Old English was spoken by the Anglo-Saxons and formed the basis for Modern English which we speak today. In this video our friend Ælfsige introduces himself, his home and his family. See how much you can understand!
There is a copy of what Ælfsige is saying and a translation further down the page.
Welcumen béo on West Stowa. Mín nama is Ælfsige.
Þis is mín hús. Ðes is se hróf, séo duru, séo flór …. cum in.
Þes is mín wífman, and Þes is mín bróþor.
ealá, ealá
Þis is þæt fýr, ond hér is úre mete … stincað wel!
Hér is mín bedd. Wé rísað þá séo sunne ríseð, wé weorcað ealne dæg ond gáð to bedde þá niht cumeþ
(goes outside)
Þéos is mín woruld – ðá heofenas, séo sunne, þá tréow, þá æceras, þá godu, þá ylfe ond mín twá stranga handa
Beoð wel, fríend
Here is a translation into Modern English…
Welcome to West Stow. My name is Alsige.
This is my house. This is the roof… the door… and the floor…. come in.
This is my wife, and this is my brother.
Hello! Hello!
This is the fire, and this is our food – hmm, smells good!
Here is my bed. We get up when the sun rises, we work all day long, and go to bed at night-fall.
(goes outside)
This is my world – the sky, the sun, the trees, the fields, the gods and the elves – and my two strong hands
Be well, fríends
