Please see links to various readings in the menu, including:
Aelfsige – A Taste of Old English
Anglo-Saxon Medical Manuscripts
Regional versions of Lord’s Prayer
An evening of poetry at Jarrow Hall [readings of Cædmon’s Hymn, Wulf and Eadwacer, The Ruin]
‘Learn old English with Leofwin’ published by Anglo-Saxon Books is a teach-yourself book presenting the English of around 990AD for younger readers and non-language specialists.
A video version of part of the first chapter appears below. A paper version of the video features in ‘Wiðowinde’ 155, the magazine of the English Companions.
You can also learn some basic phrases for everyday use.
You can hear them being read here: Learn Old English with Leofwin audio file
You can also download an illustrated handout of these phrases
Here are the phrases which are covered:
Ēala! – hello!
Gōdne dæg – good day
Wes ðu hāl / westu hal – be well
Wesað gē hāle – be well (plural)
Gōdne mergen – good morning
Gōd æfen – good evening
Gōd niht – good night
Ic grēte ðē – I greet you
Ic grēte ēow ealle – I greet you all
Welcumen – welcome
Hu gǣð hit? – how goes it?
Hit gǣð wel – it goes well
Glæd ðē tō mētenne – glad to meet you
Gōd ðē mid sie – God be with you (goodbye)
Fer þū wel / ferað gē wel – farewell
Gēa, gīese – yes
Nā, nese – no
Sōð – true
Ic bidde ðē – please
Ic sārie – I’m sorry
Ic ðoncie ðē – thank you
Forgief mē – forgive me
Hwæt is ðis ? – what’s this?
Saga ðæt eft – say that again
Hwæt hāteð ðis? – What’s this called?
Ic wāt – I know
Ic nāt – I don’t know
Mīn gebyrdtid biþ… – my birthday is…
Hū eald eart þu? – How old are you?
Ic eom eahta gēar eald / ic eom eahta wintra – I’m eight years old
Lā! – look!
Ic wolde… – I’d like…
Wilt ðu… – do you want to…
Hwǣr eardest ðu? – Where do you live?
Ic eardie on Prittewella – I live in Prittlewell
Hu hātest ðu? – What’s your name?
Mīn nama is Brada – my name is Brada
Ic hāte Brada – I’m called Brada
Ic eom Godweardes scop – I’m Godweard’s singer
Mōt ic … – may I …
Hwǣr is… ? þǣr biþ – where is…? there is…
Ic lufie … / … licað mē – I love … / I like…
.. ne licað mē / ic hatie .. – I don’t like… / I hate..
Ic lyste bet… – I prefer
The Anglo-Saxons Books website is currently unavailable therefore we have provided copies of the audio files for Learn Old English with Leofwin Units 1 to 6 as downloadable archives:
© COPYRIGHT NOTICE ‘Learn Old English with Leofwin’ is written and illustrated by Matt Love: text and illustrations may not be extracted, separated, or reproduced for commercial gain.