Understanding Shakespearean (Elizabethan) English

For many, language is the biggest barrier in understanding Shakespeare. Perfectly competent performers can be
paralysed with fear when they see bizarre words like “Methinks” and “Peradventure.” As a way of trying to
counter this natural anxiety, I often begin by telling new students or performers that speaking Shakespeare aloud
isn’t like learning a new language –it’s more like listening to a strong accent and your ear soon adjusts to the new
dialect.

Modern translations of the top 10 most common Shakespearian words and phrases.

Thee, Thou, Thy and Thine (You and Your)

It’s a common myth that Shakespeare never uses the words “you” and “your” – actually, these words are
commonplace in his plays. However, he also uses the words “thee / thou” instead of “you” and the word “thy /
thine” instead of “your.” Sometimes he uses both “you” and “thy” in the same speech. This is simply because in
Tudor England the older generation said “thee” and “thy” to denote a status or reverence for authority. Therefore
when addressing a king the older “thou” and “thy” would be used, leaving the newer “you” and “your” for more
informal occasions. Soon after Shakespeare’s lifetime, the older form passed away!

Art (Are)
The same is true of “art,” meaning “are.” So a sentence beginning “thou art” simply means “You are.”

Ay/Aye (Yes)
“Aye” simply means “yes”. So, “Ay, My Lady” simply means “Yes, My Lady.”

Would (Wish)
Although the word “wish” does appear in Shakespeare, like when Romeo says “I wish I were a cheek upon that
hand,” we often find “would” used instead. For example, “I would I were …” means “I wish I were…”

Give Me Leave To (Allow Me To)

“To give me leave to,” simply means “To allow me to.”

Alas (Unfortunately)
“Alas” is a very common word that isn’t used today. It simply means “unfortunately,” but in modern English there
isn’t an exact equivalent.

Adieu (Goodbye)
“Adieu” simply means “Goodbye.”

Sirrah (Sir)
“Sirrah” means “Sir” or “Mister.”
-eth
Sometimes the endings of Shakespearian words sound alien even though the root of the word is familiar. For
example “speaketh” simply means “speak” and “sayeth” means “say.”

Don’t, Do and Did

A key absence from Shakespearian English is “don’t.” This word simply wasn’t around then. So, if you said “don’t
be afraid” to a friend in Tudor England, you would have said “be not afeard.” Where today we would say “don’t
hurt me,” Shakespeare would have said “hurt me not.” The words “do” and “did” were also uncommon, so rather
than saying “what did he look like?” Shakespeare would have said “what looked he like?” And instead of “did she
stay long?” Shakespeare would have said “stayed she long?” This difference accounts for the unfamiliar word
order in some Shakespearian sentences.
A larger list…
Thence - From there, from that place [I come from
Art - Are [Where art thou?] thence.]

Ay – yes Thine - Yours [It shall always be thine.]

Begone - Disappear, leave [Begone, villain!] Thither - To that place [She has sent me thither.]

Dost - Do [Why dost thou hate me?] Thitherward - In that direction [He was seen
thitherward.]
Doth - Does [Methinks the lady doth protest too much.]
Thou - You (Subject) [Thou art a villain!]
Durst – Dared [And after that they durst not ask him any
question at all] Thy - Your [Thy hands are stained.]

e’en – even Thyself - Yourself [Explain thyself.]

e’er – ever ‘Tis – it is

Ere - before ‘Twas – it was

Haply - perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck Wast – were

Happy – fortunate, lucky Whence - Which place, what place, what source/origin
[Go back to the pit from whence you came.]
Hast - Have [What hast thou done?]
Whencesoever - From whatever place [Sent from London
Hence – from here; away from this place [I go hence.]
whencesoever.]
Henceforth/Henceforward - From now on [Henceforth,
Wherefore - Why
my son is king.]
Whither - To which place/why, for which purpose
hie – hurry [Hie you hence!]
[Whither goest thou?] [Whither wouldst thou send for
Hither - Here/to this place [Come hither!] me?]

