romans
Old French
Indo-European (Romance, Gallo-Romance, Northern French) · historical / hidden variety
Old French (françois, romanz) is the Romance language of northern France from the 9th to the 14th centuries CE, the direct ancestor of Middle and Modern French. Earliest attestation: the Strasbourg Oaths (842 CE). Major literary monuments include the chansons de geste (Chanson de Roland, ~1100), Chrétien de Troyes's Arthurian romances (~1170-1190, including the first Arthurian Grail narrative), the Lais of Marie de France, the Roman de la Rose (Guillaume de Lorris ~1230, Jean de Meun ~1275), and the Romance of Renart. Anglo-Norman, the dialect taken to England with the 1066 Norman Conquest, became the prestige courtly and legal language of Plantagenet England — vast loanwords in modern English derive from this period.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Old French
Sources
- Pope (1934) From Latin to Modern French
- Greimas (1979) Dictionnaire de l'ancien français
- Glottolog: oldf1239
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Indo-European (Romance, Gallo-Romance, Northern French)
| Meaning | Old French | Occitan | Arpitan | Ladin | Catalan | Romansh | Classical French |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | eve /ˈɛːvə/ | aiga /ajɡɔ/ | égoua /eɡwɔ/ | ega /ˈeɡa/ | aigua /ajɣwə/ | aua /awa/ | eau /o/ |
| Fire | feu /fø/ | fuòc /fwɔk/ | fuè /fwɛ/ | füch /fyk/ | foc /fɔk/ | fieu /fjew/ | feu /fø/ |
| Sun | soleil /soˈleʎ/ | solelh /sulɛʎ/ | solely /sɔlɛj/ | surëdl /suˈrəːdl/ | sol /sɔl/ | sulegl /suleʎ/ | soleil /sɔlɛj/ |
| Moon | lune /ˈlynə/ | luna /lynɔ/ | lena /lənə/ | löna /ˈløːna/ | lluna /ʎunə/ | glina /ɡlina/ | lune /lyn/ |
| Star | estoile /esˈtoilə/ | estèla /esˈtɛlɔ/ | étêla /eˈtela/ | stëila /ˈstəila/ | estrella /əsˈtɾeʎə/ | staila /ˈʃtai̯la/ | étoile /etwɛl/ |
| Night | nuit /nɥit/ | nuèch /nɥɛtʃ/ | nuet /nɥɛ/ | nöt /nøt/ | nit /nit/ | notg /notʃ/ | nuit /nɥit/ |
| Rain | pluie /ˈplyjə/ | pluèja /ˈplɥɛdʒɔ/ | ploge /ˈplodʒe/ | pievia /ˈpjɛvja/ | pluja /ˈpluʒə/ | plievgia /ˈpliəvdʒa/ | pluie /plɥi/ |
| Snow | noif /nɔif/ | nèu /nɛw/ | nê /neː/ | nëif /nəif/ | neu /nɛw/ | naiv /naif/ | neige /nɛʒə/ |
| Wind | vent /vent/ | vent /ben/ | vent /vɛ̃/ | vent /vɛnt/ | vent /ben/ | vent /vɛnt/ | vent /vɑ̃/ |
| Earth | terre /ˈtɛrə/ | tèrra /ˈtɛrɔ/ | tèrra /tɛra/ | tera /tɛra/ | terra /ˈtɛrə/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | terre /tɛʁ/ |
