View source for Old Frisian

{{Short description|Early form of the Frisian language}}
{{good article}}
{{use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox language
|name          = Old Frisian
|image         = Brokmerbrief.jpg
|imagecaption  = A page of the [[Brokmerbrief]] (1345)
|imagealt      = An old manuscript in thin blackletter font with some red ornamentation 
|altname       = {{lang|ofs|Frīsesk}}
|ethnicity     = [[Frisians]]
|region        = [[Frisia]] (modern-day [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], and [[Southern Denmark]])
|era           = 1275 to {{circa|1600}}
|familycolor   = Indo-European
|fam2          = [[Germanic languages|Germanic]]
|fam3          = [[West Germanic languages|West Germanic]]
|fam4          = [[North Sea Germanic]]
|fam5          = [[Anglo-Frisian languages|Anglo-Frisian]]?{{efn|See {{slink|#Relationship with English}} for a discussion of the phylogenetic relationship to English.}}
|fam6          = [[Frisian languages|Frisian]]
|ancestor      = [[Pre–Old Frisian]]
|dia1          = West
|dia2          = East (Weser; Ems)
|script        = [[Latin script]]
|iso3          = ofs
|glotto        = oldf1241
|glottorefname = Old Frisian
|linglist      = ofs
|notice        = IPA
}}

'''Old Frisian''' was a [[West Germanic language]] spoken between the late 13th century and the end of 16th century. It is the common ancestor of all the modern [[Frisian languages]] except for the [[North Frisian language#Insular North Frisian|Insular North Frisian dialects]], with which Old Frisian shares a common ancestor called Pre–Old Frisian or Proto-Frisian. Old Frisian was spoken by contemporary [[Frisians]] who comprised a loose confederacy along the [[North Sea]] coast from around modern-day [[Bruges]] in Belgium to the [[Weser]] in modern-day northern Germany, dominating [[Maritime transport|maritime trade]]. The vast majority of the surviving literature comprises legal documents and charters, though some poetry, [[historiographies]], and religious documents are attested as well.

Old Frisian was [[Ingvaeonic languages|closely related to]] and shared common characteristics with the [[Middle English|forms of English]] and [[Middle Low German|Low German spoken during the period]]. Although earlier scholarship contended that [[Anglo-Frisian languages|Frisian and English had a closer relationship]] to each other than to Low German, this is no longer the prevailing view. Old Frisian evolved into [[Middle Frisian]] around the turn of the 17th century, being largely pushed out by the emergence of Middle Low German as the [[Lingua franca|language of trade]] in the North Sea. Scholars have argued that the term "Old Frisian" is somewhat misleading, since Old Frisian was contemporary with other [[Germanic languages]] during their "Middle" period, such as Middle English and [[Middle High German]]. 

Morphologically, Old Frisian generally marked for four [[Grammatical case|cases]], three [[grammatical gender]]s, and two tenses, though more complex grammatical functions could be achieved through [[Periphrasis|periphrastic constructions]]. Its vocabulary comprised a variety of origins including [[loanword]]s from [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] and [[Slavic languages]]. Following the Christianization of the Frisians, [[Latin]] loans and [[calque]]s became increasingly common. Word order in Old Frisian was varied; although its typical constituent [[word order]] was [[subject–object–verb]], many different word orders are attested in the surviving texts.

==Classification==
Old Frisian was a [[West Germanic language]], which is a part of the larger [[Germanic language family]].{{sfn|Nedoma|2018|p=882}} It is classified as an [[Ingvaeonic language]] along with [[Old English]] and [[Old Saxon]].<ref>{{multiref|{{harvnb|Trask|2000|p=166}}.|{{harvnb|King|1968|pp=248}}.|{{harvnb|Goering|2023|p=63}}.|{{harvnb|Stiles|2018a|p=2}}.}}</ref> Old Frisian had several distinct regional forms, each leading to later dialects, which were related. According to [[Rolf Bremmer]], the linguistic phylogeny – that is, the relation of these varieties to each other through linguistic descent – can be described thus:{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=xii}}

{{clade |style=font-size:95%; line-height:105%;
|label1 = Pre–Old Frisian
|1={{clade
   |label1=Proto–Old Southwest Frisian
   |1={{clade
    |1=Proto–Old South Frisian{{efn|No written records of South Frisian survive.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=xii}}}}
   |2=Old West Frisian
}}
   |label2=Proto–Old East Frisian
   |2={{clade
|label1=Proto–Old Ems Frisian
|1= {{clade
|1= Old Ems Frisian
|2=[[North Frisian language#Mainland North Frisian|Mainland North Frisian]]
}}
|2=Old Weser Frisian
}}
   |label3=
   |3=[[North Frisian language#Insular North Frisian|Insular North Frisian]]
   }}
}}

===Periodization===
The periods of the [[Frisian languages]] are traditionally divided into Pre–Old Frisian (before 1275), Old Frisian (1275–1550), [[Middle Frisian]] (1550–1800), and modern Frisian (1800–present), though these dates have varied among scholars.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|pp=4, 25}} [[R. L. Trask|{{thinspace |R.|L.}} Trask]], for example, puts the end of the Old Frisian period around 1600, while {{ill|Han Nijdam|qid=Q112564952}} suggests it ends about a hundred years earlier.{{sfn|Trask|2000|p=236}}{{sfn|Nijdam|2021|p=137}} Some scholars such as Germen {{nowrap|de Haan}} have argued that there is no reason to demarcate them this way and that these periods are more in line with literary periods than linguistic change.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|pp=4, 25}} Despite its name, Old Frisian was contemporary with [[Middle Dutch]], [[Middle English]], and both [[Middle High German|Middle High]] and [[Middle Low German]], though there is some overlap with [[Old Norse]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=16}}{{sfn|Robinson|1992|p=181}} 

According to De Haan, what is referred to as "Old Frisian" should really be called "Middle Frisian" and what is called "Middle Frisian" should be referred to as "Early Modern Frisian".{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=25}} De Haan argues that the current nomenclature is misleading and confusing because it incorrectly suggests that Old Frisian is contemporary with other "Old" Germanic languages such as Old English and Old Saxon.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=26}} [[Alistair Campbell (academic)|Alistair Campbell]] expressed similar views, arguing that the Frisian spoken between the 14th and 16th centuries are better described as "Middle Frisian".{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=25}} In some contexts, the term "Old Frisian" may also refer to what is called either "Pre–Old Frisian" or "Proto-Frisian", or both the Pre–Old Frisian and Old Frisian periods collectively. Frederik Hartmann, for example, cites Bremmer's analysis of Pre–Old Frisian sound changes but refers to the language as "Old Frisian".{{sfn|Hartmann|2020|pp=462–463}} Bremmer argues that the origins of the "Old" terminology are based in clout for this period, stating that the view of those attempting to give it the "Old" appellation hope "its antiquity will add to its prestige" while acknowledging that the argument is functionally "arbitrary". Ultimately, Bremmer sides with the application of "Middle" to this period except for the two Rüstring codices based on vowel quality in unstressed syllables, itself based on agreed-upon criteria going back to the work of [[Jacob Grimm]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=121}}{{efn|This article uses the narrower definition of the form of the language spoken from around 1275 until around 1600 for consistency.}}

===Relationship with English===
{{main|Anglo-Frisian languages}}
[[File:Anglo-Frisian_distribution_map.svg|thumb|Approximate present-day distribution of the proposed [[Anglo-Frisian languages]] in Europe<br/>[[Anglic languages|Anglic]]:
{{legend|#ffa500|[[English language|English]]}}
{{legend|#D2691E|[[Scots language|Scots]]}}
[[Frisian languages|Frisian]]:
{{legend|#000066|[[West Frisian language|West Frisian]]}}
{{legend|#3366CC|[[North Frisian language|North Frisian]]}}
{{legend|#66CCFF|[[Saterland Frisian language|Saterland Frisian]]}}
Hatched areas indicate where [[multilingualism]] is common.]]
Traditionally, [[English language|English]] and the Frisian languages were widely regarded as closer to each other than to any other Germanic language.{{sfn|Stiles|2018a|p=1}} The German linguist [[Theodor Siebs]] is commonly associated with popularizing this affinity and is credited with coining the term "[[Anglo-Frisian languages]]" in his 1889 dissertation entitled {{lang|de|Zur Geschichte der Englisch-friesischen Sprache}} ('On the History of the Anglo-Frisian Languages'), though linguists like [[Henry Sweet]] articulated the concept as early as 1876.{{sfn|Stiles|2018a|pp=1, 3}}{{sfn|Versloot|2021|p=339}} Observations about the close relationship are much older than the 19th century, however; it is likely that [[Anglo-Saxon mission|Anglo-Saxon missionaries]] during the 7th and 8th centuries saw the two languages as closely related.{{sfn|Versloot|2021|p=339}} Datings proposed for a common ancestor of the Anglo-Frisian languages estimate that it was probably fully formed by the 4th or 5th century, diverging shortly thereafter.{{sfn|Schrijver|2017|p=48}}

