{from our Medieval Feast in 2011}
Hear ye, hear ye, good lords and ladies! This Friday, we shall gather together to celebrate a most joyous eventide in feast, song, and other entertainments. In preparation for this merry party, we offer the following Old English Tutorial (adapted from the Riverdale Kiwanis Medieval Faire) to instruct thee and thine family in how to speak in a way befitting the occasion, if thou dost desire:
DON'T SAY… |
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INSTEAD SAY YE THIS… |
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Do you know the time? |
Do / Dost |
Dost thou know the time? |
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You are very pretty. |
You are / Thou art |
Thou art very pretty. |
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Your pants are purple. |
Your / Thy |
Thy breeches are purple. |
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You are quite handsome. |
You / Ye |
Ye are quite handsome. |
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I have been admiring you. |
You / Thee |
I have been admiring thee. |
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Where is the restroom? |
Where / Whither |
Whither is the privy? |
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Let's go there. |
There / Thither |
Let us go thither. |
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Come here. |
Here / Hither |
Come hither. |
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Do as you will. |
Will / Wilt |
Do as thou wilt. |
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I'll see you later. |
Later / Anon |
I will see thee anon. |
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Perhaps we'll meet then. |
Perhaps / Perchance |
Perchance we will meet then. |
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Maybe I'll bring the drinks. |
Maybe / Mayhap or Belike |
Mayhap I will fetch the ale. |
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What do you say? |
You say / Say you |
What say you? |
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Alright! Cool! |
Alright / Splendid |
'Tis most splendid! |
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He has nice clothes. |
Has / Hath |
He hath fine garments. |
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Good morning, ma'am. |
Morning / Morrow |
Good morrow, my lady. |
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Good day, sir. |
Day / Den |
Good den, my lord. |
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Good evening, bud. |
Evening / Eventide or E'en |
Good e'en, sirrah. |
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Get lost, bud. |
Bud / Sirrah |
Make thy leave, sirrah. |
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Greetings ladies / gentlemen. |
Gentlemen / Good Gentles |
Greetings, good gentles/ladies. |
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It's quite beautiful. |
Beautiful / Beauteous |
It is most beauteous. |
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Yes, I think so. |
Yes / Yea or Aye |
Yea, methinks so. |
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No, I don't think so. |
No / Nay |
Nay, methinks not. |
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Why do you need it? |
Why / Wherefore |
Wherefore needest it thou? |
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I ask you. |
Ask You / Bid You |
I bid you. Or, I bid THEE, if addressing one person. |
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Please, how much does it cost? |
Please / Prithee or Pray |
Prithee, what is the cost? |
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Thank you, you are kind. |
Thank You / Grammarcy |
Grammarcy, YE are most kind. |
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I think we're late. |
I Think / Methinks |
Methinks that we are late. |
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I swear! |
Swear / Troth |
By my troth! |
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Truly, that's a fact. |
Truly / Verily |
Verily, it is so. |
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A long time ago. |
Long / Goodly Length |
A goodly length in times past. |
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Hey King |
Addressing the King |
Your Majesty or Majesty |
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Hey Queen |
Addressing the Queen |
Your Highness or Your Grace |
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The Queen is coming. |
Speaking of the Queen |
Her Grace cometh. |
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Good afternoon, Duke. |
Addressing a Duke/Duchess |
Good den, Your Grace. |
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Good evening, sir. |
Addressing Nobility |
Good eventide, My Lord. |
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Good morning, ma'am. |
Addressing Nobility |
Good morrow, My Lady. |
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Hello, Constable (or Knight). |
Addressing Officeholders |
Your Honor (or Your Worship) |
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Good Morning |
Addressing Well-Dressed |
Good Morning Sir (or Mistress) |
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My friend, how are you? |
Addressing an Equal |
Goodman/wife, how farest thou? |
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Come here, kid. |
Addressing Children |
Come hith |
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What's your name, kid? |
Addressing Children |
What be thy name? |
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Waitress, drinks all around! |
Addressing Serving Woman |
Wench, beakers all around! |
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I don't know him. |
Don't know / Know Not |
I know not that name. |
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I have nothing. |
Nothing / Naught |
I have but naught. |
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Goodbye, my friend. |
Goodbye / Fare Thee Well |
Fare thee well, My Goodman. |
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Goodbye, ladies. |
Goodbye / Adieu |
Adieu, My Good Ladies. |
Embellish thy language! If one word wouldst do, be thou sure to use two!
Pepper thy speech by inserting “right”, “well”, and “most” whitherto possible!
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