Middle English Translator
Translate modern English into the tongue of Chaucer, the Gawain poet, and medieval England. Hear the words of the Canterbury Tales, explore archaic vocabulary, and journey back to the age of knights and courtly love.
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Instant Middle English rendering
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ME Keyboard
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Middle English Vocabulary Guide
Words from the mouths of Chaucer, Langland, and the Gawain poet
Middle English Phrasebook
Click any card to load the modern English into the translator
Pronunciation Guide
Key rules for reading Middle English aloud
About Middle English
The language of Chaucer, Langland, and the medieval courts
Middle English was spoken in England from approximately 1100 to 1500 CE, following the Norman Conquest of 1066. When William the Conqueror invaded England, he brought Norman French with him — and for the next three centuries, English was transformed by massive French influence on its vocabulary, spelling, and even grammar.
Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales: The most famous work in Middle English is Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (c.1387–1400). Chaucer wrote in the London dialect, which became the prestige form of Middle English and eventually evolved into Modern English.
Key Features: Middle English still used the second-person singular "thou" (informal) versus "ye/you" (formal or plural). Verb endings like "-eth" (he speketh) and "-est" (thou art) were common. Words were spelled more phonetically, and the "great vowel shift" had not yet occurred.
The Great Vowel Shift: Between 1400 and 1700, English vowels underwent a dramatic change in pronunciation known as the Great Vowel Shift. This is why Middle English spellings look strange to modern readers — the words were once pronounced much as they were spelled.
How to Use the Middle English Translator
Four simple steps to translate into Chaucer's tongue
Enter text
Type or paste modern English into the left box. Use the keyboard to insert authentic Middle English words directly.
Translate
Click "Translate to Middle English" to convert your text into Chaucer's tongue.
Listen
Click "Speak Translation" to hear the text read aloud via the Web Speech API.
Copy or download
Save your translation for creative writing, school projects, or historical roleplay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Middle English was spoken in England from approximately 1100 to 1500 CE, following the Norman Conquest. It is most famously associated with Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Middle English is significantly different from Modern English in spelling, vocabulary, and grammar, yet more recognizable than Old English.
The voice feature uses the Web Speech API built into modern browsers including Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. No downloads or plugins needed. It uses an English-language voice to read back the Middle English translation.
Old English (spoken before 1100 CE) is almost entirely incomprehensible to modern English speakers. Middle English, while archaic, contains many recognizable words and grammatical structures. It was heavily influenced by Norman French after the 1066 conquest.
Yes — this Middle English translator is completely free with no sign-up, no account, and no paywalls. Unlimited use.
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