thou

10 synonyms for thou, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Pronoun — An old-fashioned or poetic word for "you," used when speaking to one person.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

you thee yard grand thousand

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

mil

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

chiliad K M G

Synonyms by Meaning

1. pronoun

An old-fashioned or poetic word for "you," used when speaking to one person.

“Wherefore dost thou weep, fair maiden, when the harvest is so plentiful?”

you thee mil

2. noun

A unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch, used in engineering.

“The metal sheet was machined to a tolerance of two thou.”

chiliad yard K grand M G thousand

How to use thou

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

thou shalt five thou a few thou

The pronoun sense is archaic/literary; the "a thousand" and machining-unit senses are everyday informal use.

Etymology

From Old English þū, the original singular form of "you"; it fell out of everyday use as English simplified its pronouns, surviving mainly in older literature, prayer, and dialect.

Full origin of thou →

Frequently asked questions

What does “thou” mean?

The word “thou” means an old-fashioned or poetic word for "you," used when speaking to one person. In plain terms, an archaic word for "you" (singular), still seen in old texts, poetry, and religious language; also modern slang for "a thousand.".

How do you pronounce “thou”?

“Thou” is pronounced thow (/ðaʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “thou” in a sentence?

Here is “thou” used in a sentence: “"Thou art welcome here," the old innkeeper said in the play.”

What part of speech is “thou”?

Depending on how it is used, “thou” can be a pronoun and a noun.

Where does the word “thou” come from?

The word “thou” comes from Old English. From Old English þū, the original singular form of "you"; it fell out of everyday use as English simplified its pronouns, surviving mainly in older literature, prayer, and dialect.

Is “thou” a common word?

“Thou” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “thou” have?

“Thou” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an old-fashioned or poetic word for "you," used when speaking to one person.

What is the difference between "thou" and "you"?

"Thou" is an old-fashioned singular form of "you," used when speaking to one person, and appears in older English, poetry, and the King James Bible. Modern English uses "you" for both singular and plural, so "thou" now sounds archaic or deliberately poetic.

What are the related forms of "thou"?

"Thou" is the subject form; "thee" is the object form, "thy" and "thine" are the possessives, and verbs took endings like "-est," as in "thou goest." These forms belong together in older English grammar.

Is "thou" still used today?

As a pronoun, "thou" is largely archaic and survives mainly in religious texts, poetry, and some regional dialects. As an engineering measurement, however, "thou" is still used routinely by machinists and engineers.

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you grand thousand yard thee mil chiliad

Nearby words

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