mīn
The Old English word for 'mine' is mīn.
mīn is used to denote that which belongs to me.
Meaning: that which belongs to me (pron)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form mīn is versatile. It can function as a possessive pronoun (mine) or as a possessive adjective (my).
Did you know?
- In Old English, mīn was part of a system where possessives had to agree in gender and number with the object owned, not the person owning it.
- The long vowel in mīn was pronounced as a tense sound, similar to the 'ee' in 'seen', rather than the modern 'eye' sound in 'mine'.
- In poetry and formal Old English prose, mīn could be placed after the noun it modified for emphasis or rhythmic effect.
Examples in context
- Mīn is þīn, and þīn is þīn.What's mine is yours, and what's yours is yours.This sentence demonstrates the use of mīn in a comparison of ownership.Tatoeba #13887055 by rul, translation #13886781 by rul
- Mīn is mīn, and þīn is mīn.What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine.This sentence shows how mīn can be used to express possessive intent.Tatoeba #13887106 by rul, translation #13886783 by rul
- Mīn is þīn, and þīn is mīn.What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine.This sentence illustrates the use of mīn in a comparison of ownership.Tatoeba #13887118 by rul, translation #13886778 by rul
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are sorting through a pile of wool.
- OsricHwǣr is mīn wull?Where is my wool?
- MildrythÞis is mīn, Osric.This is mine, Osric.
- OsricNese, þæt is mīn!No, that is mine!
- MildrythMildryth hæfþ hire, and mīn is hēr.Mildryth has hers, and mine is here.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
