62 Old English Words We Should Use Again

Exploring Old English words is always a never-ending game of fun. Not only does Old English provide a window into a faraway past, but it also changes our perspective on it. We often imagine our ancestors as completely preoccupied with wars, famine, and disease, but as it turns out, they, too, liked to stay in bed late! According to a 16th-century word, such a person was known as a ‘slugabed’. But is this an Old English word or just an old English word? And does the difference even matter? Let’s find out.

Top 10 Old English Words for Everyday Use

1. freond – ‘friend’ in Old English; pronounced “freh-ond”
2. ic – ‘I’ in Old English; pronounced “ich”
3. thou – ‘you’ in Old English; pronounced “thoo”
4. gea – ‘yes’ in Old English; pronounced “yea”
5. lufu – ‘love’ in Old English; pronounced “loovuh”
6. maegth – ‘family’ in Old English, pronounced “magth”
7. waeter – ‘water’ in Old English, pronounced “water”
8. lif – ‘life’ in Old English, pronounced “leef”
9. fyr – ‘fire’ in Old English, pronounced “feer”
10. treow – ‘tree’ in Old English, pronounced “trehow”

Before we move on to the next topic of discussion for Old English, there are a few clarifications we need to make.

Firstly, all the Old English words in this article have been adapted with spellings that are easier to read in Modern English. This involves replacing special characters like “ǣ” (long “a” sound), “æ” (pronounced like “a” in “cat”), “þ” (thorn, pronounced “th”), and “ð” (eth, also pronounced “th”) with their Modern English equivalents. A great resources for further reading and exploration on that is the Bosworth Toller’s dictionary.

Secondly, in the case of pronouns like “you” and “I”, you need to know that Old English, much like Latin, was a bit more complicated than Modern English. Thus, the pronouns depended on whether you were addressing one or more persons, as well as the grammatical case. For example, singural “you” in Old English had four different forms:

• thou (subject case)
• thee (direct object case)
• thy (possessive adjective)
• thine (possessive pronoun)

The Beauty of Old English Words

The beauty of Old English words comes not necessarily from their form but from their ability to connect us with our roots. Speaking the same words uttered by our ancestors hundreds of years ago has a special effect unlike anything else.

Take Beowulf as an example. This epic poem, written in Old English over a thousand years ago, is one of the oldest surviving works of English literature. Though much of its language may seem foreign to us today, certain words still carry echoes of the past. Words like ‘wyrd’ (fate), ‘beorn’ (warrior) and ‘medu’ (mead) evoke a time when people told stories around the fire. A time when they fought, but also lived life to the fullest.

Today, English is still beautiful, but it has become faster and more efficient. Designed for quick communication rather than deep expression. We crave more abbreviations, more shortcuts, slang and corporate jargon. But what if we slowed down? What if we reclaimed Old English words that make us feel something, that remind us of the richness and rhythm language once had?

Maybe it’s time to bring some Old English back. Not just into our vocabulary, but into the way we experience the world.

Old English vs. Modern English

So, what is the difference between Old English words and old English words? First, we need to define what Old English actually means.

Old English is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and parts of Scotland between c. 450 and 1150 by the Anglo-Saxons. It developed after the collapse of Roman Britain in the early 5th century and was heavily influenced by Germanic languages.

Historians agree that the transition into what is now known as Middle English began after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the upper classes replaced Old English with Anglo-Norman. Though this shift only lasted a few centuries, it had a lasting impact on the development of the English language as we know it today.

English Language Timeline

1. Old English (cc. 450-1150) – the language of Beowulf
2. Middle English (1150-1500) – the language of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tale
3. Early Modern English (1500-1700) – the language of Shakespeare
4. Late Modern English (1700-present) – today’s English

Many people mistakenly refer to Shakespearean English as “Old English,” but it’s important to note that Old English would be almost unrecognizable to modern speakers. And while some of Shakespeare’s words may seem old to us in 2025, they are not, in fact, from the Old English period.

Thus, Old English words are words from the Old English language, used between 450 and 1150 AD. ‘Plain’ old English words, on the other hand, are simply outdated words from later centuries that have fallen out of use.

Why We Should Revive Old English Words

The English language is constantly bombarded with new words from every generation. So why not bring back some old words for a change instead of inventing yet another slang term?

Sure, slang is cool, but not as cool as… elflock, for example! This term is obviously obsolete today (probably because we stopped believing in elves), but in the late 1500s, it was used to describe a tangled lock of hair. Back then, people believed that fairies or elves knotted children’s hair as they played in it during the night. A little bit of that magic wouldn’t hurt nowadays, right?

