Syllables break when:
- There are two consonants between two vowel clusters, e.g. hab-ban, en-gel.
- There is one consonant between two vowel clusters (the consonant going to the latter syllable), e.g. ē-þel, fre-mast.
It is important to know what the stem of a word is: It is the most basic factor of a word (compound or not) minus declension/conjugation suffixes, therefore the Modern English word fireman has two stems: fire and man, the same rules apply to Old English; but in compound words, the declension/conjugation of a noun/adjective/verb is purely dependent on the last word in the compound (so the noun "sealtȳþ - salt-wave" may look like it takes the endings of a long-stemmed disyllable; but it is, in fact, a compound word of "sealt - salt" and "ȳþ - wave" (ȳþ being the final member of the compound), therefore it takes the conjugation of a long-stemmed monosyllable: ȳþ).
At many times in Old English, it is important to be able to distinguish four different types of syllables.
Short-stemmed monosyllables: end with short vowel and one consonant, e.g. scip, in, glæd.
Long-stemmed monosyllables: end with either a long vowel and one consonant or a short vowel and two consonants, e.g. hand, cniht, fōt, tōþ.
Short-stemmed disyllables: end with a short vowel, then one consonant, then another short vowel, then one consonant, e.g. metod, werod, hacod.
Long-stemmed disyllables: end with the same pattern as above (e.g. vowel, consonant cluster, vowel, consonant cluster) but must have at least one long vowel or one cluster of two consonants, e.g. engel, habban, windig, ēþel.
The verb is conjugated as follows: ic (stem)-e, þu (stem)-est, hē (stem)-eþ/aþ, wē/gē/hīe (stem)-aþ
- Strong Verbs: ic -e, þu -(e)st, hē -(e)þ, wē/gē/hīe -aþ
--The () means the e of the ending can be syncopated if the ending is still understandable. Bisen: stendeþ hē, ne stent hē, ac nimþ hē, ne nimeþ hē. Understendest þu?
Verbs with stems ending in a double consonant or in -rian, unless otherwise marked.
Infinitive Forms: nerian, fremman, settan, gremman, etc.
- Note how the infinitive ending is always -an.
Weak Verb 1a Present Indicative: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerie |
wē |
neriaþ |
þu |
nerest |
gē |
neriaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
nereþ |
hīe |
neriaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Present Subjunctive: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerie |
wē |
nerien |
þu |
nerie |
gē |
nerien |
hē, hēo, hit |
nerie |
hīe |
nerien |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Indicative: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerede |
wē |
neredon |
þu |
neredest |
gē |
neredon |
hē, hēo, hit |
nerede |
hīe |
neredon |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Subjunctive: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
nerede |
wē |
nereden |
þu |
nerede |
gē |
nereden |
hē, hēo, hit |
nerede |
hīe |
nereden |
|
Weak Verb 1a Imperative: nerian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
nere |
(gē) |
neriaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Participles: nerian |
|
Present |
Past |
|
neriende |
genered |
|
And doubled consonant verbs (with fremman as an example):
Weak Verb 1a Present Indicative: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremme |
wē |
fremmaþ |
þu |
fremest |
gē |
fremmaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
fremeþ |
hīe |
fremmaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Present Subjunctive: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremme |
wē |
fremmen |
þu |
fremme |
gē |
fremmen |
hē, hēo, hit |
fremme |
hīe |
fremmen |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Indicative: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremede |
wē |
fremedon |
þu |
fremedest |
gē |
fremedon |
hē, hēo, hit |
fremede |
hīe |
fremedon |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Subjunctive: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
fremede |
wē |
fremeden |
þu |
fremede |
gē |
fremeden |
hē, hēo, hit |
fremede |
hīe |
fremeden |
|
Weak Verb 1a Imperative: fremman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
freme |
(gē) |
fremmaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Participles: fremman |
|
Present |
Past |
|
fremmende |
gefremed |
|
And one last type, settan/lecgan type 1a verbs:
Weak Verb 1a Present Indicative: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wē |
settaþ |
þu |
setest |
gē |
settaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
seteþ |
hīe |
settaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Present Subjunctive: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wē |
setten |
þu |
sette |
gē |
setten |
hē, hēo, hit |
sette |
hīe |
setten |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Indicative: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wē |
setton |
þu |
settest |
gē |
setton |
hē, hēo, hit |
sette |
hīe |
setton |
|
Weak Verb 1a Past Subjunctive: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
sette |
wē |
setten |
þu |
sette |
gē |
setten |
hē, hēo, hit |
sette |
hīe |
setten |
|
Weak Verb 1a Imperative: settan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
sete |
(gē) |
settaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1a Participles: settan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
settende |
geseted |
|
- The first person is the infinitive, without -an (the stem), plus -e. (nerian -> neri+an -> neri+e)
- The second/third person is formed from the bare stem plus -est/-eþ (nerian -> ner+ian -> nerest, nereþ)
- The plural is the infinitive without -an (the stem), plus -aþ. (nerian -> neri+an -> neri+aþ)
- The imperative is formed from the þu (minus -st) and ge (same) forms. (nerest ->nere-st -> nere)
- The subjunctive is formed from the stem + -e, -en. (nerian -> neri+e, neri+en) Thus, it is just like the first person indicative and the first person indicative plus -n.
