Hobbit riddles have been a favorite for many years, especially because of the clever wordplay and the fun challenge they bring. From J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Gollum’s riddles in the dark are iconic, and they’ve inspired fans of all ages to try their hand at solving similar puzzles. Whether you’re a child or an adult, hobbit-like riddles are a great way to test your mind and have fun with friends and family.
In this collection, we’ve gathered more than 100 riddles inspired by The Hobbit. These riddles are perfect for anyone who loves a good challenge, from easy ones for kids to tricky puzzles for adults. You’ll also find famous riddles that bring to mind Gollum’s dark and twisted games of wit. If you’re a fan of magical riddles, be sure to check out our riddles about Harry Potter for more brain teasers from the wizarding world!
Ready to test your skills? Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
Famous Hobbit Riddles with Answers
These riddles are some of the most famous ones from The Hobbit. They’ve become iconic, thanks to the clever wordplay and tricky nature of the puzzles. Test your knowledge and try to solve these timeless riddles, just like Bilbo and Gollum did in their legendary contest.
1. This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, and beats high mountain down. What am I?
Answer: Time
Explanation: Time is the force that ages everything, wearing down even the strongest materials and the mightiest empires.
2. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps
Explanation: As you walk, you leave behind footsteps, and the more steps you take, the more footprints are left behind.
3. It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, ends life, and kills laughter. What am I?
Answer: Darkness
Explanation: Darkness is invisible and formless, filling spaces and marking the end of day or life, often bringing a sense of silence or sadness.
4. This thing runs, but never walks. It has a bed, but never sleeps. It has a mouth, but never talks. What is it?
Answer: A river
Explanation: A river flows (runs), has a “bed” (riverbed), and a “mouth” (where it meets the ocean), but it never actually sleeps or talks.
5. I am not alive, but I grow; I do not have lungs, but I need air; I do not have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Explanation: Fire can grow by consuming fuel, needs oxygen to burn, and is extinguished by water.
6. What has keys but can’t open locks?
Answer: A piano
Explanation: A piano has keys, but unlike a door key, they can’t unlock anything. Instead, they produce music when pressed.
7. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?
Answer: An echo
Explanation: An echo is the reflection of sound, speaking when noises are made and “hearing” when they bounce back, but it has no physical form.
8. What can travel around the world while staying in the corner?
Answer: A stamp
Explanation: A stamp is placed in the corner of an envelope and can travel across the world when sent in the mail.
9. I am tall when I am young, and I am short when I am old. What am I?
Answer: A candle
Explanation: A candle starts tall and becomes shorter as it burns down, representing aging.
10. What has a head, a tail, but no body?
Answer: A coin
Explanation: A coin has a head (one side with a face) and a tail (the other side), but no actual body.
11. The more of this there is, the less you see. What is it?
Answer: Fog
Explanation: The denser the fog, the harder it is to see through, reducing visibility.
12. I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch, will soon turn red. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Explanation: Fire constantly needs fuel to keep burning, and touching it causes burns, turning skin red.
13. Thirty white horses on a red hill, first they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still. What are they?
Answer: Teeth
Explanation: The “thirty white horses” refer to teeth, the “red hill” is the gums, and they “champ” (bite), “stamp” (grind), and “stand still” when not in use.
Hobbit Riddles in the Dark
In The Hobbit, one of the most intense moments happens when Bilbo and Gollum exchange riddles in the dark depths of the Misty Mountains. These riddles test their wits, and the answers aren’t always obvious. Here are some riddles inspired by that moment, meant to make you think carefully and use your imagination.
1. This thing is always in front of you, but you can never see it. What is it?
Answer: The future
Explanation: The future lies ahead of you, but it can never be seen or predicted with certainty until it happens.
2. I am the one who sits in the dark and hears your voice, yet I have no ears. What am I?
Answer: An echo
Explanation: An echo reflects sound but does not have physical ears to hear. It “sits” in the dark, bouncing off surfaces.
3. I am invisible, but I can make you feel cold. I can be powerful enough to blow down trees. What am I?
Answer: The wind
Explanation: Wind is invisible, yet it can be felt as cold and is strong enough to knock down trees.
4. The more you take of me, the more I grow. What am I?
Answer: A hole
Explanation: A hole increases in size the more material you remove from it. The more you dig, the bigger the hole becomes.
5. I am light as a feather, yet even the strongest person can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I?
Answer: Breath
Explanation: Air is weightless, but even the strongest person will eventually have to exhale or breathe again. It can’t be held forever.
