Old Engli.sh
The Portal to the Language of the Anglo-Saxons
About Old-Engli.sh
The website www.Old-Engli.sh is dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon language. It offers study tools, news on current linguistic research and resource development, a link directory, text editions, trivia articles and more.
About the Anglo-Saxon Language
Old English (OE) is the term used collectively for the earliest dialects of the English language, spoken by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes in England from c. 400-1150. The first OE records date from c. 700 and all in all more than 1,000,000 word tokens in over 400 manuscripts have come down to us. OE prose boasts a wide variety of genres, ranging from legal and religious texts over historical, medical or scientific writing to fiction. The surviving OE poems, such as Beowulf or the Battle of Maldon, are among the finest examples of early Germanic legend and heroic poetry.
About Me
I'm a lecturer in English language and Linguistics at the University of Manchester. I'm maintaining this webpage on the side as a hobby. You can find out more about me by clicking on the My Research tab in the top menu.
Welcome to Old-Engli.sh!
| Frēond dēah feor ge nēah. byð near nyttra. |
| 'A friend is good, far or near. Near is better.' |
(Durham Proverb No. 2, 11th century) |
The latest Old-Engli.sh News |
February 2023 | |
 Old English words with the letter L in front of a head of the god Woden from a 12th century manuscript | |
The Dictionary of Old English (DOE) 2022 Progress Report has been published. Its most important update concerns word entries beginning with the letter L. The report further details events after the pandemic, including a sad passing, many studious exchanges, and solid financing. | |
January 2022 | |
 Logo of the DOE's Adopt-a-Word funding campaign with the Old English for "We thank you." | |
The Dictionary of Old English (DOE) 2020 progress report has been published. It showcases the DOE's achievments, which are all the more impressive given the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Notable updates concern words starting with the letter L as well as new staff members and funding. | |
Old English Trivia of the Day |
Article for Saturday 8 November 2025 | |
 Where does the name 'Wales' come from? | |
The Old English vocabulary had a word for 'foreigner' which is the ancestor of the Modern names Wales and Welsh. | |
Study Anglo-Saxon! |
Old English Language | |
 An Old English dictionary that's easy to use and accurate | |
Old-Engli.sh offers its own dictionary page. This online Old to Modern English glossary is simple, comprehensive and ideally suited for the translation of original Old English texts. | |
Old English Documentaries |
Produced in 2003 | |
 DVD cover of the 2007 DVD release | |
A BBC4 documentary about one of the British Library's most valuable gems: the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. This 60 minute program explores the epic poem, its preservation and re-discovery by Tolkien. | |
Today's Featured Link |
Old English Language Study - Other | |
TOEBI: Teachers of Old English in Britain and Ireland The professional organisation of Teachers of Old English in Britain and Ireland (TOEBI) aims to support the teaching of Old English in British and Irish Universities and to promote the public image of Old English. The organisation offers a yearly newsletter, conferences and study resources. https://www.toebi.org.uk/ |  |
Find here a collection of free,
downloadable Old English text editions and translations, including Apollonius
of Tyre. Ælfric's Catholic Homilies, Biblical Translations, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and
many other texts.
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