minquë

minë = one
atta = two
neldë = three
canta = four
lempë = five
enquë = six
otso = seven
tolto = eight
nertë = nine
cainen = ten
minquë = eleven
yunquë = twelve
haran = one hundred

minquë is the Quenya word for the number eleven.^[1]

Etymology

The origin of the element "-quë", seen in enquë (six), minquë (eleven), and yunquë (twelve) puzzled early investigators. Pengolodh, however, pointed out that minquë was the key; it evidently an early word for the start (first) of a new decade and therefore meant something like "min again".^[2]

It was further proposed by Pengolodh that it based on the Common Eldarin stem KEWE ("new, fresh"; "anew, repeated"), which had the forms [*kwē >] (e)kwē̆ ("afresh, anew") or keu- (cf. Q. keure ("renewed")). The CE min(i)k(e)we was likely the common ancestor of Sindarin minib, Telerin minipe, and the Quenya [minkwe >] minquë.^[2]

Minquë then influenced its neighbour yū(e)neke, which originally meant "double six" (yū- ("both", "twice") + eneke ("six")),^[2]^:10 but adopted the element -que and became yunquë.^[2] This system was so strong that it ended up changed the word for six as well (eneke, enke > enquë).^[2]

References

↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", MINI, MINIK
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part Two: Appendix A: Q. enque 6, minque 11, and yunque 12" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 48, December 2005

[1] J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", MINI, MINIK

[vt48-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part Two: Appendix A: Q. enque 6, minque 11, and yunque 12" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 48, December 2005

[1]

[2]