Fram Wikipedian
[ādihtan] Hú man sceolde wrítan
Gif þé is níed, brúc þá stafas: ǽ æ á é í ó ú ý þ ð oþþe Ǽ Æ Á É Í Ó Ú Ý Þ Ð in þínum gewritum.
Now, when writing, use the early West Saxon spellings:
- Use ie instead of y (sierwung instead of syrwung, his instead of hys, etc.)
- Use an instead of on (and instead of ond, mann instead of mon/n, etc.)
As a general rule for the OE wiki, try to remember the following OE guidelines to give this wiki a consistent look and feel:
Don'ts
- Do not use y for ie in words such as his, hire, sierwung, or for eo in words such as feorran, feorsian
- Do not syncopate verb endings on verbs ending in consonant clusters or t/d. It is well known that the Anglo-Saxons did this, but it will make reading articles so much easier if one finds "bíteþ" and "biddeþ" instead of "bitt" and "bítt." And "hyngrest" not "hyngrst." However, you can probably get away with "bítst."
- Do not use on instead of an. It is easier to see and understand "mann," "and," and "band" than "monn," "ond," and "bond."
- Do not link to external sites within an article if you can help it. Save that for the end of the article.
- Do not link to images outside the article. Having little thumbnails that one may click on it nicer, and makes the article better to look at.
Do's
- Use the same spelling throughout your article. It is well known that the Anglo-Saxons didn't do this, but it will make reading articles so much easier with consistent spelling.
- Use the special words and characters under the edit box if you need them.
- Use the following for definite articles: se, séo, þæt; þæs, þǽre; þǽm, þǽre; þý/þon, þǽre; þone, þá, þæt; and plural: þá; þára/þǽra; þǽm; þá - don't use thaet, þat, sio, sío, þám, þáre, etc. Consistency!
- Use the distinctive accusative forms of pronouns (mec, þec, úsic, uncit, éowic, incit, hine, híe, hit). This will make the articles that much easier to read.
- Use the þ for the same sound as in "theta" and ð for the same sound as in "that." It is well known that the Anglo-Saxons didn't do this, but it will make pronouncing what is read in the articles so much easier.
- Use internal links within this wiki. We are not an advertising service for other websites.
- Use image thumbnails within an article rather than simply linking to the image page. This makes for prettier articles, and is already common practice in other wikis.
Or: be consistent, make it easy for your readers to understand. And remember, this is an encyclopedia, so Neutral Point of View applies!
- Punctuate sentences as you normally would, i.e. a period for sentences, question mark for questions, and exclamation mark for imperatives/commands.
- For subordinate clauses, separate them from the main clause by a comma, e.g. "Ic cann secgan, þæt hé is mín bróðor." Or, "Þes is sé mónaþ, þe wé 'Háligmónaþ' hátton." This makes it a bit clearer to understand.
- In series, place commas after each word, including one before 'and' (módor, fæder, and sweostor). This isn't British, but makes lists easier to understand.
Please visit the How to write with Runes article if you wish to write using the Runic alphabet. If you wish to do so, please have a version of the page written using the Latin alphabet first, then translated into Runes.
[ādihtan] And as for Grammar
The verb is conjugated as follows: ic (stem)-e, þu (stem)-est, hé (stem)-eþ/aþ, wé/gé/híe (stem)-aþ
- Strong Verbs: ic -e, þu -(e)st, hé -(e)þ, wé/gé/híe -aþ
--The () means the e of the ending can be syncopated if the ending is still understandable. Bisen: stendeþ hé, ne stent hé, ac nimþ hé, ne nimeþ hé. Understendest þu?
Verbs with stems ending in a double consonant or in -rian, unless otherwise marked. Infinitive Forms: nerian, fremman, settan, gremman, etc.
- Note how the infinitive ending is always -an.