- The present participle is formed from the stem plus -ende (nerian -> neri+ende)
- The past participle is formed from the past tense and ge-, minus the -e (nerede -> ge+nered-e -> genered)
- Verbs ending in -rian and with doubled consonants drop the -i- or doubled consonant in the same positions: 2nd/3rd person singular, imperative singular, and throughout the past tense.
- Verbs like settan (ātreddan, cnyttan, hreddan, hwettan, lettan, spryttan, lecgan) typically have the above declension. Lecgan has (legde, geleged). You may find past forms as "setede."
Verbs with stems ending in more than one consonant (not a doubled consonant) or with a long vowel and one consonant.
Infinitive Forms: dēman, hyngran, drencan, gierwan, etc.
- Note how the infinitive ending is always -an.
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: dēman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
dēme |
wē |
dēmaþ |
þu |
dēmst |
gē |
dēmaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
dēmþ |
hīe |
dēmaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: dēman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
dēme |
wē |
dēmen |
þu |
dēme |
gē |
dēmen |
hē, hēo, hit |
dēme |
hīe |
dēmen |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: dēman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
dēmde |
wē |
dēmdon |
þu |
dēmdest |
gē |
dēmdon |
hē, hēo, hit |
dēmde |
hīe |
dēmdon |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: dēman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
dēmde |
wē |
dēmden |
þu |
dēmde |
gē |
dēmden |
hē, hēo, hit |
dēmde |
hīe |
dēmden |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: dēman |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
dēm |
(gē) |
dēmaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: dēman |
|
Present |
Past |
|
dēmende |
gedēmed |
|
And multiple consonant verbs (ending in -c, -sc, -p, -f, with drencan as an example):
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drence |
wē |
drencaþ |
þu |
drencest, drencst |
gē |
drencaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
drenceþ, drencþ |
hīe |
drencaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drence |
wē |
drencen |
þu |
drence |
gē |
drencen |
hē, hēo, hit |
drence |
hīe |
drencen |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drencte |
wē |
drencton |
þu |
drenctest |
gē |
drencton |
hē, hēo, hit |
drencte |
hīe |
drencton |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
drencte |
wē |
drencten |
þu |
drencte |
gē |
drencten |
hē, hēo, hit |
drencte |
hīe |
drencten |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: drencan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
drenc |
(gē) |
drencaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: drencan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
drencende |
gedrenced |
|
And multiple consonant verbs (using hyngran as an example):
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngre |
wē |
hyngraþ |
þu |
hyngrest |
gē |
hyngraþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
hyngreþ |
hīe |
hyngraþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngre |
wē |
hyngren |
þu |
hyngre |
gē |
hyngren |
hē, hēo, hit |
hyngre |
hīe |
hyngren |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngrede |
wē |
hyngredon |
þu |
hyngredest |
gē |
hyngredon |
hē, hēo, hit |
hyngrede |
hīe |
hyngredon |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
hyngrede |
wē |
hyngreden |
þu |
hyngrede |
gē |
hyngreden |
hē, hēo, hit |
hyngrede |
hīe |
hyngreden |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: hyngran |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
hyngre |
(gē) |
hyngraþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: hyngran |
|
Present |
Past |
|
hyngrende |
gehyngred |
|
And one last type, gierwan verbs (ending in -wan):
Weak Verb 1b Present Indicative: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierwe |
wē |
gierwaþ |
þu |
gierest |
gē |
gierwaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
giereþ |
hīe |
gierwaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Present Subjunctive: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierwe |
wē |
gierwen |
þu |
gierwe |
gē |
gierwen |
hē, hēo, hit |
gierwe |
hīe |
gierwen |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Indicative: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierede |
wē |
gieredon |
þu |
gieredest |
gē |
gieredon |
hē, hēo, hit |
gierede |
hīe |
gieredon |
|
Weak Verb 1b Past Subjunctive: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
gierede |
wē |
giereden |
þu |
gierede |
gē |
giereden |
hē, hēo, hit |
gierede |
hīe |
giereden |
|
Weak Verb 1b Imperative: gierwan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
giere |
(gē) |
gierwaþ |
|
Weak Verb 1b Participles: gierwan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
gierwende |
gegierwed, gegiered |
|
- See notes on Weak Verb 1a for formation of the different forms of the verb.
