Beowulf

English

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Old English Bēowulf, probably equivalent to bee +‎ wolf, though the first element is uncertain.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbeɪoʊwʊlf/, /ˈbeɪəwʊlf/

Proper noun

Beowulf

1. An Old English epic poem written circa 1025.

   John Gardner’s retelling of Beowulf is titled Grendel.

2. (poetic) An Anglo-Saxon personal name, usually with reference to the hero of the poem, or to the poem itself.

   Beowulf is as great a hero as Sigmund.

Derived terms

• Beowulfian

Translations

Epic poem

• Armenian: Բեովուլֆ (Beovulf)
• Bulgarian: Беоулф (Beoulf)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 貝奧武夫／贝奥武夫 (zh) (Bèi'àowǔfū)

• Esperanto: Beoŭulf
• Finnish: Beowulf
• French: Beowulf (fr) m
• Georgian: ბეოვულფი (beovulpi)
• Greek: Μπέογουλφ m (Béogoulf)
• Icelandic: Bjólfskviða
• Italian: Beowulf, Beovulfo (very rare)
• Japanese: ベーオウルフ (Bēourufu)
• Korean: 베오울프 (Be'oulpeu)
• Macedonian: Бе́овулф m (Béovulf)
• Portuguese: Beowulf m
• Russian: Беовульф (Beovulʹf)
• Spanish: Beowulf

Old English

Alternative forms

• Bīowulf

Etymology

Origin uncertain, perhaps from bēo (“bee”) +‎ wulf (“wolf”), literally “bee-hunter”, used as a kenning for “bear” or “woodpecker”. Compare also the alternative form Beadowulf, from beadu (“battle”) +‎ wulf, which may be the original. Probably cognate with Old Norse Bjólfr (from earlier *Bíolfr, *Béolfr).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbe͜oːˌwulf/, [ˈbe͜oːˌwuɫf]

Proper noun

Bēowulf m

1. (poetic) Beowulf

Declension

Declension of Beowulf (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	Bēowulf	—
accusative	Bēowulf	—
genitive	Bēowulfes	—
dative	Bēowulfe	—