Weak Verb 1a Present Indicative: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerie |
wé |
neriaþ |
þu |
nerest |
gé |
neriaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
nereþ |
híe |
neriaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Present Subjunctive: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerie |
wé |
nerien |
þu |
nerie |
gé |
nerien |
hé, héo, hit |
nerie |
híe |
nerien |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Indicative: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerede |
wé |
neredon |
þu |
neredest |
gé |
neredon |
hé, héo, hit |
nerede |
híe |
neredon |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Subjunctive: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerede |
wé |
nereden |
þu |
nerede |
gé |
nereden |
hé, héo, hit |
nerede |
híe |
nereden |
|
Weak Verb 1a Imperative: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
nere |
(gé) |
neriaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Participles: nerian |
|
Present |
Past |
|
neriende |
genered |
|
And doubled consonant verbs (with fremman as an example):
Weak Verb 1a Present Indicative: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremme |
wé |
fremmaþ |
þu |
fremest |
gé |
fremmaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
fremeþ |
híe |
fremmaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Present Subjunctive: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremme |
wé |
fremmen |
þu |
fremme |
gé |
fremmen |
hé, héo, hit |
fremme |
híe |
fremmen |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Indicative: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremede |
wé |
fremedon |
þu |
fremedest |
gé |
fremedon |
hé, héo, hit |
fremede |
híe |
fremedon |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Subjunctive: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremede |
wé |
fremeden |
þu |
fremede |
gé |
fremeden |
hé, héo, hit |
fremede |
híe |
fremeden |
|
Weak Verb 1a Imperative: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
freme |
(gé) |
fremmaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Participles: fremman |
|
Present |
Past |
|
fremmende |
gefremed |
|
And one last type, settan/lecgan type 1a verbs:
Weak Verb 1a Present Indicative: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wé |
settaþ |
þu |
setest |
gé |
settaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
seteþ |
híe |
settaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Present Subjunctive: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wé |
setten |
þu |
sette |
gé |
setten |
hé, héo, hit |
sette |
híe |
setten |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Indicative: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wé |
setton |
þu |
settest |
gé |
setton |
hé, héo, hit |
sette |
híe |
setton |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Subjunctive: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wé |
setten |
þu |
sette |
gé |
setten |
hé, héo, hit |
sette |
híe |
setten |
|
Weak Verb 1a Imperative: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
sete |
(gé) |
settaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Participles: settan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
settende |
geseted |
|
[ādihtan] Notes: Weak Verb 1a
- The first person is the infinitive, without -an (the stem), plus -e. (nerian -> neri+an -> neri+e)
- The second/third person is formed from the bare stem plus -est/-eþ (nerian -> ner+ian -> nerest, nereþ)
- The plural is the infinitive without -an (the stem), plus -aþ. (nerian -> neri+an -> neri+aþ)
- The imperative is formed from the þu (minus -st) and ge (same) forms. (nerest ->nere-st -> nere)
- The subjunctive is formed from the stem + -e, -en. (nerian -> neri+e, neri+en) Thus, it is just like the first person indicative and the first person indicative plus -n.
- The present participle is formed from the stem plus -ende (nerian -> neri+ende)
- The past participle is formed from the past tense and ge-, minus the -e (nerede -> ge+nered-e -> genered)
- Verbs ending in -rian and with doubled consonants drop the -i- or doubled consonant in the same positions: 2nd/3rd person singular, imperative singular, and throughout the past tense.
- Verbs like settan (átreddan, cnyttan, hreddan, hwettan, lettan, spryttan, lecgan) typically have the above declension. Lecgan has (legde, geleged). You may find past forms as "setede."
Verbs with stems ending in more than one consonant (not a doubled consonant) or with a long vowel and one consonant. Infinitive Forms: déman, hyngran, drencan, gierwan, etc.
- Note how the infinitive ending is always -an.
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: déman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
déme |
wé |
démaþ |
þu |
démst |
gé |
démaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
démþ |
híe |
démaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: déman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
déme |
wé |
démen |
þu |
déme |
gé |
démen |
hé, héo, hit |
déme |
híe |
démen |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: déman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
démde |
wé |
démdon |
þu |
démdest |
gé |
démdon |
hé, héo, hit |
démde |
híe |
démdon |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: déman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
démde |
wé |
démden |
þu |
démde |
gé |
démden |
hé, héo, hit |
démde |
híe |
démden |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: déman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
dém |
(gé) |
démaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: déman |
|
Present |
Past |
|
démende |
gedémed |
|
And multiple consonant verbs (ending in -c, -sc, -p, -f, with drencan as an example):
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drence |
wé |
drencaþ |
þu |
drencest, drencst |
gé |
drencaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
drenceþ, drencþ |
híe |
drencaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drence |
wé |
drencen |
þu |
drence |
gé |
drencen |
hé, héo, hit |
drence |
híe |
drencen |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drencte |
wé |
drencton |
þu |
drenctest |
gé |
drencton |
hé, héo, hit |
drencte |
híe |
drencton |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drencte |
wé |
drencten |
þu |
drencte |
gé |
drencten |
hé, héo, hit |
drencte |
híe |
drencten |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
drenc |
(gé) |
drencaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: drencan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
drencende |
gedrenced |
|
And multiple consonant verbs (using hyngran as an example):
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngre |
wé |
hyngraþ |
þu |
hyngrest |
gé |
hyngraþ |
hé, héo, hit |
hyngreþ |
híe |
hyngraþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngre |
wé |
hyngren |
þu |
hyngre |
gé |
hyngren |
hé, héo, hit |
hyngre |
híe |
hyngren |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngrede |
wé |
hyngredon |
þu |
hyngredest |
gé |
hyngredon |
hé, héo, hit |
hyngrede |
híe |
hyngredon |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngrede |
wé |
hyngreden |
þu |
hyngrede |
gé |
hyngreden |
hé, héo, hit |
hyngrede |
híe |
hyngreden |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
hyngre |
(gé) |
hyngraþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: hyngran |
|
Present |
Past |
|
hyngrende |
gehyngred |
|
And one last type, gierwan verbs (ending in -wan):
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierwe |
wé |
gierwaþ |
þu |
gierest |
gé |
gierwaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
giereþ |
híe |
gierwaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierwe |
wé |
gierwen |
þu |
gierwe |
gé |
gierwen |
hé, héo, hit |
gierwe |
híe |
gierwen |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierede |
wé |
gieredon |
þu |
gieredest |
gé |
gieredon |
hé, héo, hit |
gierede |
híe |
gieredon |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierede |
wé |
giereden |
þu |
gierede |
gé |
giereden |
hé, héo, hit |
gierede |
híe |
giereden |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
giere |
(gé) |
gierwaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: gierwan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
gierwende |
gegierwed, gegiered |
|
[ādihtan] Notes: Weak Verb 1b
- See notes on Weak Verb 1a for formation of the different forms of the verb.