This phylogenetic view of English and Frisian is no longer widely accepted.{{sfn|Buczek|2020|pp=245, 270}} Linguists, such as {{ill|Arjen Versloot|fy}} and Patrick Stiles, have argued that – while English, Frisian, and Low German are correctly believed to have a common Ingvaeonic ancestor – there is no reason to believe that English and Frisian shared a uniquely close genetic relationship thereafter.<ref>{{harvnb|Bazelmans|2009|p=326}}: "According to most researchers, this means that there cannot have been an 'original' Anglo-Frisian entity [...]"</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Stiles|2018a|p=31}}: "[...] It is not possible to construct the exclusive common relative chronology that is necessary in order to be able to establish a node on a family tree. The term and concept of 'Anglo-Frisian' should be banished to the historiography of the subject."</ref> Some shared linguistic changes do overlap in ways unique to these languages, often at similar times, but these changes do not match in terms of their relative chronology; in other words, these common changes do not appear to have occurred at the same time or in the same order.<ref>{{multiref|{{harvnb|Versloot|2021|pp=341–342}}.|{{harvnb|Stiles|2018a|pp=5–6}}.|{{harvnb|Schrijver|2017|p=48}}.}}</ref> Instead, some linguists argue that the Ingvaeonic precursor was likely a broad [[dialect continuum]] which saw the dialects which later became English and Frisian [[Wave theory|develop similarly but not as one language]]. This continuum was spoken across the continental coast of the North Sea prior to the [[Migration Period]], evolving into distinct languages around turn of the 5th century.{{sfn|Bazelmans|2009|pp=325–326}} The continuum model is sometimes broadened to include [[Old Low Franconian]] as well.{{sfn|Buczek|2020|p=251}} Under this model, the two language groups did experience a series of changes [[Sprachbund|particular to the area]] along the North Sea between about 450 and 650, which influenced both languages as well as Dutch, [[Flemish dialects|Flemish]], and probably northern varieties of Low German.{{sfn|Versloot|2021|p=346}} 

The English and the Frisians were long associated with each other. Frisians are traditionally believed to have comprised a fairly significant portion of [[Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain|the Germanic invaders of Britain]] during the [[Anglo-Saxon]] period and, while no major district of England is named after the Frisians, there is toponymic data to support a significant Frisian settlement, including [[Friston]] and [[Frisby, Leicestershire|Frisby]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=125, 127}} Genetic evidence has suggested that following the Roman-era exodus of the [[Frisii]], the people who later inhabited the area were genetically indistinguishable from the 5th-century [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]] who colonized what is now England.<ref>{{harvnb|Colleran|2019|p=78}}: "The Anglo-Frisian ancestor suggested by the neogrammarians <!-- sic --> is a historical reality, at least in a genetic sense. The Frisians really are Angles."</ref> Frisian and English domination of maritime trade in the North Sea also played a role in their relationship; London was a hub for Frisian [[slave-traders]] and [[York]] had a special [[quarter (urban subdivision)|quarter]] for housing Frisian merchants.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=128}} The Anglo-Saxons [[Anglo-Saxon settlement in the Netherlands|invaded and subjugated the Frisians during the 5th century]], though this is not considered to be a cause for the linguistic similarities.{{sfn|Bazelmans|2009|pp=321, 326}} 

Other scholars, however, have persisted in supporting the Anglo-Frisian language family as a legitimate phylogenetic category, split into two general outlooks on the relationship. The first is the traditional model, which contends that the relationship is that the two languages diverged from a common Proto-Anglo-Frisian ancestor and thus are [[sister language]]s.{{sfn|Buczek|2020|pp=249–250}} The other theory is called the convergence hypothesis, which regards Ingvaeonic as the last common ancestor, but holds that early forms of English and Frisian became increasingly intertwined and influenced by each other to form the striking resemblance each shares to the other. This approach to the relationship is credited to [[Hans Kuhn (philologist)|Hans Kuhn]], who published work on the topic in 1955.{{sfn|Buczek|2020|p=251}} Stiles and [[Hans Frede Nielsen|Hans F. Nielsen]] both dismissed the convergence approach as unrealistic, pointing to the difficulty of dispersing those kinds of linguistic developments across the maritime divide.{{sfn|Buczek|2020|p=252}}

===Dialects===
Old Frisian was composed of several dialects. The main division was between Old West Frisian and Old East Frisian, based on their position in relation to the [[Lauwers]] river; this division predated the Old Frisian period as there is evidence that it was divided on this basis as early as the 8th century.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=109}} This division was not solely linguistic; the divide was also jurisdictional and ecclesiastical. The [[diocese]]an divisions are nearly identical to the dialectal divisions. Old West Frisian, largely coterminous with the [[Diocese of Utrecht (695–1580)|Diocese of Utrecht]], was divided into two dialects – the southwestern dialect in and around [[Westergoa]] and the northeastern dialect in and around [[Eastergoa]] – which formed a growing dialect continuum after [[Middelzee|the sea arm which divided them]] began to be [[Land reclamation|reclaimed]] around 1100.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=109}} Old East Frisian was divided twice as well: Old Weser Frisian in the [[Diocese of Bremen]] and Old {{ill|Ems Frisian|nl|Eemsfries|fy|Iemsfrysk}} in the [[Diocese of Münster]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=109}} During the period of Old Frisian, the dialect which later became [[North Frisian language|North Frisian]] is not attested.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=109}} Stiles states that both varieties of North Frisian – Insular and Mainland – are ultimately descended from an Eastern Frisian ancestor.{{sfn|Stiles|2008|p=176}}

The descendants of Old Weser Frisian are [[Wangerooge Frisian|Wangerooge]], [[Wursten Frisian|Wursten]], and [[Harlingerland Frisian]], all of which are now [[Language death|extinct]]. Old Weser Frisian is attested in two full manuscripts and two fragments.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=111}} Whether the Old Weser Frisian attested in these documents is the direct ancestor of the Wangerooge or Wursten variants or rather an extremely close relative is the matter of some debate; Stiles argues that the document's language is closely related to the two but distinct from them, while Bremmer categorizes them as direct descendants.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=111}}{{sfn|Stiles|2008|pp=176–177}} Old Ems Frisian is the ancestor of the now-extinct Emsingo, Brokmerland, and Ommelanden dialects, as well as the still-extant [[Saterland Frisian language|Saterland Frisian]], its only living descendant.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=113}} Old West Frisian later developed into the modern [[West Frisian language]].{{sfn|Winter|2022|p=6}} In general, Old West Frisian manuscripts are more recent attestations compared to Old East Frisian ones; while most Old West Frisian texts are dated to around 1450 to 1525, their Old East Frisian counterparts are typically dated to between 1300 and 1450.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=114}}

==History==
===Speakers===
{{broader|Frisians}}
[[File:Schilderwerk huldiging Friezen - Münster - 20317896 - RCE (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|A tracing of a wall painting at [[Münster Cathedral]] showing Frisians offering gifts to the cathedral's patron|alt=A black-and-white drawing of four groups of people flanking a man with a halo and a sword; the four groups comprise women and men who are bringing offerings of livestock and agriculture; one man in each group is armed with a spear; above the piece is an inscription in Latin]]
The earliest references to the [[Frisians]] are found in the works of Roman and Greek authors such as [[Tacitus]], as in his {{lang|la|[[Germania (book)|Germania]]}}, and [[Ptolemy]]; both describe the Frisians as living from north of the [[estuary]] of the [[Rhine]] to around the [[Ems (river)|Ems]] river. Although they were not a part of the [[Roman Empire]], the areas comprising [[Frisia]] were akin to a [[tributary state]] and some Frisians served as [[mercenaries]] in the [[Roman army]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=1}} It is uncertain whether the Frisians described by the Romans were Germanic-speaking peoples; [[Onomastics|evidence from proper names]] suggests they spoke an [[Indo-European language]] that was neither [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] nor [[Celtic languages|Celtic]], though Old Frisian was certainly a member of the Germanic language family.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=1}} 

