Helpful Words and Phrases

Along with building your character's costume and personality it is important to attempt to “fit-in” through your speech. There are a multitude of resources available to assist with learning this language of years gone by. Here are a few of our favorites to help get you started.

Helpful Words

Adieu: Good-Bye, Farewell

Adry: Thirsty

Afore: Before

Aye: Yes (English) Si: (Spanish) Tak [‘tock'] : (Polish)

Behoof: Benefit, Advantage, Use

Chafe: Fret

Counsel: Advice, Reflection, Secret

Forsooth: In Truth, Certainly

Forth: Off, Away, Substitute for “hither” or “here”

Gainst: Against

Gramercy: Thank-You (English) Danke: (German) Gracias: (Spanish) Merci Beaucoup: (French) Dzienkuje [‘jen+koo+je'] (Polish)

Haste: Hurry, Speed

Hence: Away, From a Place, From Here to There

Huzzah: Hurray (exclamation)

Impart: To Tell, Communicate Information

Nay: No (English) Nie [ ‘nye'] : (Polish)

Naught: Nothing, Wicked, Ruthless

Pish: Interjection Conveying Contempt or Disgust

Please: Pray Thee (English) Bitte: (German) S 'il Vous Plait: (French) Por Favor: (Spanish) Prosze [‘pro'+'she'] : (Polish)

Privy: Restroom

Soever: Whenever, Substitute for “whatsoever” or “howsoever”

Sooth: Truth

Tarry: To Delay

Tankard: Drinking Vessel

Vex: Harass, Torment or Trouble

Whence: From What Origin or Cause

Yet: Still, In Addition To

Helpful Phrases

How stands the hour (what time is it?)

Vent the spleen (it's and old…but useful saying!)

What's the ground (What's the subject or argument)

I have the wind of you (I know what you are getting to)

Save you sir or madam Response: and you sir or madam (A greeting and its response)

A match (Agreed)

Be gone (go away, get lost)

Spit thy poison (go ahead and say your worst)

Void the Chamber (vacate or clear the room)

Say sir or madam (what did you say, excuse me)

Fear not (do not be afraid)

What of that (so what or what about it)

Let's away (let's go)

I'm promised forth (I have an appointment)

Calls my lord or my lady (Did you call me?)

Hold thee (wait a minute)

Good morrow to you (a greeting)

Good day (a greeting)

Pleased to know you (Sort of an introduction)

Well Met my lord or lady (Nice to meet you)

In service to you my lord or lady (a departure line)

Now I take my leave (a departure line)

Fare thee well (a departure line)

How is it with thee (standard greeting)

How goes the world with thee (how are things going)

God save you (both a greeting and parting line)

Make haste (hurry)

Get the gone (get out of here)

Pay no heed (pay no attention)

I did not used to be (I am not in the habit of…)

Changeable stuff (indecisive or inconsistent)

Mark me (pay attention to what I am saying)

In the bloom of thy days (in your youth)

Know thy way (get going)

Give place (get out)

Rash humor (not in a good mood)

Hold thee (wait a minute)

Tis a match (agreed)

Passion of the heart (heart burn)

Hard at thy heels (right behind you)

Thou dost hit the mark (you've hit the nail on the head)

Let us forth (let's go)

Tis the very ground (that is the very meaning)

Under black and white (in writing)

Word it no further (stop talking)

Hold thy chops (be quite / stop talking)

Wither so fast (where are you going in such a hurry)

Bloody, treacherous slave (insult)

I see warm blood upon thy cheeks (blushing / red with anger)

What a smell is here (This stinks)

Move me not (don't piss me off)

Thou shall not take air (don't broadcast it)

It weighs deeply upon me (it affects me deeply)

If you like your sword, use it (dueling comment)

You'll give me ground I fear (dueling insult of cowardness)

I pass my word (I give my word)

Perplexed tongue (I don't understand)

State thy case (state your case)

Cold upon thy feet (can't think fast enough)

Furies of Hell (angry statement)

Stand far off (stand away from me)

Ill tempered (in a bad mood)

Unhand me and learn some manners (warning to someone who has u ninvitedly touched you)

It is gotten under his hand (he has signed it)

Will not mend of it (will not change)

Tine passeth swiftly away (time flies)

Danced the shaking of the sheets (wedding night)

Make not strange (don't be a stranger)