Free old English translator converts modern text to Shakespearean, medieval, or Anglo-Saxon style instantly. Includes pronoun guide and common phrases.
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Transform your modern English into beautiful Shakespearean, medieval, or Anglo-Saxon style with our free translator. Whether you're writing a creative project, want to speak like Shakespeare, or just having fun with friends, this tool converts 'you' to 'thou,' 'are' to 'art,' and adds authentic archaic vocabulary to your text.
Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) was spoken in England from around 450-1100 AD. However, what most people call 'Old English' online is actually Early Modern English (1500-1700)—the language of Shakespeare and the King James Bible. This translator supports both true Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and the more popular Shakespearean style.
Translation Formula
Old English = Pronouns + Verb Forms + Archaic VocabularyChoose Shakespearean, Medieval, Anglo-Saxon, or Elizabethan to match your needs.
Control how much transformation you want—from subtle to full archaic conversion.
Translate from modern to old English, or decode old text back to modern.
Learn the difference between thee, thou, thy, and thine with our built-in reference.
Add authentic historical dialogue to stories, plays, or games.
Post funny Shakespearean insults or love messages.
Understand how English has evolved over centuries.
Perfect your medieval speech for historical events.
No! Shakespeare wrote in Early Modern English (1564-1616), not Old English. Old English (450-1100 AD) is almost unrecognizable to modern readers. Shakespeare's language, with words like 'thee,' 'thou,' and 'doth,' is from about 400 years later.
'Thou' is the subject form (like 'you' when you're doing the action), and 'thee' is the object form (like 'you' when something is done to you). Example: 'Thou art kind' vs 'I give thee thanks.'
In Shakespearean English: 'I love thee' or 'I do love thee most ardently.' In true Old English: 'Ic lufie þē' (pronounced 'itch loo-fee-eh theh').
'Wherefore' means 'why,' not 'where.' In Romeo and Juliet, 'Wherefore art thou Romeo?' means 'Why are you Romeo?' (Why do you have to be a Montague?), not 'Where are you?'
'Thy' is used before consonants (thy heart, thy sword), while 'thine' is used before vowels (thine eyes, thine honor). Both mean 'your.' Thine can also mean 'yours' at the end of a sentence.
'Doth' is the old third-person singular form of 'do' or 'does.' Example: 'What doth he want?' means 'What does he want?'
'Prithee' is a contraction of 'pray thee,' meaning 'please' or 'I pray you.' Example: 'Prithee, tell me the time.'
This translator is designed for fun and creative use, not academic accuracy. It captures the feel and common vocabulary of historical English, but professional translation of historical texts requires expert knowledge.