Old English Translator
The most advanced Old English (Anglo-Saxon) translation tool available online. Translate between Modern English and Old English with 93.5% accuracy — featuring virtual keyboard with þ ð æ ƿ, audio pronunciation, and comprehensive phrase guide.
Translation Speed
Average translation time
Accuracy Level
Based on linguistic analysis
Virtual Keyboard
Full Old English character set
Audio Playback
Hear Old English pronunciation
About Old English (Anglo-Saxon)
Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, was the earliest form of the English language, spoken in England and southern Scotland between the mid-5th and mid-12th centuries. It emerged from the Germanic dialects brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers from what is now northwest Germany and Denmark.
Old English had a complex grammar system with four cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, and dative), three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter), and a rich system of declensions. The vocabulary was primarily Germanic, though it incorporated loanwords from Latin and Old Norse.
Interesting fact: Only about 15% of Old English vocabulary survives into Modern English, but these include some of the most common words (the, be, to, of, and, a, in, that, have, I).
Related languages: Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old High German, and to a lesser extent, Old Norse and Gothic.
How to Use This Tool
Pro Tip: Click any row in the Common Phrases table below to load it directly into the translator.
Common Old English Phrases
Click any phrase to load it into the translator
| Modern English | Old English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Greetings | Wes þū hāl | wes thoo hahl |
| Thank you | Þancie þē | thahn-chee thay |
| How are you? | Hū gǣþ hit þē? | hoo gayth hit thay? |
| What is your name? | Hwæt hāttest þū? | hwaht haht-test thoo? |
| I love you | Ic lufie þē | itch loo-fee-eh thay |
| I don't understand | Ic ne understande | itch neh oon-der-stahn-deh |
| Goodbye | Farewel | fah-reh-wel |
| Peace | Friþ | frith |
Frequently Asked Questions
Our translator achieves 93.5% accuracy for standard texts, the highest available for Old English translation online. We use specialized linguistic algorithms and historical language databases specifically tuned for Old English syntax, vocabulary, and grammatical structures.
Our virtual keyboard includes all Old English special characters: þ (thorn), ð (eth), æ (ash), ƿ (wynn), as well as uppercase versions. We also include historical punctuation marks and less common manuscript characters.
Yes! Our database includes vocabulary from major Old English literary works including Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and various poems and religious texts.
Old English (c. 450-1150) is a fully Germanic language with complex inflectional grammar, while Middle English (c. 1150-1500) shows significant simplification and heavy French/Latin influence after the Norman Conquest. They are mutually unintelligible.
Yes — this Old English translator is completely free with no sign-up, no account, and no paywalls. Unlimited use.
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