- The most 'regular' 1b verbs are those like dēman (long vowel, 1 consonant) and hyngran (short vowel, multiple consonants), in that they don't have much variation in formation like drencan and gierwan verbs.
- Verbs having a long vowel and one consonant, like dēman, don't generally have the full -est, -eþ endings. Thus, the imperative is simply the þu form without -st (dēm!, not dēme!).
- Verbs like dēman include verbs ending in -rn, -ng, -rg, -lg, wiernan (wiernde, gewierned), lengan (lengde, gelenged), byrgan (byrgde, gebyrged), and fylgan (fylgde, gefylged). It also includes contracted verbs like hēan (hēade, gehēad), rȳn, tȳn, þēon, þȳn.
- Verbs like drencan include those ending in -nc, -sc, -p, -sp, -t, -rp. They add -te in the past tense (ācwencte, ādwæscte, etc.).
- Verbs like hyngran, with a short vowel and multiple consonants, are more 'regular' than other 1b verbs. Their past tense is always -ede, and the past participle is always ge-(stem)-ed (bīecnede, þrysmede, symblede, ræfnede).
- Verbs like gierwan, ending in -wan, drop the -w- in the same places as the -i- in 1a verbs (smierwan -> smierest, nierwan -> niereþ). Verbs like getrīewan, lǣwan, forslǣwan, hlēowan (with a long vowel/diphthong) kept the -w- in all forms, however.
These are all other verbs, and are about half of all weak verbs.
Weak Verb 2 Present Indicative: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endie |
wē |
endiaþ |
þu |
endast |
gē |
endiaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
endaþ |
hīe |
endiaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Present Subjunctive: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endie |
wē |
endien |
þu |
endie |
gē |
endien |
hē, hēo, hit |
endie |
hīe |
endien |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Indicative: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endode |
wē |
endodon |
þu |
endodest |
gē |
endodon |
hē, hēo, hit |
endode |
hīe |
endodon |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Subjunctive: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
endode |
wē |
endoden |
þu |
endode |
gē |
endoden |
hē, hēo, hit |
endode |
hīe |
endoden |
|
Weak Verb 2 Imperative: endian |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
enda |
(gē) |
endiaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Participles: endian |
|
Present |
Past |
|
endiende |
geendod |
|
Verbs like twēogan to doubt are slightly irregular, since they were originally class 3 verbs, but decline alike, so it's not too difficult to learn them. There are only twēogan, fēogan to hate, frēogan to love, make free, smēagan to ponder, consider, and þrēagan to reprove, rebuke. Sometimes these verbs show up as twēon, fēon, frēon, smēan, and þrēan.
Weak Verb 2 Present Indicative: twēogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twēoge |
wē |
twēogaþ |
þu |
twēost |
gē |
twēogaþ |
hē, hēo, hit |
twēoþ |
hīe |
twēogaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Present Subjunctive: twēogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twēoge |
wē |
twēogen |
þu |
twēoge |
gē |
twēogen |
hē, hēo, hit |
twēoge |
hīe |
twēogen |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Indicative: twēogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twēode |
wē |
twēodon |
þu |
twēodest |
gē |
twēodon |
hē, hēo, hit |
twēode |
hīe |
twēodon |
|
Weak Verb 2 Past Subjunctive: twēogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
ic |
twēode |
wē |
twēoden |
þu |
twēode |
gē |
twēoden |
hē, hēo, hit |
twēode |
hīe |
twēoden |
|
Weak Verb 2 Imperative: twēogan |
Pronoun |
Singular |
Pronoun |
Plural |
(þu) |
twēo |
(gē) |
twēogaþ |
|
Weak Verb 2 Participles: twēogan |
|
Present |
Past |
|
twēogiende, twēonde (poetical) |
getwēod |
|
- See notes on Weak Verb 1a for formation of the different forms of the verb.
- These verbs all end in -ian.
- These verbs are the most 'regular' verbs in that all verbs of this class decline the same aside from a small group of exceptional verbs.
- The second and third person singular have the endings -ast and -aþ, without the -i-.
- The imperative is still the second person, minus -st.
- The verbs that act like twēogan are remnants of class 3 verbs that became class 2 verbs before the written history of Old English.
