Phurunargian

The geography of Phurunargian¹

The 'true' Westron name for Khazad-dûm or Moria, usually anglicised to 'Dwarrowdelf'. The name Phurunargian literally means 'Dwarves' mine' or 'Dwarf-delving', and derives from two ancient Common Speech roots, phur- ('to delve') and narac ('Dwarf'). Both of these words were obsolete and obscure by the end of the Third Age, and so 'Phurunargian' would have had an antique sound even to the inhabitants of Middle-earth at that time. Hence, its translation into English also uses archaic terms, in particular 'Dwarrow', an old English word for 'Dwarf'.