Cursing, Swearing and exclamations in Middle Earth

[Otaku-sempai]

Thorin to Bilbo: "Descendant of rats!"

[Glorelendil]

Thorin to Bilbo: "Descendant of rats!"

Oh good one!

[cuthalion]

Just starting looking into this, but here's a couple of farewells from Éomer:

'May he bear you well and to better fortune than Gárfulf, his late master!' (Ok, maybe not likely to come up to often, but rather cool).

'Return with what speed you may, and let our swords hereafter shine together!' (More useful. But perhaps only permitable when uttered by the Marshall of the Mark--not sure your average adventurer could pull this one off!)

Éomer's speech is fairly plain, and there are a lot of these sorts or turns of phrase, rather than go-to formulas.

I was thinking earlier about Beorn and his lack of patience for the Dwarves' 'at your services'. Still haven't found a greeting used by men, but only read over this small section.

[Arthadan]

About "religious" ones, it makes sense the most revered Valar among the Woodmen would me oromë and Yavanna. But of course these are their Quenya names which are not apropiate at all.

Oromë's name among the Northmen is Béma (seems to mean "Lord of trees") or he could be called the Hunter or the Great Rider (this one mainly for Rohirrim I guess) and Yavanna could be the Lady, the Mother or Fréoma (I've made this up using anglo-saxon elements). Or you could use their Sindarin names, Araw and Ivon (or Ivann).

In general, Elves, Dwarves and Dúnedain out of respect will not use the name of the Valar in oaths (neither will Hobbits which seems to ignore them). But probably Beornings and Woodmen would (maybe using a nickname such the Hunter instead of Béma for exampe).

And then you can elaborate such "by the Hunter's horn!" "May the Lady bless you with a good harvest and many children", etc.

[Glorelendil]

The same might be said of Christians: "they don't take the Lord's name in vain, out of respect."

But when they do so anyway, we call it swearing. The whole point is to shock sensibilities.

"By Yavanna's tits...that's one big troll."

"His heart is blacker than Telperion's stump on a cloudy day."

"That girl could suck the sunlight out of a Silmaril."

[Dunheved]

"That girl could suck the light out of a Silmaril."

That is brilliant!

[Glorelendil]

"That girl could suck the light out of a Silmaril."

That is brilliant!

In retrospect I'd replace "light" with "shine".

Or "sunlight".

[Yepesnopes]

"That girl could suck the light out of a Silmaril."

That is brilliant!

In retrospect I'd replace "light" with "shine".

Or "sunlight".

You will suffer this!

[Glorelendil]

"Maedhros on a rock!" (Expression of disbelief.)

"Well, we're off like Beren's hand." (Not exactly a swear.)

"By the seven sons of Feanor..."

[Arthadan]

Good ones!

Most non-Elvish peoples don't have a clue of what Silmarills, Berem, etc, were mind you.

In those cases, I suggest using famous heroes/kings instead.

By Durin's beard!
By Félarof's big ****! (use your imagination here, it's not "mane")
Hit them hard as Helm's fists!