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Personal names
Here is the list of names of orcs with approximate translation (based on “Etymologies” chapter of “The Lost Road and Other Writings”). Sources of the translations is often abbreviated. I saw some similar translations of some names but without any source, so they can be purely speculative, based on some titles/nicknames/etc., such translations are marked with strike-through. Few undoubtful interpretations are marked with bold. Most names of 1st Age orcs are considered to be in Elvish tongues, not in Black Speech, however their form is often not exactly the same as Sindarin/Noldorin/Quenya/Gnomish, so they are either their Westron adaptations or from Orcish dialects. Some names are even given in two variants: Orcish and Elvish/Gnomish. Nûrlâm treats some of Elvish names of evil creatures as Debased Black Speech, e.g. Sindarin word incorporated into Black Speech is “gûl” meaning “necromancy”, but translated together with genuine Black Speech “nazg” as “ring-wraiths” in “Nazgûl”.
| Name | Description / Occurrence | Translation | Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azog | orc chieftain in The Hobbit (3rd Age) | | |
| Balcmeg | The Book of Lost Tales, Fall of Gondolin (1st Age). This name is in “Gnomish”1) language. His Qenya/Eldarin name was Malkamekte | heart of evil (PE2) 15, p. 21) | “gnomish” language: “(m)bal” (anguish), “balc” (cruel) Westron “balc” (horrible) Sindarin “bal” means “might”, “power” Old English (Anglo-Saxon) “bealu” (evil, bale) |
| Boldog | Orc captain of Angmar, The History of Middle-earth Volume III: The Lays of Beleriand, The Lay of Leithian poem. There were some other chieftain orcs named the same in the 1st Age. Tolkien suppose that it is a title, not the name, or name of all Maiar who became orc-formed | torment‑slayer (LR3)), cruel warrior | bol < Noldorin “baul” < ÑGWAL (torment) dog < Noldorin “daug” (warrior, soldier)4) < NDAK (slay) |
| Bolg | son of Azog, one of the main antagonists in The Hobbit (3rd Age) | strong5) | possibly a shortened form of Boldog, another version is the word from Mágol language invented by Tolkien but not connected to Middle-Earth and LOTR could be also from Sindarin “beleg” (great, might, large, big) < Common Eldarin “(M)BEL(EK)” (strong), the same stem from which names Melkor (Mbelekōro) and Belegûr came less likely could be from Quenya “polda” (big, strong), Early Quenya “poldor” (physical strength, might) < Etym. “POL(OD)” (physically strong) |
| Gazmog | orc of Cirith Ungol (The War of the Ring) replaced by Shagrat | hateful mouth yawning tyrant | ? GAS (yawn, gap, hole, mouth) see Gothmog for “mog” |
| Ghash | orc of Cirith Ungol (Sauron Defeated) replaced by Muzgash in LOTR6) | fire | BS7) “ghâsh” |
| Golfimbul | orc chieftain from Mount Gram invaded Shire (The Hobbit, 3rd Age) | the joke of inventing the game golf by throwing Golfimbul's head into the rabbit's hole. “fimbul” is Old Norse for “great” “golf” < ? GÓLOB-, Noldorin golf (branch) |
|
| Gorbag | orc captain in Minars Morgul (LOTR) killed by Shagrat | violent shit or violent torture, | bag is from bagronk from Orc-curse, possibly from WAGH (to stain, soil) “GOR” means “violence, impetus, haste, vigor” (Etym.) EH9) “gorb-” (choose) < KIL-², Quenya “cilmë” |
