thy
Thy (determiner) means an old-fashioned or poetic word for "your," used with a singular person you are addressing. Example: “Honor thy father and thy mother.”
How to use thy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old way of saying "your," found in older English, prayers, and poetry.
Modern English no longer uses "thy" in everyday speech — it survives mainly in religious texts, Shakespeare, and deliberately archaic writing.
Use "thy" before a consonant sound and "thine" before a vowel sound, mirroring how "a" and "an" work today.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Honor _____ father and thy mother.
Etymology
From Middle English "thi," a worn-down form of "thin," the old possessive of "thou" — the archaic singular counterpart to modern "you."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “thy” mean?
The word “thy” means an old-fashioned or poetic word for "your," used with a singular person you are addressing. In plain terms, an old way of saying "your," found in older English, prayers, and poetry.
How do you pronounce “thy”?
“Thy” is pronounced THEYE (/ˈðaɪ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “thy” in a sentence?
Here is “thy” used in a sentence: “Honor thy father and thy mother.”
What part of speech is “thy”?
“Thy” is a determiner.
Where does the word “thy” come from?
The word “thy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English "thi," a worn-down form of "thin," the old possessive of "thou" — the archaic singular counterpart to modern "you.".
Is “thy” a common word?
“Thy” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'thy' and 'thine'?
'Thy' and 'thine' both mean 'your' when addressing one person, but they follow a rule like 'a' and 'an'. 'Thy' comes before a word starting with a consonant sound (thy book), while 'thine' comes before a vowel sound (thine eyes) or stands alone (it is thine).
What is the difference between 'thy' and 'thou'?
'Thou' is the old singular form of 'you' as the subject of a sentence, as in 'thou art kind'. 'Thy' is the matching possessive form meaning 'your', as in 'thy name'. In short, 'thou' performs the action and 'thy' shows ownership.
When is 'thy' used instead of 'your'?
'Thy' is an archaic and poetic form of 'your' used when speaking to a single person. It survives mainly in older writing such as Shakespeare, the King James Bible, hymns, and prayers, whereas modern English uses 'your' in every case.
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