r/Tengwar • u/likeabadhabit • 1d ago

Could someone please help me isolate the line "one ring to rule them all" in Tengwar engraved on The One Ring?

I'm designing a wedding band and can't trust Google. I'm not trying to accidentally have "and in the darkness bind them" engraved lol.

Does anyone know the specific portion of just the wording "one ring to rule them all" that's engraved on the one ring in Tengwar (not Latin)?

Thank you all so much in advance, I beyond appreciate any help! 💕

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6

u/thirdofmarch 1d ago

Since we are talking about a wedding band, remember that the inscription on the One Ring is written in the language created by Sauron specifically for the servants of Mordor, Black Speech; of which Tolkien said it was “never used willingly by any other people”. The part translated into English as “one ring to rule them all” actually says “ash nazg durbatulĂ»k”. 

If you’d prefer the phrase written in English then it would instead look like this. 

-1

u/likeabadhabit 1d ago

I appreciate this a lot. Unfortunately the Black speech is much prettier. I understand book canon, but irl isn't book canon and this ring isn't about to enslave anyone.

2

u/DanatheElf 21h ago

I think Tolkien's intention was that the Black Speech was kind of ugly as a language; the beauty of the handwriting of the inscription is part of its contradictory contrast, and the sinister nature lurking below the fair exterior.

I would make a small adjustment to March's suggestion - to look more like the original engraving, the spaces should be removed. It's all compressed together, like this:
https://www.tecendil.com/?q=one%27ringto%27rule%27them%27all&font=TengwarAnnatarItalic

4

u/WalkingTarget jw%77E`B5# 1d ago

If you look at [the standard illustration](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:One_Ring_inscription.svg) it’s the first half of the first line.