| Gorgol | 1st Age (The History of Middle-earth Volume III: The Lays of Beleriand, The Lay of Leithian poem: Of Beren, son of Barahir & his escape) | butcher (HOME III)10), dreadful sorceror (EK), violent triumphant | probably from Sindarin “gaur” + “gôl” (dreadful sorceror) (EK), more likely from “gor” + “gûl”, as standard Sindarin translation of “gaur” is “werewolf” see Gorbag for “gor” ? “gol” possibly from GYEL-, GEL- (the call, triumph) or ÑGOL (wise) which blends with “gor” worse in meaning |
| Gothmog | In LOTR III, The Return of King he was called Lieutenant of Minas Morgul, second in command of Nazgûl, but in Unfinished Tales this character was called Khamûl and dwelled in Dol Guldur. In The Silmarillion this name refers to the lord of Balrogs. And in some draft to Silmarillion he is even called a “son of Melkor”. The name is in Sindarin. His name in Primitive Elvish is Gothombauk and Kosomot in Eldarin. In some draft not included in HOME, 3rd age Gothmog was suggested as name of Voice of Sauron, but was changed later. “The List of Names” of LR contradicts with Etymologies chapter and gives translation “Voice of Goth (Morgoth), an Orc-name”, the name Morgoth itself is translated as “mor” = “dark or black”, “Goth” = “Lord or Master” | dread oppressor, dread tyrant, hateful warrior, strife-and-hatred (early works), Master's voice (dismissed Orcish translation) | Etym: GOTH (dread, terror), “MBAW” (oppress, force, compel) The List of Names: in Orquin11) “goth” means “lord, master” and “mog” is “voice” BOLT II: “mog” is “hate” in Gnomish, “moko” with same meaning in Qenya (spelled such in early works) and “goth” is “war” “goth” also may be from “KOT” (enemy) as in Morgoth = “Black Foe” |
| Grishnákh 12) | orc captain of Mordor, slain by Rohirrim (LOTR II) | severed hand, cut-and-bite, | ? grish < KIRIS, RIS (cut); compare with Sindarin “criss” ? nâkh < NAK (to bite) or MAGH (hand) |
| Khamûl | see Gothmog, the commander in second of the Ringwraiths (Unfinished Tales, part 3, chapter 4). This name is possibly in some mannish language. Khamûl is also called “Shadow of the East”, “The Black Easterling” | | probably from Khand + gûl (EK) mûl < Quenya “malle” (street, road) < MBAL |
| Lagduf | an orc of Cirith Ungol, killed by Morgul Orcs (LOTR III), | gloomy sword, night blade, | < LAG (sword) ? duf < DAB (allow, permit) or DUB (lie heavy), Noldorin “dofn” (gloomy) or DOGH, DÔ,DOMO (night, dark, gloom, faint, dim) |
| Lug13) | Fall of Gondolin (The Book of Lost Tales) | snake (PE 15, p. 28 and PE 13, p. 105) | see Lugburz, but in BOLT it's possibly from LOK (serpent, dragon) as in “urulóke” |
| Lugdush | an orc of Isengard, slain by Rohirrim (LOTR II) | Tower sorcery | see Lugburz, Dushgoi |
| Lughorn | an orc of Isengard (LOTR II) | tower-wolf, | see Lugburz ? horn < Doriathrin “garm”, Quenya “harma” (wolf), Etym. “GHARAM” |
| Mauhúr | an orc captain from Isengard (LOTR II) | fierce warrior, berserk, | Qenya “mahtar” (warrior) < MAK Noldorin “hûr” (vigour, fiery spirit) < KHOR |