In dæftunge: nemniendlic, āgniendlic, forgifendlic, wregendlic
First Person Singular: I, We Two, We |
|
I |
We two |
We |
Nom. |
ic |
wit |
wē |
Gen. |
mīn |
uncer |
ūser, ūre |
Dat. |
mē |
unc |
ūs |
Acc. |
mec |
uncit |
ūsic |
|
Second Person Pronouns: Thou, Ye two, Ye |
|
Thou |
Ye two |
Ye |
Nom. |
þu |
git |
gē |
Gen. |
þīn |
incer |
ēower |
Dat. |
þē |
inc |
ēow |
Acc. |
þec |
incit |
ēowic |
|
Third Person Pronouns: He, She, It, They |
|
He |
She |
It |
They |
Nom. |
hē |
hēo |
hit |
hīe |
Gen. |
his |
hire |
his |
hira, hiera |
Dat. |
him |
hire |
him |
him, heom |
Acc. |
hine |
hīe |
hit |
hīe |
|
Interrogative Pronoun: Who, What |
|
Who |
What |
Nom. |
hwā |
hwæt |
Gen. |
hwæs |
hwæs |
Dat. |
hwǣm |
hwǣm |
Inst. |
hwȳ/hwī |
hwȳ/hwī |
Acc. |
hwone |
hwæt |
|
Notice how the Interrogative pronouns look like the pronouns hē and hit (hwǣm and him, hwone and hine, hwæt and hit, hwæs and his). If you compare to the Definite Article, you'll see the same similarities, mostly a difference of þ-/hw- (þone and hwone, þǣm and hwǣm, þȳ and hwȳ, þæt and hwæt, þæs and hwæs).
The genitive pronoun functions as an adjective. As such, it declines to agree with the case, gender, and number of the noun which it describes. The pronouns mīn, þīn, sīn, ūser, ēower, uncer, incer decline, whereas his, hire, and hira do not. The following table illustrates the declensions of these pronouns, which is exactly like the adjective blind.
First Person Singular Genitive Declension: mīn |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
mīn |
mīn |
mīn |
Gen. |
mīnes |
mīnes |
mīnre |
Dat. |
mīnum |
mīnum |
mīnre |
Inst. |
mīne |
mīne |
mīnre |
Acc. |
mīnne |
mīn |
mīne |
|
First Person Singular Genitive Declension: mīn |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
mīne |
mīn |
mīna |
Gen. |
mīnra |
mīnra |
mīnra |
Dat. |
mīnum |
mīnum |
mīnum |
Inst. |
mīnum |
mīnum |
mīnum |
Acc. |
mīne |
mīn |
mīna |
|
Second Person Singular Genitive Declension: þīn |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þīn |
þīn |
þīn |
Gen. |
þīnes |
þīnes |
þīnre |
Dat. |
þīnum |
þīnum |
þīnre |
Inst. |
þīne |
þīne |
þīnre |
Acc. |
þīnne |
þīn |
þīne |
|
Second Person Singular Genitive Declension: þīn |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þīne |
þīn |
þīna |
Gen. |
þīnra |
þīnra |
þīnra |
Dat. |
þīnum |
þīnum |
þīnum |
Inst. |
þīnum |
þīnum |
þīnum |
Acc. |
þīne |
þīn |
þīna |
|
First Person Plural Genitive Declension: ūser |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
ūser |
ūser |
ūser |
Gen. |
ūseres |
ūseres |
ūserre |
Dat. |
ūserum |
ūserum |
ūserre |
Inst. |
ūsere |
ūsere |
ūserre |
Acc. |
ūserne |
ūser |
ūsere |
|
First Person Plural Genitive Declension: ūser |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
ūsere |
ūser |
ūsera |
Gen. |
ūserra |
ūserra |
ūserra |
Dat. |
ūserum |
ūserum |
ūserum |
Inst. |
ūserum |
ūserum |
ūserum |
Acc. |
ūsere |
ūser |
ūsera |
|
The following tables show the most common noun declensions for the three genders (~68% masculine, ~73% feminine, ~91% neuter).