6. I have cities, but no houses. I have forests, but no trees. I have rivers, but no water. What am I?
Answer: A map
Explanation: A map represents cities, forests, and rivers, but does not contain actual houses, trees, or water.
7. I can be cracked, I can be made, I can be told, I can be played. What am I?
Answer: A joke
Explanation: A joke can be cracked (told humorously), made (created), played (acted out), and told to others to bring laughter.
8. What has a ring but no finger?
Answer: A telephone
Explanation: A telephone has a “ring” when it rings, but it doesn’t have any fingers.
9. The more you have of me, the less you see. What am I?
Answer: Darkness
Explanation: As darkness increases, visibility decreases. The more darkness there is, the less you are able to see.
10. I am not alive, but I can grow; I don’t have lungs, but I need air. I don’t have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Explanation: Fire needs oxygen to keep burning, grows as it consumes more fuel, but is extinguished by water.
Hobbit Riddles for Kids
Riddles are a fun way to sharpen your mind and test your thinking skills. Whether you’re at home, in the classroom, or on an adventure like Bilbo, these riddles will challenge kids in a playful and exciting way. They’re simple to understand but tricky to solve—just like the ones Bilbo faced in the dark, deep caves of the Misty Mountains. Let’s see if you can crack them!
1. I have hands but I can’t clap. What am I?
Answer: A clock
Explanation: A clock has hands (the hour and minute hands), but it can’t actually clap like a human.
2. What has a head, a tail, but no body?
Answer: A coin
Explanation: A coin has a head (the side with a face) and a tail (the other side), but it doesn’t have a body.
3. What gets wetter the more it dries?
Answer: A towel
Explanation: A towel gets wetter as it dries you off by soaking up the water from your body.
4. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
Answer: The letter “M”
Explanation: The letter “M” appears once in the word “minute,” twice in the word “moment,” and not at all in “a thousand years.”
5. What has keys but can’t open locks?
Answer: A piano
Explanation: A piano has keys, but they don’t open locks—they make music instead.
6. What can you catch but not throw?
Answer: A cold
Explanation: You can “catch” a cold, but you can’t throw it like a ball.
7. What has a face and two hands, but no arms or legs?
Answer: A clock
Explanation: A clock has a face (the front part with the numbers) and hands (the hour and minute hands), but it has no body.
8. What comes down but never goes up?
Answer: Rain
Explanation: Rain falls from the sky but doesn’t go back up unless it evaporates.
9. What has many teeth but can’t bite?
Answer: A comb
Explanation: A comb has teeth (the small parts that run through your hair) but doesn’t bite like an animal.
10. What has a bed but never sleeps?
Answer: A river
Explanation: A river has a “bed” (the riverbed), but it never sleeps.
11. What can travel around the world but stays in the corner?
Answer: A stamp
Explanation: A stamp is placed in the corner of an envelope and can travel the world with the letter.
12. What has one eye but can’t see?
Answer: A needle
Explanation: A needle has an “eye” (the hole where the thread goes), but it can’t see like a human eye.
13. What is full of holes but still holds a lot of weight?
Answer: A net
Explanation: A net has holes in it, but it can still hold things like fish or balls.
14. What is always coming but never arrives?
Answer: Tomorrow
Explanation: Tomorrow is always on the way, but when it arrives, it becomes today.
15. I am not alive, but I grow; I do not have lungs, but I need air; I do not have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Explanation: Fire can grow by consuming fuel, needs oxygen to burn, but it is extinguished by water.
Easy Hobbit Riddles
If you’re new to riddles or just want a fun challenge, these easy riddles are perfect for you. Inspired by the spirit of The Hobbit, these puzzles are simple enough for everyone to enjoy, but still clever enough to make you think. Ready to solve these? Let’s go!
1. I am tall when I am young, and I am short when I am old. What am I?
Answer: A candle
Explanation: A candle starts tall and gets shorter as it burns down, just like age changes things over time.
2. What has a neck but no head?
Answer: A bottle
Explanation: A bottle has a neck (the narrow part at the top), but no head like a human or animal.
3. What can be cracked, made, told, and played?
Answer: A joke
Explanation: A joke can be cracked (told humorously), made (created), and played (acted out for fun).
4. What has a face and two hands but no body?
Answer: A clock
Explanation: A clock has a face with numbers and hands (the hour and minute hands), but it doesn’t have a full body.
5. What is full of holes but still holds a lot of weight?
Answer: A net
Explanation: A net has holes but can hold things like fish or other objects.
6. I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch will soon turn red. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Explanation: Fire constantly needs fuel to burn and turns things red when they’re burned by it.
7. What is as light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold it for more than a few minutes?
Answer: Breath
Explanation: Air is weightless, but no one can hold their breath forever.
