ǣfen
masculine
The English phrase "evening" is translated into Old English as ǣfen. If unsure, use ǣfen. Wiktionary also lists ǣfnung.
Meaning: time of day between dusk and night (noun)
Ways to say it
| Old English | Note |
|---|---|
| ǣfen | masculine |
| ǣfnung | feminine |
The term refers to the time of day between dusk and night. While ǣfen is the standard way to refer to the time of day, the word Niht can be used in both formal and informal contexts to encompass the larger timeframe of night, which includes the evening.
Which one should you use?
ǣfen is the standard noun used for the time of day. In contrast, ǣfnung is a feminine derivative that emphasizes the quality or the process of the evening, often translated as "evening-ness".
How does it change in a sentence?
ǣfen is a masculine noun, while ǣfnung is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- The word ǣfen is a cognate of the Modern German word Abend, showing how both languages evolved from a common Germanic root for the 'evening'.
- In Old English, the word ǣfen is closely linked to the concept of 'eve', which originally meant the transition of the day rather than the day before a holiday.
- In some Old English texts, ǣfen was used to describe the period of 'evening' as a spiritual transition, often linked to prayers or the closing of the workday.
Examples in context
- Gōdne ǣfen.Good evening.This sentence is useful for learning how to say a common greeting using ǣfen.Tatoeba #8865639 by iiujik, translation #333156 by Aurix
- Cwæð se cyning, "Gewitaþ nú, forþon se æfen cymeþ"The king said, "Depart now, for evening is coming"
- Næfdon hīe ðære nyhtunge nán gewitnesseThey had no witness of that evening
Example conversation
Osric and Wulfrun are greeting each other at sunset.
- OsricHwæt, gōdne ǣfen, Wulfrun!Hello, good evening, Wulfrun!
- WulfrunAnd þē ēac gōdne ǣfen, Osric.And to you also a good evening, Osric.
- OsricIs þē ǣfen glæd?Is the evening pleasant to you?
- WulfrunGēa, sē ǣfen is fāge.Yes, the evening is fair.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “evening” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