The Strong Masculine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
- |
þā |
-as |
Gen. |
þæs |
-es |
þāra |
-a |
Dat. |
þǣm |
-e |
þǣm |
-um |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
-e |
þǣm |
-um |
Acc. |
þone |
- |
þā |
-as |
|
The Weak Masculine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
-a |
þā |
-an |
Gen. |
þæs |
-an |
þāra |
-ena |
Dat. |
þǣm |
-an |
þǣm |
-um |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
-an |
þǣm |
-um |
Acc. |
þone |
-an |
þā |
-an |
|
The Strong Feminine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
sēo |
-/-u |
þā |
-a |
Gen. |
þǣre |
-e |
þāra |
-a |
Dat. |
þǣre |
-e |
þǣm |
-um |
Inst. |
þǣre |
-e |
þǣm |
-um |
Acc. |
þā |
-e |
þā |
-a |
|
The Weak Feminine Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
sēo |
-e |
þā |
-an |
Gen. |
þǣre |
-an |
þāra |
-ena |
Dat. |
þǣre |
-an |
þǣm |
-um |
Inst. |
þǣre |
-an |
þǣm |
-um |
Acc. |
þā |
-an |
þā |
-an |
|
The Strong Neuter Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
þæt |
- |
-/-u |
-/-u |
Gen. |
þæs |
-es |
þāra |
-a |
Dat. |
þǣm |
-e |
þǣm |
-um |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
-e |
þǣm |
-um |
Acc. |
þæt |
- |
þā |
-/-u |
|
The Weak Neuter Noun Declension |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
þæt |
-e |
þā |
-an |
Gen. |
þæs |
-an |
þāra |
-ena |
Dat. |
þǣm |
-an |
þǣm |
-um |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
-an |
þǣm |
-um |
Acc. |
þæt |
-e |
þā |
-an |
|
Strong Masculine Noun: stān |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
stān |
þā |
stānas |
Gen. |
þæs |
stānes |
þāra |
stāna |
Dat. |
þǣm |
stāne |
þǣm |
stānum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
stāne |
þǣm |
stānum |
Acc. |
þone |
stān |
þā |
stānas |
|
|
This declension has about 63.8% of all masculine nouns. Since this declension was so common, it became the basis for the modern English plural -(e)s ending. One-syllable nouns, like stān, gang, and ǣl all decline alike. Nouns ending in a double consonant, like bucc, hnæpp, and cropp, also decline like stān. The first irregularity comes with nouns like dæg, which have the letter 'æ' followed by one consonant. The 'æ' becomes 'a' in the plural.
Strong Masculine Noun: dæg |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
dæg |
þā |
dagas |
Gen. |
þæs |
dæges |
þāra |
daga |
Dat. |
þǣm |
dæge |
þǣm |
dagum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
dæge |
þǣm |
dagum |
Acc. |
þone |
dæg |
þā |
dagas |
|
|
Nouns like dæg include: pæþ, stæf, hwæl, etc. One noun, mǣg, has both māgas and mǣgas for plural.
Nouns like mearh are also a litle different from stān. They drop the -h before endings, and lengthen the vowel.
Strong Masculine Noun: mearh |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
mearh |
þā |
mēaras |
Gen. |
þæs |
mēares |
þāra |
mēara |
Dat. |
þǣm |
mēare |
þǣm |
mēarum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
mēare |
þǣm |
mēarum |
Acc. |
þone |
mearh |
þā |
mēaras |
|
|
Nouns like mearh include: ealh, eolh, fearh, healh, sealh, seolh, wealh, etc. The word scōh simply adds endings, since it already has a long vowel:
Strong Masculine Noun: scōh |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
scōh |
þā |
scōs |
Gen. |
þæs |
scōs |
þāra |
scōna |
Dat. |
þǣm |
scō |
þǣm |
scōm, scōum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
scō |
þǣm |
scōm, scōum |
Acc. |
þone |
scōh |
þā |
scōs |
|
|
Note that all weak masculine nouns have the letter a as an ending in the nominative singular (making weak masculine nouns very easy to detect), which is a suffix which is often the equivalent in meaning to the Modern English suffix -er.
Note that some masculine nouns ending in a long ā are weak (e.g. rā "roebuck), but not all.
Weak Masculine Noun: Nama - Name |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
se |
nama |
þā |
naman |
Gen. |
þæs |
naman |
þāra |
namena |
Dat. |
þǣm |
naman |
þǣm |
namum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
naman |
þǣm |
namum |
Acc. |
þone |
naman |
þā |
naman |
|
|
Neuter nouns are much the same as masculine nous in declension, and, if you have already learnt the masculine noun declensions, these should be no problem.
Here's where your knowledge of long-stemmed and short-stemmed syllables comes in handy.
Short-stemmed monosyllables and long-stemmed disyllables take these endings:
Strong Neuter Noun: Scip - Ship |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
þæt |
scip |
þā |
scipu |
Gen. |
þæs |
scipes |
þāra |
scipa |
Dat. |
þǣm |
scipe |
þǣm |
scipum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
scipe |
þǣm |
scipum |
Acc. |
þæt |
scip |
þā |
scipu |
|
|
And long-stemmed monosyllabes/short-stemmed disyllables take these endings:
Strong Neuter Noun: Hūs - House |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
þæt |
hūs |
þā |
hūs |
Gen. |
þæs |
hūses |
þāra |
hūsa |
Dat. |
þǣm |
hūse |
þǣm |
hūsum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
hūse |
þǣm |
hūsum |
Acc. |
þæt |
hūs |
þā |
hūs |
|
|
Note that the only difference between the two declensions is that u is in the neuter plural for short-stemmed monosyllables and long-stemmed disyllables; but in long-stemmed disyllables and short-stemmed mono-syllables, the u is not there.
