What do we mean by Saxon and Latinate words?
English has two big word families that matter when you read older or formal prose: Saxon (Germanic) words and Latinate (Latin/French) words. Saxon words are often short, everyday, and direct. Latinate words are usually longer, more formal, and make writing sound elevated or bookish.
How to spot them (quick tips)
- Saxon words are often short, one or two syllables: king, horse, fight, eat, help, say, home.
- Latinate words often end in -tion, -ment, -ity, -ence, -ate, or have many syllables: nation, movement, liberty, presence, create, observe.
- Saxon words feel everyday and immediate; Latinate words feel formal, abstract, or literary.
Why this matters in Lady Charlotte Guest's Mabinogion prose
Lady Charlotte Guest translated medieval Welsh tales into English in the 19th century. Her prose blends Saxon and Latinate words. She often uses Saxon words for action and simple, vivid scenes (the clash of swords, a rider’s arrival) and Latinate words when the writing aims for formality, explanation, or a lofty tone (describing fate, lineage, or moral lessons). That mix helps create the medieval-feeling but readable style of her translation.
Examples (pairs to hear the difference)
- ask (Saxon) vs inquire (Latinate)
- think (Saxon) vs reflect (Latinate)
- help (Saxon) vs assist (Latinate)
- start / began (Saxon) vs commence (Latinate)
- see / saw (Saxon) vs observe (Latinate)
Try saying both versions out loud. The Saxon version usually sounds quicker and more direct; the Latinate version sounds slower and more formal.
Short sample sentence and two versions
Imagined in the style of Guest (neutral mix): "The king rode forth and saw the strange tower."
- Saxon-heavy: "The king rode out and saw the strange tower." (short, vivid)
- Latinate-heavy: "The sovereign proceeded outward and perceived the singular tower." (formal, elevated)
A 5-minute practice you can do now
- Label each word as Saxon or Latinate:
- king — Saxon
- sorrow — Saxon (Old English origin)
- noble — Latinate
- began — Saxon
- commenced — Latinate
- shield — Saxon
- armour — Latinate (via Old French)
- laugh — Saxon
- observe — Latinate
- guardian — Latinate
Try rewriting
Original (mixed): "The knight advanced and perceived the strange castle."
Saxon-heavy rewrite: "The knight moved forward and saw the strange castle."
Latinate-heavy rewrite: "The chevalier proceeded and perceived the singular fortress."
Why authors mix both
- Tone: Saxon makes writing feel close and immediate; Latinate adds distance, formality, or a sense of the grand.
- Rhythm and sound: Changing word types changes the sentence music—short words and long words alternate for effect.
- Meaning: Some abstract or legal ideas are easier to express with Latinate vocabulary (justice, lineage, destiny).
One last tip for reading Lady Charlotte Guest
When you read the Mabinogion, notice which scenes use short Saxon words (battle, travel, food, jokes) and which use Latinate words (descriptions of kingship, fate, or ceremonial moments). This helps you understand the mood the translator wanted to create.
If you want, pick two short paragraphs from Guest's translation and I can mark the Saxon and Latinate words for you and explain the tone they create.