- The most 'regular' 1b verbs are those like déman (long vowel, 1 consonant) and hyngran (short vowel, multiple consonants), in that they don't have much variation in formation like drencan and gierwan verbs.
- Verbs having a long vowel and one consonant, like déman, don't generally have the full -est, -eþ endings. Thus, the imperative is simply the þu form without -st (dém!, not déme!).
- Verbs like déman include verbs ending in -rn, -ng, -rg, -lg, wiernan (wiernde, gewierned), lengan (lengde, gelenged), byrgan (byrgde, gebyrged), and fylgan (fylgde, gefylged). It also includes contracted verbs like héan (héade, gehéad), rýn, týn, þéon, þýn.
- Verbs like drencan include those ending in -nc, -sc, -p, -sp, -t, -rp. They add -te in the past tense (ácwencte, ádwæscte, etc.).
- Verbs like hyngran, with a short vowel and multiple consonants, are more 'regular' than other 1b verbs. Their past tense is always -ede, and the past participle is always ge-(stem)-ed (bíecnede, þrysmede, symblede, ræfnede).
- Verbs like gierwan, ending in -wan, drop the -w- in the same places as the -i- in 1a verbs (smierwan -> smierest, nierwan -> niereþ). Verbs like getríewan, lǽwan, forslǽwan, hléowan (with a long vowel/diphthong) kept the -w- in all forms, however.
These are all other verbs, and are about half of all weak verbs.
Weak Verb 2 Present Indicative: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endie |
wé |
endiaþ |
þu |
endast |
gé |
endiaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
endaþ |
híe |
endiaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Present Subjunctive: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endie |
wé |
endien |
þu |
endie |
gé |
endien |
hé, héo, hit |
endie |
híe |
endien |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Indicative: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endode |
wé |
endodon |
þu |
endodest |
gé |
endodon |
hé, héo, hit |
endode |
híe |
endodon |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Subjunctive: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endode |
wé |
endoden |
þu |
endode |
gé |
endoden |
hé, héo, hit |
endode |
híe |
endoden |
|
Weak Verb 2 Imperative: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
enda |
(gé) |
endiaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Participles: endian |
|
Present |
Past |
|
endiende |
geendod |
|
Verbs like twéogan to doubt are slightly irregular, since they were originally class 3 verbs, but decline alike, so it's not too difficult to learn them. There are only twéogan, féogan to hate, fréogan to love, make free, sméagan to ponder, consider, and þréagan to reprove, rebuke. Sometimes these verbs show up as twéon, féon, fréon, sméan, and þréan.
Weak Verb 2 Present Indicative: twéogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twéoge |
wé |
twéogaþ |
þu |
twéost |
gé |
twéogaþ |
hé, héo, hit |
twéoþ |
híe |
twéogaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Present Subjunctive: twéogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twéoge |
wé |
twéogen |
þu |
twéoge |
gé |
twéogen |
hé, héo, hit |
twéoge |
híe |
twéogen |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Indicative: twéogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twéode |
wé |
twéodon |
þu |
twéodest |
gé |
twéodon |
hé, héo, hit |
twéode |
híe |
twéodon |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Subjunctive: twéogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twéode |
wé |
twéoden |
þu |
twéode |
gé |
twéoden |
hé, héo, hit |
twéode |
híe |
twéoden |
|
Weak Verb 2 Imperative: twéogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
twéo |
(gé) |
twéogaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Participles: twéogan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
twéogiende, twéonde (poetical) |
getwéod |
|
[ādihtan] Notes: Weak Verb 2
- See notes on Weak Verb 1a for formation of the different forms of the verb.
