sǣ
feminine
The Old English word for sea is sǣ.
The word sǣ refers to a body of water, specifically the sea.
Meaning: body of water (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Western Old English, the term sǣflōd can be used to emphasize the sea as a powerful and overwhelming force.
How does it change in a sentence?
sǣ is a feminine noun. The spelling uses a ligature of 's' and 'ae' to represent a specific vowel sound.
Did you know?
- In Old English poetry, the sea was often personified through 'kennings', such as 'hwæl-weg', which translates to 'whale-way'.
- The word 'sailor' is related to the concept of the sea, as the Old English 'sǣlōra' literally meant 'sea-driver' or one who drives through the waves.
- While we use 'sea' for the ocean, an Old English speaker might use sǣ to describe any large, significant body of water, including large lakes.
Example sentences for Old English are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two siblings look out from a coastal cliff.
- ÆthelflædLōca, Æthelstan, tō þǣre sǣ!Look, Æthelstan, at the sea!
- ÆthelstanHīe faraþ ofer sǣ.They are traveling over the sea.
- ÆthelflædSēo sǣ is ġīet hrēoh tōdæġ.The sea is still rough today.
- ÆthelstanĠēa, hēo is swīðe grim.Yes, it is very grim.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sea” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
