How to Say “I Hate You” in Old English

By Erik Harrison • Updated October 3, 2026

Ic hatie þe

The English phrase "I hate you" is translated into Old English as Ic hatie þe.

This phrase is used as an expression of intense dislike.

Meaning: expression of intense dislike (phrase)

Did you know?

The letter þ was so common that early printing presses sometimes replaced it with the letter 'y', leading to the archaic 'ye' seen in 'Ye Olde Curio Shop'.
While modern English uses 'you' for both singular and plural, in Old English, the form þe specifically targets a single person.
The pronoun ic is a distant relative of the Latin 'ego' and the Greek 'egō', all tracing back to the same Indo-European root.

Examples in context

Ic hatie þe.
I hate you.

Example conversation

Two rivals argue over a boundary line.

Æthelflæd

Ic hatie þe, Godric!
I hate you, Godric!
Godric

And ic hatie þe eac.
And I hate you too.
Æthelflæd

Þū eart yfel mann.
You are an evil man.
Godric

Gā onweg nū!
Go away now!

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries ic, þe, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Erik Harrison

'Eow greetan geþyldiga Mannas,' I'm Erik, an ardent admirer of Old English. Within me, ondowersæcnesse sprouts from a fascination with history and a passion for linguistic quirks. I find solace in uncovering the tapestry of words 'from yesteryears and yonder.' You'll often find me jotting down phrases in this ancient tongue or indulging my love for historical fiction. My posts are hearty tributes to our language's forgotten strands - an endeavored celebration of the past met with the present. 'Þæs ofereode,' come and join me on a journey through the words that once were.

Erik HarrisonHelp 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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