Unless indicated otherwise, words and phrases are in Old English.
The form of address changes in the text from “Lord” to “Sire” and from “Lady” to “Dame”, respectively, depending on whether a male or female noble person is meant in the context (speaker, listener). “Lord” and “Lady” are the Old English terms, “Sire” and “Dame” the (Anglo-)Norman terms.
Text in brackets is the literal translation of the word or phrase.
N = (Anglo-)Norman
ON = Old Norse
Aluns (N) – Let’s go
Arestez! (N) – Stop! / Enough!
Beo ðu hal, leof cyning! – (Be healthy, dear king) Long live the king!
Beo strang! – (Be strong / determined!) Hold on!
Chevaler (N) – rider, in particular a knight.
Cnæpling – a youth
Ða Frenciscan sculon deaþe sweltan – (The French shall die from death) Death to the Normans!
The Normans are usually called French (Frenciscan) in Old English. The term “Norþmann”, “man from the north” (see below) is used for Scandinavians in general and for Norwegians or Danes in particular.
Ðæt is forwundorlic wundor – (That is really a wonderous wonder) That’s absolutely amazing
Ðe ic herige, Drihten ælmihtne, forðam þu bist swiðe rummod and swiðe mildheort! – I praise thee, almighty God, for thou art benevolent and merciful!
Ðegn, plural: ðegnes – thane, vassal of a king, between a freeman and lower nobility.
Deorling – Darling
Ðis is laðlic! – (This is disgusting!) Yuck!
Dites mei (N) – Tell me
Dryhten min – Dear Lord
Ðu scealt gan libbende on helle! – (Thou shalt go living [alive] into hell!) Go to hell!
Ðu wyrma gifl – You worm food
Eala – Oh! Oh dear!
Exclamation of surprise or pity.
Eala ðu wundorwiga – O wonder warrior
A warrior who does wonderous deeds or fights in a wonderous way.
Eala min freond! – Oh, my friend!
Engleis (m), Englesse (f) (N) – inhabitant of England / speaker of English; the English language
Eorl, plural: eorles – earl
High-ranking nobleman and military leader right below the king. The title usually follows the name in Old English, but for modern readers, the title has been placed before the name.
Eslevez le! (N) – Take him away!
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum, gewurþe ðin willa, on eorðan swa swa on heofonum – Our Father who art in heaven, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Felun (N) – evildoer, wicked person, traitor, felon
Fiz a putein! (N) – Son of a bitch!
Frenciscan – Frenchmen, including (Anglo-)Normans
Fyrd – Anglo-Saxon army of freemen
The king would assemble fyrds in times of war, and they complemented the army of his bodyguards.
Git hildlatan – (You two war slouches) You two cowards
Gleoman – medieval entertainer
A Gleoman could be anything from a travelling minstrel, musician, juggler and thespian to a jester and fool.
God sceal forlætan þe to ðam ecan forwyrde – (May God surrender you to eternal damnation) May thou burn in hell
God þin feorg freoðie, min sunu – (May God protect your life) Bless you, my son
Hastez vus (N) – Hurry up
Hastez vus e alez hors de la chapele! (N) – (Hurry up and leave the chapel!) Get out of here!
Hi sculon gan libbende on helle! – (They shall go living [alive] into hell!) Go to hell!
Hlaford min – my lord
Form of address for a ruler or military leader / superior
Hlafordswica! – traitor (of a [liege] lord)
Hu eald eart ðu? – How old are you?
Huscarl, plural: huscarles – elite warrior and bodyguard of the Anglo-Saxon king Later, also of the powerful earls, until the 11th century. He was heavily armed – with the fierce, two-handed battle axe as his weapon of choice – and rode to battle on his warhorse.
Hwær is Hen? – Where is Hen (the animal’s name)?
Hwær sind þine ældran? – Where are your parents?
Hwæt dest ðu, Hroðgar? – What are you doing, Roger?
Hwæt is þin nama? – What is your name?
Ic cnawe – I know
Ic ðancige ðe, Dryhten min – I thank you, dear Lord
Ic ðancige eow – I thank you (plural)
Ic ðe wilcume – (I welcome you) Welcome
Ic eom Frederic. Wilcume! – I am Frederic. Welcome!
Ic eom nigontinewintre – I am nineteen winters (years) old
Ic hatte Oswulf – My name is Oswulf
Ic hine wergðo on mine sette – (I put my curse on him) Curse him
Ic ne cnawe ana hwa…? – I don’t know a single one who…?
Jo vus en mercie (N) – I thank you (plural)
Leof Cenric – Dear Cenric
Leof Dryhten – Dear God
Lieve toi, engleis! (N) – Stand up, Englishman!
Lygewyrhta – Liar
Merelle (N) – Norman medieval version of Nine Men’s Morris
Min fædre wæs Osfrið, Morkere eorles and Harold cyninges ðegn, þe ge acwealdon – My father was Osfrið, a thane of Earl Morkere and King Harold, whom you killed
Min nama is Oswulf – My name is Oswulf
Munsire, plural: messires (N) – sir
Form of address for a man of high status or nobility. See also “Sire”.
Næfre ic sceal wigan for wuldre Angla banan – Never I shall fight for the honour of the slaughterers of the English
Ne ealle – Not all
Ne ic hine cwealde – I did not kill him
Niþing, plural: niþingas – outlaw, rogue, coward
Originally used for discredited huscarls whose rank had been revoked.
Norþmann, plural: Norþmenn – inhabitant of a northern European (Scandinavian) country, in particular, a Norwegian or Dane
Noreis (N) – inhabitant of a northern European (Scandinavian) country, in particular a Norwegian
Osfriðson (ON) – son of Osfrið
The suffix ‘son’ would be added to the Old Norse patronym (father’s name).
Par Deu! (N) – By God!
Parlés haltement! (N) – Speak up!
Pereçous (N) – sluggish, lazy person or people; lazybones
Pes, messires! (N) – Peace, my lords!
Quei? (N) – What?
Responez! (N) – Answer!
Riddan – riders, knights
Scirgerefa – (shire-reeve) sheriff, royal administrator of a town or district (shire) in Anglo-Saxon England
Si bletsung Drihtnes ofer þe – (May God’s blessing be over you) God bless you
Silence! – Silence!
Sire (N) – Sir
Form of address for the liege lord as opposed to “munsire”.
Swa gifre swa swine – Greedy as a pig
Swiga! – Shut up!
Teisez vus! (N) – Shut up! (plural)
Teng recene! – (Hurry at once) Run! Get lost!
Uncle (N) – uncle
Ungeleafful – infidel
Valhǫll (ON) – Valhalla
Old Norse mythic home of the warriors who had died in battle.
Va dunc! (N) – Off you go!
Wa la wa! – Oh dear! Oh no!
Wa me! – Woe is me!
Wælwulfas – war wolf, death wolf
This was an epithet of a warrior.
Wæs hal! – (Be healthy!) Cheers / To your health!
An old English toast, usually answered with, “Drinc hal!” – Drink in good health!
Wealhstod – language mediator, interpreter
Wel gesund, hlaford min – (Be healthy) Greetings, my lord
An old English greeting.
Witan – (the wise men) council of the Anglo-Saxon kings.
The Witan advised on political, legal and social matters and comprised a varying number each of bishops and men from the upper nobility. The Witan also decided who would be the next king.
Wiþertrod! – Retreat!
Wodon þa wælwulfas, for wætere ne murnon (The Battle of Maldon, line 96) – The death wolves waded through (the river Panta), they did not care about the water
Wordwringa – (word wringer) sophist
Yfel gesiþ – evil companion