Orcs and Gobblins

[Rose Cotton]

Are orcs and gobblins the same thing if not how are they differnt?

[Carannillion]

Same thing, as far as I have understood. Maybe different kinds, but same race.

[Dwarin Thunderhammer]

Orcs and goblins are the sma thing. I think Tolkien changed the name in LOTR to avoid a "fairytale" type of veiw for something a little more threatening.

[Frahhamn]

yeah. orc is a foreign word, normally translated as "goblin." but since the terms are used interchangably throughout the LotR, it makes sense they are of the same concoction.

[Elrian]

You'll find a few more answers in this thread too. Orcs/Goblins (http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=10&t=000269)

[O'Boile]

They are the same. In a letter at the start of the Silmarilion, Tolkien says '... orcs (goblins)...' thus implying that they are indead the same.