Shakespearean English Translator

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and invented over 1,700 words we still use today. This Shakespearean English translator lets you write like him in about 10 seconds. Free, no account needed.

English
Shakespearean English
Translation will appear here...

What Is a Shakespearean English Translator?

Ever wondered what your texts would look like if Shakespeare wrote them? This Shakespearean English translator does exactly that. Paste anything in and get back Early Modern English instantly.

Shakespeare wrote in the late 1500s to early 1600s. English back then sounded completely different from today. Think thee, thou, dost, forsooth, hath, and sentences that feel like poetry even when they are not.

My English teacher made us read Romeo and Juliet out loud in class. Nobody understood half of what was happening. Half the class was just guessing. I started using a tool like this to paste lines in and finally figure out what characters were actually saying to each other. Made the whole play a lot more interesting.

How to Use This Shakespearean English Translator

Takes about 10 seconds. Here is all you do:

  • Open the tool at the top of this page
  • Type or paste whatever text you want to translate
  • Hit Translate and wait a second
  • Copy the result and use it

That is genuinely it. No account, nothing to figure out.

Shakespearean English Examples

Here is what normal conversation looks like through this translator:

Original Shakespearean English
I missed you so much Forsooth, mine heart hath ached greatly in thy absence
Stop lying to me Cease thy falsehoods, for I shall not be deceived
I have no idea what to do Verily, I am at a most grievous loss as to what course to take
This party is so boring Prithee, this gathering doth vex my spirit most terribly
Can we talk later? Wouldst thou grant me audience at a later hour?
I am really proud of you Thou hast filled mine heart with great pride this day

Every output sounds like it belongs in an actual Shakespeare play. Results may vary slightly each time.

When Would You Actually Use This?

More reasons than you would think:

  • English class: If you are studying Shakespeare and need to understand or write in his style, this saves you a lot of time going back and forth with a glossary.
  • Theater and drama: Writing a script or scene set in the Elizabethan era? Run your dialogue through and it sounds instantly authentic.
  • Social media: Shakespearean English captions hit differently. Posting something dramatic in full iambic vibes never gets old.
  • Just curiosity: Most people try it just to see what a random text message looks like in 1600s English. Completely worth it.

Why This Shakespearean English Translator Actually Works

A lot of tools just throw in a few "thee" and "thou" words and call it Shakespearean. This one actually restructures your sentences to match the rhythm and vocabulary of Early Modern English properly.

LexiTranslator is free, runs in your browser, and works on mobile just as well as desktop. No account, no waiting, no ads in your face.

Want to explore more historical styles? Try the Medieval English Translator for something older, or the Old English Translator if you want to go all the way back to Anglo-Saxon.

The Folger Shakespeare Library is one of the best resources for original Shakespeare texts online, and Britannica covers the history of Early Modern English in detail. Both worth checking out.

The tool is right at the top of this page. Type something you said today and see how Shakespeare would have said it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, completely free. No signup, no credit card, no limits. Open the page and start translating.
Old English is from before 1100 AD and looks nothing like modern English. Shakespearean English is Early Modern English from the 1500s and 1600s. It is much closer to what we speak today, just with different words and sentence structure.
Yes. You can paste a line from a Shakespeare play into the tool and get a modern English version back. Works both ways.
Yes. Works on all devices including mobile and tablet. No app needed, just open it in your browser.
Pretty accurate for everyday use, school projects, and creative writing. The tool captures the core vocabulary and rhythm of Early Modern English well.