20 fascinating facts about Lord of The Rings movies you probably didn't know

Modified Jan 27, 2025 10:21 ET

The Lord of the Rings (Image via New Line Cinema and WingNut Films)

5) Real-world languages influenced Elvish

J.R.R. Tolkien based the Elvish languages on Finnish, Welsh, and Latin. Finnish inspired the flowing and structured sounds of Quenya. Welsh influenced the lyrical and melodic nature of Sindarin. Latin gave the languages a formal and ancient feel that made them believable. These linguistic details brought a sense of realism to Middle-earth and made the Elves feel distinct and timeless. Scenes with Elvish dialogue, like Galadriel’s farewell to Frodo, carried emotional weight because of this depth. Tolkien’s work on Elvish became one of the defining features of the trilogy’s world-building.