you

The word "you" originates from Old English "ēow," which was the dative and accusative form of "ġē," the plural form of "thou." In Middle English, "you" began to be used as both a singular and plural pronoun, a shift influenced by the Norman Conquest and the French language, which used "vous" for both singular formal and plural. This usage was also reinforced by the social practice of using plural forms to convey respect or formality, a practice known as the T-V distinction. The singular "thou" gradually fell out of favor in standard English, especially by the 17th century, as "you" became the dominant form for both singular and plural second-person pronouns. The transition was also influenced by the need for a more polite form of address in social hierarchies. The spelling "you" was standardized in the 16th century, evolving from earlier variations like "eow," "eou," and "yow." This evolution reflects broader changes in English pronouns, driven by social, linguistic, and cultural factors, leading to the modern usage where "you" serves as the universal second-person pronoun in contemporary English.