Masculine Noun Grammar

Masculine Nouns

Most masculine nouns decline like stán, by simply adding the endings as necessary. This is true of about 99% of masculine nouns, including those with suffixes –dóm, -ing, -ling, and –els.

Case / Number	the/that	this	singular	the/those	these	plural
nominative	se	þes	stán	þá	þás	stánas
genitive	þæs	þisses	stánes	þára	þissa	stána
dative	þǽm	þissum	stáne	þǽm	þissum	stánum
instrumental	þý/þon	þýs/þís	stáne	þǽm	þissum	stánum
Accusative	þone	þisne	stán	þá	þás	stánas

NOTE: Nouns like dæg, with æ and one consonant at the end, change æ to a in the plural [dagas, daga, dagum]. The word mǽg kinsman is irregular, plural either mágas (common), or mǽgas.

NOTE: Nouns like mearh drop the h ending in inflected forms, and lengthen the vowel [méares, méaras].

NOTE: The words scóh shoe, slóh slough, mire, and eoh horse don’t add ending vowels in inflected cases. So, in order, scóh is [scós, scó; pl scós, scóna, scóm, scós], slóh is [slós, sló; pl slós, slóna, slóm, slós], and eoh is [éos, éo; pl éos, éona, éom, éos].

Grammar: Use the instrumental to tell by what something is done: he áswefede synnum his ealdorscipe he destroyed his eldership by sins. Hé ríxað tornum he rules by grief.

VOCAB:

Animals

ǽl – eel

bár – boar

bucc – buck

bulluc – bullock

cocc – cock

earn – eagle

eoh – horse

eolh – elk

fearh – pig, boar

fisc – fish

forsc – frog

fox – fox

géac – cuckoo

hǽring – herring

hengest – horse

hund – dog

hwæl – whale

mearh – horse

seolh – seal (animal)

swertling – titlark

wulf – wolf

People

beorn - warrior

bydel - beadle

ceorl – churl

cniht – boy

cyning – king

dweorg – dwarf

eorl – nobleman

gást – spirit

hæft – captive

hwelp – whelp

mǽg – kinsman

þegn – thane

þéof – thief

wealh – foreigner

wer – man

Concepts

áð – oath

borg - pledge

céap – price

coss – kiss

cræft – skill, strength

cwealm – death

dóm – doom

dream – joy, revelry

fæðm – embrace

fléam – flight

gang – going

gielp – boasting

hlæst – burden

hréam – cry, shout, uproar

torn – grief

þanc – thought

wæstm – growth

Nature

æcer – field

bæst – bast

béam – tree

beorg - hill

blóstm – blossom

bóg - bough

bolt – bolt

bróm – broom (the plant)

