swealwe
/ˈswæ͜ɑl.we/
The Old English word for the verb 'swallow' is swealwe.
This verb is used to describe the action of causing something to pass from the mouth into the stomach.
Meaning: to cause to pass from the mouth into the stomach (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈswæɑl.we/.
Did you know?
- In Old English literature, the swallow was often a symbol of spring, meaning 'swealwe' could carry a much more poetic and seasonal weight than the simple verb for swallowing.
- The word shares a common ancestor with the Old Norse word svala, which also refers to the bird.
- The spelling of swealwe includes a diphthong that would eventually flatten out over centuries. This shift is why the Old English word sounds far more elongated than the modern 'swallow'.
Example conversation
Mildryth is helping Æthelstan eat a meal.
- MildrythÆthelstan, lōca, ān swealwe!Æthelstan, look, a swallow!
- ÆthelstanHēo flēogeþ swīþe hraþe.It flies very fast.
- MildrythǢlċe sumere hēo cymþ hider.Every summer it comes here.
- ÆthelstanNū iċ hīe ġesēo.Now I see it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry swealwe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries swealwe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
