Masculine Nouns
Most masculine nouns decline like stán, by simply adding the endings as necessary. This is true of about 64% 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 |
þǽra |
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 |
Pronouns
hé – he (nominative); pl híe – they
his – his (genitive); pl hira – their; (hiera, heora)
him – him (dative); pl him - them
hine – him (accusative); pl híe - them
Masculine Nouns that are also feminine and neuter
slóh – slough, mire
Masculine nouns that are also Neuter
eoh – horse
horh – dirt
Further Study
-ing, -ling: Forms nouns denoting people from adjectives
-dóm: forms nouns denoting state, condition
-oð/-að: forms a gerund (-ing form) from a verb stem
Further Nouns to Study
|
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 |
þǽra |
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 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 |
þǽra |
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 hægel – hail hægl – hail hagol – hail ófer – shore regen – rain regn – rain
|
||
|
Body Part bósm – bosom finger – finger |
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|
Other botm – bottom ellen – zeal, courage, strength engel – angel fæðm – embrace hleahtor – laughter morgen – morning wæstm – growth |
Plants brémel – bramble |
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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 |
þǽra |
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:
|
Nature heofon – heaven metod – Creator rodor – sky þunor - thunder
|
Things cradol – cradle daroð – dart, spear hamor – hammer sadol – saddle stapol – pillar |
|
Places eodor – enclosure
|
Animals eofor – boar hafoc – hawk heafoc – hawk heorot – stag, hart
|
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 |
þǽra |
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 |
þǽra |
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:
|
Nature bearu – grove déaw – dew éow – yew íow - yew íw – yew
|
People láréow – teacher (from lár, þéow) láttéow – leader (from lád, þéow) þéo – servant þéow – servant |
Animals béaw – gadfly géow – griffin, vulture gíw – griffin, vulture slíw – tench (a fish)
|
|
Food bríw – pottage, porridge |
Other þéaw – custom |
Masculine Nouns also Neuter
déaw - dew
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 |
þǽra |
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 |
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
|
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 dryre – 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
|
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Body Parts bile – beak hype – hip ile – sole of the foot; pl illas
|
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Animals wyrm – worm mǽw – seagull
|
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Things béorscipe – feast drenc – drink mene – necklace mete – food; pl mettas scenc – cup, draught sele – hall snide – incision steng – pole stice – stitch streng – string |
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Masculine Nouns that are also feminine
ǽrist – resurrection
hlyst – sense of hearing
lyft – air
sǽ - sea; [gen sǽ/sǽwe, dat sǽ/sǽwe; pl ]
sǽl - time
Masculine nouns that were originally neuter
bere – barley
ege – fear
ele - oil
hete – hate
mene – necklace
mere – make, pool
sige - victory
Further Types of Masculine Nouns: Ending in U / A inflected
|
Case / Number |
the/that |
this |
singular |
the/those |
these |
plural |