mōdriġe
feminine
The English phrase "aunt" translates to Old English as mōdriġe or faþu.
Meaning: a parent's sister or sister-in-law (noun)
Ways to say it
| Old English | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mōdriġe | feminine | |
| faþu | /ˈfɑ.θu/ | feminine |
Both terms refer to a parent's sister or sister-in-law.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both mōdriġe and faþu are feminine nouns.
Did you know?
- The Old English word faþu is literally built from the word for 'father', essentially meaning 'father's sister'.
- While we use 'aunt' for both sides of the family, the Old English faþu specifically indicated the paternal side.
- The modern word 'aunt' did not come from these Old English words. It was borrowed from Old French ante after the Norman Conquest.
Example sentences for Old English are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries faþu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faþu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
