twenty four” = “✱two twelves”.
Quenya
yunquë
cardinal. twelve
yunquë
cardinal. twelve
yuncë
cardinal. twelve
yuncë ("k") cardinal "twelve", before it was altered to yunquë under the influence of minquë "eleven" (according to VT48:7, 8). The form yuncë is asterisked by Tolkien. Compare encë under enquë.
rasta
cardinal. twelve
#rasta cardinal "twelve" (isolated from yurasta_ "24", two times 12; cf. the stem RÁSAT "twelve" listed in the Etymologies). See yunquë. (PE14:17)_
yurasta
cardinal. twelve
yurasta cardinal "24" (two times #rasta "twelve") (PE14:17)
yunquë ("q") cardinal "twelve" (VT47:41, VT48:4, 6, 9; VT49:57; also compare the stem yunuk(w)-_ cited in VT42:24, 31). This word appears already in an early source (PE14:82)_. Some sources point to #rasta, q.v., as another word for "twelve". However, available post-LotR sources indicate that Tolkien intended yunquë as the regular Quenya word for "twelve".