The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Location
Widespread across Middle-earth, but particularly associated with the woods of Doriath and Nan Elmoth1
Species
Luscinia megarhynchos
Meaning
From Old English næctigalæ, ultimately meaning 'night singer'
Other names
The Sindarin name for this bird, Tinúviel, was given to Lúthien by Beren; in Quenya nightingales were known as lómelindi

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About this entry:

  • Updated 28 May 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

Nightingales

Small brown birds of thrush kind, famous for their clear singing, and the fact that they will sing during the night as well as the day (hence their name). The Sindarin word for 'nightingale' was tinúviel, the name Beren gave to Lúthien when he first saw her.


Notes

1

To be more precise, nightingales were associated with the Maia Melian, and Melian was associated with these forests. It was in Nan Elmoth that she met Elwë (Thingol) to the sound of nightingale song, and after she became Queen of Doriath, nightingales are mentioned several times in connection with that land. Not least of these connections was her daughter Lúthien, who gained the name Tinúviel or 'nightingale'.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 28 May 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

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