| Stone | pierre /ˈpjɛrə/ | pèira /ˈpɛjɾo/ | pierra /ˈpjɛrɔ/ | sas /sas/ | pedra /ˈpeðɾə/ | crap /krap/ | pierre /pjɛʁ/ |
| Mountain | montaigne /munˈtaɲə/ | montanha /munˈtaɲɔ/ | montagne /mɔ̃ˈtaɲe/ | crëp /krəp/ | muntanya /munˈtaɲə/ | muntogna /munˈtɔɲa/ | montagne /mɔ̃ˈtaɲ/ |
| Sea | mer /mɛr/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /mar/ | mer /mer/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /mar/ | mer /mɛʁ/ |
| Mother | mere /ˈmɛrə/ | maire /majre/ | mâre /mar/ | uma /ˈuma/ | mare /maɾə/ | mamma /mama/ | mère /mɛːr/ |
| Father | pere /ˈpɛrə/ | paire /ˈpajɾe/ | pâre /par/ | pere /ˈpere/ | pare /paɾə/ | bab /bap/ | père /pɛːr/ |
| Daughter | fille /ˈfiʎə/ | filha /ˈfiʎo/ | felye /ˈfeʎe/ | fia /ˈfia/ | filla /ˈfiʎə/ | figlia /ˈfiʎa/ | fille /fiʎ/ |
| I | je /dʒə/ | ieu /jew/ | je /ʒə/ | ie /je/ | jo /ʒɔ/ | jau /jaw/ | je /ʒə/ |
| You | tu /ty/ | tu /ty/ | te /tə/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | ti /ti/ | tu /ty/ |
| We | nos /nɔs/ | nosautres /nuˈzawtres/ | nos /no/ | nëus /ˈnəus/ | nosaltres /nuˈzaltrəs/ | nus /nus/ | nous /nus/ |
| Name | nom /nõ/ | nom /num/ | nom /nõ/ | inom /iˈnɔm/ | nom /nɔm/ | num /num/ | nom /nɔ̃/ |
| Person | persone /perˈsonə/ | persona /perˈsunɔ/ | pèrsona /pɛrˈsona/ | persona /perˈsona/ | persona /pərˈsonə/ | persuna /perˈsuna/ | personne /pɛrˈsɔnə/ |
| Head | chief /tʃjɛf/ | tèsta /ˈtɛsto/ | téta /ˈteta/ | cef /tʃɛf/ | cap /kap/ | chau /tʃaw/ | tête /tɛːt/ |
| Eye | oeil /œʎ/ | uèlh /wɛʎ/ | uely /œj/ | uedl /ˈwəːdl/ | ull /uʎ/ | egl /eʎ/ | œil /œːj/ |
| Ear | oreille /uˈrɛʎə/ | aurelha /awˈɾeʎɔ/ | orelye /ɔrɛʎ/ | orëdla /oˈrədla/ | orella /uˈɾeʎə/ | ureglia /uˈreʎa/ | oreille /ɔˈʁɛjə/ |
| Nose | nes /nes/ | nas /nas/ | nâs /nɑ/ | nas /nas/ | nas /nas/ | nas /nas/ | nez /ne/ |
| Mouth | bouche /ˈbutʃə/ | boca /ˈbukɔ/ | boche /ˈbotʃe/ | bocia /ˈbotʃa/ | boca /ˈbɔkə/ | bucca /ˈbuka/ | bouche /buʃ/ |
| Tooth | dent /dent/ | dent /den/ | dent /dɛ̃/ | dënt /dənt/ | dent /den/ | dent /dɛnt/ | dent /dɑ̃/ |
| Tongue | langue /ˈlaŋɡə/ | lenga /ˈleŋɡo/ | lengoua /lɛ̃ɡwa/ | lenga /ˈlɛŋɡa/ | llengua /ˈʎeŋɡwə/ | lieunga /ˈljɛuŋɡa/ | langue /lɑ̃ɡ/ |
| Hand | main /mɛ̃j/ | man /ma/ | man /mã/ | man /maŋ/ | mà /ma/ | maun /mawn/ | main /mɛ̃/ |
| Foot | pié /ˈpiɛ/ | pè /pɛ/ | pied /pje/ | pe /pe/ | peu /pɛw/ | pe /pe/ | pied /pje/ |
| Heart | cuer /kwɛr/ | còr /kɔr/ | côr /kɔr/ | cuer /kweɾ/ | cor /kɔɾ/ | cor /kɔr/ | cœur /kœːr/ |
| Bone | os /ɔs/ | òs /ɔs/ | ôs /ɔs/ | os /ɔs/ | os /ɔs/ | oss /ɔs/ | os /ɔs/ |
