Convert modern English text to Anglo-Saxon (Old English, 450-1100 AD)
500+ Old English words from the Anglo-Saxon period
Applies authentic Old English grammar patterns
Get immediate results with our fast translation engine
Based on linguistic research of Anglo-Saxon texts from 450-1100 AD
Includes authentic Old English characters like þ (thorn) and ð (eth)
Handles plurals, verb conjugations, and adjective forms
No registration or payment required
Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, was the language spoken in England from approximately 450 to 1100 AD. It is the earliest historical form of the English language and emerged after Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) settled in England.
Old English is significantly different from Modern English in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. A modern English speaker would find Old English nearly unintelligible without special study. The language used complex grammatical cases, gender-based noun classifications, and different word order patterns.
Famous works written in Old English include the epic poem Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and various religious texts like the Lindisfarne Gospels. The Norman Conquest of 1066 marked the beginning of the end for Old English, as the language gradually transformed into Middle English under French influence.
Here are some frequently used Old English words and their modern equivalents:
| Modern English | Old English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| man | mann | mahn |
| woman | wīf | weef |
| house | hūs | hoos |
| God | god | gohd |
| day | dæg | dag |
| night | niht | nikht |
| king | cyning | koo-ning |
| sword | sweord | swe-ord |
| love | lufu | loo-voo |
| friend | frēond | fray-ond |
Visit our full dictionary page to explore more Old English vocabulary.
This translator provides a general approximation of Old English based on historical vocabulary and grammar rules. While it uses authentic Old English words and applies common linguistic patterns, it's important to note that perfect translation between modern and Old English is challenging due to significant differences in sentence structure, contexts, and idioms.
For scholarly or academic purposes, consulting specialized Old English resources is recommended.
Old English was drastically different from Modern English. A Modern English speaker would find Old English nearly unintelligible without study. The grammar was much more complex with case endings, grammatical gender, and dual numbers. The vocabulary was primarily Germanic, lacking the Romance language influence that came later.
Old English was spoken from approximately 450 AD to 1100 AD. The period began with the settlement of Germanic tribes in Britain and ended around the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, though the transition to Middle English was gradual.
Famous Old English texts include the epic poem Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, religious works like the West Saxon Gospels, legal texts such as the laws of King Alfred, and poetry including "The Wanderer," "The Seafarer," and "The Dream of the Rood."
This translator is best used as a learning tool or for creative purposes. For academic papers, we recommend consulting specialized academic resources, dictionaries, or working with scholars who specialize in Old English.