La

la or lá (whenever stressed) is a negation adverb meaning "no, not"

The word can get pronominal endings as if a negative verb when a verb is not expressed, apparently where the phrase “is not” is followed by a noun or an adjective as a predicate, or where some verb is understood , as in English “I do not”.

Etymology

root LA

Forms

• ala, ála "do not!"
  • alalye
  • alame "do not to us"
• lanye "I do not, am not" (melin sé apa lanye hé *“I love him but I do not him [that one]”)

See also

• ú-
• áva
• al-

Other versions

In another conceptual phase of Tolkien's, lá had the opposite meaning "yes"

Tolkien considered that the negation could receive tense markers however he later reconsidered it. The tenses where la was attested are:

• la (aorist)
• laia (present)
• láne (past)
• alaie (perfect)
• lauva (future)