Following the retreat of [[Netherlands in the Roman era|Romans from the Low Countries]] in the 5th century, the Frisians spread considerably over the following two hundred years, dominating the [[North Sea]] region. This period is marked by the rule of [[warlord]]-like kings and a [[Maritime transport|maritime economy]] augmented by considerable cattle-breeding skill; Frisian domination of the North Sea during this era led some contemporary non-Frisian documents to refer to the North Sea as the Frisian Sea ({{langx|la|Mare Frisicum}}).{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=2}} By the early 7th century, the Frisians expanded from the {{ill|Sincfal|nl}} near modern-day [[Bruges]] to the [[Weser]] estuary.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=2}}{{sfn|Knol|2021|p=13}} During the latter half of the century, the first wave of Frisians began colonizing the islands off the southwestern coast of modern-day Denmark, occupying the uninhabited islands of [[Amrum]], [[Föhr]], [[Sylt]], and [[Heligoland]]; the linguistic descendants of this migration are the Insular North Frisian speakers, who speak [[Öömrang]], [[Fering]],{{efn|Fering and Öömrang are sometimes considered to be one dialect.{{sfn|Winter|2022|p=11}}}} [[Söl'ring]], and [[Heligoland Frisian]] varieties, respectively.{{sfn|Winter|2022|p=11}} By the end of the century, the Frisians also controlled the coastal regions from the [[Scheldt]] to the Rhine.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=2}} During the following period, Christianity was introduced to the region by [[Willibrord]] and Frisia was subjugated by [[Charles Martel]] and then later dominated by [[Charlemagne]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=2}} 

Frisians who spoke Old Frisian during the latter part of the 13th century were divided by the Lauwers river. Those to the west of it were partially conquered by the [[County of Holland]] during [[Friso-Hollandic Wars|its long-standing campaigns of conquest]], but they were ultimately able to repel Holland's forces, killing [[William IV of Holland|its count]] at the [[Battle of Warns]] in 1345.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=3}} The political situation east of the river is largely obscure during this period, but it appears that they were under regular assault from [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxon]] forces though were able to keep them at bay.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=3}} This period is also marked by a loose confederation between the Frisian territories, the [[Upstalsboom|Upstalsboom League]], which united the [[Seven Sealands]] of Frisia and produced legal documents from around 1300, though translations of its original Latin texts only appear in Old West Frisian.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=3–4}} The following centuries were marked by [[civil war]]s including the [[Guelders Wars]], which saw more Frisian casualties than any war afterward.{{sfn|Mol|2022|p=13}}

===Corpus===
[[File:Freeska Landriucht.jpg|thumb|The {{lang|ofs|{{ill|Freeska Landriucht|fy||stq}}}} is a medieval document with [[Latin]] and Old Frisian law texts.{{efn|Although this corpus of legal texts are referred to as "Old Frisian law texts", at least seven of the texts predate the Old Frisian period.{{sfn|Nijdam|Hallebeek|de Jong|2023|p=15}}}}|alt=A manuscript written in very thin blackletter font with red ornimentation throughout; the incipit begins with an extremely ornate letter which is colored in both red and black]]
Outside the fewer than twenty surviving [[Anglo-Saxon runes|Pre–Old Frisian runic inscriptions]] – all of which are dated to between the 6th and 9th centuries – and some individual words captured in the [[marginalia]] of Latin texts, the earliest Frisian-language text to survive to the modern period is an [[interlinear gloss]] of a Latin [[psalter]] thought to be from [[Fivelgo]] in the modern-day Netherlands and dated to around 1200.{{sfn|Nedoma|2018|p=882}}{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=6}} The first full manuscripts are the First Brokmer Codex, written sometime between 1276 and 1300, and the First Rüstring Codex, written around 1300. These documents are known to be copies and it is uncertain when, where, or by whom the original texts were written, though it is likely that they were originally composed shortly after 1225.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=6–7}}

Legal texts dominate the surviving [[Text corpus|corpus]] of Old Frisian documents; all but one of the Frisian-language documents east of the Lauwers are legal documents.<ref>{{multiref2|For the overwhelming majority being legal documents, see {{harvnb|Nedoma|2018|p=882}} and {{harvnb|Bremmer|2009|p=7}}.|For documents east of the Lauwers, see {{harvnb|Bremmer|2009|p=7}}.}}</ref> To the west, textual diversity is somewhat wider. Western documents include over a thousand [[charter]]s and administrative documents, though poetry and historiographies have survived alongside them as well as several religious works.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=8}} During Latin's descent as the chosen language of legal texts like charters, Frisian began a linguistic decline as [[Low German]] was either of [[Prestige (sociolinguistics)|higher prestige]] or was more widely understood. However, Old Frisian documents were still widely translated into Low German from the late 15th century until the turn of the 17th century and modern Low German demonstrates traces of Old Frisian influence, including in placenames, personal names, vocabulary, and [[syntax]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=7–8}} Between the Lauwers and the Ems, no original Frisian texts occur in the record after around 1450 and the last known public document composed in Old Frisian dates to 1547 following the introduction of [[Dutch language|Dutch]] as the [[Official language|language of administration]] by the representatives of [[Duchy of Saxony]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=7–8}}

==Phonology==
Old Frisian phonology has been reconstructed by analyzing the existing corpora{{snd}}that is, the surviving texts{{snd}}and the language's modern descendants. Orthographically, no distinction was made in early Old Frisian to provide for [[vowel length]], though in later forms of the language an {{lang|ofs|e}} or {{lang|ofs|i}} was placed after the vowel to indicate a long vowel, as in {{lang|ofs|baem}} ({{IPA|ofs|baːm|}}, {{gloss |tree}}). [[Geminate]] consonants, however, were consistently written with duplicated consonants unless they were found in word-final position.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=21–23}} The general characteristics of Old Frisian phonology are as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Old Frisian vowels{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=42–43}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | Type
! colspan="2" | [[Front vowel|Front]]
! colspan="2" | [[Back vowel|Back]]
|- style="font-size: small;"
! short
! long
! short
! long
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|i}}
| {{IPA link|iː}}
| {{IPA link|u}}
| {{IPA link|uː}}
|-
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPA link|e}}
| {{IPA link|eː}}, {{IPA link|ɛː}}
| {{IPA link|o}}
| {{IPA|oː}}, {{IPA link|ɔː}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
|
|
| {{IPA link|a}}
| {{IPA link|aː}}
|}

{|class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
|- style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ Old Frisian consonants{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=47}}{{efn|Gemination, largely inherited from the West Germanic period, was possible for all consonants except {{lang|ofs|r}}.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=23}}}}
!Type
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;"| [[Bilabial consonant|Bilabial]]
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;"| [[Dental consonant|Dental]]
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;"| [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;"| [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;"| [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
![[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|  style="width:20px; border-right:0;"| ||  style="width:20px; border-left:0;"|{{IPAlink|m}}
|colspan=2|
|  style="width:20px; border-right:0;"| ||  style="width:20px; border-left:0;"|{{IPAlink|n}}
|colspan=2|
|  style="width:20px; border-right:0;"| ||  style="width:20px; border-left:0;"|{{IPAlink|ŋ}}
|
|-
! [[Stop consonant|Stop]]
|style="border-right: 0;"|{{IPAlink|p}}||style="border-left: 0;"|{{IPAlink|b}}
|  style="width:20px; border-right:0;"|{{IPAlink|t}}||  style="width:20px; border-left:0;"|{{IPAlink|d}}
|colspan=2|
|colspan=2|
|style="border-right: 0;"|{{IPAlink|k}}||style="border-left: 0;"|{{IPAlink|ɡ}}
|
|-
![[Affricate|Affricates]]
|
|
|
|
| style="border-right: 0;" |{{IPAplink|t͡s}}|| style="border-left: 0;" |{{IPAplink|d͡z}}
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! [[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
| style="border-right: 0;" |{{IPAlink|f}}|| style="border-left: 0;" |({{IPAlink|v}})
| style="border-right: 0;" |{{IPAlink|θ}}|| style="border-left: 0;" |({{IPAlink|ð}})
| style="border-right: 0;" |{{IPAlink|s}}|| style="border-left: 0;" |({{IPAlink|z}})
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" |{{IPAlink|x}}|| style="border-left: 0;" |({{IPAlink|ɣ}})
|({{IPAplink|h}})
|-
! [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| style="width:20px; border-right:0;" | || style="width:20px; border-left:0;" |
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" |{{IPAlink|j}}
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" |{{IPAlink|w}}
|
|-
! [[Liquid consonant|Liquid]]
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" |{{IPAlink|r}} || style="border-left: 0;" |{{IPAlink|l}} 
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
|
|}

