Conversational Course for Gothic
This course is intended for beginners with no experience in Gothic or more experienced users, they can skip to later lessons. This course has the same structure as learning books for languages with intuitive learning. You learn by reading dialogs with the least amount of grammar.
By reading and repeating, the words will stick and you will be able to remember them.
Since the only difference between Old and Modern Gothic are the word order and new words in Modern Gothic, we will also try to read some Old Gothic texts later in this course. We will also read some modern Gothic texts, although they might be hard to find, we can read some poems, but there are a lot of Wikipedia articles to read Gothic.
You will need a Gothic font to read the Gothic part of this PDF book.
The course will start with Latin letters and the Gothic letters together, after a lot of lessons we will only show to Gothic letters. First we will point out the most important differences:
πΏ = u, remember that it's upside down
π° = a, remember that it's almost the same, but it's missing a line in the middle
π = khv, a sound which corresponds to a combination of German ch and v.
π± = b, it looks like a cyrillic b
π΅ = q, try to remember this one
πΎ = j, it looks like a capital g.
π» = l, the L in Gothic looks like a pictogram of Luggage.
π = o, just think of o with two curlings
π = w, it looks the same as capital y: Y. You can remember this letter by thinking of the last letters in the alphabet: Β W x Y z
π΄ = e, it looks a lot like E, but with some round forms
π² = g, if you know Russian you will see that this is the same symbol.
π³ = d, quite simple but don't confuse it with a.
πΈ = th, Wulfila (writer of Gothic bible) used this symbol for the English th.
π = r, it's important to remember that the R has a long line
πΊ = k, it's important to remember that it's exactly the same as R, but with without a long line.
π΄πΉ = ee, as in 'mean'
π°πΏ = o, as in 'pot'
π°πΉ = e, as in 'bed'
Now try to read these words:
π³π°π²π
πΌπ°π½π½π°
π π΄πΉπ
πΉπΊ
πΈπΏ
π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ
π π°πΏππ³
Lesson 1 Β / π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 1
- Bestar: Hails - π±π΄πππ°π: π·π°πΉπ»π - Roderik: Hails - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: π·π°πΉπ»π - Bestar: Magt ΓΎu rodjan Gutisks? - π±π΄πππ°π: πΌπ°π²π πΈπΏ πππ³πΎπ°π½ π²πΏππΉππΊπ? - Roderik: Ik mag ni rodjan Gutisks - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΉπΊ πΌπ°π² π½πΉ πππ³πΎπ°π½ π²πΏππΉππΊπ - Bestar: wai - π±π΄πππ°π: π π°πΉ | - Bestar: Hello - Roderik: Hello - Bestar: Can you speak Gothic? - Roderik: I can't speak Gothic - Bestar: That's a shame |
hails = hello
ΓΎu = you
rodjan = to speak
ikΒ = I
niΒ = no, not
Gutisks =Β Gothic
magt = you can
mag = I can
wai = that's a shame
Translate:
hello | β¦... |
Lesson 2 Β / π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 2
- Bestar: Ik mag witan, Ζar sa wigs du gard (acc.) is ist - π±π΄πππ°π: πΉπΊ πΌπ°π² π πΉππ°π½, ππ°π ππ° π πΉπ²π π³πΏ π²π°ππ³ πΉπ πΉππ - Roderik: Ik ni wait, ak ΓΎu magt fraihnan imma - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΉπΊ π½πΉ π π°πΉπ, π°πΊ πΈπΏ πΌπ°π²π πππ°πΉπ·π½π°π½ πΉπΌπΌπ° - Bestar: GoΓΎs, ik ΓΎagkja ΓΎus - π±π΄πππ°π: π²ππΈπ, πΉπΊ πΈπ°π²πΊπΎπ° πΈπΏπ | - Bestar: I want to know, where the road to his house is - Roderik: I don't know, but you can ask that to him - Bestar: Ok, thank you. |
