Early Moderne English
Early Modern English
Indo-European (Germanic, West, Anglic) · historical / hidden variety
Early Modern English (c. 1500–1700) is the pedagogical reconstruction of the English of Shakespeare's First Folio (1623), the King James Bible (1611), Marlowe, Donne, Jonson, and Milton. Distinguished from Middle English (enm) by the Great Vowel Shift (in progress), loss of most inflections, fixed SVO word order, and standardization following Caxton's printing press (1476). Pronunciation reconstructions follow David Crystal's Original Pronunciation (OP) work used by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: long /aː oː/ partially shifted, /iː uː/ becoming diphthongs, pre-FOOT-STRUT split ("sun" = /sʊn/), rhotic /r/ in all positions, /eː/ for modern /iː/ in "meat/sea". The form taught in classrooms worldwide for reading Shakespeare and the KJV — distinct from any single 17c. regional vernacular, which varied enormously between London, the Midlands, and the West Country.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Early Modern English
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Indo-European (Germanic, West, Anglic)
| Meaning | Early Modern English | Geordie | Yorkshire English | Irish English | Welsh English | Scottish English | Scots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | water /ˈwætər/ | water /ˈwɔːtɐ/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwɑːtəɹ/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwɔːtəɹ/ | watter /ˈwɑtəɹ/ |
| Fire | fyre /fəir/ | fire /faɪə/ | fire /faɪə/ | fire /fɑɪəɹ/ | fire /faɪə/ | fire /faɪɹ/ | fire /fəiɹ/ |
| Sun | sunne /sʊn/ | sun /sʊn/ | sun /sʊn/ | sun /sʊn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ |
| Moon | moone /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | muin /mɪn/ |
| Star | star /staːɹ/ | star /staː/ | star /staː/ | star /stɑːɹ/ | star /staː/ | star /staɾ/ | starn /stɑrn/ |
| Night | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /nəɪt/ | nicht /nɪçt/ |
| Rain | rain /reːn/ | rain /ɹeːn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ | rain /ɾeːn/ | rain /ɾeɪn/ | rain /ren/ | rain /ren/ |
| Snow | snow /snoː/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snoʊ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snaw /snɑː/ |
| Wind | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪn/ |
| Earth | earth /ɛːrθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːɹθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɛɹθ/ | yird /jɪrd/ |
| Stone | stone /stoːn/ | stone /stɔːn/ | stone /stoːn/ | stone /stoʊn/ | stone /stoːn/ | stone /stoːn/ | stane /steːn/ |
| Mountain | mountaine /ˈməuntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmuːntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmʌuntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmʌntən/ |
| Sea | sea /seː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ |
| Mother | mother /ˈmʊðər/ | mother /ˈmʊðɐ/ | mother /ˈmʊðə/ | mother /ˈmʊðəɹ/ | mother /ˈmʌðə/ | mother /ˈmʌðəɹ/ | mither /ˈmɪðəɹ/ |
| Father | father /ˈfɑːðər/ | father /ˈfaːðɐ/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ | father /ˈfɑːðəɹ/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ | father /ˈfaðəɹ/ | faither /ˈfeðəɹ/ |
| Daughter | daughter /ˈdɔːtər/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtɐ/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdɒːtəɹ/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtəɹ/ | dochter /ˈdɔxtəɹ/ |
| I | I /əi/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aː/ | I /ɑɪ/ | I /aɪ/ | I /ʌi/ | A /ə/ |
| You | thou /ðou/ | you /juː/ | you /juː/ | you /juː/ | you /juː/ | you /juː/ | ye /ji/ |
| We | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ |
| Name | name /neːm/ | name /neːm/ | name /neːm/ | name /neːm/ | name /neːm/ | name /nem/ | name /neːm/ |
| Person | person /ˈpɛrsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːɹsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɛɹsən/ | body /ˈbʌdi/ |
| Head | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | heid /hid/ |
| Eye | eye /əi/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /ɑɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ | ee /iː/ |
| Ear | ear /eːr/ | ear /ɪə/ | ear /ɪɹ/ | ear /iːɹ/ | ear /iːə/ | ear /ir/ | lug /lʌɡ/ |
| Nose | nose /noːz/ | nose /niəz/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noːz/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noz/ | neb /nɛb/ |
| Mouth | mouth /muːθ/ | mouth /muːθ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | mouth /mʌuθ/ | mooth /muθ/ |
| Tooth | tooth /tʊθ/ | tooth /tʊθ/ | tooth /tʊθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tuith /tʏθ/ |
| Tongue | tongue /tʊŋ/ | tongue /tʊŋ/ | tongue /tʊŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tung /tʌŋ/ |
| Hand | hand /hand/ | hand /hand/ | hand /and/ | hand /hand/ | hand /hand/ | hand /hand/ | haund /hɑːnd/ |
| Foot | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | fit /fɪt/ |
| Heart | heart /hɛrt/ | heart /haːt/ | heart /hɑːt/ | heart /hɑːɹt/ | heart /haːt/ | heart /haɾt/ | hert /hɛɹt/ |
| Bone | bone /boːn/ | bone /bɔːn/ | bone /boːn/ | bone /boʊn/ | bone /boːn/ | bone /boːn/ | bane /beːn/ |
| Blood | blood /bluːd/ | blood /blʊd/ | blood /blʊd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | bluid /blʏd/ |
