you
Forms
- present (v1)
- you
- past (v2)
- youed
- past participle (v3)
- youed
- present participle
- youing
- 3rd person singular
- yous
- Plural
- yous
Definitions
1.To address (a person) using the pronoun you (in the past, especially to use you rather than thou, when you was considered more formal).
- Youing consists in relating everything in the conversation to the person you wish to flatter, and introducing the word “you” into your speech as often as possible.
- Now even Princess Anne had dropped it. Sarah had heard her youing away on television the other night just like the inhabitants of her mother’s dominions beyond the seas.
1.The people spoken, or written to, as an object.
- Both of you should get ready now.
- I'll look up you and your sister.
2.(To) yourselves, (to) yourself.(colloquial)
- ‘Pull you up a chair,’ she offered.
- You'd better get you a gun and kill him before he kills you or somebody.
- If I may counsaile you, some day or two / Your Highnesse shall repose you at the Tower [..].
3.The person spoken to or written to, as an object. (Replacing thee; originally as a mark of respect.)
- I charge you, as ye woll have my love, that ye warne your kynnesmen that ye woll beare that day the slyve of golde uppon your helmet.
4.The people spoken to or written to, as a subject. (Replacing ye.)
- Are you excited? ― Yes, I am excited!
- You are all supposed to do as I tell you.
1.The individual or group spoken or written to.
- Have you gentlemen come to see the lady who fell backwards off a bus?
2.Used before epithets, describing the person being addressed, for emphasis.
- 'You genius!' I shouted in Aretta's ear. 'You absolute genius! Why didn't you tell us you were so good?'
1.The name of the Latin script letter U/u.
- It said, in a whispering, buzzing voice, "Gee-you-ess-ess-ay-dash-em-ee-ar-ar-wye-dash-em-eye-en-gee-oh-dash-pee-eye-pee-dash-pee-ee-ar-ar-wye-dash-pee-eye-en-gee-oh."
Frequency
Overall
Very common· #9
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Very common
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Uncommon
Related words
Etymology
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).