8. What has keys but can’t open locks?
Answer: A piano
Explanation: A piano has keys (the parts you press to make music), but they don’t open locks.
9. What can you catch but not throw?
Answer: A cold
Explanation: You can catch a cold when you’re sick, but you can’t throw it like a ball.
10. What has one eye but cannot see?
Answer: A needle
Explanation: A needle has an “eye” (the small hole for the thread), but it can’t actually see like a human eye.
Funny Hobbit Riddles
Riddles can be tricky, but they can also be hilarious! Inspired by the witty moments from The Hobbit, these funny riddles will make you chuckle as you try to figure them out. Get ready to have some fun with these light-hearted, silly puzzles!
1. What do you call a fake noodle?
Answer: An impasta
Explanation: This joke is a play on the word “imposter,” which means something fake, and “pasta,” a type of noodle.
2. Why don’t skeletons fight each other?
Answer: They don’t have the guts
Explanation: Skeletons lack internal organs, including guts, which makes them incapable of fighting.
3. Why was the broom late?
Answer: It swept in
Explanation: The broom “swept in,” meaning it arrived, but it also “swept” as in cleaning, making it funny and punny.
4. What did the ocean say to the beach?
Answer: Nothing, it just waved
Explanation: This riddle plays on the word “waved,” referring to both the ocean’s waves and the action of waving hello.
5. Why don’t eggs tell jokes?
Answer: Because they might crack up
Explanation: Eggs “crack” when broken, and “crack up” is a slang term for laughing hard.
6. What kind of tree fits in your hand?
Answer: A palm tree
Explanation: The palm tree is a play on the word “palm,” which is the part of your hand.
7. What’s orange and sounds like a parrot?
Answer: A carrot
Explanation: The joke is funny because a carrot is orange, and “carrot” sounds similar to “parrot.”
8. Why did the golfer bring two pairs of pants?
Answer: In case he got a hole in one
Explanation: A “hole in one” refers to a perfect golf shot, and a hole in pants means they have torn, making this a pun.
9. What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?
Answer: Nacho cheese
Explanation: This is a fun play on words, where “nacho” sounds like “not your,” turning it into a joke.
10. Why did the tomato turn red?
Answer: Because it saw the salad dressing
Explanation: This riddle is funny because it plays on the idea of blushing (turning red) when embarrassed, as if the tomato saw someone undressing.
11. What’s a skeleton’s least favorite room in the house?
Answer: The living room
Explanation: Skeletons aren’t alive, so they wouldn’t enjoy being in a room full of “living” people.
12. What’s brown and sticky?
Answer: A stick
Explanation: This riddle is humorous because “sticky” can mean something is glue-like, but in this case, it’s just a literal stick.
13. Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up by itself?
Answer: It was two-tired
Explanation: The joke uses the word “tired” in two ways: as in exhausted, and as a play on “tires” (the rubber parts of a bicycle).
Hobbit Riddles for Adults
Riddles can be a fun way to stretch your brain, especially when they’re clever and a bit tricky. For adults, riddles take on a new level of challenge—no longer simple wordplay, but puzzles that need sharp thinking. These riddles are inspired by the mysterious and adventurous nature of The Hobbit, where quick thinking and clever solutions were key to survival. Ready for a challenge?
1. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps
Explanation: As you walk, you leave behind footprints, and the more steps you take, the more you leave.
2. What has keys but can’t open locks?
Answer: A piano
Explanation: A piano has keys that create music, but they can’t open locks like a regular key.
3. I have cities, but no houses. I have forests, but no trees. I have rivers, but no water. What am I?
Answer: A map
Explanation: A map represents places like cities, forests, and rivers, but it doesn’t contain actual buildings, trees, or water.
4. What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?
Answer: Silence
Explanation: The moment you speak, the quiet is broken, making silence something that is fragile.
5. What can travel around the world while staying in the corner?
Answer: A stamp
Explanation: A stamp stays in the corner of an envelope but can travel the world as the letter is sent.
6. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
Answer: The letter “M”
Explanation: The letter “M” appears once in the word “minute,” twice in “moment,” but not at all in “a thousand years.”
7. What can you hold in your left hand but never in your right?
Answer: Your right elbow
Explanation: You can’t physically hold your right elbow with your right hand, but you can with your left.
8. What has one head, one foot, and four legs?
Answer: A bed
Explanation: A bed has a headboard, a footboard, and four legs to stand on.
9. The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it?
Answer: Darkness
Explanation: The more darkness there is, the less you are able to see because there is no light.
