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Free Anglo-Saxon dictionary tool
Free Old English Translator
An Old English translator maps Modern English headwords to the language of Anglo-Saxon England. This bidirectional lookup favors transparent dictionary forms and grammar notes over invented, context-free sentence translations.
Runs locallyNo signupBidirectionalNo invented words
Dictionary result
Copy-ready lookup
4 of 4 words matched · 100% coverage
Matched dictionary entries
Base forms and learner notes show why a word is only a starting point for a grammatical translation.
King Cyning
nounKing or ruler.
and and
conjunctionAnd.
Related forms: ond
queen cwēn
nounQueen or noble woman.
Related forms: cwēne
friend frēond
nounFriend; historically a present-participle formation related to love.
How to use the Old English translator
- 1Choose a directionSelect Modern to Old English or Old to Modern English.
- 2Enter headwordsType one or more common words, or start from a curated example.
- 3Review the matchesRead base-form, part-of-speech, variant, and grammar notes for each result.
- 4Copy or reverseCopy the result or send it directly into the reverse lookup.
Dictionary-first
Results use normalized headwords so a useful lookup is not mistaken for an inflected sentence.
Uncertainty stays visible
Case, gender, number, dialect, and meaning differences appear in the learner notes.
Private and deterministic
Every lookup runs in your browser from the same curated lexicon, with no text upload.
Lexicon scope and sources
The curated forms are cross-checked as learner headwords against the University of Texas Linguistics Research Center's Old English lessons and base-form glossary, with Bosworth–Toller as a deeper historical dictionary reference. Macrons are modern editorial aids; manuscripts and dialects vary. Use a specialist dictionary and grammar before publishing a tattoo, motto, academic translation, or reconstructed sentence.
Old English translator FAQ
What is an Old English translator?
An Old English translator looks up Modern English words in the language used in Anglo-Saxon England from roughly the fifth through eleventh centuries. Reliable full-sentence translation also requires grammar, inflection, context, and dialect choices.
Is Old English the same as Shakespearean English?
No. Shakespeare wrote Early Modern English around five centuries after the Old English period. Old English has substantially different vocabulary, spelling, sounds, and inflection.
How accurate is this Modern English to Old English tool?
It is accurate for the curated headwords and scoped phrases it lists, with normalized West Saxon forms and learner notes. It deliberately leaves unknown words unchanged instead of fabricating a translation.
Why can one English word have several Old English forms?
Old English nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and verbs change form for grammatical case, gender, number, person, tense, and mood. Dialect and manuscript spelling also vary.
Does the translator upload my text?
No. Lookup, reverse search, copying, and coverage calculations run locally in your browser.
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