All of the rules for the masculine strong sub-declensions occur (e.g. æ in singular and a in plural; h after a vowel is lost before declension suffixes, and the vowel is lengthened; and h after a consonant is lost, and the first stem-vowel is lengthened) in the neuter strong declension, too.
Weak neuter nouns are almost exactly the same as weak masculine nouns in declension, but singular nominative and accusative has -e instead of -a and -an.
Weak Neuter Noun: Ēare - Ear |
|
Article |
Singular |
Article |
Plural |
Nom. |
þæt |
ēare |
þā |
ēaran |
Gen. |
þæs |
ēaranan |
þāra |
ēarena |
Dat. |
þǣm |
ēaran |
þǣm |
ēarum |
Inst. |
þȳ/þon |
ēaran |
þǣm |
ēarum |
Acc. |
þæt |
ēare |
þā |
ēaran |
|
|
There is only one other noun belonging to this declension: ēage - eye.
A noun's case tells what it is doing in a sentence. And when there is an appositive phrase, it matches the noun to which it refers. E.g., "I gave it to John, the new president - Ic geaf hit Iohanne, þǣm nīwan foresittende." John and "the new president" are both in the dative case.
Subject of a sentence, or the object of copula verbs (bēon, wesan, weorðan). This is the dictionary form of a noun.
Case of possession, and the object of some prepositions and adjectives. This tells whose thing a specific thing is. E.g., "cyninges þorp" - "king's village."
Case of giving, telling to/for whom something is done, the benificiary of some action. E.g., Ic geaf him þæt - I gave him that. It is also the case of many prepositions.
Case telling "by what means" something is done. It is inflected in nouns like the dative, but with an adjective describing the noun, the difference is made clearer (or with an article - þȳ or þon). E.g., þȳ hamore slōg hē þone cyning - with the hammer he hit the king.
Direct Object of a sentence, and the object of some prepositions (wiþ, etc.). It is uninflected in masculine/neuter nouns, but has an -e ending with most feminine nouns.
It is also used to show duration of length or time, e.g. "I ran a mile," "I waited an hour," "I'll be running the whole length of the school," etc.
These are those words that come before a noun, describing what kind of noun it is. There are two ways to decline an adjective, either strong or weak. A Strong adjective is that which stands alone, preceded by no article or possessive. A Weak adjective is that which is preceded by se/sēo/þæt, mīn/þīn, etc.
- NOTE: eall, genōg, manig, and ōðer are always declined strong. You may find "Se ōðer mann" instead of *"Se ōðera mann."
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: glæd |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
glæd |
glæd |
gladu |
Gen. |
glades |
glades |
glædre |
Dat. |
gladum |
gladum |
glædre |
Inst. |
glade |
glade |
glædre |
Acc. |
glædne |
glæd |
glade |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: glæd |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
glade |
gladu |
glada |
Gen. |
glædra |
glædra |
glædra |
Dat. |
gladum |
gladum |
gladum |
Inst. |
gladum |
gladum |
gladum |
Acc. |
glade |
gladu |
glada |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blind |
blind |
blind |
Gen. |
blindes |
blindes |
blindre |
Dat. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindre |
Inst. |
blinde |
blinde |
blindre |
Acc. |
blindne |
blind |
blinde |
|
Strong Adjective Plural Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blinde |
blind |
blinda |
Gen. |
blindra |
blindra |
blindra |
Dat. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Inst. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Acc. |
blinde |
blind |
blinda |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: hēah |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
hēah |
hēah |
hēa |
Gen. |
hēas |
hēas |
hēare |
Dat. |
hēa(u)m |
hēa(u)m |
hēare |
Inst. |
hēa |
hēa |
hēare |
Acc. |
hēane |
hēah |
hēa |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: hēah |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
hēa |
hēa |
hēa |
Gen. |
hēara |
hēara |
hēara |
Dat. |
hēa(u)m |
hēa(u)m |
hēa(u)m |
Inst. |
hēa(u)m |
hēa(u)m |
hēa(u)m |
Acc. |
hēa |
hēa |
hēa |
|
- Adjectives like glæd, have æ followed by one consonant, and change the æ to a with endings beginning in a vowel (-es, -u, etc.). Also declined like glæd are all adjectives ending in -lic and -sum.
- Adjectives like blind, have a short vowel followed by two consonants (swift, scearp), or a long vowel followed by one consonant (wāc, frōd). Also declined like blind are all adjectives ending in -cund, -feald, -fæst, and -lēas. The possessives mīn, þīn, sīn, ūser, uncer, ēower, incer are declined like blind also.