- These verbs all end in -ian.
- These verbs are the most 'regular' verbs in that all verbs of this class decline the same aside from a small group of exceptional verbs.
- The second and third person singular have the endings -ast and -aþ, without the -i-.
- The imperative is still the second person, minus -st.
- The verbs that act like twéogan are remnants of class 3 verbs that became class 2 verbs before the written history of Old English.
In dæftunge: nemniendlic, ágniendlic, forgifendlic, wregendlic
First Person Singular: I, We Two, We |
|
I |
We two |
We |
Nom. |
ic |
wit |
wé |
Gen. |
mín |
uncer |
úser, úre |
Dat. |
mé |
unc |
ús |
Acc. |
mec |
uncit |
úsic |
|
Second Person Pronouns: Thou, Ye two, Ye |
|
Thou |
Ye two |
Ye |
Nom. |
þu |
git |
gé |
Gen. |
þín |
incer |
éower |
Dat. |
þé |
inc |
éow |
Acc. |
þec |
incit |
éowic |
|
Third Person Pronouns: He, She, It, They |
|
He |
She |
It |
They |
Nom. |
hé |
héo |
hit |
híe |
Gen. |
his |
hire |
his |
hira, hiera |
Dat. |
him |
hire |
him |
him, heom |
Acc. |
hine |
híe |
hit |
híe |
|
Interrogative Pronoun: Who, What |
|
Who |
What |
Nom. |
hwá |
hwæt |
Gen. |
hwæs |
hwæs |
Dat. |
hwǽm |
hwǽm |
Inst. |
hwý/hwí |
hwý/hwí |
Acc. |
hwone |
hwæt |
|
Notice how the Interrogative pronouns look like the pronouns hé and hit (hwǽm and him, hwone and hine, hwæt and hit, hwæs and his). If you compare to the Definite Article, you'll see the same similarities, mostly a difference of þ-/hw- (þone and hwone, þǽm and hwǽm, þý and hwý, þæt and hwæt, þæs and hwæs).
The genitive pronoun functions as an adjective. As such, it declines to agree with the case, gender, and number of the noun which it describes. The pronouns mín, þín, sín, úser, éower, uncer, incer decline, whereas his, hire, and hira do not. The following table illustrates the declensions of these pronouns, which is exactly like the adjective blind.
First Person Singular Genitive Declension: mín |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
mín |
mín |
mín |
Gen. |
mínes |
mínes |
mínre |
Dat. |
mínum |
mínum |
mínre |
Inst. |
míne |
míne |
mínre |
Acc. |
mínne |
mín |
míne |
|
First Person Singular Genitive Declension: mín |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
míne |
mín |
mína |
Gen. |
mínra |
mínra |
mínra |
Dat. |
mínum |
mínum |
mínum |
Inst. |
mínum |
mínum |
mínum |
Acc. |
míne |
mín |
mína |
|
Second Person Singular Genitive Declension: þín |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þín |
þín |
þín |
Gen. |
þínes |
þínes |
þínre |
Dat. |
þínum |
þínum |
þínre |
Inst. |
þíne |
þíne |
þínre |
Acc. |
þínne |
þín |
þíne |
|
Second Person Singular Genitive Declension: þín |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þíne |
þín |
þína |
Gen. |
þínra |
þínra |
þínra |
Dat. |
þínum |
þínum |
þínum |
Inst. |
þínum |
þínum |
þínum |
Acc. |
þíne |
þín |
þína |
|
First Person Plural Genitive Declension: úser |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
úser |
úser |
úser |
Gen. |
úseres |
úseres |
úserre |
Dat. |
úserum |
úserum |
úserre |
Inst. |
úsere |
úsere |
úserre |
Acc. |
úserne |
úser |
úsere |
|
First Person Plural Genitive Declension: úser |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
úsere |
úser |
úsera |
Gen. |
úserra |
úserra |
úserra |
Dat. |
úserum |
úserum |
úserum |
Inst. |
úserum |
úserum |
úserum |
Acc. |
úsere |
úser |
úsera |
|
The following tables show the most common noun declensions for the three genders (~68% masculine, ~73% feminine, ~91% neuter).