Old Frisian phonology was not uniform. For example, around the year 1200, the West Germanic phoneme {{lang|gem-x-proto|þ}} became {{lang|ofs|d}} in word-medial and word-final positions in several Old Frisian dialects.{{efn|Old West Frisian also demonstrates word-initial {{lang|ofs|d}} from an earlier {{lang|gem-x-proto|þ}}, such as in Old West Frisian {{lang|ofs|dis}} instead of {{lang|ofs|this}} ('this').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=54–55}}}} This change did not affect Weser East Frisian or North Frisian and forms like {{lang|ofs|lathia}} existed beside {{lang|ofs|ladia}} in different dialects during the same period.{{sfn|Stiles|2018|p=893}} Orthographic conventions used in Old West Frisian help to make the phonological structure much clearer than the Old East Frisian dialects do. Vowel length is frequently marked, either with the addition of an {{lang|ofs|e}} after the long vowel, as in {{lang|ofs|boek}} ('book'), or the duplication of the long vowel, as in {{lang|ofs|huus}} ('house') or {{lang|ofs|wiif}} ('woman').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=114}} Orthographic duplication of long {{lang|ofs|u}} was sometimes {{lang|ofs|uu}} and sometimes {{lang|ofs|w}}, as in {{lang|ofs|hws}}. Similarly, a long {{lang|ofs|i}} may sometimes be represented as {{lang|ofs|ij}}, as in {{lang|ofs|sijn}} ('his'), or {{lang|ofs|y}}, as in {{lang|ofs|lyf}} ('[[wergeld]]').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=114}} In some instances, {{lang|ofs|y}} or {{lang|ofs|i}} may be used as a length modifier as well, as in {{lang|ofs|teyken}} ('sign') or {{lang|ofs|kuith}} ('known, public').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=114}} The [[digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{lang|ofs|gh}} is used to represent {{IPA|ofs|ɣ|}}, the fricative [[allophone]] of {{lang|ofs|g}}. The phoneme /t/ is sometimes written as {{lang|ofs|th}} though no pronunciation change is thought to have occurred. Similarly, the /sk/ cluster is sometimes written as {{lang|ofs|sch}}, but it was still likely pronounced as {{IPA|ofs|sk|}}.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=114}}

===Old Weser Frisian===
Short vowels in unstressed final syllables in Old Weser Frisian were in [[complementary distribution]]; this distribution is called "vowel balance". When the preceding vowel is short and the introduction of vowel balance would cause the additional short vowel to be in an open syllable, {{lang|ofs|i}} or {{lang|ofs|u}} appear, such as in {{lang|ofs|Godi}} ('to God') or {{lang|ofs|skipu}} ('ships').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=112}}{{sfn|Winter|2022|p=6}} If the preceding vowel was long or a diphthong, or if the stem vowel was separated by another syllable, the word ended with the vowels {{lang|ofs|e}} or {{lang|ofs|o}}, such as in {{lang|ofs|liōde}} ('people'). This regular distribution of word-final vowels has allowed linguists to differentiate between long and short vowels in Old Frisian documents where vowel length is not marked.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=112}} The consequences of vowel balance is reflected in two of the descendant dialects, [[Wangerooge Frisian|Wangerooge]] and [[Wursten Frisian|Wursten]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=112}} Old Weser Frisian also raised {{lang|ofs|e}} to {{lang|ofs|i}} before {{lang|ofs|r}} ({{lang|ofs|irthe}}, 'earth') and raised {{lang|ofs|a}} and {{lang|ofs|u}} to {{lang|ofs|i}} through [[i-mutation|''i''-mutation]] ({{lang|ofs|kining}}, 'king'). However, {{lang|ofs|i}} was lowered to {{lang|ofs|e}} and {{lang|ofs|u}} to {{lang|ofs|o}} in open syllables if the following syllable contains {{lang|ofs|a}}. This last process is known as the Rüstring ''a''-mutation.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=112}} Following fronting and the palatalization of {{lang|gem-x-proto|-ag-}} and {{lang|gem-x-proto|-eg}}, which typically became {{lang|ofs|ei}}, Old Weser Frisian exhibits {{lang|ofs|ī}}, such as in {{lang|ofs|dī}} ('day') instead of {{lang|ofs|dei}} and {{lang|ofs|brīn}} ('brain') instead of {{lang|ofs|brein}}. Proto-Germanic {{lang|gem-x-proto|ē₂}} also became {{lang|ofs|ī}}.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=112}}

===Old Ems Frisian===
The ancestor of modern Saterland Frisian, Old Ems Frisian diphthongized {{lang|ofs|ē}} to {{lang|ofs|ei}} before a voiced [[alveolar consonant]] including [[resonants]], as in {{lang|ofs|breid}} ('bride', also 'broad'). In unstressed syllables, the suffix {{lang|ofs|-en}} inserted {{lang|ofs|r}} between the vowel and the final consonant, such as in {{lang|ofs|wēpern}} ('weapon') instead of {{lang|ofs|wēpen}}. In later forms of the dialect, {{lang|ofs|a}} became lengthened after some consonant clusters; {{lang|ofs|ā}} then had a tendency to become rounded to {{lang|ofs|ō}} ({{IPA|ofs|ɔː|}}) irrespective of if it had been lengthened by the consonant cluster lengthening. This gave rise to forms such as {{lang|ofs|ōlle}} ('all') instead of {{lang|ofs|alle}}, though forms like {{lang|ofs|ōlsa}} ('so') – against the non-Ems form {{lang|ofs|alsā}} – show rounding but not in both circumstances.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=113–114}}

===Old West Frisian===
Old West Frisian exhibits rounding of {{lang|gem-x-proto|a}} before [[nasal consonants]]; this was later constrained to the northeastern dialect before {{lang|ofs|-mn}} or {{lang|ofs|-nn}}, as the southwestern dialect restored it to {{lang|ofs|a}}. When {{lang|ofs|v}} occurred between vowels, it became {{lang|ofs|w}}, as in {{lang|ofs|howe}} instead of {{lang|ofs|hove}} for 'court [dative singular]'; this also sometimes led to the collapse of the two vowel structure, causing a diphthong to occur, as in {{lang|ofs|hāud}} ('head'; from earlier {{lang|ofs|hāwed}} inherited from {{lang|ofs|hāved}}). This sound change is found in later forms of the Old East Frisian dialects.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=114}} Old West Frisian also exhibits a process called "Jorwert breaking" where long front vowels followed by {{lang|ofs|w}} are converted into rising diphthongs. This means that {{IPA|ofs|iːw|}}, {{IPA|ofs|eːw|}}, and {{IPA|ofs|ɛːw|}} were converted into {{IPA|ofs|juːw|}}, {{IPA|ofs|joːw|}}, and {{IPA|ofs|jɔːw|}}, respectively. Sometimes the {{lang|ofs|j}} is deleted if it follows an {{lang|ofs|r}}.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=114–115}} Before consonant clusters beginning with a [[liquid consonant]], {{lang|ofs|e}} is typically raised to {{lang|ofs|i}}. In consonant clusters where {{lang|ofs|l}} preceded {{lang|ofs|d}}, {{lang|ofs|k}}, {{lang|ofs|n}}, or {{lang|ofs|r}}, the preceding {{lang|ofs|e}} was lengthened, diphthongized, and stress shifted to the second syllable. This process, called "late Old West Frisian breaking", can be seen in examples such as {{lang|ofs|feld}} lengthening to {{lang|ofs|fēld}} before breaking into {{lang|ofs|fiēld}}; stress originally fell on the first syllable, then shifted to the final syllable.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=115}} Before the cluster {{lang|ofs|nd}}, {{lang|ofs|e}} diphthongizes to {{lang|ofs|ei}}. In the sequence {{lang|ofs|-we-}}, both elements merge into {{lang|ofs|-o-}}. The diphthong {{lang|ofs|iā}} raised to {{lang|ofs|iē}}, pronounced as {{IPA|ofs|jɛː|}}. The [[voiceless dental fricative]] {{lang|ofs|th}} became {{lang|ofs|t}} word-initially and the [[voiced dental fricative]], also represented as {{lang|ofs|th}} became {{lang|ofs|d}} word-initially and -medially. Between vowels, {{lang|ofs|d}} – including those previously dental fricatives – are elided, as in {{lang|ofs|snīa}} ('to cut'; from earlier {{lang|ofs|snītha}}). Word-final {{lang|ofs|d}} was devoiced and {{lang|ofs|u}} was raised to {{lang|ofs|o}} before nasal consonants.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=115}}

==Morphology==
Old Frisian distinguished between three [[grammatical gender]]s: masculine, feminine, and neuter.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=53}} Case appears to have been somewhat variable; while [[nominative case|nominative]], [[accusative case|accusative]], [[genitive case|genitive]], and [[dative case]]s are abundant, the [[instrumental case]] was preserved in some [[Fossilization (linguistics)|fossilized]] phrases and a [[locative case]] has been documented in a few attestations.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=53}}{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=54}} Only two [[grammatical number]]s are attested in Old Frisian (singular and plural), though a [[Dual (grammatical number)|dual number]] is attested in both Insular and Mainland forms of North Frisian, becoming obsolete during the early 20th century. Old Frisian likely had a dual number, but the legal context in which most attestations occur did not give cause for the use of the dual.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=56}} Old Frisian did not have [[reflexive pronoun]]s for most of its history; although the inherited reflexive {{lang|ofs|sīn}} is attested, it displaced the expected neuter genitive singular pronoun {{lang|ofs|*his}} and the language instead used the accusative case to express the reflexive grammatical function.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=56}}