10. What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?
Answer: The future
Explanation: The future is ahead of you, but you can never see it until it becomes the present.
Hard Hobbit Riddles
Some riddles are easy, and some are tricky. For those who love a real challenge, these hard riddles will really get you thinking. Just like Bilbo had to use his wits to escape tricky situations in The Hobbit, you’ll need sharp skills to crack these puzzles. Get ready to put your mind to the test!
1. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
Answer: The letter “M”
Explanation: The letter “M” appears once in “minute,” twice in “moment,” but never in “a thousand years.”
2. The more of this there is, the less you see. What is it?
Answer: Darkness
Explanation: The more darkness there is, the less you can see, as it blocks light.
3. What can run but never walks, has a bed but never sleeps, and can wave but has no hands?
Answer: A river
Explanation: A river flows (runs), has a riverbed, and waves in the form of ripples, but it doesn’t sleep or have hands.
4. I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?
Answer: A joke
Explanation: You can crack a joke, make one, tell one, and even play around with jokes.
5. What gets wetter the more it dries?
Answer: A towel
Explanation: A towel dries your body and gets wetter the more it soaks up moisture.
6. What has one eye but cannot see?
Answer: A needle
Explanation: A needle has an “eye” (the hole where the thread goes), but it cannot see like a human eye.
7. What has a heart that doesn’t beat?
Answer: An artichoke
Explanation: The “heart” of an artichoke is the tender part of the vegetable, but it doesn’t beat like a living heart.
8. What has keys but can’t open locks?
Answer: A piano
Explanation: A piano has keys (the parts you press to play music), but they don’t unlock doors.
9. What can fill a room but takes up no space?
Answer: Light
Explanation: Light can fill an entire room, but it doesn’t take up physical space.
10. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps
Explanation: As you walk, each step leaves a footprint, so the more steps you take, the more you leave behind.
11. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?
Answer: An echo
Explanation: An echo is a sound that can be heard without a mouth or ears and seems to come alive when it bounces off surfaces.
12. What comes down but never goes up?
Answer: Rain
Explanation: Rain falls from the sky, but once it hits the ground, it doesn’t go back up.
13. I am not alive, but I grow; I do not have lungs, but I need air; I do not have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Explanation: Fire grows when fed with fuel, needs oxygen to burn, but is put out by water.
Tricky Hobbit Riddles
Some riddles are designed to challenge your thinking and make you pause before you answer. Inspired by the cleverness of The Hobbit, these tricky riddles will push your problem-solving skills to the limit. Just like Bilbo had to think quickly to get out of tight spots, you’ll need quick wits to crack these! Let’s see if you can solve them!
1. I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost every person. What am I?
Answer: Pencil lead
Explanation: Pencil lead (graphite) is mined, placed in a wooden pencil, and used by almost everyone, but it’s never taken out of the pencil.
2. What has a head, a tail, but no body?
Answer: A coin
Explanation: A coin has a head (the side with a face) and a tail (the opposite side), but no physical body.
3. What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you do?
Answer: Your name
Explanation: Your name belongs to you, but others use it more frequently than you do yourself.
4. What can’t be touched, but is always near you?
Answer: Your shadow
Explanation: A shadow is attached to you wherever you go, but it can’t be physically touched.
5. What has a bottom at the top?
Answer: A leg
Explanation: The bottom of your leg (your foot) is at the top when you’re standing on it.
6. What is light as a feather, but the strongest person can’t hold it for much longer than a minute?
Answer: Breath
Explanation: Air is weightless, but no one can hold their breath for very long.
7. What can fill a room but takes up no space?
Answer: Light
Explanation: Light fills a room and allows you to see, but it doesn’t physically occupy any space.
8. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps
Explanation: As you walk, you leave behind footprints, and the more steps you take, the more you leave.
9. What is it that no one wants, but no one wants to lose?
Answer: A lawsuit
Explanation: A lawsuit is something no one desires, but if you have one, you don’t want to lose it either.
10. I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch will soon turn red. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Explanation: Fire constantly needs fuel to burn and causes anything it touches to get hot and red.
Twisted Hobbit Riddles
Sometimes riddles can take a strange turn, leading you to answers you never expected. These twisted riddles are inspired by the unexpected twists and turns in The Hobbit. Like the riddles Bilbo had to solve, these will make you think differently and test your creativity. Prepare for some mind-bending puzzles!
1. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps
Explanation: As you walk, each step leaves behind a footprint, so the more steps you take, the more you leave behind.
2. What has many keys but can’t open a single door?
Answer: A piano
Explanation: A piano has many keys, but they don’t open locks or doors—they create music instead.
