wæter
/ˈwæ.ter/neuter
The English phrase 'water' is translated to Old English as wæter.
The term refers to the inorganic compound H₂O.
Meaning: inorganic compound H₂O (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a neuter noun, the nominative and accusative singular forms are identical as wæter. The plural genitive form is wætra, which means 'of the waters'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st of 2 syllables. The IPA is /ˈwæ.ter/.
Did you know?
- The Old English wæter is an early relative of the Sanskrit word udán and the Greek hýdōr, showing a shared ancient ancestry.
- While 'water' is a common noun, in Old English poetry, certain types of water were often referred to using 'kennings', or metaphorical compound phrases.
- The ancestral form of the word, *wódr̥, was actually a collective noun, meaning it originally referred to 'the waters' as a single entity rather than just a liquid.
Examples in context
- Hēo drincþ sealt wæter.She drinks salt water.This sentence shows the use of wæter.Tatoeba #13884452 by rul, translation #13501272 by rul
- On þǣm wætere sindon fiscas.There are fish in the water.Tatoeba #13901941 by rul, translation #10647760 by Apollogeist
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are preparing for a journey.
- ÆthelstanHæfst þū wæter?Do you have water?
- MildrythĠēa, iċ hæbbe wæter.Yes, I have water.
- ÆthelstanIċ eom swīðe þurstiġ.I am very thirsty.
- MildrythDrinc þonne þæt wæter.Then drink the water.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “water” translations and entries wæter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wæter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