The Strong Masculine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
- |
þá |
-as |
Gen. |
þæs |
-es |
þára |
-a |
Dat. |
þǽm |
-e |
þǽm |
-um |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
-e |
þǽm |
-um |
Acc. |
þone |
- |
þá |
-as |
|
The Weak Masculine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
-a |
þá |
-an |
Gen. |
þæs |
-an |
þára |
-ena |
Dat. |
þǽm |
-an |
þǽm |
-um |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
-an |
þǽm |
-um |
Acc. |
þone |
-an |
þá |
-an |
|
The Strong Feminine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
séo |
-/-u |
þá |
-a |
Gen. |
þǽre |
-e |
þára |
-a |
Dat. |
þǽre |
-e |
þǽm |
-um |
Inst. |
þǽre |
-e |
þǽm |
-um |
Acc. |
þá |
-e |
þá |
-a |
|
The Weak Feminine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
séo |
-e |
þá |
-an |
Gen. |
þǽre |
-an |
þára |
-ena |
Dat. |
þǽre |
-an |
þǽm |
-um |
Inst. |
þǽre |
-an |
þǽm |
-um |
Acc. |
þá |
-an |
þá |
-an |
|
The Strong Neuter Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
þæt |
- |
-/-u |
-/-u |
Gen. |
þæs |
-es |
þára |
-a |
Dat. |
þǽm |
-e |
þǽm |
-um |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
-e |
þǽm |
-um |
Acc. |
þæt |
- |
þá |
-/-u |
|
The Weak Neuter Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
þæt |
-e |
þá |
-an |
Gen. |
þæs |
-an |
þára |
-ena |
Dat. |
þǽm |
-an |
þǽm |
-um |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
-an |
þǽm |
-um |
Acc. |
þæt |
-e |
þá |
-an |
|
[ādihtan] Masculine Nouns
[ādihtan] Strong Masculine
Strong Masculine Noun: stán |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
stán |
þá |
stánas |
Gen. |
þæs |
stánes |
þára |
stána |
Dat. |
þǽm |
stáne |
þǽm |
stánum |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
stáne |
þǽm |
stánum |
Acc. |
þone |
stán |
þá |
stánas |
|
|
This declension has about 63.8% of all masculine nouns. Since this declension was so common, it became the basis for the modern English plural -(e)s ending. One-syllable nouns, like stán, gang, and ǽl all decline alike. Nouns ending in a double consonant, like bucc, hnæpp, and cropp, also decline like stán. The first irregularity comes with nouns like dæg, which have the letter 'æ' followed by one consonant. The 'æ' becomes 'a' in the plural.
Strong Masculine Noun: dæg |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
dæg |
þá |
dagas |
Gen. |
þæs |
dæges |
þára |
daga |
Dat. |
þǽm |
dæge |
þǽm |
dagum |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
dæge |
þǽm |
dagum |
Acc. |
þone |
dæg |
þá |
dagas |
|
|
Nouns like dæg include: pæþ, stæf, hwæl, etc. One noun, mǽg, has both mágas and mǽgas for plural.
Nouns like mearh are also a litle different from stán. They drop the -h before endings, and lengthen the vowel.
Strong Masculine Noun: mearh |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
mearh |
þá |
méaras |
Gen. |
þæs |
méares |
þára |
méara |
Dat. |
þǽm |
méare |
þǽm |
méarum |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
méare |
þǽm |
méarum |
Acc. |
þone |
mearh |
þá |
méaras |
|
|
Nouns like mearh include: ealh, eolh, fearh, healh, sealh, seolh, wealh, etc. The word scóh simply adds endings, since it already has a long vowel:
Strong Masculine Noun: scóh |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
scóh |
þá |
scós |
Gen. |
þæs |
scós |
þára |
scóna |
Dat. |
þǽm |
scó |
þǽm |
scóm, scóum |
Inst. |
þý/þon |
scó |
þǽm |
scóm, scóum |
Acc. |
þone |
scóh |
þá |
scós |
|
|
[ādihtan] General Notes
A noun's case tells what it is doing in a sentence. And when there is an appositive phrase, it matches the noun to which it refers. E.g., "I gave it to John, the new president - Ic geaf hit Iohanne, þǽm níwan foresittende." John and "the new president" are both in the dative case.
Subject of a sentence, or the object of copula verbs (béon, wesan, weorðan). This is the dictionary form of a noun.
Case of possession, and the object of some prepositions and adjectives. This tells whose thing a specific thing is. E.g., "cyninges þorp" - "king's village."
Case of giving, telling to/for whom something is done, the benificiary of some action. E.g., Ic geaf him þæt - I gave him that. It is also the case of many prepositions.
[ādihtan] Instrumental
Case telling "by what means" something is done. It is inflected in nouns like the dative, but with an adjective describing the noun, the difference is made clearer (or with an article - þý or þon). E.g., þý hamore slóg hé þone cyning - with the hammer he hit the king.
Direct Object of a sentence, and the object of some prepositions (wiþ, etc.). It is uninflected in masculine/neuter nouns, but has an -e ending with most feminine nouns.
These are those words that come before a noun, describing what kind of noun it is. There are two ways to decline an adjective, either strong or weak. A Strong adjective is that which stands alone, preceded by no article or possessive. A Weak adjective is that which is preceded by se/séo/þæt, mín/þín, etc.