===Pronouns===
Pronouns in Old Frisian were only attested in four cases: nominative, accusative, genitive, and dative.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=54}} Like other Invaeonic languages such as Old English and Old Saxon, there is no distinction between the accusative and dative, which is contrasted with other West Germanic languages like Old High German.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=55}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:500px;"  
<caption>First- and second-person pronouns{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=55-56}}</caption>
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" | First person
! colspan="2" | Second person
|-
! Singular
! Plural
! Singular
! Plural
|-
! Nominative
| {{lang|ofs|ik}} || {{lang|ofs|wī}} || {{lang|ofs|thū}} || {{lang|ofs|jī}}, {{lang|ofs|ī}}, {{lang|ofs|gī}}
|-
! Accusative
| {{lang|ofs|mī}} || {{lang|ofs|ūs}} || {{lang|ofs|thī}} || {{lang|ofs|iu}}, {{lang|ofs|io}}
|-
! Genitive
| {{lang|ofs|mīn}} || {{lang|ofs|ūser}} || {{lang|ofs|thīn}} || {{lang|ofs|iuwer}}
|-
! Dative
| {{lang|ofs|mī}} || {{lang|ofs|ūs}} || {{lang|ofs|thī}} || {{lang|ofs|iu}}, {{lang|ofs|io}}
|}

Old West Frisian innovated the second-person plural form {{lang|ofs|iemman}}, sometimes rendered as {{lang|ofs|iemma}}, a [[Univerbation|combined form]] composed of {{lang|ofs|jī}} and {{lang|ofs|man}} (literally 'you men'). This form did not decline for case and {{lang|ofs|jī}} remained the [[T–V distinction|polite form of address]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=55}} Old Frisian had [[clitic]]ized pronouns which were attached to the end of words; their use has made translation more difficult since they are not marked as distinct from other [[homonym]]ic suffixes.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=56}} Possessive pronouns declined like strong adjectives and interrogative pronouns did not decline for grammatical gender. The interrogative pronoun {{lang|ofs|hwet}} ('what') is sometimes marked for number, but only in the accusative and dative forms. The interrogative pronoun {{lang|ofs|hwa}} ('who') was typically pronounced with a short vowel, but pronounced long utterance-finally.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=57}}

Pronominal forms were sometimes used to recapitulate nouns and other pronouns in order to establish clarity. Examples include:{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=107}}

{{Interlinear|number=(a)
|Thi blata '''thi''' is lethost allera nata.
|that {poor man} '''that''' is {most miserable} all-GEN-PL companion-GEN-PL
|'The poor man, he is the most miserable of all companions.'}}

===Nouns===
Old Frisian nouns are classified into three archetypes. Type I are weak/consonant-stemmed nouns, type II are strong/vowel-stemmed nouns, and type III is a catch-all category which mainly comprises other kinds of consonant-stemmed nouns of which the Indo-European reflex had the case marked immediately to the root word.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=58–59}} Masculine words ending in {{lang|ofs|-a}} and feminine or neuter words ending in {{lang|ofs|-e}} are classed in type I, though there are only two neuter words in this type: {{lang|ofs|āre}} ('ear') and {{lang|ofs|āge}} ('eye').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=59}} Type II comprises a wide variety of strong masculine nouns and predominately abstract feminine nouns. The neuter suffix {{lang|ofs|-skipi}} or {{lang|ofs|-skipe}} also governs the type II paradigm, though this attested as a feminine suffix as well.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=59}} Below is an example of an ''n''-stem declension, a kind of type I declension pattern:

{| class="wikitable"
|+''n''-stem declension{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=59}}
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="2" |Masculine
! colspan="2" |Feminine
! colspan="2" |Neuter
|-
! colspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|skelta}} 'bailiff'
! colspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|tunge}} 'tongue'
! colspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|āge}} 'eye'
|-
!Singular
!Plural
!Singular
!Plural
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Nominative
| rowspan="4" |{{Lang|ofs|skelta}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|skelta}}
|{{Lang|ofs|tunge}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|tunga}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|āge}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|āgne}}
|-
!Accusative
| rowspan="3" |{{Lang|ofs|tunga}}
|-
!Genitive
|{{Lang|ofs|skeltena}}
|{{Lang|ofs|tungena}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|āga}}
|{{Lang|ofs|āgena}}
|-
!Dative
|{{Lang|ofs|skeltum}}
|{{Lang|ofs|tungum}}
|{{Lang|ofs|āgum}}
|}
Heavy syllables in the stem – that is, stems with either a long vowel or a word-final consonant cluster – have an influence on the pattern of type II declensions. Traditionally ending in {{Lang|ofs|-u}}, heavy ''a''-stems lose the pluralizing suffix, making the nominative and accusative forms of the plural identical to the singular.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=61–62}} Below are examples of ''a''-stem declensions within the type II paradigm:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ ''a''-stem declension{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=60–62}}
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="2" | Masculine
! colspan="2" | Neuter
! colspan="2" |Neuter (heavy)
|-
! colspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|bām}} 'tree'
! colspan="2" | {{Lang|ofs|skip}} 'boat'
! colspan="2" | {{Lang|ofs|word}} 'word'
|-
! Singular
! Plural
! Singular
! Plural
! Singular
! Plural
|-
! Nominative
| rowspan="2" | {{Lang|ofs|bām}}|| rowspan="2" | {{Lang|ofs|bāmar}} || rowspan="2" | {{Lang|ofs|skip}} || rowspan="2" | {{Lang|ofs|skipe}} || colspan="2" rowspan="2" | {{Lang|ofs|word}}
|-
!Accusative
|-
! Genitive
| {{Lang|ofs|bāmes}} || {{Lang|ofs|bāma}} || {{Lang|ofs|skipes}} || {{Lang|ofs|skipa}} || {{Lang|ofs|wordes}} || {{Lang|ofs|worda}}
|-
! Dative
| {{Lang|ofs|bāme}} || {{Lang|ofs|bāmum}} || {{Lang|ofs|skipe}} || {{Lang|ofs|skipum}} || {{Lang|ofs|worde}} || {{Lang|ofs|wordum}}
|}
Certain words have irregular plurals due to phonological processes, such as {{lang|ofs|dei}} ('day') and {{Lang|ofs|degar}} ('days') which developed based on vowel fronting and velar palatalization in the former but not in the latter. These irregularities do not affect its paradigm classification.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=61}}

All nouns in the ''ō''-stem declension were feminine. The nominative singular {{lang|ofs|-e}} in these terms comes from an originally accusative form.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=62}} Below is an example of the ''ō''-stem paradigm:
{| class="wikitable"
|+''ō''-stem declension{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=62}}
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="4" |Feminine
|-
! colspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|ieve}} 'gift'
! colspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|wunde}} 'wound'
|-
!Singular
!Plural
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Nominative
| rowspan="4" |{{Lang|ofs|ieve}}
| rowspan="3" |{{Lang|ofs|ieva}}
| rowspan="4" |{{Lang|ofs|wunde}}
| rowspan="3" |{{Lang|ofs|wunda}}
|-
!Accusative
|-
!Genitive
|-
!Dative
|{{Lang|ofs|ievum}}
|{{Lang|ofs|wundum}}
|}

===Verbs===
{{broader|Germanic verb}}
Verbs in Old Frisian comprised four types: strong, weak, [[preterite-present]], and anomalous. In general and with few exceptions, the only productive verb declension was the weak paradigm.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=70}} Some [[paradigm leveling]] to weak declensions occurred among strong verbs in later forms of the language.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=86}} The anomalous class of verbs are a composite class comprising [[suppletion|suppletive verbs]], verbs without clear preterite forms, and verbs with defective or missing declension forms.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=81}} In general, verbs tended to end in either {{lang|ofs|-a}} or {{lang|ofs|-ia}} with later forms reduced to {{lang|ofs|-e}} or {{lang|ofs|-ie}}, respectively.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=84, 86}} Noteworthy exceptions include {{lang|ofs|gān}} and {{lang|ofs|stān}} in Old West Frisian; this word-final {{lang|ofs|-n}} became more widespread in monosyllabic verbs in later forms of that dialect, such as in {{lang|ofs|dwān}} ('to do') and {{lang|ofs|siān}} ('to see').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=84}} Infinitive forms used the lengthened suffix {{lang|ofs|-ane}} after the word {{lang|ofs|tō}} – used to express purpose – such as in the phrase {{lang|ofs|tō farane}} ('to travel').<ref>{{multiref2|For its use in expressing purpose, see {{harvnb|Bremmer|2009|p=102}}.|For everything else, see {{harvnb|Bremmer|2009|p=84}}.}}</ref> In Old Weser Frisian and Old Ems Frisian, present participles and [[gerund]]s had identical forms.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=84}} Like [[modern English]], the conjunction {{lang|ofs|thet}} ('that') was sometimes omitted after verbs of expression in some contexts ({{lang|ofs|Tha spreken se hia ne kuden.}} 'Then they said [that] they were unable to.').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=107}}