We’re exaggerating for the sake of argument, but you get the point! Whether they come from the Old English, Middle English, or Early Modern English period, many forgotten words deserve a comeback. Some for their beauty, and some simply because they’re super fun! Read on to discover both.

Old English Words About Feelings

These Old English words about feelings might just be the most beautiful thing you’ll read today. As it turns out, the Anglo-Saxons had a surprisingly rich vocabulary for describing emotions. Many of these words capture feelings we still experience today, but struggle to express in a single word.

Here are 15 words that prove why Old English deserves a comeback.

1. Uhtcearu: The anxiety or sorrow one feels lying in bed before dawn worrying about the day ahead.
2. Ealuscerwen: Literally ‘deprivation of ale’, but it could have been used metaphorically to express distress or an ominous loss of communal joy (although inferred rather than explicitly recorded).
3. Ymbhoga: A feeling of deep anxiety, concern or worry about the future.
4. Friðu (Frith): A profound sense of peace, protection and harmony within a community.
5. Wundorlīc: A feeling of wonder mixed with fear (not always explicit) or the awe experienced when seeing something both marvelous and unsettling.
6. Heortbealo: Sorrow, grief or profound emotional pain that weighs upon the heart.
7. Hyht: A profound sense of hope, expectation or confident anticipation. It reflects the joyful emotion experienced when looking forward to positive outcomes or fulfillment of desires.
8. Wæfre (Waefre): Describes a feeling of restlessness or wandering in both body and spirit; the inability to find peace or rest.
9. Sorglufu: A complex emotion of love mixed with sorrow; the bittersweet feeling when love is accompanied by sadness.
10. Mōdsefa: The inner self. The emotional, intellectual and spiritual core of a person or the feelings and thoughts that define one’s character.
11. Felahrēow: A feeling of compassionate grief over someone else’s suffering.
12. Æfþunca (Aefthunca): A feeling of deep offense or resentment from being wronged or experiencing an injustice.
13. Ofermod: Excessive pride or overbearing arrogance that often precedes a downfall.
14. Wyrd: Fate or destiny, representing the unfolding of events beyond human control, something shaped by both past actions and present choices. It embodies the concept of an inevitable course predetermined by a greater cosmic order.
15. Geþanc (Gethanc): Deep thought, reflection, or the inner workings of the mind. It signifies the process of contemplation, memory, and intellectual deliberation.

Fun & Funky Old English Words

Funny Old English words are probably the reason you’re here, right? And who are we to disappoint? Here are some true Old English words that might just make you smile:

• Bān-hūs: The human body; literally “bone house”.
• Hlōh: Simply means “laughed”. The Old English equivalent of LOL. The first/third-person singular preterite indicative of hlihhan.
• Gafol-fæt: Literally “tax-vat”. A term used for a jug or container to collect payments—imagine humorously calling your savings jar this!
• Belly-timber: Food; nourishment or ‘timber’ for the belly.
• Fæcne: Deceitful or treacherous. Not funny in meaning, but it just sounds funny!
• Handhæbbend: Possessor (someone who owns something); literally “hand-having”.
• Attercop: Spider; literally “poison head”.
• Coccel: Weed or tares among corn; darnel. Again, it sounds quite amusing.
• Smeorðung: Flattery or smooth talk.
• Hlāf-ǣta: Literally “bread-eater”, a term used for a servant or dependent.
• Nēodþearf: Great necessity or urgent need (pronounced ‘need-tharf’).

Coming Soon

Which stage of the English language did Shakespeare write in?

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Bonus: Funny Old English Words

As we’ve already established, the following words aren’t technically from the Old English period. However, they’re still old and undeniably amusing!