3. What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?
Answer: Silence
Explanation: The moment you speak, silence is broken, making it something very fragile.
4. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
Answer: The letter “M”
Explanation: The letter “M” appears once in “minute,” twice in “moment,” but not at all in “a thousand years.”
5. What has a head, a tail, but no body?
Answer: A coin
Explanation: A coin has a head and a tail (the two sides), but no actual body.
6. What can be cracked, made, told, and played?
Answer: A joke
Explanation: You can crack a joke, make one, tell one, and even play with jokes.
7. What is light as a feather, but the strongest person can’t hold it for long?
Answer: Breath
Explanation: Breath is weightless, but even the strongest person can only hold it for a short time.
8. What has one eye but can’t see?
Answer: A needle
Explanation: A needle has an “eye” (the hole for the thread), but it can’t see.
9. What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
Answer: A stamp
Explanation: A stamp is placed in the corner of an envelope, and it can travel anywhere with the letter.
10. I can be long, I can be short, I can be grown, I can be bought. I can be painted, or left bare. I can be round or square. What am I?
Answer: A nail
Explanation: Nails can vary in size, shape, and appearance, and they can be bought, grown (as fingernails), painted, or left bare.
11. What comes down but never goes up?
Answer: Rain
Explanation: Rain falls from the sky, but once it hits the ground, it doesn’t go back up.
12. I have cities, but no houses. I have forests, but no trees. I have rivers, but no water. What am I?
Answer: A map
Explanation: A map represents these places but doesn’t actually contain any of them—just their representations.
13. What has many faces, but no eyes, mouth, or nose?
Answer: A die (or dice)
Explanation: A die has many sides, or faces, but none of them have actual facial features.
Gollum Hobbit Riddles
Gollum, the tricky creature in The Hobbit, was known for his mysterious and perplexing riddles. He loved to stump others with clever wordplay and cryptic puzzles. Now it’s your turn to try solving riddles just like the one’s Gollum asked Bilbo! Some of these are tough, so you’ll need sharp thinking to find the answers. Are you ready to face Gollum’s riddles?
1. I have keys but open no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter but not go outside. What am I?
Answer: A keyboard
Explanation: A keyboard has keys, but they don’t open locks. It has space (the spacebar) but no actual rooms, and you can enter (by pressing the “Enter” key) but not go outside.
2. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
Answer: The letter “M”
Explanation: The letter “M” appears once in the word “minute,” twice in “moment,” and never in “a thousand years.”
3. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps
Explanation: Each step you take leaves a footprint behind, so the more steps you take, the more you leave.
4. I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?
Answer: A joke
Explanation: A joke can be cracked, made, told, and played with, all in different ways.
5. What has a head, a tail, but no body?
Answer: A coin
Explanation: A coin has a head (one side) and a tail (the other side), but no physical body.
6. What is light as a feather, but even the strongest person can’t hold it for long?
Answer: Breath
Explanation: Breath is weightless, and no one can hold it for a long time.
7. What has one eye but cannot see?
Answer: A needle
Explanation: A needle has an “eye” (the hole where the thread goes through), but it cannot see.
8. What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
Answer: A stamp
Explanation: A stamp stays in the corner of an envelope, but it can travel the world on that envelope.
9. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?
Answer: An echo
Explanation: An echo repeats sounds, but it has no mouth or ears and is carried by sound waves.
10. What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?
Answer: The future
Explanation: The future is ahead of you, but it can’t be seen.
11. What can you catch but not throw?
Answer: A cold
Explanation: You can catch a cold (get sick), but you can’t throw it.
12. What runs but never walks, has a bed but never sleeps, and can wave but has no hands?
Answer: A river
Explanation: A river runs, has a riverbed, and can create waves, but it doesn’t walk, sleep, or have hands.
13. What has many faces but can’t see?
Answer: A die (dice)
Explanation: A die has many sides, or faces, but none of them have eyes.
14. What comes down but never goes up?
Answer: Rain
Explanation: Rain falls to the ground but doesn’t go back up.
15. What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?
Answer: Silence
Explanation: Saying the word “silence” breaks it, as any sound will destroy the quiet.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of our journey through the world of Hobbit riddles! From famous puzzles to tricky ones inspired by Gollum himself, these riddles offer a fun way to stretch your mind and challenge your friends and family. Whether you’re a young adventurer or a seasoned riddle solver, these brain teasers provide something for everyone.
Riddles are a great way to boost problem-solving skills and engage in creative thinking. Just like Bilbo, who had to outwit Gollum to escape with the One Ring, you can use clever thinking to tackle even the trickiest puzzles.
