they
They (pron) means used to refer to a group of people or things already mentioned. Example: “The students finished their exams; they left the hall quietly.”
How to use they
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe word for a group of people/things, and also the standard gender-neutral pronoun for one person.
The singular "they" has been used in English since at least the 1300s — it isn't a modern invention, even though its use for non-binary people is more recent.
Trace the full origin ↓Word forms
theirs noun form, theyed past tense, themself singular, theys singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The students finished their exams; _____ left the hall quietly.
Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Old Norse their, the plural of a demonstrative meaning "those"; it replaced native forms that had become confused with "he".
Rhymes for they
See all rhymes for they →Frequently asked questions
What does “they” mean?
The word “they” means used to refer to a group of people or things already mentioned. In plain terms, the word for a group of people/things, and also the standard gender-neutral pronoun for one person.
How do you pronounce “they”?
“They” is pronounced THAY (/ˈðeɪ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “they” in a sentence?
Here is “they” used in a sentence: “The students finished their exams; they left the hall quietly.”
What part of speech is “they”?
“They” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “they” come from?
The word “they” comes from Middle English. Borrowed into Middle English from Old Norse their, the plural of a demonstrative meaning "those"; it replaced native forms that had become confused with "he".
Is “they” a common word?
“They” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “they” have?
“They” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to refer to a group of people or things already mentioned.
Can "they" refer to just one person?
Yes. Singular "they" is used for a person whose gender is unknown, unspecified, or non-binary, as in "Someone left their umbrella; they can collect it later." Major dictionaries and style guides accept this use.
Do you say "they is" or "they are" for one person?
Even when "they" refers to a single person, it takes plural verb forms: "they are," "they were," "they have." This mirrors "you," which also takes plural verbs whether it refers to one person or many.
What is the difference between "they", "them", and "their"?
"They" is the subject form ("they arrived"), "them" is the object form ("I called them"), and "their" is the possessive ("their house"). All three can refer to a group or, in modern usage, to a single person of unspecified gender.
What is the difference between "they're", "their", and "there"?
"They're" is a contraction of "they are," "their" shows possession, and "there" refers to a place or introduces a clause such as "there is." A quick check: if you can expand the word to "they are," the correct spelling is "they're".
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing they in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Scientists say the world is in uncharted waters, and they aren't sure what will happen next.
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