pronoun Common

thou

thow

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Thou (pronoun) means an old-fashioned or poetic word for "you," used when speaking to one person. Example: “Wherefore dost thou weep, fair maiden, when the harvest is so plentiful?”

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?"

""Thou art welcome here," the old innkeeper said in the play."

""I shall remember thou art my friend," said the king in the play."

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."

"The engineer checked that the shaft was within a few thou of the drawing."

"A gap of half a thou is too small to measure by hand."

Informal shorthand for "a thousand," especially of money.

"He paid five thou in cash for the used car."

"The old bike cost me about two thou, which seemed a fair deal."

"They reckon the repairs will come to ten thou before they finish."

How to use thou

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn archaic word for "you" (singular), still seen in old texts, poetry, and religious language; also modern slang for "a thousand."

When to use it

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

Easily confused with

thee →

Common pairings

thou shalt five thou a few thou

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: thous
Third person singular: thous
Past tense: thoued

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Wherefore dost _____ weep, fair maiden, when the harvest is so plentiful?

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.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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you thee mil chiliad yard K grand M G thousand

Related words

you great number large million green august grand

Rhymes for thou

ou you fou sou IOU Lou kou mou Zou Vou Hou chou

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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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