How to Learn Old English

Last Updated: January 17, 2023 References

Old English is the language used by the Germanic peoples that lived in parts of what is now the United Kingdom between the 5th and 11th centuries, C.E. Although Old English is no longer a spoken language, many texts still exist which are written in it. Some academics and other professionals, such as historians or archivists, may need Old English in order to do their work. Or, you may need to learn Old English to complete classwork or simply be interested in studying the language as a window to the past.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Teaching Yourself Old English

1
Learn about special characters. Old English includes many of the same letters that we use today, but it also features some unusual characters. Become familiar with these characters so that you will know how to pronounce them, but bear in mind that despite the fact that "true Ænglisc," or "true Old-English," used Runes, rather than the Latin script, Runes were dropped before the Middle-English Era in favor of the Latin Script, though modified, as you will see next. One other letter, the Medial(Long-)Es was added by the time of the Early-Modern English, otherwise known as its derogatory name: "King-James-English;" it has been added to the following list so that you may recognize it, when reading old English texts:
- Ææ = this is an Æsh and it sounds like the “a” in “hat(American Pronunciation)”
- Ðð =this is an Ed and it sounds like the “th” in “weather,” or "the;" Eth fell out of favor, in place of thorn -- eth was created by drawing a line through a "d," and in writing, you can either write a "d," and draw a line through it, that it looks like a "đ(d-stroke,)" or the classic way, as a backward six with a stroke through it
- Þþ = this is a Þorne and it sounds like the "th" in "thorn," however the previous letter, eth, fell out of favor and was replaced with either "th" or thorn, by the time of Middle English, soon thorn suffered the same fate...
- ſ ʃ = this is a "Medial-'S,'" or "Long-'S.'" The Long-Es was created as an equal to the primary form of the Greek letter Sigma; the Medial-Es functions exactly the same as the Final-Es, which replaced the Medial-Es -- "stress," by in the time of Early-Modern/Late-Middle English was written: "ſtreſs," the word "blessings" was written: "bleſſings;" as you have probably figured out, the Capital-'S' was the same, and the Lowercaſe-'s' were the same as they are today -- "s" only came at the end of a word, it is a "Final-Es." The "ʃ," not to be confused with the African Esh(Sʃ,) was the design of the Medial-Es not common in English, this design was mostly used in Germany.
2
Use a textbook. A textbook on Old English can help you to learn more about the language as you read Beowulf. There are many different textbooks on Old English available and consulting the websites of different scholars who teach the language can help you identify different options that might work for you. Some areas you’ll want any textbook to cover are the Old English:
- Alphabet
- Pronunciation
- Vocabulary
- Sentence structure and grammar
- Word forms
Advertisement
3
Start reading Beowulf. Beowulf is well-known and easy to find, so this will be the best text to start with as you attempt to teach yourself Old English. Find a copy that includes both the Old English text and the modern English translation.
- You may find it helpful to go line by line. Read the Old English version and then look at its modern English translation. Many line by line or word by word translations are also available online.
- You can even find a copy of Beowulf online. Websites for universities such as Oxford or the University of Texas have Beowulf and other Old English texts available.^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
4
Keep a glossary available. Chances are that you’ll run into words in your textbook and other Old English readings that you don’t understand. Having a glossary at your fingertips can help you understand the text more effectively and quickly.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Purchase an Old English dictionary or glossary in a bookstore.
- Search for online glossaries. Many universities, such as the University of Pennsylvania, offer internet dictionaries and glossaries in Old English.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
5
Watch for kennings. Kennings are common features of Old English poetry and there are more than a thousand kennings in Beowulf. Kennings take two words from the Old English language and combine them to create a new word that means something different. Kennings were a way for poets to play with language in interesting ways.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- For example, in Beowulf, the ocean is referred to as “hwælweg” which translates to “whale road” and the human body is referred to as ”bānhūs” which translates to bone house.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Taking a Class in Old English

