These words came over with the Normans – 958 years later they’re still in use

ON 14^th October 1066, William the Conqueror’s Norman army defeated Harold II’s forces, ending the Anglo-Saxon era in England.

The battle took place over a single day, 958 years ago exactly, in East Sussex.

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The battlefield is now an English Heritage site situated in the village of Battle.

William was crowned on Christmas Day at Westminster Abbey.

Given William’s Norman heritage, French became the language of the royal court, largely pushing out the Anglo-Saxon language which had been in use before.

An estimated 10,000 words came over to England with the Normans after 1066.

These included “chance”, “proud” and “regret”.

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After the Battle of Hastings, French also became the preferred language of administrative, political and legal matters.

Things stayed this way for approximately 300 years, when Henry IV is believed to have been the first king of England to make English his primary language.

He also decreed that all pleas in law courts and the majority of discussions in parliament had to be in English.

Speaking French also fell out of fashion thanks to the Hundred Years’ War against France (1337-1453).

Despite French no longer being the main language in England, there are still lots of words in use today that were introduced by the Normans.

Here are just some of the commonly used words that came over after the Battle of Hastings.

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