Valaraukar

From Tolkien Gateway
Main article: Balrog

Valarauco pl. Valaraucar[1][2] is the Quenya name for the Maiarin followers of Morgoth better known in their Sindarin form: Balrogs.

Etymology

It is formed from words vala, 'power' and rauco, 'monster'.[3][4]

Other versions of the legendarium

In The Etymologies, the word Balrog is derived from ñgwalaraukô[4] displaying a derivation from root ñgwal- (referring to "torment, cruelty") instead of val-.[5] This derivation would produce the Quenya word **Nwalarauco.

In The Book of Lost Tales, the Qenya term is Malcarauce.

Note

Valarauco is not forming a regular plural **Valaraucor but changing the final vowel in the plural (-o > -ar). Helge Fauskanger suggests that the singular form uses the variant rauco, while the plural form uses the variant rauca for some reason.[3]

Another Quenya word which displays similar properties is perhaps sundo.

References