If you want to translate into Shakespearean English, you are in the right place. Type any modern sentence below, press one button, and get it back dressed in the language of the Bard, with thee, thou, thy, and verbs that end in -eth. The tool is free, it runs entirely in your browser with no sign-up, and it is perfect for text messages with flair, wedding speeches, party invitations, video captions, and school projects that need a little drama.
Translate Into Shakespearean
Type modern English below and press translate. Your words come back dressed in Shakespearean style, with classic pronouns, -eth verb endings, and the Bard’s favorite vocabulary.
A playful stylizer, not a scholar. It follows the famous patterns of Early Modern English (thou/thee/thy, -eth verb endings, classic word swaps) but real Shakespeare is subtler. For the full grammar, see our Shakespearean English guide.
Watch: Shakespeare Speaks, "There's Method in My Madness"
The BBC's Shakespeare Speaks series brings the Bard's idioms to life with humor and modern examples. Watch how "there's method in my madness" works, then try converting your own lines above.
How to Translate Into Shakespearean English
To translate into Shakespearean English well, you only need to master four swaps, and the tool above applies all of them for you. First, the pronouns change: you becomes thou or thee, your becomes thy, yours becomes thine. Second, everyday phrases get their period form: you are becomes thou art, thank you becomes I thank thee, goodbye becomes farewell. Third, common words trade places: hello becomes hail, please becomes prithee, news becomes tidings. Fourth, verbs gain their old endings: he speaks becomes he speaketh, she runs becomes she runneth.
- Type your modern sentence. Keep it plain and direct. Short sentences convert most cleanly.
- Press the translate button. The conversion happens instantly in your browser. Your text never leaves your device.
- Copy and use it. Paste the result into your message, speech, caption, or invitation.
Translate Into Shakespearean: Examples
Here is what everyday lines look like after conversion:
| Modern English | Shakespearean English |
|---|---|
| Hey, are you coming to the party tonight? | Hail, art thou coming to the party this night? |
| I am so happy for you both. | I am so merry for thee both. |
| Please forgive me. | Prithee forgive me. |
| This sunset is beautiful. | This sunset is beauteous. |
| Thank you for the wonderful gift. | I thank thee for the wonderful gift. |
| He runs very quickly. | He runneth most with haste. |
What Makes the Translation Sound Right
The magic is in the details most converters miss. The tool does not just swap words one by one. It expands contractions first, so "don't" becomes "do not" before anything else happens. Then it handles whole phrases, which is how "you are" correctly becomes "thou art" instead of the clumsy "thou are". Only then does it touch single words. Finally, it adds -eth endings only where grammar allows: after he, she, it, or a named person, so "he speaks" becomes "he speaketh" but plural nouns like "birds" are left alone. Names are protected too, so Macbeth stays Macbeth instead of turning into something odd.
When to use thou and when to use thee
Thou is the subject form (thou art welcome), thee is the object form (I welcome thee). The tool picks based on common patterns, and our thee, thou, thy, thine chart explains the full rule with examples from the plays.
Small words, big effect
A handful of tiny swaps does most of the stylistic work: yes to aye, no to nay, very to most, why to wherefore, before to ere. Sprinkle a few of these into any sentence and it instantly sounds four hundred years older. The Shakespearean words glossary lists the most useful ones.
Tips for the Best Conversion
- Start with simple sentences. "I love this song" converts beautifully. Long tangled sentences convert less gracefully.
- Read the result out loud. If it sounds like a stage line, it is ready. If something sounds off, try shorter phrasing.
- Need the reverse? Our Shakespeare to English translator decodes the Bard's lines back into plain modern English.
- Want the main tool? The Shakespeare translator is the full version of this converter with more guidance.
- Writing something longer? Our how to write like Shakespeare guide teaches you to do it by hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to translate into Shakespearean English here?
Yes. The tool is completely free, unlimited, and needs no sign-up. Everything runs in your browser.
How accurate is the translation?
It is a playful stylizer that follows the famous patterns of Early Modern English: thou and thee, -eth endings, classic vocabulary. Real Shakespeare is more subtle, so for schoolwork always check important lines against a real edition or our Shakespearean English guide.
Can I convert long paragraphs into Shakespearean?
Yes. Paste whole paragraphs and the tool converts them at once. Very long texts still work, though older phones may take a moment.
What is the difference between this page and the Shakespeare translator?
This page is the quick converter for the "translate into Shakespearean" phrasing, tuned for fast everyday conversions. The Shakespeare translator is the main tool with deeper explanations of how the conversion works.
Can I use the converted text in my wedding speech or video?
Yes. The output is yours to use anywhere: speeches, invitations, captions, or party games. For extra comedy, try the Shakespeare insult generator; for romance, the Shakespeare compliment generator.
Does it translate Shakespearean back into modern English?
This page converts modern English into Shakespearean. For the reverse direction, use our Shakespeare to English translator.
More Shakespearean Tools and Guides
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