The English used by William Shakespeare is known as Early Modern English or more commonly Shakespearean English. This unique form of English was prevalent between the 1500s and 1700s and is known for its poetic tone, distinct sentence structure, and vocabulary that may seem unfamiliar today.
Our Shakespearean Language Dictionary helps you understand the meanings and usage of words from that era, allowing you to decode the beauty of Shakespeare's works. You’ll discover old spellings, uncommon phrases, and expressions that shaped English literature.
Want to see how modern words would sound in Shakespeare's time? Try our Shakespeare Translator Tool and instantly convert English to Shakespearean English with just one click.
| Modern English Words | Shakespearean Words |
|---|---|
| angry | wrathful |
| beautiful | fair |
| before | ere |
| betray | treachery |
| child | babe |
| children | bairns |
| clothes | garments |
| courage | valour |
| day | day |
| dead | deceased |
| die | perish |
| do | dost, doth |
| does | doth |
| drink | quaff |
| eat | feed |
| enemy | foe |
| evening | eve |
| exclamation of dismay | fie |
| faith | fidelity |
| father | sire |
| fear | dread |
| friend | good friend |
| friendship | amity |
| gladly | fain |
| goodbye | fare thee well |
| happy | merry |
| hate | abhor |
| have | hast |
| hear | hear, listen to |
| hello | good morrow |
| here | hither |
| kill | slay |
| king | liege |
| lady | dame |
| life | life, existence |
| listen | hearken |
| look | behold |
| love | love, dote on |
| man | sirrah |
| maybe | mayhap |
| message | missive |
| money | coin |
| morning | morn |
| mother | dam |
| mountain | mount |
| my | my, mine |
| night | night, even |
| no | nay |
| now | anon |
| old | ancient |
| peace | peace |
| perhaps | perchance |
| please | prithee |
| pretty | comely |
| river | stream |
| run | hie |
| sad | doleful |
| sea | brine |
| see | see, observe |
| speak | speak, prate |
| stop | cease |
| strong | stalwart |
| surprised | zounds |
| sword | blade |
| talk | discourse |
| there | thence |
| think | methinks |
| tired | weary |
| trust | trust |
| ugly | foul |
| walk | tread |
| war | war |
| where | whither |
| wisdom | sagacity |
| wise | sage |
| women | wenches |
| write | scribe |
| yes | ay |
| you | thou, thee |
| young | youthful |
| your | thy |
| yours | thine |
| are | art |
| has | hath |
| queen | sovereign lady |
| country | realm |
| battle | fray |
| letter | epistle |
| why | wherefore |
| soon | anon |
| away | hence |
| truly | verily |
| weak | feeble |
| beauty | comeliness |
| immediately | forthwith |
| sorrow | alas |
| foolish | follish |
| afternoon | noon |