you
pronounyou definition & meaning
- The pronoun of the second person, in the nominative, dative, and objective case, indicating the person or persons addressed.
Examples of you in a sentence
As a
- Pronoun: Are you coming to the party tonight
- Pronoun: You should try the new restaurant downtown
Synonyms for you
- thou
- thee
- ye
- y'all
- ya
Rhymes with you
- blue
- crew
- flew
- glue
- grew
- knew
- new
- shoe
- stew
- through
- true
- view
- zoo
Related words to you
me
yourself
yours
we
they
them
us
our
mine
theirs
Word history
Etymology
The word "you" originates from the Old English "ēow," which was the dative and accusative form of "gē," the plural form of "thou." In Middle English, "you" evolved from "eow" and "ȝow," reflecting changes in pronunciation and spelling. The transition from Old to Middle English saw "you" being used as both a singular and plural pronoun, particularly in formal contexts, while "thou" remained for singular informal use. This shift was influenced by the Norman Conquest, which introduced French linguistic norms, favoring the use of plural pronouns for politeness. By the Early Modern English period, "you" had largely supplanted "thou" in most contexts, becoming the standard second-person pronoun. The evolution of "you" reflects broader changes in English pronoun usage, including the loss of the T-V distinction (thou vs. you) that marked social hierarchies. The word's development illustrates the dynamic nature of language, influenced by social, cultural, and historical factors, leading to its current status as the universal second-person pronoun in contemporary English.
How many points is you worth in Scrabble?
Total points
6
Per letter points
Y4O1U1
Dictionary check
- Offcl. Scrabble Pl. Dict. & Offcl Scrabble WordsYES
- Collins Scrabble Words 2021YES
- NASPA Word List 2020YES
- Tournament Word List 2006YES
- Words with Friends 2000YES
- Words with Friends 1997 (Retired)YES