| Blood | sanc /sãnk/ | sang /saŋ/ | sang /sã/ | sanch /saŋk/ | sang /saŋ/ | sang /saŋ/ | sang /sɑ̃/ |
| Poop | merde /ˈmɛrdə/ | cacà /kaˈka/ | — | merda /ˈmɛrda/ | caca /ˈkakə/ | cac /kak/ | merde /mɛʁd/ |
| Love | amor /aˈmor/ | amor /amur/ | amor /amur/ | amor /aˈmoɾ/ | amor /əmoɾ/ | amur /amur/ | amour /amur/ |
| Tree | arbre /ˈarbrə/ | arbre /arbre/ | âbro /abru/ | albe /ˈalbe/ | arbre /aɾbɾə/ | planta /planta/ | arbre /aːrbr/ |
| Dog | chien /tʃjɛn/ | can /ka/ | chen /tʃɛ̃/ | cian /tʃaŋ/ | gos /ɡos/ | chaun /tʃawn/ | chien /ʃjɛ̃/ |
| Cat | chat /tʃat/ | gat /ɡat/ | chat /tʃa/ | giat /dʒat/ | gat /ɡat/ | giat /dʒat/ | chat /ʃaː/ |
| Fish | poisson /pwɛˈsõn/ | peis /pejs/ | pêsson /peˈsɔ̃/ | pësc /pəʃ/ | peix /peʃ/ | pesch /peʃ/ | poisson /pwaˈsɔ̃/ |
| Bird | oisel /ɔiˈzɛl/ | aucèl /auˈsɛl/ | usél /yˈzel/ | uciel /uˈtʃɛl/ | ocell /uˈseʎ/ | utschè /uˈtʃɛ/ | oiseau /wɛˈzo/ |
| Butterfly | papeillon /papeˈʎõn/ | parpalhòl /paɾpaˈʎɔl/ | parpelyon /parpəˈʎõ/ | pavël /paˈvəl/ | papallona /pəpəˈʎonə/ | spler /ʃpler/ | papillon /papiˈʎɔ̃/ |
| Egg | uef /œf/ | uòu /jɔw/ | uef /wɛf/ | uef /uɛf/ | ou /ɔw/ | ov /ɔf/ | œuf /œf/ |
| Bear | ors /ors/ | ors /uɾs/ | ors /ɔrs/ | lors /lors/ | ós /os/ | urs /urs/ | ours /urs/ |
| Horse | cheval /tʃəˈval/ | caval /kaˈβal/ | chevâl /tʃəˈval/ | ciaval /tʃaˈval/ | cavall /kəˈβaʎ/ | chaval /tʃaˈval/ | cheval /ʃəˈval/ |
| House | maison /maiˈzõn/ | ostal /ustal/ | mêson /meːzɔ̃/ | ciasa /ˈtʃaza/ | casa /kazə/ | chasa /tʃaza/ | maison /mɛzɔ̃/ |
| Milk | lait /lajt/ | lach /lats/ | lacél /laˈθɛl/ | lat /lat/ | llet /ʎet/ | latg /latɕ/ | lait /lɛ/ |
| Honey | miel /mjɛl/ | mèl /mɛl/ | mièl /mjɛl/ | mel /mɛl/ | mel /mɛl/ | mel /mɛl/ | miel /mjɛl/ |
| Salt | sel /sɛl/ | sau /saw/ | sal /sal/ | sèl /sɛl/ | sal /sal/ | sal /sal/ | sel /sɛl/ |
| Wine | vin /vin/ | vin /vi/ | vin /vin/ | vin /viŋ/ | vi /bi/ | vin /vin/ | vin /vɛ̃/ |
| Rice | ris /ris/ | ris /ris/ | — | riji /ˈriʒi/ | arròs /əˈros/ | ris /ris/ | riz /ri/ |
| Iron | fer /fɛr/ | fèrre /ˈfɛre/ | fèr /fɛr/ | fer /fɛr/ | ferro /ˈfɛru/ | fier /fjɛr/ | fer /fɛʁ/ |
| Wheel | roe /ˈrɔə/ | ròda /ˈrɔdo/ | roua /rwɔ/ | roda /ˈroda/ | roda /ˈrɔðə/ | roda /ˈroda/ | roue /ʁu/ |
| Silk | soie /ˈsojə/ | seda /ˈsedɔ/ | sèya /ˈsɛja/ | seida /ˈseida/ | seda /ˈsɛðə/ | saida /ˈsai̯da/ | soie /swɛ/ |
| Book | livre /ˈlivrə/ | libre /ˈliβɾe/ | lévro /ˈlevro/ | liber /ˈliber/ | llibre /ˈʎiβɾə/ | cudesch /ˈkudɛʃ/ | livre /livʁ/ |