1. Mealymouthed – Someone who doesn’t say things directly; inclined to use euphemisms or speak vaguely. (Origin: 16th century)
2. Nincompoop – A foolish or stupid person; simpleton. (Origin: late 17th century)
3. Slugabed – A person who stays in bed long after the usual time for rising; a lazy person. (Origin: 1592)
4. Hagride – From hag, referring to a witch or evil spirit, and ride, alluding to folklore about hags tormenting their victims at night. (Origin: 17th century)
5. Crapulent – From Late Latin crapulentus, meaning related to drunkenness or the sickness following excessive drinking. (Origin: 17th century)
6. Callipygian – Derived from Greek kallipygos (‘beautiful buttocks’), often used in artistic or humorous contexts to describe well-shaped posteriors. (Origin: 1800)
7. Fudgel – Pretending to work while doing absolutely nothing productive. (Origin: 18th century)
8. Ultracrepidarian – Someone who offers opinions beyond their expertise. From Latin ultra (‘beyond’) and crepidarius (‘shoemaker’), referencing the Latin phrase Ne sutor ultra crepidam (“Let the shoemaker not go beyond the shoe”), attributed to Pliny the Elder. (Origin: 1819)
9. Kakistocracy – Government by the least qualified or most corrupt citizens. From Greek kakistos (‘worst’) and kratos(‘rule’). (Origin: 1829)
10. Shivviness – The discomfort of wearing new underwear. (Origin: 19th century)
11. Groke – A Scots term meaning to stare at someone while they eat in hopes of being offered food. (Origin: 16th century)
12. Jargogle – To confuse or jumble up. (Origin: 18th century)
13. Vomitorium – An entrance or exit passage in a Roman amphitheater (from vomere, “to spew forth”); misinterpreted in modern times as a place for vomiting. (Origin: 18th century)
14. Wamblecropt – Feeling sick to the stomach; overcome with nausea or indigestion. (Origin: 17th century)
15. Scobberlotcher – A lazy person; someone who avoids hard work. (Origin: 18th century)
16. Bedswerver – Used by Shakespeare in King Lear to describe an adulterer—one who “swerves” from bed to bed. (Origin: 1606)

Old English Phrases

Our journey through the English language wouldn’t be complete without a proper Old English example. You now know some Old English words, but how did they sound in context? Let’s explore some real phrases from our ancestors.

• Wes hāl – A greeting expressing well-being, literally meaning “Be healthy!” This later evolved into “wassail,” a term associated with toasts and festive drinking.
• Hwæt (Hwat) – A well-known Old English exclamation (famously opening Beowulf) used to grab attention or express shock. It literally translates to “What?!” and could convey surprise, curiosity, or even annoyance.
• Ic drince tō þē (Ik drinke to thee) – A celebratory toast meaning “I drink to you.”
• Þu bist mīn freond (Thu bist min freond) – A warm expression of friendship, translating to “You are my friend.”
• Hwæt hātest þū? (Hwat hatest thu?) – Literally “What are you called?”—an Old English way of asking someone’s name.
• Wyrd bið ful āræd (Wyrd bith ful aræd) – “Fate is fully determined.” A poetic reflection on destiny, emphasizing the inescapable nature of fate.
• Beowulf wæs þræceful and mihtig wið Grendel – “Beowulf was brave and mighty against Grendel.”
• He wax under wolcnum – A striking line from Beowulf, meaning “He grew up under the clouds.”

Ancient English Words and Their Curious Histories

Beyond their meanings, many old or ancient English words tell fascinating stories of daily life and human emotions in a world long gone. Before you go, let’s further explore some such ancient English words and their meanings.

1. Blót-mónaþ – “Sacrifice month”, referring to November, when livestock was slaughtered to provide food and resources for the long winter ahead.
2. Heáfod – “Head”, not just in a physical sense but also as a symbol of leadership and prominence, like in the phrase “heáfod ealra heáhgesceafta” (the chief of all exalted creatures).
3. Gódspel – The Old English word for “gospel”, meaning “good news”, which directly connects to the Christian message of hope and salvation.
4. Rǽdan – “To advise or interpret”, which is related to the modern “read”, highlighting its roots in understanding and providing guidance.
5. Ælan – “To kindle or set on fire”, used not only for lighting lamps but also for burning things like bricks or even metaphorically, to ignite passion or drive.
6. Hlāford – This Old English term for “lord” originally meant “bread-keeper” or “loaf-ward”, reflecting the vital role of providing sustenance and care within a community.
7. Drēam – Surprisingly, this word meant “joy” or “merriment” in Old English, not a dream as we think of today. Over time, the meaning shifted, offering insight into changing cultural values.
8. Beadurōf – Meaning “battle-brave” or “courageous in combat”, this word was often used to describe warriors who displayed exceptional valor in battle.
9. Eorþe – The Old English word for “earth”, used in both literal and poetic senses to describe the ground, the world, or even mortality.
10. Hring – Refers to a “ring” or “circle”, but in Old English poetry, it also symbolized unity or loyalty, especially in the context of ring-giving by kings to honor alliances or bonds.

In conclusion, diving into Old English words is like opening a window into a time long past, offering us a chance to connect with our roots. These words aren’t just old, they’re full of life, meaning, and a rhythm that modern English sometimes lacks. Whether it’s the deep sense of fate in wyrd or the humor in attercop, Old English has a lot to offer. While some of these words may no longer be in everyday use, they still carry echoes from a time when the English language was even richer. So, why not bring them back? By reviving Old English words, we not only enrich our vocabulary but also keep a little piece of history alive in the way we speak today.

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