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Old English/Appendices/Common phrases
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Translation Phrase IPA CommentsEnglish Englisc ['ɛŋglɪʃ]hello wes hālwesaþ hāl /wɛs hɑːl/['wɛzɑθ hɑːl]; to
one personto more than onegood-bye God þē mid sīe [gɔd ðeː mɪd 'siy] Literal: God be with youplease iċ bidde [ɪʧ 'bɪdːɛ] or understood; see usage note.thank you iċ þancie þē [ɪʧ 'θɑŋkɪɛ ðeː]that one geon [jɔn]how much? hū fela? [huː 'fɛlɑ]yes gēse ['jeːzɛ]no nō [noː]Where is the bathroom? Hwǣr is þæt gangsetl? [hwæːr ɪs θæt 'gɑŋgzɛtl]where do you come from? Hwanon cymst þu? (?) ['hwɑnɔn kʏmst θuː]do you speak English? Spricst þu Englisce? [sprɪkst θuː 'ɛŋglɪʃɛ]I don’t understand Iċ ne understande [ɪʧ nɛ ʊndɛr'stɑndɛ]
No word directly corresponds to the word “please”. Old English expressed the concept of
politeness in a request in various ways.