| Muzgash | orc of Cirith Ungol killed by Morgul Orcs (LOTR III) | evening fire, | from “ghâsh” (fire) ? “muz” < Sindarin “moth”, Qenya “muske” (dusk) |
| Naglur-Danlo | orc of Cirith Ungol (The War of the Ring) | ||
| Nûzu | orc of Cirith Ungol (The War of the Ring), replaced by Shagram | ||
| Orcobal | an orc leader in the Fall of Gondolin, not a BS name | mighty orc, cruel orc | Qenya “orko”, Sindarin “bâl” (divine power), “beleg” (mighty), Gnomish “balc” (cruel), see Balcmeg |
| Othrod | an orc leader in the Fall of Gondolin, The Qenya/Eldarin form of his name was Osorot | mountain-like, | ? OS- (about, around) ÓROT (mountain) ROD (cave) ? Sindarin “hoth” (host, horde) + Early Noldorin “-rod” agentive suffix |
| Radbug | an orc of Cirith Ungol killed by Shagrat | | ? bug < Noldorin “baug” (tyrannous, cruel, oppressive) < Etym. “MBAW” |
| Rog | Rog the Fleet, a name given to Egnor (father of Beren, later renamed to Barahir) by orcs (1st Age, BOLT II: I. The Tale of Tinúviel) | ||
| Shagram | orc of Cirith Ungol (The War of the Ring) replaced by Shagrat in LOTR | ||
| Shagrat | an orc captain of Cirith Ungol (LOTR III) | | |
| Sharkû | the nickname of Saruman amongst the orcs, transformed into Sharkey by Hobbits (LOTR III) | old man | orcish |
| Snaga | the name of many orcs, actually a rank in hierarchy (WJ) | slave, tied 14) | ? SNAR (tie) ? Noldorin (archaic) “māgā” < SMAG (soil, stain) |
| Ufthak | an orc of Cirith Ungol, captured by Shelob (LOTR III) | | uf < UGU (negative prefix), ÚLUG, ÚLGU (horrible, hideous) thak < THÊ (a look, face) |
| Uglúk | an Uruk-hai captain of Isengard slain by Eomer (LOTR III) | | ? Hurrian “ugil” (frighten) ? UGU (negative prefix) ? ÚLUG, ÚLGU (horrible, hideous) |
| Yagûl15) | orc of Minas Morgul (mentioned in Sauron Defeated and The War of the Ring), replaced by Gorbag | ? wraith, | ? ya(g) < YA (old) or YAG (gap) as in PN “Moria” or YAY (mocking, scorn) gûl is BS as in Nazgûl |
| Zaglûn | orc of Minas Morgul (The War of the Ring), replaced by Yagûl and later by Gorbag | ? zag < SAG (bitter, poison) ? lûn < Doriathrin & Ilkorin “luin” (pale), Noldorin “lhûn” (blue) < Etym. “LUG”[2], “LUY” |
Sauron is the name in Quenya (Thauron, Gorthaur in Sindarin). Morgoth is considered also as Sindarin word (a name given to Melkor by Fëanor) with translations “Black Foe” or “Dark Tyrant”. Chapter “The List of Names” of “The Lost Road and Other Writings” states that orcs called him the same but with meaning “Dark Lord”. But more frequently he was referred simply as “Goth” (“Master”). Probably this word was later used for Sauron also, specially when he started the cult of Morgoth and even call himself a “Morgoth returned”. In “The Book Of Lost Tales” (HOME 1) there is also a name of servant of Melkor, “Fankil” aka “Fúkil” aka “Fangli” of unknown origin, whose role was later taken by Sauron. “The Lays of Beleriand” (HOME 3) have “Lungorthin” name for lord of Balrogs (untranslated, probably means “Heavy Idol” in Gnomish), which was replaced with “Gothmog” in later writings and published Silmarillion. Beren and Felagund called themselves “Nereb” and “Dungalef” when were disguised as orcs, but these names are mere anagrams of their real names, and thus are not listed here.
