thou
1 Americanpronoun
-
you,
plural, objective
-
ye,
plural, objective
-
thee,
objective
-
thy,
possessive
-
thine,
possessive
-
your,
possessive
-
yours
possessive
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
thous,
plural
-
thou
plural
pronoun
-
archaic refers to the person addressed: used mainly in familiar address or to a younger person or inferior
-
(usually capital) refers to God when addressed in prayer, etc
noun
-
one thousandth of an inch. 1 thou is equal to 0.0254 millimetre
-
informal short for thousand
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of thou1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thū; cognate with German, Middle Dutch du, Old Norse thū, Gothic thu, Old Irish tú, Welsh, Cornish ti, Latin tū, Doric Greek tý, Lithuanian tù, Old Church Slavonic ty; akin to Sanskrit tvam; (verb) late Middle English thowen, derivative of the pronoun
Origin of thou2
First recorded in 1865–70; by shortening
Explanation
The word thou, used in place of "you," is not used much in modern language. In fact, with its Biblical feeling, it’s most often used in religious contexts. Otherwise, it might be used as slang for thousand. Anyone familiar with the Bible knows the word thou means "you." As the word worked its way from Old English, it varied a little in its subtext, from a plural referring to higher-ups, then to equals, and, around 1450, as a slightly insulting reference suggesting inferiority. Today, it's used primarily by specific religious groups, or as a somewhat affected, archaic word in poetry. As a side note, if someone asks you for a thou, they mean a thousand dollars.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Ecclesiastes 11:1: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 7, 2026
A church warden said it was "ironic" that thieves stole a painting of the Ten Commandments, including text reading "thou shalt not steal", from a church.
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2025
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2024
“In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.”
From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2023
Dust thou art, to dust thou shalt return.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
An unpublished short story by Charlotte Brontë featuring flogging and embezzling, as well as a poem stuffed with thees and thous, have been discovered inside a book owned by the novelist’s mother.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 12, 2015
This is precisely the sort of diction that Tagore chose for the English Gitanjali, which, with its thees and thous, has so tried our patience.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 8, 2011
Translated directly from the Hebrew Masoretic text, the new Torah leaves out Elizabethan thees and thous, shuns traditional Biblical prose.
From Time Magazine Archive
Because the translators chose to retain "thee" and "thou" forms in addressing God, many of the Psalms are studded with "thees," "thous," "hasts," and "didsts."
From Time Magazine Archive
"Charged cells for model DF Lewistons, none requisitioned, on hand eighteen thous...."
From Triplanetary by E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith
Get thee to a department store for some soft furnishings.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 3, 2026
Like Donne, we can mine wisdom from the frailty of our mortal bodies—but be grateful that when the bell tolls for thee, plague, smallpox and typhus won’t be to blame.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
In the Vantaa case, thee boy does not appear to have talked about his plans with anybody - and so may have fallen through the cracks.
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2024
The felony charges against Gutierrez-Reed carry a possible sentence of up to thee years in prison.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024
“But I think thee knows why. I could see it in thy face a moment back. The Meadow has spoken to thee, too, hasn’t it?”
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
While foretelling his imminent death, Christ tells his followers: “Walk while ye have the light.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
The book is signed on the inside front cover in black ballpoint pen by Sir Paul, reading: "All the best! to ye!"
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Searching for a way back to their inn, they discover, you guessed it, ye olde Craigh na Dun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025
Ho quoted from the Bible, Matthew 7:7—“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
From Salon ● May 19, 2024
“Sorry to keep draggin’ ye down here every time your cousin gets out of line,” says Agent Fiona.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
Now you get to decide which house is our House of the Month for August.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
That’s harder than trying to spot a firefly right next to someone flashing their high-beams at you.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Have you been stuck in a queue on a mountain?
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Regardless of your financial goals, the earlier you begin saving and investing, the better.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
The front of the cortex seems to be hanging in space until you realize that your face fits the space underneath.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
The milkshake cup features Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025
“That was what my mama always used to say: to thine own self be true. I put a lot of stock in that,” she told The Guardian.
From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2023
O Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage.
From BBC ● May 5, 2023
Play the Mini Crossword, and a clue: Shakespeare play with the line “To thine own self be true.”
From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2022
"And to-morrow, Cor," he added, "shalt come over all the castle with me and see the estres and mark all its strength and weakness: for it will be thine to guard when I'm gone."
From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
“O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon / That monthly changes in her circle orb / Lest that thy love prove likewise variable,” Juliet warned Romeo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
Thou art risen to great estate and fortune — release thy shackles.
From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026
Not even the creature’s eloquence moves Victor to self-reflection: “O Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other, and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
And definitely no need to worry about that Jesus guy, with all his notions about "loving thy neighbor" and "welcoming the stranger."
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2024
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
Regardless of your financial goals, the earlier you begin saving and investing, the better.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
“We really think this can be kind of your life partner, your proactive ally for your day,” she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
If you pride yourself on your knowledge of current events, see if you can beat a Slate senior editor’s score in today’s news quiz!
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026
But even if your name happens to be Emily, you won’t be fully swept away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
“Just a slight tap with your heels and he’ll fly. Each tap, he’ll go faster and faster. But he won’t be able to gallop full out all the time. Pull back and let him slow.”
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Is the independent adviser more concerned about their own bottom line than yours?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
Teach people that discernment requires looking behind the label, and eventually they may look behind yours, too.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
‘Lovely bloke I’m told. Colleague of yours, yes?’
From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2026
A T-shirt or a cap can be yours for $9.99, and a souvenir baseball with the team logo sells for $7.99.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“Ob’s got visions, Summer. Just like you, except you’re always fighting yours off.”
From "Missing May" by Cynthia Rylant
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