gards (masc.) = house
gard = house (accusative)
witan =Β to know
Ζar = where
sa =Β the (masculine)
sa wigs = the road
du = to
is = his (genitive of is (he) )
ist = is (3rd singular form of wisan (π πΉππ°π½) (to be))
wait = I know (1st singular of witan)
ak = but, after a negativeΒ phrase
fraihnan = to ask
imma = him (dative of is (he) )
goΓΎs = ok, good
ΓΎagkjaΒ = (1st singular of ΓΎagkjan (πΈπ°π²πΊπΎπ°π½)Β (to thank))
ΓΎusΒ = you (dative ofΒ ΓΎuΒ (you) )
translate:
I thank him | ik β¦.. β¦β¦ πΉπΊ β¦.. β¦β¦ |
Lesson 3 Β / π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 3
- Bestar: Hails, Ik im Bestar - π±π΄πππ°π: π·π°πΉπ»π, πΉπΊ πΉπΌ π±π΄πππ°π - Roderik: Hails, ik haita Roderik - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: π·π°πΉπ»π, πΉπΊ π·π°πΉππ° πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ - Bestar: Ζar qimis ΓΎu fram? - π±π΄πππ°π: ππ°π π΅πΉπΌπΉπ πΉπ πΈπΏ πππ°πΌ? | - Bestar: I 'm Bestar - Roderik: Hello, I 'm called Roderik - Bestar: Where do you come from? |
im = I 'm
haita = I 'm called
is = you are
qimis =Β you come (to come = π΅πΉπΌπ°π½)
fram = from
Try to read witout Latin transcription:
- π±π΄πππ°π: π·π°πΉπ»π, πΉπΊ πΉπΌ π±π΄πππ°π - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: π·π°πΉπ»π, πΉπΊ π·π°πΉππ° πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ - π±π΄πππ°π: ππ°π π΅πΉπΌπΉπ πΈπΏ πππ°πΌ? | - Bestar: I 'm Bestar - Roderik: Hello, I 'm called Roderik - Bestar: Where do you come from? |
Lesson 4 Β / π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 4
- Bestar: Ik laisja so laiktjo, in ΓΎizei weis skulum laisjan ΓΎo laiktjo. - π±π΄πππ°π: πΉπΊ π»π°πΉππΎπ° ππ π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ, πΉπ½ πΈπΉπΆπ΄πΉ π π΄πΉπ ππΊπΏπ»πΏπΌ π»π°πΉππΎπ°π½ πΈπ π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ - Roderik: Ζarjis laiktjo ana-kunnis ΓΎu? - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: ππ°ππΎπΉπ π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ π°π½π°-πΊπΏπ½π½πΉπ πΈπΏ? - Bestar: So fidwordo laiktjo. -π±π΄πππ°π: ππ ππΉπ³π πππ³π π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ. - Manna: Jus laiseiΓΎ so laiktjo? Abraba goΓΎs. | - Bestar: I learn the lesson, because we have to learn the lesson. - Roderik: Which lesson do you read? - Bestar: The fourth lesson. - Man: You learn the lesson? Very good. |
so laiktjo =Β the lesson
Ζarjis =Β which
ana-kunnan =Β to read
fidwor =Β four
fidwordo =Β fourth
ΓΎo (accusative) =Β the (female)
jus = you (plural)
laiseiΓΎ =Β you learn (plural)
abraba = very
goΓΎs =Β good
Short Grammar
Verbs:
Most verbs have the following declinations:
I read I learn I write | πΉπΊ π°π½π°-πΊπΏπ½π½π° πΉπΊ π»π°πΉππΎπ° |
you read you learn you write | πΈπΏ π°π½π°-πΊπΏπ½π½πΉπ πΈπΏ π»π°πΉππ΄πΉπ πΈπΏ πΌπ΄π»π΄πΉπ |
he reads he learns he writes | πΉπ π°π½π°-πΊπΏπ½π½πΉπΈ πΉπ π»π°πΉππ΄πΉπΈ πΉπ πΌπ΄π»π΄πΉπΈΒ |
we read we learn | π π΄πΉπ π°π½π°-πΊπΏπ½π½π°πΌ π π΄πΉπ π»π°πΉππΎπ°πΌ |
they read they learn | π΄πΉπ π°π½π°-πΊπΏπ½π½π°π½π³ π΄πΉπ π»π°πΉππΎπ°π½π³ |
There are 2 special personal pronouns with declinations,
π πΉπ / wit = we (2 persons) | -ππ / -Γ΄s |
πΎπΏπ / jut = you (2 persons) | -π°ππ / -ats |
Β Β Β Β Β Β
You won't find them in modern languages, but for Gothic they are needed.
