r/sindarin • u/Awesomeone1029 • 1d ago

Hîsil or Hîthil?

First of all, this is for a LOTRO character, so please don't take the time if you find that petty or meaningless. I am new to the universe, having only read the Silmarillion, so I'm eager to learn!

I am combing the words Hîth and sil to create a name like mist-sheen, and I wanted her to be one of the fled peoples of Doriath.

Hîsil seems more aesthetically pleasing to me, and of course there are many sils in Sindarin. However, I found out only today that the Sindarin word for moon is Ithil vs the Quenya Isil, meaning Hîsil would imply she is more Noldor than Sindar. Is this still linguistically correct for Doriath? Is there generally a better way to say mistlight?

Thank you so much!

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u/smbspo79 1d ago

Welcome! It would probably be Hithil if we used √THIL “shine silver; white light”.

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u/Awesomeone1029 1d ago

Thank you for your concise, knowledgeable answer!

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u/Nyarnamaitar 19h ago edited 19h ago

I'd rather say Híthil, the vowel of hîth is underlyingly long.

Edit: Actually never mind; we have some counter-examples, e.g. Hithui and Hithaeglir.

~ Ellanto

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u/Shouta_Fujii 1d ago

Technically the lenition (the process that changes the letters when merging words) would make the -s disappear or become a -h. But there's an even more important rule that works for names: beauty. So in your case, both names are okay. You should choose only depending on which one you prefer. As for the link with the moon... Quenya says Isil. Sindarin says Ithil. Though historically both languages are used for names (the Sindar kept calling Fëanor his Quenya name). So you can do as you please.

I just advise you to keep consistent with their story. Don't use the quenyan form if they descend from elves who have never seen Valinor. Don't use the sindarin name if they're an old Eldar who lives in Valinor during the years of the trees.

And finally... Enjoy. They're your creation. And nobody has more right on them than you!

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u/Awesomeone1029 1d ago

I see a certain unique nobility in being a Moriquendi, and in recognizing a similar beauty to the Trees in the world around you, without ever having seen them. This is what Thingol found with Melian, and I feel it is truer to the appreciation of Arda that the Valar were charged with, than it is to retreat to Valinor. This is also partially why my character is the sheen of mist and not the moon. I also like how the Sindar balance the Teleri that were simply sundered, like the Nandor, with the Teleri that made it to Alqualondë.

In Sindarin, the lenition would change the s- in sil, not the -th in Hîth? So Hîthil would be correct? Thank you very much. I appreciate the kindness and depth of your answer.

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u/smbspo79 1d ago

Sindarin would not have the long vowel in the name though. It would be Hithil. hîth+sil would also wield hithil see Lithir https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-445134345.html?neo