Beowulf

English

Etymology

From Old English Bēowulf.

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

• Bulgarian: Беоулф (Beoulf)
• Chinese:

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

• Esperanto: Beoŭulf
• Finnish: Beowulf
• French: Beowulf (fr) m
• Georgian: ბეოვულფი (beovulpi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Greek: Μπέογουλφ m (Béogoulf)
• Icelandic: Bjólfskviða
• Japanese: ベーオウルフ (bēourufu)
• Korean: 베오울프 (be'oulpeu)
• Portuguese: Beowulf m
• Russian: Беовульф (Beovulʹf)
• Spanish: Beowulf

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Old English

Alternative forms

• Bēoƿulf — wynn spelling

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.

Pronunciation

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

Proper noun

Bēowulf m

1. (poetic) Beowulf

Declension

Declension of Bēowulf (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	Bēowulf	Bēowulfas
accusative	Bēowulf	Bēowulfas
genitive	Bēowulfes	Bēowulfa
dative	Bēowulfe	Bēowulfum