Learn Old English
Begin with a single word. Then explore the language, poetry, and stories of early medieval England.
Start here
No previous knowledge of Old English needed.
Try your first Old English lesson
Meet wīf, discover why grammatical gender can surprise you, and test what you’ve learned in the interactive sample lesson.
Try the sample lesson →Keep going with five free lessons
Explore cases, grammatical gender, word endings, and your first Old English reading in the free five-day beginner course.
Join the free five-day course →Words and grammar
25 Old English words, explained and pronounced
A free PDF glossary with meanings, beginner-friendly pronunciation, and literary context. Delivered by email.
A beginner’s introduction to Old English
Start with the language’s unfamiliar letters, word endings, cases, and grammatical gender, then try the sample lesson.
Read Old English
Explore words in context through these readings from the Journal.
The Key at a Man’s Thigh: Exeter Book Riddle 44
Discover the wordplay and double meanings of an Old English riddle.
Understanding Steadfastness in The Dream of the Rood
Explore the poem’s speaking cross and its vision of loyalty and endurance.
Grendel and the Kin of Cain: Beowulf’s Monster Genealogy
Read more closely into Grendel’s ancestry and the world of Beowulf.