clam – mud

clút – patch

cnoll – knoll

codd – cod, husk

cropp – sprout

forst – frost

hægl – hail

hærfest – autumn

healm – haulm

hláf - loaf

horh – dirt

hrím – rime

hýdels – hiding place, cave

mæst – mast

mór – moor

múð – mouth

regn - rain

sealh – willow

slóh – slough, mire

stán – stone

storm – storm

stréam – stream

swamm – fungus

Body

beard – beard

bearm - bosom

bósm – bosom

búc – stomach

cnyttels – sinew

earm – arm

heals – neck

hóf – hoof

lást – footprint

múð – mouth

nægl – nail

Clothing / Accessories

béag – ring, bracelet

gyrdels – girdle

helm – helmet

hring – ring

scóh – shoe

séam – seam

smocc – smock

stæf – staff

wrigels – covering

Buildings / Places

botm – bottom

byrgels – tomb

ealh – temple

geard – yard

hám – home

healh – corner

hwamm – corner

pearroc – park

rúm – room

stól – stool

þorp – farm, village

þrop – farm, village

weall – wall

Other

ád – funeral pile

bát – boat

béod - table

brand – firebrand

brǽð – odor

brǽdels – covering, carpet

brídels – birdle

bydel - beadle

camb – comb

cassuc – sedge

céac – jug

céol – ship

cláð – cloth

cocc – cock

cocer – quiver

dæg – day

fǽtels – vessel, tub

hnæpp – cup

mattuc – mattock

mǽrels – mooring-rope

miercels – mark

nægl – nail

pæð – path

pott – pot

ráp – rope

rǽdels – riddle

récels – incense

sceaft – shaft

sceatt – property, money

smierels – ointment

sticels – goad

weg – way

Activities

campdóm – contest, war

fiscnoð – fishing

fiscoð – fishing

fugelnoð – fowling

fugeloð – fowling

huntoð – hunting

sǽdnoð – sowing

People

æðeling – son of a noble, prince

cnæpling – youth

déorling – favorite, darling

fóstorling – foster-child

gædeling – companion

geongling – youth

gesibling – kinsman

hæftling – prisoner

héafodling – equal, companion

hearding – hero, bold man

ierðling – ploughman

ierming – poor wretch

lýtling – child

needling – slave, bondman

rǽpling – prisoner

þéowling – slave

Objects

bíesting – first milk of a cow after calving

cásering – a coin

cynedóm – kingdom

féorðling – farthing, forth part

hemming – shoe of hide

lǽcedóm – medicine

scilling – shilling

silfring – silver coin

Animals

hǽring – herring

swertling – titlark

Concepts

drohtað – way of life

fréodóm – freedom

langoð – longing, desire

reccenddóm – rule, governance

sweoloð – heat, burning

swícdóm – deceit

swoloð – heat, burning

þéowdóm - service

Other

abbuddóm – abbacy

drúgoð – dryness, drought

ealdordóm – authority

hæftedóm – captivity

hláforddóm – lordship

hýrling – hireling

láréowdóm – office of teacher

Further Types of Masculine Nouns: Ending in E

Case / Number	the/that	this	singular	the/those	these	plural
nominative	se	þes	ende	þá	þás	endas
genitive	þæs	þisses	endes	þára	þissa	senda
dative	þǽm	þissum	ende	þǽm	þissum	endum
instrumental	þý/þon	þýs/þís	ende	þǽm	þissum	endum
Accusative	þone	þisne	ende	þá	þás	endas

Nouns like ende, which already end in e, do not add the e of the singular endings; in plural, the e is dropped, and the plural endings are added.

Nouns like secg, ending in cg, may add an e in the plural [secgeas, secgea, secgeum].

The noun here is declined as such: (heries, herges, heriges), (herie, herge, herige); pl (herias, hergas, herigas, herigeas), (heria, heriga, herigea), (herium, herigum);

Vocab

Animals

bridd – young bird

mycg – midge (small, two-winged gnat-like insect)

People

bæcere – baker

biddere – petitioner

bócere – scribe

costere – tempter

créopere – cripple

dréamere – musician

drincere – drinker

esne – servant

etere – eater

folgere – follower

fugelere – fowler

gítsere – miser

godspellere – evangelist

hearpere – harper

hierde – shepherd

hordere – steward, treasurer

hwǽte – wheat

hwistlere – piper

lǽce – physician

lǽnere – lender

léasere – hypocrite

léogere – liar

leornere – disciple, learner

mæcg – man

mǽðere – mower

mangere – merchant, trader

méce – sword

réafere – robber

reccere – ruler

sǽdere – sower

sangere – singer

scipere – sailor

séamere – tailor

secg – man

sútere – shoe-maker

tollere – tax-gatherer

wrítere - writer

Nature

cnyll – knell

hyll – hill

Other

dynn – noise

ende – end

here – army

hlynn – loud sound

hrycg – back, ridge

wecg – wedge

Further Types of Masculine Nouns: Two-syllable nouns

Case / Number	the/that	this	singular	the/those	these	plural
nominative	se	þes	engel	þá	þás	englas
genitive	þæs	þisses	engles	þára	þissa	engla
dative	þǽm	þissum	engle	þǽm	þissum	englum
instrumental	þý/þon	þýs/þís	engle	þǽm	þissum	englum
Accusative	þone	þisne	engel	þá	þás	englas

Nouns such as engel, with a long stem syllable and a short middle syllable, syncopate in inflected cases.

Vocab:

People

áðum – son-in-law

bealdor – prince

déofol – devil

dryhten – lord

ealdor – prince

þegen - thane

þegn – thane

Things

angel – fish-hook

bíetel – mallet

bolster – bolster

máðum – treasure

nægl – nail

ofen – oven

þýmel – thimble, thumbstall

Animals

fugol – bird, fowl

Nature

ǽled – fire

blóstm – blossom

Body Part

bósm – bosom

finger – finger

Plants

brémel – bramble

Other

botm – bottom

ellen – zeal, courage, strength

engel – angel

fæðm – embrace

hægel – hail

hægl – hail

hagol – hail

hleahtor – laughter

morgen – morning

ófer – shore

regen – rain

regn – rain

wæstm – growth

Further Types of Masculine Nouns: Short-Stems O/O

Case / Number	the/that	this	singular	the/those	these	plural
nominative	se	þes	heofon	þá	þás	heofenas
genitive	þæs	þisses	heofones	þára	þissa	heofena
dative	þǽm	þissum	heofone	þǽm	þissum	heofenum
instrumental	þý/þon	þýs/þís	heofone	þǽm	þissum	heofenum
Accusative	þone	þisne	heofon	þá	þás	heofenas

These nouns, like heofon, decline like stán in the singular, but change the second vowel to e in the plural. These nouns have eo/y/a/ea/o in the first syllable, but will always have an o in the second.

Vocab:

Further Types of Masculine Nouns: Ending in U/W

Case / Number	the/that	this	singular	the/those	these	plural
nominative	se	þes	bearu	þá	þás	bearwas
genitive	þæs	þisses	bearwes	þára	þissa	bearwa
dative	þǽm	þissum	bearwe	þǽm	þissum	bearwum
instrumental	þý/þon	þýs/þís	bearwe	þǽm	þissum	bearwum
Accusative	þone	þisne	bearu	þá	þás	bearwas

Nouns like bearu, which end in u, change the u to w in all inflected cases.