Table of possible Black Speech roots
So below is the list of possible Black Speech roots and their meaning in alphabetical order:
| Word | Translation | Etymology |
|---|---|---|
| bag | 1) torture 2) shit, dung, cess | 1) Etym. “ÑGWAL” (torment) 2) Etym. “WAGH” (filth) |
| bal | 1) might, (divine) power 2) cruel16) | 1) Sindarin 2) see “bol” |
| bol | torment, tormentor, cruel | Noldorin “baul” < ÑGWAL (torment), compare with Sindarin “balch” |
| bug(?) | ? Noldorin “baug” (tyrannous, cruel, oppressive) < Etym. “MBAW” | |
| dog | slayer, warrior | Noldorin “daug” (warrior, soldier) < NDAK (slay) |
| duf | ? gloomy | Noldorin “dofn” < DUB |
| dush | sorcery | BS < “Dushgoi” < Valarin “dušamanûðân” (marred) |
| gaz | ? mouth | GAS (yawn, gap), Qenya “asse” (hole, mouth) |
| ghâsh17) | fire | BS < Valarin “igas” (heat) < “Aþâraigas” (appointed heat) |
| gol | 1) ? triumphant 2) ? wise | 1) GYEL-, GEL- (the call, triumph) 2) ÑGOL (wise), see gûl |
| gor(g) | 1) violent 2) to butcher | GOR (violence, impetus, haste, vigor) |
| gorb | ? choose | KIL-², Quenya “cilmë” |
| goth | 1) enemy, foe 2) dread 3) war 4) Master, Lord | 1) KOT 2) GOTH (dread, terror) 3) Gnomish 4) AO, dismissed |
| grat(?) | ||
| gûl | wraith | BS < “Nazgûl” < Sindarin “gûl” (evil sorcery, necromancy) < ÑGOL (wise, wisdom), Doriathrin “gôl” (wise, magical), “morgul” (dark sorcery) in 1970s Tolkien changed his mind and separated ÑGOL (wisdom, lore) » Noldo from ÑGUL (dark, with sinister connotations) » Sindarin “gûl” (see PE 17) |
| horn | ? wolf, beast | Quenya “harma” (wolf) < GHARAM |
| hûr | fierce, vigour | Noldorin “hûr” (vigour, fiery spirit) < KHOR |
| lag | sword | LAG |
| lûk(?) | ||
| lug | 1) tower 2) snake | 1) BS < “Lugbûrz” 2) LOK (serpent, dragon) as in “urulóke” |
| lûn | ? pale, blue | Doriathrin & Ilkorin “luin” (pale), Noldorin “lhûn” (blue) < LUG, LUY |
| mau(h) | ? warrior | Qenya “mahtar” (warrior) < MAK |
| mog | 1) tyrant, oppressor 2) hateful, hatred 3) voice | 1) MBAW (oppress, force, compel) 2) Gnomish “mog” (hate), Qenya “moko” (hate) 3) AO, dismissed |
| muz(g) | ||
| oth | ||
| rad(b) | ||
| rat(?) | ||
| rod | ? mountain | Sindarin “orod”, “ôr” < ÓROT (mountain) |
| rog | demon | Sindarin < Noldorin “raug” < RUK |
| sha(gr) | ||
| snaga | slave | BS |
| thak | ? face | THÊ (a look, face) |
| uf | ||
| ug(l) | frighten | ? Hurrian “ugil” (frighten) ? UGU (negative prefix) ? ÚLUG, ÚLGU (horrible, hideous) |
| ya(g) | ||
| zag | ? bitter, poison | SAG (bitter, poison) |
Races
| Black Speech word | Translation | Source | Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|
| golug | Noldo elf in AO, in Neo-Black Speech used for all elves | UT18) | ÑGOLOD, Noldorin “golodh” (one of the wise folk, Gnome19)). If suffix -ug in “pushdug” means present active participle (“stinking”), then “golug” may be translated as “knowing” |
| gong | “This might be thought to be a name for the Kaukareldar or ‘false-fairies’” (BOLT I, Chapter X: “The History of the Exiled Gnomes according to the earlier outlines”) | BOLT I | GL “one of a tribe of the Orcs, a goblin” |
| hai | suffix appeared in various nations name, translated as “folk” by Tolkien, however it's not clear why he oppose “Uruk-hai” to regular “orcs” | AO and BS, probably from Qenya “hos(se)”; compare with Adûnaic suffix “-lai” with same meaning | |
| nazgûl | Ring-wraith(s) | LOTR | nazg < Valarin “naškad” (ring) gûl (phantom, shadow of dark magic, necromancer, evil spirit, servant of Sauron) < Sindarin, (evil) knowledge, magic, sorcery, necromancy < ÑGOL, wisdom |
| oghor | Drúedain | UT | unknown, orcish word (AO); compare with Drúedain's self-name “drughu” |
