you Meaning & Definition
What Does You Mean?
You is a pronoun that means The people spoken, or written to, as an object. It can also mean (To) yourselves, (to) yourself. As a determiner, it means The individual or group spoken or written to. As a verb, it means To address (a person) using the pronoun you (in the past, especially to use you rather than thou, when you was considered more formal).
You: Key Facts
| Part of speech | pronoun, determiner, verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /t/ |
| Synonyms | thee, ye and one |
| Plural | reflexive yourselves |
| Verb forms | yous, youing, youed |
You Definition (Pronoun)
- The people spoken, or written to, as an object.
Both of you should get ready now.
- (To) yourselves, (to) yourself.
- The person spoken to or written to, as an object. (Replacing thee; originally as a mark of respect.)
- The people spoken to or written to, as a subject. (Replacing ye.)
You are all supposed to do as I tell you.
- The person spoken to or written to, as a subject. (Originally as a mark of respect.)
- A person's favorite sports team.
I get that you're from Southeast Michigan, but I'm still surprised that you're a Detroit Lions fan. You have been on the receiving end of losing seasons for a while now.
- Anyone, one; an unspecified individual or group of individuals (as subject or object).
- A dummy pronoun used in certain constructions, usually with verbs of receiving (such as get or find) or sensing (such as see or hear), typically stating the existence or typicality of something.
You get a lot of rude people in London.
You as a Determiner
- The individual or group spoken or written to.
Have you gentlemen come to see the lady who fell backwards off a bus?
- Used before epithets, describing the person being addressed, for emphasis.
You idiot!
- Your.
You as a Verb
- To address (a person) using the pronoun you (in the past, especially to use you rather than thou, when you was considered more formal).
You as a Noun
- The name of the Latin script letter U/u.
Pronoun
- (object pronoun) The people spoken, or written to, as an object.
Both of you should get ready now.
- (reflexive pronoun) (To) yourselves, (to) yourself.
- (object pronoun) The person spoken to or written to, as an object. (Replacing thee; originally as a mark of respect.)
- (subject pronoun) The people spoken to or written to, as a subject. (Replacing ye.)
You are all supposed to do as I tell you.
- (subject pronoun) The person spoken to or written to, as a subject. (Originally as a mark of respect.)
- (indefinite personal pronoun) Anyone, one; an unspecified individual or group of individuals (as subject or object).
Synonyms of You
You synonyms and antonyms →You in a Sentence
Both of you should get ready now.
I'll look up you and your sister.
You are all supposed to do as I tell you.
I get that you're from Southeast Michigan, but I'm still surprised that you're a Detroit Lions fan. You have been on the receiving end of losing seasons for a while now.
You get a lot of rude people in London.
It was one of those small-town dive bars you often read about.
Have you gentlemen come to see the lady who fell backwards off a bus?
You idiot!
Word Forms & Grammar
you (second person, singular or plural, nominative or objective, possessive determiner your, possessive pronoun yours, singular reflexive yourself, plural reflexive yourselves)
you
you (third-person singular simple present yous, present participle youing, simple past and past participle youed)
you (plural yous)
Words That Rhyme With You
Origin of You
Origin 1: From Middle English you, yow, ȝow (object case of ye), from Old English ēow (“you”, dative case of ġē), from Proto-West Germanic *iwwi (“you”, dative case of *jiʀ), from Proto-Germanic *iwwiz (“you”, dative case of *jīz), the Western form of Proto-Germanic *izwiz (“you”, dative case of *jūz), from Proto-Indo-European *yúHs (“you”, plural).
Origin 2: Cognate with Scots you (“you”), Saterland Frisian jou (“you”), West Frisian jo (“you”), Low German jo, joe and oe (“you”), Dutch jou and u (“you”), German euch (“you”), Middle High German eu, iu (“you”, object pronoun), Latin vōs (“you”), Avestan 𐬬𐬋 (vō, “you”), Ashkun yë̃ (“you”), Kamkata-viri šo (“you”), Sanskrit यूयम् (yūyám, “you”).
Origin 3: See usage notes. Ye, you and your are cognate with Dutch jij/je, jou, jouw; Low German ji, jo/ju, jug and German ihr, euch and euer respectively. Ye is also cognate with Danish I and archaic Swedish I. Compare the shift to the second-person singular informal Spanish vos, historically a formal pronoun.
Quick Answers About You
Is you a pronoun or a determiner?
You is mainly used as a pronoun, but it can also be used as a determiner, a verb and a noun.
What is another word for you?
You can replace you with words such as thee, ye and one. See the full list of you synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of you?
The plural of you is reflexive yourselves.
What is the past tense of you?
The past tense of you is youed. The present participle is youing.