Hitherto - Up till now [I have escorted you hitherto.] Would – wish [I would Friday were today!]

Hitherward - To here/this place [They move hitherward.] Ye - You [Ye are fools!]

nay – no Yea – even

o’er – over

oft – often

Somewhither - Somewhere [I go somewhither.]

Thee - You (Object) [I give this to thee.]

Syntax
Syntax refers to word order. As discussed earlier with the uncommon use of do and did and absence of did
not, Shakespeare arranged words differently in his sentences. Look at these six sentences. They have all the
same words and mean the same thing. They are just put together in different ways! In the right hand
column, make five other sentences out of the one given!

I ate the sandwich. He parked the car.

I the sandwich ate.

Ate the sandwich I.

Ate I the sandwich.

The sandwich I ate.

The sandwich ate I.

Rewrite these into normal subject/predicate order: Quotes by ________

1. “Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”

2. “Mourn them do not. Miss them do not…the shadow of greed, that is.”

3. “Blind we are, if the creation of this clone army we could not see.”

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now, rewrite these Shakespeare quotes:

“Smile the heavens upon this holy act.”

“Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are”

“And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats”

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Omissions (Words left out): No one speaks in complete sentences all the time. It just doesn’t happen!
Shakespeare didn’t either! (Look how much you guys have in common!) Look at the table below, the first
column is how we usually speak, the second is how we SHOULD speak, the third is Shakespeare’s short cuts,
and the fourth is for you to use Shakespeare’s short cuts in your own sentences!

How We Speak Should Speak Shakespeare’s Combine

"Been to class "Have you been to class yet?" 'tis ~ it is

yet?" i' ~ in
e'er ~ ever

"Nah. Heard "No, I have not been to class. I o'er ~ over

Smith givin' a test." heard that Miss. Smith is giving gi' ~ give
a test today." ne'er ~ never

"Wha'sup wi'that?" "What is the deal with that, oft ~ often

Rupert?" a' ~ he
e'en ~ even

Group Practice: Re-write the lines into common language

“Look to ‘t, think on ‘t.”

“Good gentle youth, tempt not a desp’rate man.”

“The dagger has mista’en”

“’Tis he, that villain Romeo”

“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight/ For I ne’er

saw true beauty till this night?”

Name_________________________________________________________________Period___Date__________
Working with Shakespeare’s Language ELA 9 Cooper

Directions:
-Using your handouts and notes, re-write the Shakespearean language into common language (the way we speak
today).
-Write full sentences that are grammatically correct!

Shakespearean Common

1.) Thou art mad!

2.) Begone, you unruly pupil!

3.) Today, I will gi’ thee an examination.

4.) Somewhither o’er the rainbow tis beautiful.

5.) Thy shoes are oft untied.

6.) Wherefore thou shouteth in class?

7.) Whither thou goeth after school?

8.) To thine own self be true.

9.) “Mr. Turner, Mrs. Cooper was upset with me so she

sent me hither.”

10.) “Late was I because I from thence came.”

11.) Henceforth, only full sentences in class will be

used.

12.) “Methinks my students doth complain too oft!”

13.) “Why hast thee not turned in thou essay yet?”

14.) He durst not to speaketh back to the teacher in

class.
15.) “Ye ne’er turn your homework in on time!”

16.) Dost thou still fancy Taylor Swift?

17.) Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

18.) Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.

19.) O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?

20.) Tempt not a desperate man.

21.) What doth that have to dost with anything?

22.) Thou art the coolest student!

23.) “Give me leave to reintroduce myself.”

24.) Screameth not, or I must bid you adieu.

25.) “And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats”

26.) “Smile the heavens upon this holy act.”

27.) “Of me afeard be not!”

28.) Ay! Thou hast done well with thy Shakespeare

assignment!