Numbers
The verb 'to be' βπ πΉππ°π½β:
πΉπΊ πΉπΌ
πΈπΏ πΉπ
πΉπ πΉππ
π πΉπ ππΉπΎπΏ
π π΄πΉπ ππΉπΎπΏπΌ
πΎπΏπ ππΉπΎπΏππ
πΎπΏπ ππΉπΎπΏπΈ
π΄πΉπ ππΉπ½π³
Lesson 5 Β / π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 5
- Bestar: Magt ΓΎu rodjan Gutisks batizo mis? - π±π΄πππ°π: πΌπ°π²π πΈπΏ πππ³πΎπ°π½ π²πΏππΉππΊπ π±π°ππΉπΆπ πΌπΉπ? - Roderik: Ik ni wait, ak ΓΎu magt rodjan abraba goΓΎs jah ik galaubja ei ik ni haba filu uf-kunΓΎi Gutiskis razdos. - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΉπΊ π½πΉ π π°πΉπ, π°πΊ πΈπΏ πΌπ°π²π πππ³πΎπ°π½ π°π±ππ°π±π° π²ππΈπ πΎπ°π· πΉπΊ π²π°π»π°πΏπ±πΎπ° π΄πΉ πΉπΊ π½πΉ π·π°π±π° ππΉπ»πΏ πΏπ-πΊπΏπ½πΈπΉ π²πΏππΉππΊπΉπ ππ°πΆπ³ππ. - Bestar: ΓΎu rodeis abraba goΓΎs. π±π΄πππ°π: πΈπΏ πππ³π΄πΉπ π°π±ππ°π±π° π²ππΈπ. | - Bestar: Can you speak Gothic better than me? - Roderik: I don't know, but you can speak very well and I believe that I don't have a lot of knowledge of the Gothic language - Bestar: You speak very well. |
batizo = better
-o = -ter (better, greater)
mis (dative) = here: than me, normally: me Β (dative of πΉπΊ, I )
ik wait = I know
ak =Β but (after negative sentence)
jah =Β and
ik galaubja = I believe
ik haba =Β I have
filu = much, a lot
uf-kunΓΎi =Β knowledge
so razda =Β the language
Try to read without the latin transcription and translation
- π±π΄πππ°π: πΌπ°π²π πΈπΏ πππ³πΎπ°π½ π²πΏππΉππΊπ π±π°ππΉπΆπ πΌπΉπ? - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΉπΊ π½πΉ π π°πΉπ, π°πΊ πΈπΏ πΌπ°π²π πππ³πΎπ°π½ π°π±ππ°π±π° π²ππΈπ πΎπ°π· πΉπΊ π²π°π»π°πΏπ±πΎπ° π΄πΉ πΉπΊ π½πΉ π·π°π±π° ππΉπ»πΏ πΏπ-πΊπΏπ½πΈπΉ π²πΏππΉππΊπΉπ ππ°πΆπ³ππ. - π±π΄πππ°π: πΈπΏ πππ³π΄πΉπ π°π±ππ°π±π° π²ππΈπ. |
Lesson 6 Β / π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 6
- Bestar: ana-kunnis ΓΎu ufta bokos? - π±π΄πππ°π: π°π½π°-πΊπΏπ½π½πΉπ πΈπΏ π±ππΊππ πΏπππ°? - Roderik: Ja, akei ik ni bigita ufta goΓΎosΒ bokos. - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΎπ°, π°πΊπ΄πΉ πΉπΊ π½πΉ π±πΉπ²πΉππ° πΏπππ° π²ππΈππ π±ππΊππ. - Bestar: Jabai ΓΎu brukjis Amazon.com, ΓΎu magt bigitan ΓΎans bokos ΓΎaiei ΓΎu sokeis. Ik brukja sinteino Amazon.com. - π±π΄πππ°π: πΎπ°π±π°πΉ πΈπΏ π±ππΏπΊπΎπΉπ π°πΌπ°πΆππ½.πΊππΌ, πΈπΏ πΌπ°π²π π±πΉπ²πΉππ°π½ πΈπ°π½π π±ππΊππ πΈπ°πΉπ΄πΉ πΈπΏ πππΊπ΄πΉπ. πΉπΊ π±ππΏπΊπΎπ° ππΉπ½ππ΄πΉπ½π π°πΌπ°πΆππ½.πΊππΌ. | - Bestar: Do you read a book often? - Roderik: Yes, but I can't find good books often. Β -Bestar: If you use Amazon.com, you can find the books which you look for. I use Amazon.com regularly. |
