Old English/Appendices/Common phrases


Translation Phrase IPA Comments
English Englisc ['ɛŋglɪʃ]
hello wes hāl
wesaþ hāl
/wɛs hɑːl/
['wɛzɑθ hɑːl];
to

one person
to more than one

good-bye God þē mid sīe [gɔd ðeː mɪd 'siy] Literal: God be with you
please iċ bidde [ɪʧ 'bɪdːɛ] or understood; see usage note.
thank you iċ þancie þē [ɪʧ 'θɑŋkɪɛ ðeː]
that one geon [jɔn]
how much? hū fela? [huː 'fɛlɑ]
yes gēse ['jeːzɛ]
no [noː]
Where is the bathroom? Hwǣr is þæt gangsetl? [hwæːr ɪs θæt 'gɑŋgzɛtl]
where do you come from? Hwanon cymst þu? (?) ['hwɑnɔn kʏmst θuː]
do you speak English? Spricst þu Englisce? [sprɪkst θuː 'ɛŋglɪʃɛ]
I don’t understand Iċ ne understande [ɪʧ nɛ ʊndɛr'stɑndɛ]
  1. No word directly corresponds to the word “please”. Old English expressed the concept of

politeness in a request in various ways.