1
Sit in on a class at a local university. Although not common, many colleges and universities offer classes in Old English because young scholars need the language to do their work. Seeing if any of your local learning institutions have classes in Old English can help you find a beginner class or any other level you may need.
- Check university websites to see if they offer courses in Old English. You may find that English, history, archaeology, or other humanities and social science departments offer Old English classes.
- Find faculty who specialize in English literature from that period. They can often tell you when and where courses are offered.
- Figure out if you can sit in, or audit, Old English courses without enrolling at the university. You may first want to contact the professor to inquire if she minds having someone audit the course. Once you have her approval, contact the university registrar to see how you audit a course. You may want to ask if you have to pay anything or if you can just sit in on the lectures.
2
Take an online class. Some universities or other institutions may offer online courses in Old English. Conduct research online and see what your options for online courses in the language are. If a local university or institution in your area doesn’t offer an Old English, consider an online course from an accredited institution like the University of Texas or the University of Calgary.
- See what the requirements for registering for the class are. You may be able to participate without paying any fees.
- Try and find a course from a university or other institution of learning because they are more likely to have useful sources to help you successfully master Old English.
3
Hire a private tutor. In some cases, professors or even graduate students may be able to give you private lessons in Old English. Realize that this may be expensive, but an excellent way to learn the language.
- Contact professors in your local area to see if they teach private lessons in Old English. If not, see if they know of other professors or graduate students who may be able to offer a private course.
- Be prepared to pay at least $20/ hour. Old English is not a common language and using the time of a scholar to teach you takes away from their time. Ask what they would expect as payment and see if you can negotiate if it seems too high.
4
Join an Old English study group or forum. There are enthusiasts for Old English around the world, many of whom stay in touch and expand their knowledge with study groups and online forums.^{[5]
X
Research source} Inquire if you can join one of these study groups or online forum to learn the language and network with others who have this common interest.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Be aware that some of these groups require registration or subscription, which means that you may need to send an email stating why you’d like to join. You also may need to commit to participating regularly as well.^{[7]
  X
  Research source}
- Keep in mind these forums may also provide you with other resources or opportunities to learn old English.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tackling the Challenge of Old English

1
Recognize the difficulty of Old English. You may recognize certain basic words in Old English, but a written passage may be impossible to comprehend for a Modern English speaker. Just because Old English is an early version of our modern language doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily grasp it quickly, and understanding this can help the ways in which you approach learning it.
- Learn that the some of the biggest differences come in phonology—Old English is very guttural, much more complex grammar based on proto-Germanic languages, and the largely Germanic vocabulary. Modern English is a much more Latin-based language as a result of the Norman invasion in 1066.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}
2
Treat Old English as a foreign language. Old English will be a foreign language to Modern English speakers. You can adopt many of the strategies commonly used for learning foreign languages to studying Old English.
- Be prepared to learn everything from the start, including the writing system, grammar, and vocabulary.
- Realize that if you speak German, one of the Scandinavian languages, or any of their dialects, that you may be able to recognize more of the Old English vocabulary and grammatical structures.
3
Be prepared for a challenge. Learning any new language is a difficult task, and one that requires constant practice. Do not be frustrated by these inevitable challenges, and instead stay focused on your goal.
- Recognize that mastering another language usually takes 5-7 years depending on a variety of factors including your abilities and how much you practice.^{[10]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  Nonprofit organization providing innovative, effective educational resources for educators designed to support student achievement
  Go to source} Because there are fewer people who understand and speak Old English, this may not give you the chance to practice it very often and may prolong the process of acquiring it.
- Remember to keep practicing reading texts and speaking whenever you get a chance. This can help you master Old English more quickly.
4
Look for ways to make Old English fun. Whether you are studying Old English for a school requirement or simply out of curiosity, find ways to make the learning process fun and enjoyable. Studies have shown that you are more likely to excel at learning if you enjoy it.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- Take the process as an opportunity to learn something that other people can’t understand. For example, if you and a friend can both speak some Old English, it can help you have “secret” conversations.
- Immerse yourself in the history of early England to help you visualize what texts like Beowulf might have looked like.
- Ask a friend to quiz your knowledge. This can help you learn and be fun for both of you as she laughs at how strange the words sound.

Community Q&A

Question

Would modern English speakers likely have great difficulty in understanding old English?

Community Answer

Yes. The language is completely different, with a different pronunciation of letters (gif (if) is pronounced as yif or yiff). The written language was mainly based on the sound, meaning there are several words for the same words. Old English had different letters.
Question

How do I analyze the Old English poems?

Menna Nabil

Community Answer

Making an analysis requires you to read about the setting, author, and age of the poem to better understand the inner meanings and messages behind words. Start with knowing more about the age; the political and social conditions for instance. Then move forward to read more about the author: his life, his previous writings, his beliefs, and the motives behind writing this poem. Understanding the setting will help as well.