ufta = often
bokos = book
akei / π°πΊπ΄πΉ =Β but (after positive sentence)
jabai = if
ΓΎans (accusative) =Β the (plural feminine)
article + -ei = that
ΓΎaiei (ΓΎai + ei) =Β that (for masculine plural nominative)
sokjis =Β you look for, you search (to search = πππΊπΎπ°π½)
sinteino =Β regularly, often, daily
Lesson 7 Β / π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 7
- Bestar: Ζan qimis ΓΎu aftra? - π±π΄πππ°π: ππ°π½ π΅πΉπΌπΉπ πΈπΏ π°ππππ°? - Roderik: Ik ni wait, ak ik qima air. - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΉπΊ π½πΉ π π°πΉπ, π°πΊ πΉπΊ π΅πΉπΌπ° π°πΉπ. - Bestar: GoΓΎs. - π±π΄πππ°π: π²ππΈπ. | - Bestar: When do you come again? - Roderik: I don't know, but I come soon. Β -Bestar: Ok. |
Ζan / ππ°π½ =Β when
aftra / π°ππππ° =Β again
air / π°πΉπ =Β early
π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 8
- Bestar: Namo meins ist Bestar. - π±π΄πππ°π: π½π°πΌπ πΌπ΄πΉπ½π πΉππ π±π΄πππ°π. - Roderik: Andanems. Namo meins ist Roderik. - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: π°π½π³π°π½π΄πΌπ. π½π°πΌπ πΌπ΄πΉπ½π πΉππ πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ. - Bestar: Gards ΓΎeins leikaith mis. - π±π΄πππ°π: π²π°ππ³π πΈπ΄πΉπ½π π»π΄πΉπΊπ°πΉπΈ πΌπΉπ. | - Bestar: My name is Bestar. - Roderik: It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Roderik. - Bestar: I like your house. |
sa namo =Β the name
meins =Β my (masculine singular)
andanems = it's a pleasure to meet you
leikan =Β to like
deins =Β your (masculine singular)
leikaiΓΎ mis =Β I like it
π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 9
- Bestar: Lauseis ΓΎu ΓΎana radiau? - π±π΄πππ°π: π»π°πΉππ΄πΉπ πΈπΏ πΈπ°π½π° ππ°π³πΉπ°πΏ? - Roderik: Ik lausja sa radiau in ΓΎamma garda atta meinis. Weis habam radiau ΓΎar. - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΉπΊ π»π°πΏππΎπ° ππ° ππ°π³πΉπ°πΏ πΉπ½ πΈπ°πΌπΌπ° π²π°ππ³π° π°πππ° πΌπ΄πΉπ½πΉπ. π π΄πΉπ π·π°π±π°πΌ ππ°π³πΉπ°πΏ πΈπ°π. | - Bestar: Do you listen to the radio? - Roderik: I listen to the radio in the house of my father. We have a radio there. Β |
ΓΎana (accusative) =Β the (masculine)
lauseis =Β you listen, you hear (to hear, to listen = lπ°πΏππΎπ°π½)
radiau =Β radio
ΓΎamma =Β the (dative, neutral and masc.)
