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Location
Originally widespread, with populations in Beleriand and Númenor; by the end of the Third Age, they were apparently restricted to the Drúadan Forest and Drúwaith Iaur
Race
Men
Important peaks
In their early history, this people settled extensively throughout the White Mountains
Pronunciation
roo'atani
Meaning
'Wild Men'1
Other names
Drû, Drúedain, Drû-folk, Drúath, Drughu, Drûg-folk, Drûgs, Drúin, Oghor-hai, Púkel-men, Rógin, Rú, Wild Men of the Woods, Woses
Note
Rúatani is a plural term: an individual member of this people would be known as a Rúatan

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 September 2022
  • This entry is complete

Rúatani

A name for the Drúedain

One of many names for the reclusive, mysterious race of Men who aided the Edain during the Wars of Beleriand, and later helped the Rohirrim on their ride to Gondor.

Their own word for themselves was Drughu, but the Elves adapted this into their own Sindarin language as Drû (from which the more common 'Drúedain' derives). From Sindarin, the word passed into Quenya, but again it was changed, and became Rú. From this comes the plural form 'Rúatani' ('Rú-Men') which is the direct Quenya equivalent of 'Drúedain'.


Notes

1

The name that this people gave to themselves was Drughu, which was adapted by the Elves to fit the sounds of their own languages. In Sindarin this became Drû, with Edain added in recognition of their enmity to the Dark Lord, giving Drúedain. Rúatani represents the same process, but adapted to Quenya, and incorporating Atani as the Quenya equivalent of Edain.

In Sindarin (for complex etymological reasons) the whole name Drúedain could be translated as 'Wild Men', and we follow that simple interpretation for its Quenya version above, though strictly the name would be something like 'Wose Men' (where 'Wose' refers to one of the Wild Men).

See also...

Rú

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 September 2022
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2005, 2022. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.
How do your personal strengths fit in with career matching? How can you identify them? Try a free personality test from myDISCprofile.
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Rúatani

A name for the Drúedain

Location
Originally widespread, with populations in Beleriand and Númenor; by the end of the Third Age, they were apparently restricted to the Drúadan Forest and Drúwaith Iaur
Race
Men
Important peaks
In their early history, this people settled extensively throughout the White Mountains
Pronunciation
roo'atani
Meaning
'Wild Men'1
Other names
Drû, Drúedain, Drû-folk, Drúath, Drughu, Drûg-folk, Drûgs, Drúin, Oghor-hai, Púkel-men, Rógin, Rú, Wild Men of the Woods, Woses
Note
Rúatani is a plural term: an individual member of this people would be known as a Rúatan

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 September 2022
  • This entry is complete

Rúatani

A name for the Drúedain

One of many names for the reclusive, mysterious race of Men who aided the Edain during the Wars of Beleriand, and later helped the Rohirrim on their ride to Gondor.

Their own word for themselves was Drughu, but the Elves adapted this into their own Sindarin language as Drû (from which the more common 'Drúedain' derives). From Sindarin, the word passed into Quenya, but again it was changed, and became Rú. From this comes the plural form 'Rúatani' ('Rú-Men') which is the direct Quenya equivalent of 'Drúedain'.


Notes

1

The name that this people gave to themselves was Drughu, which was adapted by the Elves to fit the sounds of their own languages. In Sindarin this became Drû, with Edain added in recognition of their enmity to the Dark Lord, giving Drúedain. Rúatani represents the same process, but adapted to Quenya, and incorporating Atani as the Quenya equivalent of Edain.

In Sindarin (for complex etymological reasons) the whole name Drúedain could be translated as 'Wild Men', and we follow that simple interpretation for its Quenya version above, though strictly the name would be something like 'Wose Men' (where 'Wose' refers to one of the Wild Men).

See also...

Rú

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 September 2022
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2005, 2022. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.
How do your personal strengths fit in with career matching? How can you identify them? Try a free personality test from myDISCprofile.