- NOTE: eall, genóg, manig, and óðer are always declined strong. You may find "Se óðer mann" instead of *"Se óðera mann."
[ādihtan] One-Syllable Adjectives
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: glæd |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
glæd |
glæd |
gladu |
Gen. |
glades |
glades |
glædre |
Dat. |
gladum |
gladum |
glædre |
Inst. |
glade |
glade |
glædre |
Acc. |
glædne |
glæd |
glade |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: glæd |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
glade |
gladu |
glada |
Gen. |
glædra |
glædra |
glædra |
Dat. |
gladum |
gladum |
gladum |
Inst. |
gladum |
gladum |
gladum |
Acc. |
glade |
gladu |
glada |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blind |
blind |
blind |
Gen. |
blindes |
blindes |
blindre |
Dat. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindre |
Inst. |
blinde |
blinde |
blindre |
Acc. |
blindne |
blind |
blinde |
|
Strong Adjective Plural Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blinde |
blind |
blinda |
Gen. |
blindra |
blindra |
blindra |
Dat. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Inst. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Acc. |
blinde |
blind |
blinda |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: héah |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
héah |
héah |
héa |
Gen. |
héas |
héas |
héare |
Dat. |
héa(u)m |
héa(u)m |
héare |
Inst. |
héa |
héa |
héare |
Acc. |
héane |
héah |
héa |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: héah |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
héa |
héa |
héa |
Gen. |
héara |
héara |
héara |
Dat. |
héa(u)m |
héa(u)m |
héa(u)m |
Inst. |
héa(u)m |
héa(u)m |
héa(u)m |
Acc. |
héa |
héa |
héa |
|
[ādihtan] Variations in Declension
- Adjectives like glæd, have æ followed by one consonant, and change the æ to a with endings beginning in a vowel (-es, -u, etc.). Also declined like glæd are all adjectives ending in -lic and -sum.
- Adjectives like blind, have a short vowel followed by two consonants (swift, scearp), or a long vowel followed by one consonant (wác, fród). Also declined like blind are all adjectives ending in -cund, -feald, -fæst, and -léas. The possessives mín, þín, sín, úser, uncer, éower, incer are declined like blind also.
- Adjectives like héah, ending in -h, drop the -h before any ending beginning in a vowel, and drop that vowel. Thus, where glæd has gladu, glades, héah will have héa, héas.
[ādihtan] Two-Syllable Adjectives
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: manig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
manig |
manig |
manig |
Gen. |
maniges |
maniges |
manigre |
Dat. |
manigum |
manigum |
manigre |
Inst. |
manige |
manige |
manigre |
Acc. |
manigne |
manig |
manige |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: manig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
manige |
manig |
maniga |
Gen. |
manigra |
manigra |
manigra |
Dat. |
manigum |
manigum |
manigum |
Inst. |
manigum |
manigum |
manigum |
Acc. |
manige |
manig |
maniga |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: hálig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
hálig |
hálig |
háligu |
Gen. |
hálges |
hálges |
háligre |
Dat. |
hálgum |
hálgum |
háligre |
Inst. |
hálge |
hálge |
háligre |
Acc. |
háligne |
blind |
hálge |
|
Strong Adjective Plural Declension: hálig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
hálge |
hálig |
hálga |
Gen. |
háligra |
háligra |
háligra |
Dat. |
hálgum |
hálgum |
hálgum |
Inst. |
hálgum |
hálgum |
hálgum |
Acc. |
hálge |
hálig |
hálga |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: wilde |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
wilde |
wilde |
wildu |
Gen. |
wildes |
wildes |
wildre |
Dat. |
wildum |
wildum |
wildre |
Inst. |
wilde |
wilde |
wildre |
Acc. |
wildne |
wilde |
wilde |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: wilde |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
wilde |
wildu |
wilda |
Gen. |
wildra |
wildra |
wildra |
Dat. |
wildum |
wildum |
wildum |
Inst. |
wildum |
wildum |
wildum |
Acc. |
wilde |
wildu |
wilda |
|
[ādihtan] Variations in Declension
- Adjectives like manig, with a short stem (one short vowel and one consonant, plus an ending with one short vowel and one consonant, -ig, -od, -en, -or, -ol, -oþ, -er), simply add the endings to the adjective, but never add the -u ending.
- Adjectives like hálig, with a long stem (one short vowel and two consonants, or a long vowel with one consonant, plus an ending with one short vowel and one consonant, -ig, -od, -en, -or, -ol, -oþ, -er), will syncopate the second stem vowel (hálges, éacne, hǽðna) in endings beginning with vowels. These adjectives will always add the -u ending (but won't syncopate in that case).
- Adjectives ending in -e, such as wilde, will always have the u-ending in the feminine singular and neuter plural. They simply drop the -e, and add endings as necessary.