- Adjectives like hēah, ending in -h, drop the -h before any ending beginning in a vowel, and drop that vowel. Thus, where glæd has gladu, glades, hēah will have hēa, hēas.
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: manig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
manig |
manig |
manig |
Gen. |
maniges |
maniges |
manigre |
Dat. |
manigum |
manigum |
manigre |
Inst. |
manige |
manige |
manigre |
Acc. |
manigne |
manig |
manige |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: manig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
manige |
manig |
maniga |
Gen. |
manigra |
manigra |
manigra |
Dat. |
manigum |
manigum |
manigum |
Inst. |
manigum |
manigum |
manigum |
Acc. |
manige |
manig |
maniga |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: hālig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
hālig |
hālig |
hāligu |
Gen. |
hālges |
hālges |
hāligre |
Dat. |
hālgum |
hālgum |
hāligre |
Inst. |
hālge |
hālge |
hāligre |
Acc. |
hāligne |
blind |
hālge |
|
Strong Adjective Plural Declension: hālig |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
hālge |
hālig |
hālga |
Gen. |
hāligra |
hāligra |
hāligra |
Dat. |
hālgum |
hālgum |
hālgum |
Inst. |
hālgum |
hālgum |
hālgum |
Acc. |
hālge |
hālig |
hālga |
|
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: wilde |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
wilde |
wilde |
wildu |
Gen. |
wildes |
wildes |
wildre |
Dat. |
wildum |
wildum |
wildre |
Inst. |
wilde |
wilde |
wildre |
Acc. |
wildne |
wilde |
wilde |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: wilde |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
wilde |
wildu |
wilda |
Gen. |
wildra |
wildra |
wildra |
Dat. |
wildum |
wildum |
wildum |
Inst. |
wildum |
wildum |
wildum |
Acc. |
wilde |
wildu |
wilda |
|
- Adjectives like manig, with a short stem (one short vowel and one consonant, plus an ending with one short vowel and one consonant, -ig, -od, -en, -or, -ol, -oþ, -er), simply add the endings to the adjective, but never add the -u ending.
- Adjectives like hālig, with a long stem (one short vowel and two consonants, or a long vowel with one consonant, plus an ending with one short vowel and one consonant, -ig, -od, -en, -or, -ol, -oþ, -er), will syncopate the second stem vowel (hālges, ēacne, hǣðna) in endings beginning with vowels. These adjectives will always add the -u ending (but won't syncopate in that case).
- Adjectives ending in -e, such as wilde, will always have the u-ending in the feminine singular and neuter plural. They simply drop the -e, and add endings as necessary.
U-Ending and Weak Adjectives
adihtan
Strong Adjective Singular Declension: gearu |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
gearu |
gearu |
gearu |
Gen. |
gearwes |
gearwes |
gearore |
Dat. |
gearwum |
gearwum |
gearore |
Inst. |
gearwe |
gearwe |
gearore |
Acc. |
gearone |
gearu |
gearwe |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: gearu |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
gearwe |
gearu |
gearwa |
Gen. |
gearora |
gearora |
gearora |
Dat. |
gearwum |
gearwum |
gearwum |
Inst. |
gearwum |
gearwum |
gearwum |
Acc. |
gearwe |
gearu |
gearwa |
|
Weak Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blinda |
blinde |
blinde |
Gen. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Dat. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Inst. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Acc. |
blindan |
blinde |
blindan |
|
Weak Plural Adjective Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
Gen. |
blindra |
blindra |
blindra |
Dat. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Inst. |
blindum |
blindum |
blindum |
Acc. |
blindan |
blindan |
blindan |
|
Weak Declension with definite article and possessive pronoun:
Weak Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
se blinda |
þæt blinde |
sēo blinde |
Gen. |
þæs blindan |
þæs blindan |
þǣre blindan |
Dat. |
þǣm blindan |
þǣm blindan |
þǣre blindan |
Inst. |
þȳ blindan |
þȳ blindan |
þǣre blindan |
Acc. |
þone blindan |
þæt blinde |
þā blindan |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þā blindan |
þā blindan |
þā blindan |
Gen. |
þāra blindra |
þāra blindra |
þāra blindra |
Dat. |
þǣm blindum |
þǣm blindum |
þǣm blindum |
Inst. |
þǣm blindum |
þǣm blindum |
þǣm blindum |
Acc. |
þā blindan |
þā blindan |
þā blindan |
|
Weak Adjective Singular Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
mīn blinda |
mīn blinde |
mīn blinde |
Gen. |
mīnes blindan |
mīnes blindan |
mīnre blindan |
Dat. |
mīnum blindan |
mīnum blindan |
mīnre blindan |
Inst. |
mīne blindan |
mīne blindan |
mīnre blindan |
Acc. |
mīnne blindan |
mīn blinde |
mīne blindan |
|
Strong Plural Adjective Declension: blind |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
mīne blindan |
mīn blindan |
mīna blindan |
Gen. |
mīnra blindra |
mīnra blindra |
mīnra blindra |
Dat. |
mīnum blindum |
mīnum blindum |
mīnum blindum |
Inst. |
mīnum blindum |
mīnum blindum |
mīnum blindum |
Acc. |
mīne blindan |
mīn blindan |
mīna blindan |
|
- Adjectives ending in -u change it to -o- before -re, -ra, -ne. The -u changes to -w- before endings beginning with a vowel.
