-wë
-wë (or -we) is a Quenya suffix used mainly in masculine names more usual in the First Age. It is translated as "man" or simply "person".
It was seen in names of the Elves of Cuiviénen and the Great March: Morwë, Nurwë, Ingwë, Finwë, Elwë, Olwë, Nowë, and Lenwë.
The suffix appears frequently in other Quenya names of the First Age, such as Voronwë, generally but not exclusively masculine.
The ending was also seen in Manwë, and perhaps also in Eönwë.
The element, having the archaic sense of "person", can also rarely be found in feminine names, such as Elenwë.
Etymology
In the Etymologies, -we derives from the Primitive Quendian ending -wego (from root WEG).
In the later text "The Shibboleth of Fëanor", the ending derives from the stem EWE, which is also an ancient word for "person".
Cognates
The element is seen in names of Quenya form which in turn perhaps represents Common Eldarin. The name ending did not seem to survive in later generations or in other languages; an exception is the element -u seen only in the name Elu (from *Elwego) who was better known as Thingol in Sindarin. The Elf Nowë became better known as Círdan.
Olwë became Olue in Telerin. Lenwë was known as Denweg.
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 20/05/2026.
