pron
Common
thee
thee
Thee (pron) means Archaic form of "you," used as the object of a verb or preposition (the object form of "thou"). Example: “Fare thee well, my friend, and may your journey be safe.”
pron
1
Archaic form of "you," used as the object of a verb or preposition (the object form of "thou").
"Fare thee well, my friend, and may your journey be safe."
"I give thee my word."
"With this ring, I thee wed."
How to use thee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word for "you," still seen in poetry, prayer, and Shakespeare.
When to use it
Archaic — found in older literature, religious texts, and some Quaker speech, not in modern everyday English.
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Word forms
- Plural
- thees
- Third person singular
- thees
- Past tense
- theed
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Fare _____ well, my friend, and may your journey be safe.
Etymology
From Old English þē, the object form of "thou," related to modern "thee/thou/thy."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for thee
See all rhymes for thee →Frequently asked questions
What does “thee” mean?
The word “thee” means archaic form of "you," used as the object of a verb or preposition (the object form of "thou"). In plain terms, an old-fashioned word for "you," still seen in poetry, prayer, and Shakespeare.
How do you pronounce “thee”?
“Thee” is pronounced thee (/ðiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “thee” in a sentence?
Here is “thee” used in a sentence: “I give thee my word.”
What part of speech is “thee”?
“Thee” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “thee” come from?
The word “thee” comes from Old English. From Old English þē, the object form of "thou," related to modern "thee/thou/thy.".
Is “thee” a common word?
“Thee” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between thee and thou?
Thou is the subject form and thee is the object form of the same archaic pronoun. Thou performs the action ("thou art kind"), while thee receives it or follows a preposition ("I thank thee," "peace be with thee"). They work the way "he" and "him" do in modern English.
When should you use thee instead of thou?
Use thee wherever modern English would use "you" as an object: after a verb ("I give thee my word") or after a preposition ("to thee," "for thee"). Use thou when the pronoun is the subject of the verb ("thou knowest"). Mixing them up is the most common error in mock-archaic writing.
Is thee formal or informal?
Historically, thee and thou were the familiar, intimate forms, used with family, close friends, and children, while "you" was the polite or plural choice. Because thee now survives mainly in prayers and older literature, modern readers often assume it was the formal option — the reverse of its original role.
Why do Quakers say thee?
Members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) traditionally used thee and thou with everyone as part of "plain speech," declining to address social superiors with the politer "you." In some Quaker communities this usage lasted long after the pronoun faded from general English.
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