hit
/xit/
In Old English, the English phrase 'it' can be translated as hit or þæt.
Meaning: subject, inanimate thing (pron)
Ways to say it
| Old English | IPA |
|---|---|
| hit | /xit/ |
| þæt | /θæt/ |
These terms are used to refer to an inanimate thing. While both can translate to 'it', their use depends on the grammatical role the word plays in a sentence.
Which one should you use?
Use hit when the pronoun is the direct object (accusative) or follows a preposition (dative). In contrast, þæt is more commonly used when the pronoun is the subject (nominative).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form hit is the neuter singular accusative and dative case of the third-person pronoun. The form þæt is the neuter singular nominative and accusative form. It can serve as a subject pronoun meaning 'it' or as a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that'.
How do you pronounce it?
/xit/
Did you know?
- Unlike modern English, where 'it' is used as a dummy subject in phrases like 'it is raining', Old English often omitted the pronoun entirely in such constructions.
- The spelling of þæt uses the character 'þ', called 'thorn', which represents the 'th' sound and was later replaced by 'th' in English writing.
- Old English used a three-gender system, meaning 'it' only referred to 'neuter' nouns, whereas masculine and feminine nouns required different pronouns.
Examples in context
- Hƿȳ bohton ᵹē hit?Why did you buy it?This sentence shows how to use hit as a direct object.Tatoeba #1350100 by SuleimanArkhyz, translation #401785 by CM
- Eac he geseah hit.He also saw it.This sentence demonstrates the use of hit as a direct object.Tatoeba #11327596 by SunnyMoon, translation #2441093 by CH
- Andet þæt sōð, Þōmas.Admit it, Tom.This sentence illustrates using þæt to mean 'it' in a different context.Tatoeba #13894097 by rul, translation #13101082 by rul
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man holds an object and a woman asks about it.
- ÆthelflædHwæt is hit?What is it?
- ÆthelstanHit is mīn hord.It is my treasure.
- ÆthelflædIs hit gōd?Is it good?
- ÆthelstanĠēa, hit is swīðe gōd.Yes, it is very good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it” translations and entries hit, þæt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
