hū wæs þīn dæg?
hū wæs þīn dæg? is the Old English way to say "how was your day?"
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their experiences and feelings during the day that has passed.
Did you know?
- In Old English, the word dæg did not just mean a twenty-four hour period, but often specifically referred to the daylight hours.
- Old English used the character þ (called thorn) to represent the 'th' sound, a letter that disappeared from the English alphabet as the language evolved.
- The word dæg is a cognate of the modern German word 'Tag', showing how closely the two languages were linked over a millennium ago.
Example conversation
Two siblings meet at home in the evening.
- ÆthelstanWēlcum hām, Æthelflæd! Hū wæs þīn dæg?Welcome home, Æthelflæd! How was your day?
- ÆthelflædHit wæs gōd and glæd, Æthelstan.It was good and glad, Æthelstan.
- ÆthelstanFundest þū þæt þū sōhtest?Did you find what you were looking for?
- ÆthelflædĠēa, iċ hit hæbbe nū.Yes, I have it now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dæg, wæs, CC BY-SA 4.0.
