wē
plural
The English phrase 'we' is translated into Old English as wē. Wiktionary also lists wit du.
Meaning: generic we (the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether it's the person being addressed) (pron)
Ways to say it
| Old English | Note |
|---|---|
| wē | plural |
| wit du |
The word is used to refer to the speaker and at least one other person. wē is the most common and general term for 'we' in Old English.
Which one should you use?
Old English distinguishes between a group of two and a group of more than two. The form wit du (specifically the form wit) is used exclusively when referring to exactly two people, the speaker and one other. In contrast, wē is the plural form used for a group of three or more.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to exactly two people, use the dual form wit du. For any group larger than a pair, use the plural form wē.
Did you know?
- While wē is the ancestor of 'we', the dual form wit is not related to the modern English word 'wit' meaning intelligence.
- The Old English word wit is a distant relative of the Lithuanian word vèdu.
- An Old English speaker would use the term wit to create a sense of intimacy or specific partnership between themselves and a single listener.
Examples in context
- Wē ne sōhton hīe.We didn't look for her.This sentence shows how to use wē in a negative past tense construction.Tatoeba #13888332 by rul, translation #13550267 by rul
- Wē wuniaþ on beorgum.We live in the mountains.This sentence demonstrates the use of wē with a present tense verb.Tatoeba #13904538 by rul, translation #12328615 by Miktsoanit
- Wē cunnon þone bæcere.We know the baker.This sentence illustrates wē used with a verb meaning to know.Tatoeba #8474750 by shekitten, translation #8472815 by shekitten
- Wit willað etanWe two want to eat.
- Wē sind gebroðruWe are brothers.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two companions are deciding where to travel.
- ÆthelflædHwider gā wē nū?Where are we going now?
- GodricWē gāþ tō þǣre byriġ.We are going to the town.
- ÆthelflædIs þæt lang sīþ?Is that a long journey?
- GodricĠēa, ac wē rīdaþ swīðe hrædlīċe.Yes, but we ride very fast.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “we” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