| Poop | turd /tɜːrd/ | poo /puː/ | poo /puː/ | poo /puː/ | poo /puː/ | poo /puː/ | keech /kiːtʃ/ |
| Love | loue /lʊv/ | love /lʊv/ | love /lʊv/ | love /lʊv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ | luve /lʌv/ |
| Tree | tree /triː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /triː/ |
| Dog | dogge /dɔɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɔɡ/ | dug /dʌɡ/ |
| Cat | cat /kat/ | cat /kat/ | cat /kat/ | cat /kat/ | cat /kʰat/ | cat /kat/ | cat /kat/ |
| Fish | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ |
| Bird | bird /bɪrd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɝd/ | bird /bɪrd/ |
| Butterfly | butterfly /ˈbʊtərfləi/ | butterfly /ˈbʊtəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʊtəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʊtəɹflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌtəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌtəɹflaɪ/ | butterflee /ˈbʌtərfliː/ |
| Egg | egge /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ |
| Bear | bear /beːr/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛɹ/ | bear /bɛː/ | bear /bɛɹ/ | beir /biːɹ/ |
| Horse | horse /hɔrs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /ɔːs/ | horse /hɔɹs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /hɔɾs/ | horse /hɔrs/ |
| House | house /huːs/ | house /huːs/ | house /aʊs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /hʌus/ | hoose /huːs/ |
| Milk | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ |
| Honey | honey /ˈhʊni/ | honey /ˈhʊni/ | honey /ˈhʊni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | hinnie /ˈhɪni/ |
| Salt | salt /salt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɒlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔlt/ | saut /sɑːt/ |
| Wine | wine /wəin/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /wəin/ |
| Rice | rice /rəis/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹəɪs/ | rice /rəis/ |
| Iron | iron /ˈəirən/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ | iron /ˈɑɪəɹn/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ | iron /aɪɹn/ | airn /ɛɹn/ |
| Wheel | wheel /ʍiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /ʍiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /ʍiːl/ | wheel /ʍiːl/ |
| Silk | silke /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ |
| Book | booke /buːk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | buik /bjʌk/ |
| Eat | eate /eːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ |
| Drink | drinke /driŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /drɪŋk/ |
| Sleep | sleepe /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ |
| One | one /oːn/ | one /wʊn/ | one /wɒn/ | one /wʊn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ | ane /en/ |
| Two | two /tuː/ | two /tuː/ | two /tuː/ | two /tˠuː/ | two /tuː/ | two /tuː/ | twa /twɑː/ |
| Three | three /θriː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θriː/ |
| Four | four /foːr/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔː/ | four /foːɹ/ | four /fɔː/ | four /foɾ/ | fower /ˈfʌuər/ |
| Five | fiue /fəiv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /fəiv/ |
| Hundred | hundred /ˈhʊndrəd/ | hundred /ˈhʊndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʊndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɾəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hunner /ˈhʌnər/ |
| Hello | good den /ɡuːd dɛn/ | hello /həˈloː/ | ey up /eɪ ʊp/ | hello /hɛˈloː/ | hello /həˈləʊ/ | hello /hɛˈlo/ | hullo /hʌˈlo/ |
| Thank you | gramercy /ɡraˈmɛrsi/ | thanks /θaŋks/ | ta /tɑː/ | thanks /taŋks/ | thanks /θaŋks/ | thanks /θaŋks/ | thanks /θaŋks/ |
| Good | good /ɡʊːd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | guid /ɡɪd/ |
| New | new /nɪu̯/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ | new /nɪʊ/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ |
| Red | red /rɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /rɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɾɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | reid /rid/ |
| White | white /ʍəit/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /ʍaɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /ʍəit/ |
| Black | black /blak/ | black /blak/ | black /blak/ | black /blak/ | black /blak/ | black /blak/ | black /blak/ |
| Green | greene /ɡriːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɾiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡriːn/ |
| Cuckoo | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | gowk /ɡʌuk/ |
| Cock-a-doodle-doo | cockadidle-dowe /kɒk ə ˈdɪdəl doː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɔkəduːdlˈduː/ | — |
| Computer | computer /kɔmˈpiu̯tər/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtəɾ/ | computer /kəmˈpɪʊtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjutər/ | computer /kəmˈpjutər/ |
| Sushi | stockfish /ˈstɒkfɪʃ/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃɪ/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃiː/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsʉʃi/ | sushi |
| Orange | orange /ˈɒrɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒrɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɾɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔrɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔrɪndʒ/ |
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