þancas ic dō
In Old English, 'thanks' can be expressed as þancas ic dō. If unsure, use þancas ic dō. Wiktionary also lists þancas ic secge.
Meaning: used to express appreciation or gratitude (intj)
Ways to say it
| Old English |
|---|
| þancas ic dō |
| þancas ic secge |
These phrases are used to express appreciation or gratitude.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase þancas ic dō literally translates to 'I do thanks'. The phrase þancas ic secge literally translates to 'I say thanks'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In these phrases, þancas is the accusative plural form of the noun þanc and ic is the first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
Did you know?
- The word þanc could also mean 'thought' or 'reflection' in certain Old English contexts, suggesting that to give thanks was to give a piece of one's mind or thought.
- The spelling of þancas uses the character þ, known as 'thorn', a letter that eventually disappeared from English after the invention of the printing press.
- The word secge in þancas ic secge is the ancestor of the modern English 'say', but it also shares a root with the word 'saga'.
Examples in context
- Þancas ic dō þē.I give thanks to you.
- Godric, þancas ic dō þē.Godric, I give thanks to you.
Example conversation
Godric gives Eadgyth a gift of bread.
- GodricEadgyth, nim þisne hlāf.Eadgyth, take this loaf.
- EadgythÞancas ic dō þē, Godric.I give thanks to you, Godric.
- GodricIc eom glæd þæt þū hit lufast.I am glad that you love it.
- EadgythHit is swīðe swēte.It is very sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thanks” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