[ādihtan] U-Ending and Weak Adjectives
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: gearu |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
gearu |
gearu |
gearu |
Gen. |
gearwes |
gearwes |
gearore |
Dat. |
gearwum |
gearwum |
gearore |
Inst. |
gearwe |
gearwe |
gearore |
Acc. |
gearone |
gearu |
gearwe |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: gearu |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
gearwe |
gearu |
gearwa |
Gen. |
gearora |
gearora |
gearora |
Dat. |
gearwum |
gearwum |
gearwum |
Inst. |
gearwum |
gearwum |
gearwum |
Acc. |
gearwe |
gearu |
gearwa |
|
Weak Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blinda |
blinde |
blinde |
Gen. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Dat. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Inst. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Acc. |
blindan |
blinde |
blindan |
|
Weak Plural Adjective Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Gen. |
blindra |
blindra |
blindra |
Dat. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Inst. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Acc. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
|
Weak Declension with definite article and possessive pronoun:
Weak Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
se blinda |
þæt blinde |
séo blinde |
Gen. |
þæs blindan |
þæs blindan |
þǽre blindan |
Dat. |
þǽm blindan |
þǽm blindan |
þǽre blindan |
Inst. |
þý blindan |
þý blindan |
þǽre blindan |
Acc. |
þone blindan |
þæt blinde |
þá blindan |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þá blindan |
þá blindan |
þá blindan |
Gen. |
þára blindra |
þára blindra |
þára blindra |
Dat. |
þǽm blindum |
þǽm blindum |
þǽm blindum |
Inst. |
þǽm blindum |
þǽm blindum |
þǽm blindum |
Acc. |
þá blindan |
þá blindan |
þá blindan |
|
Weak Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
mín blinda |
mín blinde |
mín blinde |
Gen. |
mínes blindan |
mínes blindan |
mínre blindan |
Dat. |
mínum blindan |
mínum blindan |
mínre blindan |
Inst. |
míne blindan |
míne blindan |
mínre blindan |
Acc. |
mínne blindan |
mín blinde |
míne blindan |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
míne blindan |
mín blindan |
mína blindan |
Gen. |
mínra blindra |
mínra blindra |
mínra blindra |
Dat. |
mínum blindum |
mínum blindum |
mínum blindum |
Inst. |
mínum blindum |
mínum blindum |
mínum blindum |
Acc. |
míne blindan |
mín blindan |
mína blindan |
|
[ādihtan] Variations in Declension
- Adjectives ending in -u change it to -o- before -re, -ra, -ne. The -u changes to -w- before endings beginning with a vowel.
- Adjectives occur in the weak declension after se, séo, þæt, þes, þéos, þis, mín, þín, sín, etc.
- Adjectives like glæd will have -a- throughout the weak declension.
We did not have Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0) in Old English. Rather, they used Roman numerals (i, v, x, c, d, m...). For the purposes of this website, it is requested that all pages use Arabic numerals for ease of reading.
[ādihtan] Cardinal Numbers
The cardinal numbers are:
- án; forma
- twégen, twá, tú; óðer
- þríe, þréo; þridda
- féower; féorða
- fíf; fífta
- six; sixta
- seofon; seofoða
- eahta; eahtoða
- nigon; nigoða
- tíene; téoða
- endleofan; endleofta
- twelf; twelfta
- þréotíene; þréotéoða
- féowertíene; féowertéoða
- fíftíene; fíftéoða
- sixtíene; sixtéoða
- seofontíene; seofontéoða
- eahtatíene; eahtatéoða
- nigontíene; nigontéoða
- twentig; twentigoða
- án and twentig; án and twentigoða
30. þrítig; þrítigoða 40. féowertig; féowertigoða 50. fíftig; fíftigoða 60. sixtig; sixtigoða 70. hundseofontig; hundseofontigoða 80. hundeahtatig; hundeahtatigoða 90. hundnigontig; hundnigontigoða 100. hund, hundred, hundtéontig; hundtéontigoða 110. hundendleofantig; hundendleofantigoða 120. hundtwelftig; hundtwelftigoða 200. tú hund 300. þréo hund 1000. þúsend
Simply use the Arabic numbers when writing a number. In regards to declension, only the numbers 1, 2, and 3 decline with the noun. The others do not decline except when acting as a noun themselves (mid 4 manna, but mid féowerum).
[ādihtan] Usage with nouns
- Numbers 1, 2, 3 decline with the noun, just like any other adjective (in þrim dagum).
- Numbers 4 - 12 simply precede the noun, just like modern English (féower þegnas, seofon mónþas).
- Decades (20, 30,...90) take a noun in the genitive, or in agreement (fíftig manna, on féowertigum géarum).
[ādihtan] Declension of 1, 2, 3 in Old English
- Note that the numeral 1 could decline strong or weak, and in the weak declension, could be plural.
