Hū færst þū?
The English phrase "how are you doing?" is translated into Old English as Hū færst þū?
This phrase is a common greeting used to inquire about a person's current well-being or state of health.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb Hū (how), the verb faran (to fare, travel or proceed) and the pronoun þū (you).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Hū færst þū?, the verb faran is conjugated in the second person singular present indicative to match the subject þū.
Did you know?
- The letter þ in þū is known as 'thorn'. When printing presses arrived from Europe, they lacked this letter and often substituted it with 'y', which eventually led to the 'Ye Olde' misspelling of 'The Olde'.
- In Old English, using þū was the intimate or singular form of 'you'. Using this phrase with a social superior would have been considered an unexpected breach of etiquette, similar to using 'tu' instead of 'vous' in French.
- In Old English, the verb faran was often used in epic poetry like 'Beowulf' to describe actual voyages across the sea. Using it in a casual greeting links everyday conversation to the heroic language of the time.
Examples in context
- Hū færst þū?How are you doing?
- Ic wille fragnian, hū færst þū?I want to ask, how are you doing?