| olog20) | new breed of trolls tolerable to sunlight, used for all trolls now | LOTR, Appendix F | BS, possibly from ÚLUG > Ilkorin “olg” (hideous, horrible), “ulgundö” (monster); compare with Sindarin “torog” (troll) |
| shar(a), shark | man, from “sharkû” (old man), a nickname of Saruman among the orcs, but it's not clear whether “shar” means “human” or any “male” person despite the race. Translation appears only in Tolkien's “Guide to the Names in the Lord of the Rings” (published posthumously in book “A Tolkien Compass”, 1975), in LOTR only “Sharkey” is used. | LOTR | unknown, DBS or orcish word; compare with Dwarven name of Gandalf “Tharkûn” (Grey man, Staff-man), also spelled “Sharkûn” in WR |
| tark | men of Númenórean descend (i.e. Gondor), often used for all men | LOTR, Appendix F | DBS or Orkish word, from Quenya “Tarcil” (high-man) < TUR (master, lord, mighty) + KHIL (follow) > Quenya “hildi”, mortal men were called “followers” being awaken after elves |
| uruk | orcs | LOTR | ÓROK (goblin) > Quenya “orco”, “urco” > Sindarin “orch” RUK (demon) > Sindarin “urug” (monster) |
Other races like Hobbits or Dwarves do not have Black Speech names in Tolkien sources but were invented later by fans (like “gazat” for dwarves). Majority of researchers treat the name “Balrog” as Sindarin. However in chapter “The List of Names” of “The Lost Road and Other Writings” J.R.R. Tolkien states that “Balrog is said to be an Orc-word with no pure Qenya equivalent: 'borrowed Malaroko-'” which contradicts Etymologies chapter of the same book. Later “Malaroko” was replaced with “Valarauko” in Quenya.
| Word | Translation | Etymology |
|---|---|---|
| balrog | fire demon | Sindarin, “Demon of might” from “bal” = (divine) power and “raug” = demon Noldorin “baul” + “raug” Etym: ÑGWAL (torment) + RUK (demon) = “cruel demon” |
Places
| Black Speech | Translation | Etymology | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dushgoi | Minas Morgul | if it's a translation of Sindarin name, then “dush” = “morgul” = “(dark) sorcery” and “goi” = “minas” = “city, town with citadel or central watch tower” (compare with Noldorin “gobel” = “a walled house or town”). “Dush” also could be from Valarin “dušamanûðân” (marred) | WJ, WR, SD |
| Lugbúrz21) | Barad-dûr | from Sindarin “dark tower”, BS “burzum” (darkness), then “bûrz” means “dark” and “lug” means “tower”. In PE 17 Tolkien's translation “fortress, lock-up, prison” is given (spelled “lûg” there, but never so in real drafts for LOTR, only for name “Lûg” of Silmarillion). | LOTR |
Names like Mordor or Angmar are in Sindarin, not Black Speech.
Links
1)
in early draft Noldor elves were called Gnomes, in timescale of creating languages for Tolkien's world Gnomish precedes any other elvish languages like Quenya and Sindarin
2)
Parma Eldalamberon journal
3)
The Lost Road and Other Writings, Etymologies chapter
4)
primarily about Orcs
5)
The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag End, p. 710
6)
The Lord of the Rings
7)
Black Speech
8)
Horngoth Orkish
10)
mentioned in the poem as “Gorgol the Butcher”, but this doesn't mean his name translates so, maybe it's his monicker
11)
aka Angband Orcish, AO
12)
also spelled as “Gríshnák” in earlier draft, “Treason of Isengard” (HOME 7)
13)
appears as “lûg” in unedited “Name-list to the Fall of Gondolin”
14)
perfectly fits passive participle suffix -aga
15)
also spelled “Yagool”, see WJ
16)
less likely
17)
spelled also “ghash” and “gash”
18)
Unfinished Tales
19)
Elves were called Gnomes in early works
20)
also spelled “olg” in PM
21)
also spelled without diacritics in WJ
personal_names.txt · Last modified: 2023/09/07 19:38 by 127.0.0.1
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