====Strong verbs====
The infinitive, the first- and third-person singular preterite, the plural preterite, and the past participle are the four constituent parts identifying a strong verb based on the vowel gradation, including changes to vowel quality or length, that signals a change in meaning.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=70}} Like nominal declensions, phonological explanations for irregularity are present and similarly do not change classification.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=74}} There were six classes of strong verbs in Old Frisian with a seventh catch-all category.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=71, 74}} Classes IV and V became functionally identical after ''i''-mutation, a morphophonological change which obfuscated the differentiation between the historical {{lang|gem-x-proto|i}} and {{lang|gem-x-proto|u}} in some contexts, and are distinguished only by historical provenance.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=74}} Examples of verbal paradigms can be seen below:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Verb classes{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=71–78}}
! rowspan="2" |
! rowspan="2" |Infinitive
! rowspan="2" |Third-person singular present
! colspan="2" |Preterite
! rowspan="2" |Past participle
|-
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Class I
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|grīpa}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|gripth}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|grēp}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|gripen}}
|-
!'to seize'
|-
!Class II
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|biāda}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|biuth}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|bād}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|beden}}
|-
!'to offer'
|-
!Class III
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|helpa}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|helpth}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|halp}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|hulpen}}
|-
!'to help'
|-
!Class IV
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|bifela}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|bifelth}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|bifel}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|bifēlen}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|bifelen}}
|-
!'to order'
|-
!Class V
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|lesa}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|lesth}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|les}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|lēsen}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|lessen}}
|-
!'to read'
|-
!Class VI
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|fara}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|ferth}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|fōr}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|fōren}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|faren}}
|-
!'to go'
|-
!Class VII
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|slēpa}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|slept}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|slēp}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Lang|ofs|slēpen}}
|-
!'to sleep'
|}

====Weak verbs====
Unique to Old Frisian, there were only two weak verb classes; [[Gothic language|Gothic]] had twice as many, while Old Norse, Old English, Old Saxon, and Old High German each had three.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=78}} Class I weak verbs comprised verbs which originally had a suffix, {{Lang|gem-x-proto|-jan}}, which created causative verbs from strong verb stems and factitive verbs from nouns and adjectives, such as {{Lang|ofs|dēma}} ('to judge') from {{Lang|ofs|dōm}} ('judgement'). Morphophonologically, the {{Lang|gem-x-proto|j}} affected consonants through assibilation and the vowels through mutation.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=78–79}} Class I weak verbs have the past tense suffix {{Lang|ofs|-de}}, or {{Lang|ofs|-te}} after voiceless consonants. Geminated consonants become simple in the preterite and past participles.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=79}} By contrast, class II weak verbs are typically those which end in {{Lang|ofs|-ia}}. These verbs have their past tense marked by the deletion of the {{Lang|ofs|i}} and the addition of the suffix {{Lang|ofs|-ade}}; the past participle is formed with the same deletion and a simple {{Lang|ofs|-ad}} suffix. Later forms of the suffixes are {{Lang|ofs|-ede}} and {{Lang|ofs|-ed}}, respectively. In late Old West Frisian, these past tense suffixes were deleted.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=80}} Class II has remained productive into the modern period; Frisian is the only branch of West Germanic languages to have preserved this class of verbs.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=80}}

====Preterite-present====
{{further|Preterite-present}}
Germanic languages have a verb class in which a form resembling a past-tense strong verb supplies the present-tense meaning while the past-tense form is re-formed with a weak verbal suffix; infinitive forms are also formed through innovation.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=80}} These verbs exhibit expected vowel alternations for strong verbs for some forms while other forms are in line with expected weak verb declensions.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=80}} These verbs are categorized into one of the six strong verb classes the strong verb form is derived from.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=81}}

==Vocabulary==
[[File:Eerste Hunsingoër Handschrift - blz. 44.jpg|thumb|A page of the {{ill|Hunsingo Statutes|fy|Hunzinger Lânrjocht|nl|Hunsingoër Landrecht}}, originally formulated in 1252|alt=An old manuscript with thick blackletter font with some blue- and red-colored writing in some spots]]
Although the vast majority of Old Frisian vocabulary can be traced directly from [[Proto-Germanic]], many terms were created through compounding or affixation, and borrowed from other languages. With limited exceptions, [[stress (linguistics)|stress]] fell on the stem in Old Frisian.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=87}} Only a few adverb-forming suffixes are attested; adverbs could be otherwise be formed using either the genitive or dative cases.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=91}} Nouns were regularly combined without any use of genitive forms, such as in {{lang|ofs|fiskdam}} ('fishing weir'), though it became increasingly common to mark the first element with a linking genitive form like {{lang|ofs|-s}}, such as in {{lang|ofs|sumeresnacht}} ('summer night'), in later forms of the language.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=94}} Adjectives were also compounded with nouns to form other adjectives, such as {{lang|ofs|ūdertam}} ('easy to milk', {{lit|udder-tame}}).{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=94}} Although relatively rare, [[kenning]]s – a kind of Germanic [[compound (linguistics)|compound]] with a metaphorical meaning – are attested in some Old Frisian documents. For example, [[Criminal law|criminal regulations]] regarding the protection of children and pregnant women use the term {{lang|ofs|bēnenaburch}}{{efn|The alternative form {{lang|ofs|bēnetaburch}} is also found.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=132–133}} For the long vowel, see {{harvnb|Bremmer|2009|p=94}}.}} ('fortress of the bones') to reference the womb.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=130–133}}

Loanwords in Old Frisian comprised inherited borrowings from earlier languages – such as {{lang|ofs|rīke}} ('kingdom, realm') borrowed from a [[Celtic language]] during either the Proto-Germanic or Proto–West Germanic periods – and borrowings during the Old Frisian period.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=94}} Old Frisian borrowed a number of Latin terms from both periods and it is often difficult to pinpoint precisely when the Latin loan entered the language.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=94–95}} After the Christianization of the Frisians, the language experienced an influx of Latin and its Greek loans, such as {{lang|ofs|diōvel}} ('devil'; from Latin {{lang|la|diabolus}}), {{lang|ofs|skrīva}} ('to write'; from Latin {{lang|la|scrībere}}, displacing the native term {{lang|ofs|wrīta}}), and {{lang|ofs|seininge}} ('blessing'; from Latin {{lang|la|signum}} '[[sign of the cross]]').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=95}} 

Since the [[Anglo-Saxons]] were the ones who converted the Frisians, it is probable that Old English terms began to enter the language around this time, though the close relationship between the two languages makes distinguishing native words from Old English borrowings extremely difficult. Possible borrowings may include {{lang|ofs|trachtia}} ('to yearn'; from Old English {{lang|ang|treahtian}} 'to comment on') and {{lang|ofs|diligia}} ('to delete'; from Old English {{lang|ang|dīlegian}} 'to blot out, to erase'), though these terms may have been borrowed from Old English to missionary centers in German-speaking areas and then into Old Frisian.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=95}} Similarly, Old and Middle Low German served as an intermediary for Old and Middle High German borrowings; these include terms like {{lang|ofs|keisere}} ('emperor'; from Old High German {{lang|goh|kaisar}}) and {{lang|ofs|iunkfrouwe}} ('young woman, virgin').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=95}}

Old and Middle Low German contributed significantly to loanwords and began to dominate the [[Lingua franca|language of trade]] in the North Sea by the end of the 15th century, displacing Old Frisian dialects spoken east of the Lauwers. Terms borrowed include {{lang|ofs|reth}} ('wheel'; from Old Low German {{lang|osx|rath}}) and {{lang|ofs|swāger}} ('brother-in-law').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=95–96}} Old Frisian also appears to have borrowed terms from the [[Slavic languages]] through Low German, including the term {{lang|ofs|cona}} ('fur') which was used as money in [[Rüstringen]] (compare the [[Serbo-Croatian]] term {{lang|sh|[[Croatian kuna|kuna]]}}).{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=96}} Terms from [[Old French]] were also borrowed, probably through one or more intermediaries. Examples include {{lang|ofs|payement}} ('payment') and {{lang|ofs|amīe}} ('female lover, [[concubine]]'). Old Frisian also borrowed a number of abstract suffixes from French.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=96}}

