How to Say “Good Luck” in Old English

By Leigh Randy • Updated October 2, 2026

god sped

The Old English phrase for good luck is god sped.

This phrase is used to wish fortune upon someone or to provide encouragement.

Meaning: used to wish fortune on someone or as encouragement (intj)

What does it mean word for word?

The expression is composed of the word Gōd, which means 'good' in Old English.

Did you know?

While god sped is used for luck, Old English often expressed 'luck' or 'fate' using the word wyrd, which is the root of the modern word 'weird'.
The Old English word for 'god' changed from a neuter gender to a masculine gender to align with the adoption of Christianity.
The modern English verb 'speed' (to move fast) has an unexpected ancestor in the Old English word for 'success' or 'prosperity'.

Examples in context

God sped þē.
God speed you.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries god, sped, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Leigh Randy

Hwæt! As Leigh, I'm fervid about bringing Old English words back to life. I've devoted countless hours to pen guides for phrases like "Are you awake?" or "Be quiet" in Old English. You could say, I'm a real enta geweorc, a work of art, in breaking down the barriers of this ancient language. When I'm not immersed in language, you'll catch me delighting in dragon tales, sipping a cup of coffee, or perhaps simply appreciating the allure of a hawk soaring. Let's embolden our speech together! Bring us, gelimpan, good luck, on this journey into our linguistic past.

Leigh RandyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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