Nouns like þéo/þéow add a w and shorten the vowel in inflected cases.

Case / Number	the/that	this	singular	the/those	these	plural
nominative	se	þes	þéo	þá	þás	þeowas
genitive	þæs	þisses	þeowes	þára	þissa	þeowa
dative	þǽm	þissum	þeowe	þǽm	þissum	þeowum
instrumental	þý/þon	þýs/þís	þeowe	þǽm	þissum	þeowum
Accusative	þone	þisne	þéo	þá	þás	þeowas

Nouns like þéo/w are: béaw, déaw, láréow, láttéow, þéaw, bríw, gíw/géow, íw/íow/éow, slíw

Vocab:

Further Types of Masculine Nouns: Ending in E / Nationalities

Case / Number	the/that	this	singular	the/those	these	plural
nominative	se	þes	wine	þá	þás	winas, wine
genitive	þæs	þisses	wines	þára	þissa	wina, winia
dative	þǽm	þissum	wine	þǽm	þissum	winum
instrumental	þý/þon	þýs/þís	wine	þǽm	þissum	winum
Accusative	þone	þisne	wine	þá	þás	winas, wine

Nouns like wine typically decline like other nouns ending in e (ende, etc.), and -scipe nouns, but earlier texts have uninflected plurals.

Nationalities, the names of peoples, such as Dene Danes, Engle the English, Mierce Mercians, Norðhymbre Northumbrians, Seaxe Saxons, ielde men, ielfe elves, léode/líode people, stede places preserve the e plural. Seaxe and Mierce have Seaxna, Miercna in the genitive plural.

Nouns like giest decline like normal nouns.

The noun hyse is [hyssas, hyssa, hyssum, hyssas] in the plural, and ile is [illas, illa, illum, illas] in the plural. The word mete is [mettas, metta, mettum, mettas] in the plural.

The noun drý inflects as [gen drýs, dat drý; pl drýas, drýa, drýum, drýas]

The noun sǽ inflects as [gen sǽs, dat sǽ; pl sǽs, sǽwa, sǽm/sǽwum, sǽs]

Vocab:

Nature

æsc – ash-tree

bere – barley

ciele – cold

dene – valley

ele – oil

fyrs – furze; (a prickly evergreen shrub of the legume family)

hege – hedge

líeg – flame

lyft – air

mere – lake, pool

ryge – rye

sǽ - sea

smíec – smoke

wǽg – wave

wiell – spring

Animals

wyrm – worm

mǽw – seagull

People

byre – son

drý - magician

ent – giant

giest – guest

hæle – man, hero

hyse – youth, son; pl hyssas

þyle – orator

þyrs – giant

túnscipe – inhabitants of a village

wine – friend

Concepts

ǽrist – resurrection

dryhtscipe – sovereignty

féondscipe – hostility

fracodscipe – vileness

fréondscipe – friendship

géapscipe – deceit

geférscipe – companionship

gemǽnscipe – fellowship, communion

gódscipe – goodness

gryre – terror

gylt – guilt

gyte – pouring forth

hláfordscipe – lordship

holdscipe – loyalty

hwætscipe – bravery

léc – sight, looking at

list – skill, cunning

manscipe – humanity

pliht – danger, peril

prútscipe – pride

swyle – swelling

swylt – death

wærscipe – prudence

wlite – brightness, beauty

Body Parts

bile – beak

hype – hip

ile – sole of the foot; pl illas

Things

béorscipe – feast

drenc – drink

mene – necklace

mete – food; pl mettas

scenc – cup, draught

sele – hall

snide – incision

steng – pole

stice – stitch

streng – string

Other

bite – bite

blǽd – blast, breath

blǽst – blast

brine – burning

bryce – breach

brygd – brandishing

burgscipe – township

byge – curve

byht – bend

byrst – loss

cáfscipe – activity

cierm – clamor

cierr – turn, change

cwide – saying, speech

cyme – advent

cyre – choice

dǽl – part

drepe – stroke, blow

dryer – fall

dyne – din

dynt – dint

ege – fear

feng – grasp

fiell – fall

fierst – period of time

flyge – flight

flyht – flight

glǽm – gleam

gripe – grasp

hǽðenscipe – paganism

hefe – weight

hete – hate

hlíep – leap

hlyst – sense of hearing

hrine – touch

hryre – fall

hwyrft – turning, circuit

hyge – mind

hyht – hope

lǽst – track

lyge – falsehood

lyre – loss

myne – memory

ryne – course

sǽl – time

scyfe – shove

scyte – shooting

sice – sigh

sige – victory

sinscipe – wedlock

slege – stroke, blow

slide – slip

slieht – slaughter

slite – slit

stæpe – step

stede – place

stenc – odor

stiell – leap

stige – ascent

stride – stride

swég – sound, noise

þéodscipe – nation

tyht – training, instruction

wielm – boiling

wrenc – trick, stratagem