[[Calque]]s were common in Old Frisian, especially for Latin terms adopted during the Christianization of the Frisians, such as {{lang|ofs|godeshūs}} ('church', {{lit|God's house}}; Latin {{lang|la|domus Dei}}) and {{lang|ofs|elemechtich}} ('almighty'; Latin {{lang|la|omnipotens}}).{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=96}} Other loan translations include the days of the week and some terms associated with the military or leadership roles, such as {{lang|ofs|hāvedmon}} ('leader, chieftain'; Latin {{lang|la|capitaneus}}){{efn|For the relationship between Old Frisian {{lang|ofs|hāved}} and Latin {{lang|la|caput}}, see {{harvnb|Boutkan|Siebinga|2005|pp=155–156}}.}} and {{lang|ofs|herestrēte}} ('highroad, military road'; Latin {{lang|la|via militaris}}).{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=96}}

==Syntax==

===Case===
Case did not vary in Old Frisian by much when compared to other contemporary Germanic languages. The nominative case was used for the subjects or subject complements though it was also used in [[Vocative case|vocative]] contexts.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=98}} While the main use of the accusative was to mark the [[direct object]] of a verb, Old Frisian was also used in temporal and spatial expressions, such as mentioning spaces of time ({{lang|ofs|niugen monath}} 'nine months') or distances ({{lang|ofs|Hi gunge tha niugen heta skera.}} 'He should walk the nine hot plowshares.').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=98}} Genitive usage was complex and multifaceted; it marked possession and relationships, but was also used to mark adverbs and had both [[Partitive case|partitive]] and numerical functions including measures ({{lang|ofs|tha wi sigun hundred folkes santon}} 'when we sent seven hundred [armed] men') and counting ({{lang|ofs|thritich fethma}} 'thirty fathoms').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=98–99}} 

The dative case was also complex. Although it marked the indirect object of a [[ditransitive verb]], it was sometimes used for the direct objects of transitive verbs, such as {{lang|ofs|helpa}} ('to help').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=99}} The dative shared some overlap in function with the genitive, including its use in adverbial phrases and measurements. Dative constructions are also used to mark the [[benefactive case|benefactive]], such as in the sentence {{lang|ofs|God him reste}} ('God rested [for himself]').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=99}} A number of adjectives govern the dative as well, typically marking either physical or emotional closeness.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=99}}

As the case system began to break down in Old Frisian, authors – especially those of legal documents – came to rely heavily on word order and changed the use of prepositions. By late Old Frisian, case marking was optional.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|pp=54–55}}

===Verbs===
Old Frisian marked for two [[Grammatical tense|tenses]] in the verbal root: simple present and simple past, also called the simple preterite. All other tenses, called compound tenses, were expressed through [[periphrasis]] using [[auxiliary verb]]s. While these tenses were not common in earlier forms of the language, they became more popular over time.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=103}} Compound tenses used the auxiliaries meaning 'to have' ({{lang|ofs|hebba}} in Old East Frisian, {{lang|ofs|habba}} in Old West Frisian) and 'to be' ({{lang|ofs|wesa}}). The use of {{lang|ofs|hebba}}/{{lang|ofs|habba}} and the past participle were used to express the [[past perfective]] and less commonly the [[pluperfect]]. These usages were largely constrained to [[dependent clause]]s.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=103–104}} The use of {{lang|ofs|wesa}} is less clear, but it appears to have been used as somewhat of a [[present progressive]] when in combination with a present participle. It is often difficult to differentiate between a progressive semantic meaning or a [[copula (linguistics)|copula]]r relationship. Particularly with [[verbs of motion]], {{lang|ofs|wesa}} was also used in some intransitive contexts to express the perfect or pluperfect to express changes in state.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=104}} The perfect of {{lang|ofs|wesa}} was used with {{lang|ofs|hebba}}/{{lang|ofs|habba}}, though this was uncommon in earlier forms of the language. The passive voice was typically constructed with the verb {{lang|ofs|wertha}} ('to become') and the past participle, though {{lang|ofs|wesa}} and the past participle could be used to form a perfective passive.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=104–105}} The combined use of {{lang|ofs|wesa}} and the present participle were used for the [[durative aspect]], while the [[future tense]] used the combination of the auxiliary {{lang|ofs|skela}} and the infinitive.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=52}} Non-auxiliary verbs, such as {{lang|ofs|biginna}} ('to begin') and {{lang|ofs|gunga}} ('to go'), were used with the infinitive to express an [[inchoative aspect]]. Similarly, verbs like {{lang|ofs|dwā}} ('to do') and {{lang|ofs|lēta}} ('to let') were used to form the [[causative]].<ref>{{multiref2|For the definition of these terms and the long vowels, see {{harvnb|Bremmer|2009|pp=77, 82}}.|For their syntactic function, see {{harvnb|de Haan|2010|p=52}}.}}</ref>

The language also marked for three moods in the root: [[indicative]] for statements of fact or observations, [[subjunctive]] for subjective thoughts including guesswork and conjecture, and [[imperative mood|imperative]] for commands.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=102}} The indicative and subjunctive moods may be used next to each other in different clauses of the same sentence.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=102}} The infinitive was used in several ways, but the inflected infinitive – an infinitive preceded by {{lang|ofs|tō}} – operated as a gerund. This inflected form was used to express purpose and sentences containing it would often drop the subject and the associated finite verb. A unique construction using the uninflected infinitive, called the accusative-plus-infinitive construction, was sometimes used as a complement, as in {{lang|ofs|tha segen hia anne thretundista sitta}} ('then they saw sitting a thirteenth [man]').{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|pp=102–103}}

===Word order===
Word order in Old Frisian varied widely depending on context and function. The language's [[Word order|constituent word order]] is generally described as [[subject–object–verb]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=105}}{{sfn|de Haan|2010|pp=47, 49}} Dependent clauses strongly tend towards this word order as well, though some departures from this trend are attested.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=106}} However, [[Corpus linguistics|analysis of the existing corpora]] involving charter documents shows that about 60% of dependent sentences with direct objects have a subject–verb–object construction.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=49}} [[Object–verb–subject]] constructions were commonly employed as a method of [[topicalization]] and both [[Conditional sentence|conditional]] and [[interrogative clause]]s were typically [[verb–subject–object]].{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=105}} Dependent conditional clauses use object–subject–verb constructions as well when interrogative pronouns are in grammatical cases other than the nominative.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=106}} 

In oblique contexts, pronouns may be moved to between the verb and the subject when the subject in a later position than the verb, leading to a [[verb–object–subject]] word order.{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=106}} This word order is completely absent in modern Frisian.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=54}} Examples of this include the following:{{sfn|Bremmer|2009|p=106}}

{{Interlinear
| number = (b)|tha het '''se''' thi koning alle heran|then called '''them''' the king all lords|'then the king called them all lords'
}}

Like all other Germanic languages at some point in their history, Old Frisian exhibits properties of [[verb-second word order]], though its application is inconsistent.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|pp=49–50, 53}} This means that the verb appears in the second position in [[independent clause]]s with a finite verb, but reverts to verb-final word order in subordinate clauses.{{sfn|Roberts|2023|p=166}}

Old Frisian sentences almost always required a subject and the language often employed the use of [[dummy subject]]s. This appears to be a syntactic necessity even when there was not semantic function. Examples include verbs involving the weather and impersonal passives, respectively demonstrated below:{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=53}}

{{Interlinear
| number = (c)|hwant '''hit''' wayt ende stormit alle daghen|for '''it''' blows and storms all days|'for it blows and storms all days'
}}

{{Interlinear
| number = (d)|hwersa'''r''' fuchten is in tha godes huse|{when '''there'''} fought is in the god-GEN house|'when there has been fought in the house of God'
}}

===Negation===
In Old Frisian, negative sentences could be derived from the simple addition of a negative element, such as {{lang|ofs|naet}} ('not') or {{lang|ofs|nimmen}} ('nobody'), or [[double negative]] constructions.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=55}} While there is a preference in the language for double negatives, all three stages of [[Jespersen's cycle]] are present in the existing corpora, though neither of the two Rüstringer codices – the two oldest codices – exhibit the last stage.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=57}} The negative marker {{lang|ofs|ne}} precedes the finite verb in both kinds of constructions. Examples include:{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=55}}

{{Interlinear
| number = (e)|truch thet hia '''ne''' mughen cuma|through that they '''NEG''' may come|'through that, they may not come'
}}

