Ic ēac
The phrase 'me too' is translated into Old English as Ic ēac.
This phrase is used to indicate that something applies to the speaker as well.
Meaning: that applies to me as well (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the pronoun Ic (I) and the adverb ēac (also/too).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Ic is the nominative form of the first-person singular pronoun, Ic ēac functions as the subject of a sentence. If the phrase is used as an object rather than a subject, the pronoun must change to the form mē ēac.
Did you know?
- The pronoun Ic comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *eǵh₂óm, which is the same root that produced the Greek 'egō' and Latin 'ego'.
- The pronunciation of Ic would have sounded more like 'itch' or 'ich' rather than the modern 'eye', making the phrase sound quite different to modern ears.
Examples in context
- Ic ēac wille drincan.I also want to drink.
- Ic ēac lufie þās.I also love these.
Example conversation
Mildryth and Æthelstan are talking about the cold weather.
- MildrythHit is ceald tōdæg.It is cold today.
- ÆthelstanGē, hit is swīðe ceald.Yes, it is very cold.
- MildrythIc cwacie for þǣm cyle!I am shivering from the cold!
- ÆthelstanIc ēac.Me too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ic, CC BY-SA 4.0.