Strong Singular Declension of Numeral: One |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
án |
án |
án |
Gen. |
ánes |
ánes |
ánre |
Dat. |
ánum |
ánum |
ánre |
Inst. |
áne |
áne |
ánre |
Acc. |
ǽnne |
án |
áne |
|
Weak Plural Declension of Numeral: án |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
ánan |
ánan |
ánan |
Gen. |
ánra |
ánra |
ánra |
Dat. |
ánum |
ánum |
ánum |
Inst. |
ánum |
ánum |
ánum |
Acc. |
ánan |
ánan |
ánan |
|
Declension of Numeral: 2 |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
twégen |
tú |
twá |
Gen. |
twéga |
twéga |
twéga |
Dat. |
twǽm |
twǽm |
twǽm |
Inst. |
twǽm |
twǽm |
twǽm |
Acc. |
twégen |
tú |
twá |
|
Declension of Numeral: 3 |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þríe |
þréo |
þréo |
Gen. |
þréora |
þréora |
þréora |
Dat. |
þrim |
þrim |
þrim |
Inst. |
þrim |
þrim |
þrim |
Acc. |
þríe |
þréo |
þréo |
|
[ādihtan] Ordinal Numbers
For ordinal numbers, simply write the number and the declension afterwards: se 6a mann, þǽm 3an mann, etc.
The ordinal numbers, for the purposes of the wiki, are:
forma, óðer, þridda, féorþa, fífta, sixta, seofoða, eahtoða, nigoða, téoða, endleofoða, twelfta, þréotéoða (féower~, etc.), twentigoða (þrítigoða, etc.), hundtéontigoða (100th), hundendleofontigoða (110th), hundtwelftigoða (120th).
[ādihtan] Sentence Construction
[ādihtan] Main Clauses
Typically, sentences have normal modern word order (called SVO, subject-verb-object). The exception is with pronoun objects, which are typically placed before the verb.
-
- Ic hine geseah - I saw him.
- Híe mé géafon þæt hús - they gave me the house.
[ādihtan] Verb Agreement
Verbs agree with their subject in number and person.
-
- Ic hine geseah (singular, 1st person)
- Wé týdon þá leorneras (plural, 1st person)
[ādihtan] Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses are introduced with þe, or sé (séo, þæt) with/without þe.
- Þonne is án port on súðeweardum þǽm lande, þone man hǽteþ Sciringes heal - Then is one port in the south of that country, which is called Skringssalr. (þone is a relative pronoun, referring to "se port", and taking the accusative case, which is the correct case in the clause).
The type of relative pronoun "sé þe," "séo þe," and "þæt þe" are more common when the antecedent has no demonstrative/qualifier.
- þæt þu onfó his geléafan and his bebodu healde, sé þe þé fram wilwendlicum earfeðum generede - that thou may receive the trust of the one who has saved thee from earthly hardships, and obey his commands.
[ādihtan] Complex Sentences
[ādihtan] Verbs with þæt-complements
- The verbs forbeodan forbid, forberan refrain from, geswícan stop, wiþcweðan deny, refuse, and several others, take a þæt-clauses as objects.
- ...and forbead þæt hine man God héte - and forbade anyone to call him God (literally, "and forbade that one called him God").
- and forbead þæt man ná þǽr eft ne timbrode - and forbade anyone to build there afterward (literally, "and forbade that one never there after not built").
- Also, verbs like twéonan doubt, twéo béon to be in doubt
- ...forþon nis nán twéo, þæt hé forgifnesse sellan nelle, þǽm þe híe geearnian willaþ - ...therefore there is no doubt that he will give forgiveness to those who want to earn it. (literally, "therefore is not no doubt that he will not give forgiveness, to them that want to earn it").
Questions are formed in 2 ways: with verb-subject word order, or with question words.
[ādihtan] Method 1: Verb-subject order
- Simply place the verb first, then the subject. This is one of the ways we ask questions in modern English.
- Example: hæfst þu ænigne geferan? (Hast thou any companion?)
[ādihtan] Method 2: Question Words
- Hwæt, hwá, hwǽr, hwilc, hú, hú fela, etc.
- Hwá eart þu? Who are you?
- Using hwæðer-subject-verb is used to express doubt or incredulity, or even when expecting the answer 'no.' The verb is most often in the subjunctive, but may be indicative with impersonal verbs.
- Example: hwæðer gé nú sécen gold of tréowum? (Surely you aren't looking for gold in trees?, Are you looking for gold in trees?, literally, "whether ye may seek gold in trees?").
- Example: hwæðer Rómáne hit witen nú ænigum menn tó secgenne, hwæt hiera folces forwurde? (Do the Romans now know enough to say how many of their people perished?, Surely the Romans know enough now to say how many of their people perished?)