{{Interlinear
| number = (f)|thet hi ter '''nauuet''' cuma '''ne''' machte|that he there '''not''' come '''NEG''' might|'that he might not come there'
}}

The negative marker {{lang|ofs|ne}} often cliticized to the following auxiliary, such as in {{lang|ofs|nabba}} ('to not have'; from {{lang|ofs|ne}} + {{lang|ofs|habba}}) and {{lang|ofs|nis}} ('is not'; from {{lang|ofs|ne}} + {{lang|ofs|is}}). In sentences where the finite verb is elided, the negative marker is also elided and no words nor any affixes can come between them. For these reasons, the negative marker and the verb are seen as a unified syntactic unit, with {{lang|ofs|ne}} serving the function of a syntactic clitic.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|pp=55–57}} This is not the case for other negative elements, such as {{lang|ofs|naet}}, which can be divided by other syntactic functions. Contrastive examples of this are demonstrated below, both from the {{lang|ofs|[[Skeltana Riucht]]}}:{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=56}}

{{Interlinear
| number = (g)|dat hi dine kempa winna '''ne''' mey|that he the champion defeat '''NEG''' may|'that he may not defeat the champion'
}}

{{Interlinear
| number = (h)|ief hi dine kempa '''naet''' winna mey|if he the champion '''not''' defeat may|'if he may not defeat the champion'
}}

In sentences where the only verb is a finite verb in a main clause, the use of {{lang|ofs|naet}} is mostly restricted to the sentence-final position, but in subordinate clauses with double negatives, {{lang|ofs|naet}} is promoted to before {{lang|ofs|ne}}.{{sfn|de Haan|2010|p=56}}

==See also==
* {{anl|Frisian freedom}}
* {{anl|Frisian Islands}}
* {{anl|Great Frisian War}}
* {{anl|Gysbert Japiks}}
* {{anl|Imperativus pro infinitivo|''Imperativus pro infinitivo''}} in the Frisian languages
* {{anl|Westeremden yew-stick}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin |30em |indent=yes}}
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** {{harvc|last=Schrijver |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Schrijver |chapter=3. Frisian between the Roman and the Early-Medieval Periods: Language contact, Celts and Romans |pages=43–52 |year=2017 |in=Hines |in2=IJssennagger}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/frisians-of-the-early-middle-ages/CF3CEE242D8CB635701E87F9B013E4F7 |title=Frisians of the Early Middle Ages |date=2021 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=9781800101326 |doi=10.1017/9781800101326 |url-access=subscription |editor-last1=Hines |editor-first1=John |editor-last2=IJssennagger-van der Pluijm |editor-first2=Nelleke |series=Studies in Historical Archaeoethnology |location=[[Woodbridge, Suffolk|Woodbridge]] }}
** {{harvc|last=Knol |first=Egge |chapter=2. For Daily Use and Special Moments: Material Culture in Frisia, AD 400–1000 |pages=13–44 |year=2021 |in=Hines |in2=IJssennagger-van der Pluijm }}
** {{harvc|last=Nijdam |first=Han |chapter=5. Law and Political Organization of the Early Medieval Frisians (c. AD 600–800) |pages=137–170 |year=2021 |in=Hines |in2=IJssennagger-van der Pluijm }}
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* {{cite journal |last=Stiles |first=Patrick V. |title=A note on the development of Old Wangeroogic ''*e'' and ''*o'' in open syllables |journal={{ill|Us Wurk|fy||frr}} |volume=57 |issue=3–4 |date=2008 |issn=2772-8021 |pages=176–194 |url=https://ugp.rug.nl/uswurk/article/view/27361/24787 }} {{open access}}
* {{Cite book|last=Stiles |first=Patrick |date=2018 |title=Friesische Studien II: Beiträge des Föhrer Symposiums zur Friesischen Philologie vom 7.–8. April 1994 |trans-title=Frisian Studies II: Articles from the Föhr Symposium on Frisian Philology on 7th–8th April 1994 |chapter=Remarks on the 'Anglo-Frisian' Thesis |url=https://www.academia.edu/37163852|series=NOWELE Supplement Series |volume=12 |doi=10.1075/nss.12 |isbn=9789027272843 |ref={{sfnref|Stiles|2018a}}}}
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* {{cite book |last=Winter |first=Christoph |title=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics |chapter=Frisian |chapter-url=https://oxfordre.com/linguistics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.001.0001/acrefore-9780199384655-e-938 |chapter-url-access=subscription |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2022 |isbn=978-0-19-938465-5 |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.938}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Bruno |first1=Laura |last2=Kerkhof |first2=Peter Alexander |title=Bodily Injuries and Dative Experiencers in Old Frisian |journal=Amsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik |volume=79 |issue=4 |date=2020 |issn=0165-7305 |doi=10.1163/18756719-12340169 |pages=485–516 |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/abag/79/4/article-p485_3.xml |doi-access=free}} {{open access}}
* {{cite journal |last=den Hertog |first=Simon |title=Weser Old Frisian Dative Plural ''-on'': A West Germanic Isogloss? |journal=Amsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik |volume=84 |issue=1–3 |date=2024 |issn=0165-7305 |doi=10.1163/18756719-12340319 |doi-access=free |pages=134–145}}
* {{cite journal |last=Giliberto |first=Concetta |title=The Words for 'Blue' in Old Frisian |journal=Amsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik |volume=84 |issue=1-3 |date=28 June 2024 |issn=0165-7305 |doi=10.1163/18756719-12340317 |pages=94–116 |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/abag/84/1-3/article-p94_5.xml |url-access=subscription}}
* {{cite book | last1=Hofmann | first1=Dietrich | last2=Popkema | first2=Anne Tjerk | author-link2=:fy:Anne Tjerk Popkema | title=Altfriesisches Handwörterbuch | publisher=Universitätsverlag Winter | publication-place=Heidelberg | date=2008 | isbn=978-3-8253-5555-5 | oclc=301547295 | language=de}}
* {{cite journal |last=Lendinara |first=Patrizia |title=Old Frisian ''krocha'': Setting Fire with a Coal Pan |journal=Amsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik |volume=77 |issue=1-2 |date=2017 |issn=0165-7305 |doi=10.1163/18756719-12340076 |pages=280–302 |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/abag/77/1-2/article-p280_13.xml |url-access=subscription}}
* {{cite journal |last=Mostert |first=Marco |title=The Frisian exception. Why are there hardly any traces of written Frisian from the eighth and ninth centuries? |journal=[[Journal of Medieval History]] |volume=47 |issue=4–5 |date=2021 |issn=0304-4181 |doi=10.1080/03044181.2021.1980961 |doi-access=free |pages=597–610 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Versloot |first=Arjen P. |author-link=:fy:Arjen Versloot |title=The Riustring Old Frisian ''-ar'' Plurals: Borrowed or Inherited? |journal=Amsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik |volume=77 |issue=1-2 |date=2017 |issn=0165-7305 |doi=10.1163/18756719-12340084 |pages=442–456 |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/abag/77/1-2/article-p442_21.xml |url-access=subscription}}
* {{cite book |last=Voyles |first=Joseph B. |chapter=Old Frisian |pages=164–186 |title=Early Germanic Grammar: Pre-, Proto-, and Post-Germanic Languages |publisher=Brill |publication-place=Boston |date=1992 |isbn=978-90-04-65723-6 |url=https://www.brill.com/display/title/23212 |url-access=subscription}}
* Corpora hosted by the [[TITUS (project)|TITUS]] project:
** [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/germ/afries/afrcorp/afrco.htm?afrco004.htm#OFr.Corp._Fres.Frid. ''Fon Alra Fresena Fridome'']
** [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/germ/afries/afrcorp/afrco.htm The Ten Commandements]
** [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/germ/afries/afrcorp/afrco.htm?afrco002.htm#OFr.Corp._17_K%C3%83%C2%BCren ''17 petitiones'']
** [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/germ/afries/afrcorp/afrco.htm?afrco003.htm#OFr.Corp._Londriucht ''Londriucht'']
** [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/germ/afries/afrcorp/afrco.htm?afrco005.htm#OFr.Corp._Fr.Riim ''Thet Freske Riim'']
** [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/germ/afries/afrcorp/afrco.htm?afrco006.htm#OFr.Corp._Skelt.Riucht ''Skeltana Riucht'' law code]

==External links==
{{Subject bar |auto=y |portal1=Linguistics |portal2=Languages |portal3=Netherlands |portal4=Germany}}
{{Frisian languages|state=expanded}}
{{Germanic languages}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Frisian languages]]
[[Category:Languages of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Languages of Germany]]
[[Category:Medieval languages|Frisian, Old]]
[[Category:Languages attested from the 8th century]]
[[Category:North Sea Germanic]]
[[Category:Subject–object–verb languages]]