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article A1 Beginner Very common

the

thuh
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The (article) means used before a noun to show that the listener already knows, or can work out, exactly which thing is meant. Example: “Please close the door.”

article
1
Used before a noun to show that the listener already knows, or can work out, exactly which thing is meant.
"Please close the door."
"The sun rises in the east."
"We watched the sunset from the top of the hill."
adv
1
Used with comparative adjectives to show one thing changing in step with another.
"The more you practice, the better you get."
"The longer we waited, the more nervous she became."
"The colder it gets, the faster the pond freezes over."

How to use the

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe definite article — it points to a specific, already-identified thing, as opposed to "a/an," which introduces something new or unspecified.

Common mistake

Compare "I saw a dog" (some dog, unspecified) with "I saw the dog" (a particular dog both speaker and listener know about).

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Please close _____ door.

Etymology

From Old English þē, a form of the demonstrative pronoun that eventually took over as the standard definite article in Middle English.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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le

Related words

le pe

Frequently asked questions

What does “the” mean?
The word “the” means used before a noun to show that the listener already knows, or can work out, exactly which thing is meant. In plain terms, the definite article — it points to a specific, already-identified thing, as opposed to "a/an," which introduces something new or unspecified.
How do you pronounce “the”?
“The” is pronounced thuh (/ðə/ in IPA).
How do you use “the” in a sentence?
Here is “the” used in a sentence: “Please close the door.”
What is another word for “the”?
Words with a similar meaning to “the” include le.
What part of speech is “the”?
Depending on how it is used, “the” can be an article and an adverb.
Where does the word “the” come from?
The word “the” comes from Old English. From Old English þē, a form of the demonstrative pronoun that eventually took over as the standard definite article in Middle English.
Is “the” a common word?
“The” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “the” have?
“The” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used before a noun to show that the listener already knows, or can work out, exactly which thing is meant.
What is the difference between "a" and "the"?
"The" is the definite article: it points to a specific thing the listener already knows or can identify ("the car we rented"). "A" is the indefinite article: it introduces one example of something without saying which one ("a car"). Use "the" once both speaker and listener know exactly which thing is meant.
When should you not use "the" before a noun?
Skip "the" when talking about things in general with plural or uncountable nouns: "Dogs bark", "Milk is white." It is also normally omitted before most proper names, languages, and meals. Compare "I love music" (music in general) with "I love the music in this film" (specific music).
Why do we say "the sooner, the better"?
In this pattern "the" works with comparative adjectives to show two things changing in step: as one increases, so does the other. Other examples include "the more you practice, the easier it gets." This is a fixed grammatical construction, distinct from the ordinary article use of "the."
Do you use "the" before country names?
Most country names take no article: "France", "Japan", "Brazil." "The" is used when the name is plural or contains a common noun such as "republic", "kingdom", or "states": "the United States", "the Netherlands", "the United Kingdom", "the Czech Republic."

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing the in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

Exact estimates vary, but there are fewer than 10,000 people in the U.S. who speak Anishinaabemowin.
From NPR · Jul 26, 2026

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