Your Sindarin Textbook
Chapter Three, Lesson Two: Writing Dates

Chapter Three | Lesson One | Lesson Two
Introduction
Part I
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Back to Realelvish

Elves use a different calendar than Men. Their calendar is based upon seasons instead of months. For converting the dates, use this ledger: Comparative Calendars of Arda.

The Presentation of Dates

The direct translation of a date into English:
Gondorian Style - on the April 2nd /OR/ 2nd of the April
Elven Style - on the Late Spring 8th /OR/ 8th of the Late Spring

Translated into Sindarin:
Gondorian Style- erin Gwirith edwen /OR/ edwen uin Gwirith
Elven Style- erin Ethuil dolothen /OR/ tolothen uin Ethuil

When dealing with a holiday or a day that does not belong to a month, present the date as such:
English - on the New Year's Day
Sindarin - erin Minien

To make dates you will need Mixed Lenition to use on the months and seasons.
Only the first letter of the month or season changes.
C-->G
RH-->'R

And you need Soft Lenition for the numbers when they follow the months or seasons.
C-->G
M-->V
P-->B
T-->D
Note: These are only the ones that you need for dates, and there's much more to this chart that I haven't shown you.

Calendars

There are several different calendars that one must deal with: the King's Reckoning, which lasted from the founding of Númenor 'til the last King of Gondor died and power pasted to the Stewards, which leads to Steward Reckoning. The Steward's Reckoning lasted 'til the end of the Third Age, when Tar-Elessar came to the throne. The reckoning that Tar-Elessar instated is called the New Reckoning.

The King's Reckoning

Month (English)Length
Minien (First day)1 day
Narwain (January)30 days
Nínui (February)30 days
Gwaeron (March)30 days
Gwirith (April)30 days
Lothron (May)30 days
Nórui (June)31 days
Endien (Middle Day)1 day
Cerveth (July)31 days
Urui (August)30 days
Ivanneth (September)30 days
Narbeleth (October)30 days
Hithui (November)30 days
Girithron (December)30 days
Penninor (Last day)1 day

The Steward's Reckoning

Month (English)Length
Minien (First day)1 day
Narwain (January)30 days
Nínui (February)30 days
Gwaeron (March)30 days
Tuilor (Spring Day)1 day
Gwirith (April)30 days
Lothron (May)30 days
Nórui (June)30 days
Endien (Middle Day)1 day
Cerveth (July)30 days
Urui (August)30 days
Ivanneth (September)30 days
Iavor (Harvest Day)1 day
Narbeleth (October)30 days
Hithui (November)30 days
Girithron (December)30 days
Penninor (Last Day)1 day

The New Reckoning

Month (English)Length
Minien (First day)1 day
Gwirith (April)30 days
Lothron (May)30 days
Nórui (June)30 days
Cerveth (July)30 days
Urui (August)30 days
Ivanneth (September)29 days
Corvor (Ring Day)1 day
Endien (Middle Days)3 days
Narbeleth (October)30 days
Hithui (November)30 days
Girithron (December)30 days
Narwain (January)30 days
Nínui (February)30 days
Gwaeron (March)30 days
Penninor (Last Day)1 day

The Elven Calendar

Season (English)Length
Minien (First day)1 day
Ethuil (Late Spring)54 days
Laer (Summer)72 days
Iavas (Early Fall)54 days
Endien (Middle days)3 days
Firith/Narbeleth (Late Fall)54 days
Rhîw (Winter)72 days
Echuir (Early Spring)54 days
Penninor (Last day)1 day

Homework

Symbols that you may need:
áéíóúý
ÁÉÍÓÚÝ
âêîôûŷ
ÂÊÎÔÛŶ

Translate this date into all of the Gondorian and Elven calendars using both methods of presentation.

October the 24th

New Reckoning: erin Narbeleth neder-tadchaen / neder-tadchaen uin Narbeleth
Steward's Reckoning: erin Narbeleth neled-tadchaen / Neled-tadchaen uin Narbeleth
King's Reckoning: erin Narbeleth neled-tadchaen / Neled-tadchaen uin Narbeleth
Eldarin Calendar: erin Firith odog-tadchaen / odog-tadchaen uin Firith

Extra work: Write today's date in all of the date systems. Then count and make a list of objects in your room (that have Sindarin words for them).