- Adjectives occur in the weak declension after se, sēo, þæt, þes, þēos, þis, mīn, þīn, sīn, etc.
- Adjectives like glæd will have -a- throughout the weak declension.
We did not have Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0) in Old English. Rather, they used Roman numerals (i, v, x, c, d, m...). For the purposes of this website, it is requested that all pages use Arabic numerals for ease of reading.
The cardinal numbers are:
- ān; forma
- twēgen, twā, tū; ōðer
- þrīe, þrēo; þridda
- fēower; fēorða
- fīf; fīfta
- six; sixta
- seofon; seofoða
- eahta; eahtoða
- nigon; nigoða
- tīene; tēoða
- endleofan; endleofta
- twelf; twelfta
- þrēotīene; þrēotēoða
- fēowertīene; fēowertēoða
- fīftīene; fīftēoða
- sixtīene; sixtēoða
- seofontīene; seofontēoða
- eahtatīene; eahtatēoða
- nigontīene; nigontēoða
- twentig; twentigoða
- ān and twentig; ān and twentigoða
- 30. þrītig; þrītigoða
- 40. fēowertig; fēowertigoða
- 50. fīftig; fīftigoða
- 60. sixtig; sixtigoða
- 70. hundseofontig; hundseofontigoða
- 80. hundeahtatig; hundeahtatigoða
- 90. hundnigontig; hundnigontigoða
- 100. hund, hundred, hundtēontig; hundtēontigoða
- 110. hundendleofantig; hundendleofantigoða
- 120. hundtwelftig; hundtwelftigoða
- 200. tū hund
- 300. þrēo hund
- 1000. þūsend
Simply use the Arabic numbers when writing a number. In regards to declension, only the numbers 1, 2, and 3 decline with the noun. The others do not decline except when acting as a noun themselves (mid 4 manna, but mid fēowerum).
- Numbers 1, 2, 3 decline with the noun, just like any other adjective (in þrim dagum).
- Numbers 4 - 12 simply precede the noun, just like modern English (fēower þegnas, seofon mōnþas).
- Decades (20, 30,...90) take a noun in the genitive, or in agreement (fīftig manna, on fēowertigum gēarum).
Declension of 1, 2, 3 in Old English
adihtan
- Note that the numeral 1 could decline strong or weak, and in the weak declension, could be plural.
Strong Singular Declension of Numeral: One |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
ān |
ān |
ān |
Gen. |
ānes |
ānes |
ānre |
Dat. |
ānum |
ānum |
ānre |
Inst. |
āne |
āne |
ānre |
Acc. |
ǣnne |
ān |
āne |
|
Weak Plural Declension of Numeral: ān |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
ānan |
ānan |
ānan |
Gen. |
ānra |
ānra |
ānra |
Dat. |
ānum |
ānum |
ānum |
Inst. |
ānum |
ānum |
ānum |
Acc. |
ānan |
ānan |
ānan |
|
Declension of Numeral: 2 |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
twēgen |
tū |
twā |
Gen. |
twēga |
twēga |
twēga |
Dat. |
twǣm |
twǣm |
twǣm |
Inst. |
twǣm |
twǣm |
twǣm |
Acc. |
twēgen |
tū |
twā |
|
Declension of Numeral: 3 |
|
Masculine |
Neuter |
Feminine |
Nom. |
þrīe |
þrēo |
þrēo |
Gen. |
þrēora |
þrēora |
þrēora |
Dat. |
þrim |
þrim |
þrim |
Inst. |
þrim |
þrim |
þrim |
Acc. |
þrīe |
þrēo |
þrēo |
|
For ordinal numbers, simply write the number and the declension afterwards: se 6a mann, þǣm 3an mann, etc.
The ordinal numbers, for the purposes of the wiki, are:
forma, ōðer, þridda, fēorþa, fīfta, sixta, seofoða, eahtoða, nigoða, tēoða, endleofoða, twelfta, þrēotēoða (fēower~, etc.), twentigoða (þrītigoða, etc.), hundtēontigoða (100th), hundendleofontigoða (110th), hundtwelftigoða (120th).