| Eat | mangier /manˈdʒjer/ | manjar /mandʒa/ | mengiér /mendʒje/ | mangé /manˈdʒe/ | menjar /mənʒa/ | mangiar /mandʒar/ | manger /mɑ̃ʒe/ |
| Drink | boivre /ˈbojvrə/ | béure /bewre/ | bêre /beːr/ | bever /ˈbever/ | beure /bewɾə/ | baiver /bajver/ | boire /bweːr/ |
| Sleep | dormir /dorˈmir/ | dormir /durˈmi/ | dromir /drɔˈmir/ | durmì /durˈmi/ | dormir /durˈmi/ | durmir /durˈmir/ | dormir /dɔrˈmir/ |
| One | un /yn/ | un /yn/ | yon /jɔ̃/ | un /un/ | un /un/ | in /in/ | un /œ̃/ |
| Two | deus /døs/ | dos /dus/ | doux /dow/ | doi /dɔi/ | dos /dos/ | dus /dus/ | deux /dø/ |
| Three | treis /trejs/ | tres /tɾes/ | três /trɛ/ | trëi /ˈtrəi/ | tres /tɾes/ | trais /trais/ | trois /tʁwɛ/ |
| Four | quatre /ˈkwatrə/ | quatre /ˈkwatɾe/ | quatro /ˈkatrə/ | cater /ˈkater/ | quatre /ˈkwatɾə/ | quatter /ˈkwatər/ | quatre /katr/ |
| Five | cinc /tsink/ | cinc /siŋ/ | cinq /θɛ̃/ | cinch /tʃiŋk/ | cinc /siŋ/ | tschintg /tʃiŋk/ | cinq /sɛ̃k/ |
| Hundred | cent /tsent/ | cent /sen/ | cent /θɛ̃/ | cënt /tʃənt/ | cent /sen/ | tschient /tʃient/ | cent /sɑ̃/ |
| Hello | salut /saˈlyt/ | adieu /adjew/ | adiô /adjo/ | bun de /buŋ ˈde/ | hola /ɔlə/ | allegra /aleɡra/ | Dieu vous garde /djø vu ɡard/ |
| Thank you | merci /mɛrˈsi/ | mercés /merses/ | mèrci /mɛrsi/ | dilan /diˈlaŋ/ | gràcies /ɡɾasiəs/ | grazia /ɡratsia/ | grâces /ɡraːs/ |
| Good | bon /bõn/ | bon /bu/ | bon /bɔ̃/ | bon /boŋ/ | bo /bɔ/ | bun /bun/ | bon /bɔ̃/ |
| New | novel /noˈvɛl/ | nòu /nɔw/ | nôvo /ˈnovo/ | nuef /nuɛf/ | nou /nɔw/ | nov /nɔf/ | nouveau /nuvo/ |
| Red | roge /ˈrodʒə/ | roge /ˈrudʒe/ | rojo /ˈrɔdzo/ | cuecen /ˈkwetʃən/ | vermell /bərˈmeʎ/ | cotschen /ˈkotʃən/ | rouge /ˈruʒə/ |
| White | blanc /blank/ | blanc /blaŋ/ | blanc /blã/ | blanch /blaŋk/ | blanc /blaŋ/ | alv /alf/ | blanc /blɑ̃/ |
| Black | noir /ˈnojr/ | negre /ˈneɣɾe/ | nêr /neːr/ | fosch /fosk/ | negre /ˈneɣɾə/ | nair /nair/ | noir /nweːr/ |
| Green | vert /vɛrt/ | verd /bet/ | vèrd /vɛr/ | vërt /vərt/ | verd /bɛrt/ | verd /vɛrt/ | vert /vɛʁt/ |
| Cuckoo | cucu /kuˈky/ | cocut /kuˈkyt/ | coucou /kuˈku/ | cuch /kuk/ | cucut /kuˈkut/ | cucu /ˈkuku/ | coucou /kuˈku/ |
| Sushi | harenc sor /aˈrɛŋk ˈsɔr/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | — | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | hareng saur /aʁɑ̃ sɔʁ/ |
| Ninety-nine | nonante et nuef /noˈnantə e ˈnwɛf/ | nonanta-nòu /nuˈnantɔ ˈnɔw/ | — | — | noranta-nou /nuˈɾantə ˈnɔw/ | — | — |
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