atta =Β father
meinis =Β of me (masculine and neutral)
weis habam = we have
ΓΎar =Β there
π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 10
- Bestar: Eis meljand filu himma daga. - π±π΄πππ°π: π½π°πΌπ πΌπ΄πΉπ½π πΉππ π±π΄πππ°π. - Roderik: Ζa meljand eis? - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: ππ° πΌπ΄π»πΎπ°π½π³ π΄πΉπ? - Bestar: Eis meljand bokos, in ΓΎizei eis skulan meljan bokos. - π±π΄πππ°π: π΄πΉπ πΌπ΄π»πΎπ°π½π³ π±ππΊππ, πΉπ½ πΈπΉπΆπ΄πΉ π΄πΉπ ππΊπΏπ»π°π½ πΌπ΄π»πΎπ°π½ π±ππΊππ. | - Bestar: They write much today. - Roderik: What do they write? - Bestar: They write a book, because they have to write a book. |
meljand = they write (to write = πΌπ΄π»πΎπ°π½)
himma daga = today
miΓΎ =Β with
skulan =Β they have to (to have to = ππΊπΏπ»π°π½)
π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 11
- Bestar: Ik melja aipistaule. - π±π΄πππ°π: πΉπΊ πΌπ΄π»πΎπ° π°πΉππΉπππ°πΏπ»π΄. - Roderik: ΖeΒ meleis jah insandeis ΓΎu aipistaule? - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: ππ΄ πΌπ΄π»π΄πΉπ πΎπ°π· πΉπ½ππ°π½π³π΄πΉπ πΈπΏ π°πΉππΉπππ°πΏπ»π΄? - Bestar: Ik wiljau insandjan ΓΎana aipistaul frijonda meins, namo is Melrik ist. - π±π΄πππ°π: πΉπΊ π πΉπ»πΎπ°πΏ πΉπ½ππ°π½π³πΎπ°π½ πΈπ°π½π° π°πΉππΉπππ°πΏπ» πππΉπΎππ½π³π° πΌπ΄πΉπ½π, π½π°πΌπ πΉπ πΌπ΄π»ππΉπΊ πΉππ. - Roderik: Ζar bauiΓΎ is? - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: ππ°π π±π°πΏπΉπΈ πΉπ? - Bestar: Is bauiΓΎ in mikila staΓΎa, saei habeiΓΎ in Fragkareiki. Is bauiΓΎ ana staina. - π±π΄πππ°π: πΉπ π±π°πΏπΉπΈ πΉπ½ πΌπΉπΊπΉπ»π° πππ°πΈπ°, ππ°π΄πΉ π·π°π±π΄πΉπΈ πΉπ½ πππ°π²πΊπ°ππ΄πΉπΊπΉ. πΉπ π±π°πΏπΉπΈ π°π½π° πππ°πΉπ½π°. | - Bestar: I write a letter. - Roderik: To whom do you write and send a letter? - Bestar: I want to send the letter to my friend, his name is Melrik. - Roderik: Where does he live? - Bestar: He lives in a big place, which is situated in France. He lives on a rock. |
aipistaule = letter
Ζas = who
ΖemΒ = to whom, with whom
insandeisΒ = you send (to send = πΉπ½ππ°π½π³πΎπ°π½)
wiljauΒ = I want (to want = π πΉπ»πΎπ°π½)
frijondsΒ = the friend
bauiΓΎΒ = he lives (to live = π±π°πΏπ°π½)
habanΒ = to find oneself, to be
FragkareikiΒ = France
ana =Β on, at
stains = rock, stone
π»π°πΉπΊππΎπ 12
- Bestar: Sa sauil urriniΓΎ nu, maurgins ist. - π±π΄πππ°π: ππ° ππ°πΏπΉπ» πΏπππΉπ½πΉπΈ π½πΏ, πΌπ°πΏππ²πΉπ½π πΉππ. - Roderik: Ja, ik fraΓΎja ei harduba goΓΎs ussaiΖiΓΎ. - πππ³π΄ππΉπΊ: πΎπ°, πΉπΊ πππ°πΈπΎπ° π΄πΉ π·π°ππ³πΏπ±π° π²ππΈπ πΏπππ°πΉππΉπΈ. - Bestar: Ja, habeis raihts, mikilaba goΓΎs ussaiΖiΓΎ. - π±π΄πππ°π: πΎπ°, π·π°π±π΄πΉπ ππ°πΉπ·ππ, πΌπΉπΊπΉπ»π°π±π° π²ππΈπ πΏπππ°πΉππΉπΈ. | - Bestar: The sun rises now, it's morning. - Yes, I think that it looks very nice. - Bestar: Yes, you are right, it looks very nice. |
sa sauil = the sun
urrinan =Β to rise
nu =Β now
maurgins =Β the morning
fraΓΎjan =Β to think, to have the opinion
harduba = very
raihts =Β right
mikilaba = very
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ππ°πΈπΎπ Β