English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
determiner Common

thy

THEYE
Quiz me More like this

Thy (determiner) means an old-fashioned or poetic word for "your," used with a singular person you are addressing. Example: “O my love, how thy eyes shine brighter than the evening stars.”

determiner
1
An old-fashioned or poetic word for "your," used with a singular person you are addressing.
"O my love, how thy eyes shine brighter than the evening stars."
"Honor thy father and thy mother."
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done."

How to use thy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old way of saying "your," found in older English, prayers, and poetry.

Common mistake

Modern English no longer uses "thy" in everyday speech — it survives mainly in religious texts, Shakespeare, and deliberately archaic writing.

Memory tip

Use "thy" before a consonant sound and "thine" before a vowel sound, mirroring how "a" and "an" work today.

Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
thine → thee →
Common pairings
thy will thy name thy kingdom
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like thy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Test yourself on “thy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

O my love, how _____ eyes shine brighter than the evening stars.

Etymology

From Middle English "thi," a worn-down form of "thin," the old possessive of "thou" — the archaic singular counterpart to modern "you."

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →
your thine

Related words

your thine

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.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include thy:

3 letter words Words that start with T The 5000 most common English words

People also searched

your thine