thou

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'thou' is correctly used in written English, although it is primarily used in formal or poetic English.
'Thou' is an archaic form of the pronoun 'you', and is used as a pronoun to refer to a single person or entity, usually in a formal or spiritual context. For example: "Thou hast been warned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

"O thou who are close to God, be the middle man between us and God," bellowed the preacher, prompting a noisy chorus of tearful sobs from the crowd in Jamkaran, a 1,000-year-old 1,000-year-old 1,000-year-oldskirts of the holy city of Qom, home to Iran'shrinegions ruling esthelishment.

The Guardian

They think the BBC is too smug and holier than thou".

The Guardian

The danger is that in writing about my reasons for doing so, I will come over as an inverted snob: "I am more radical than thou".

The Guardian - Opinion

Warner, discovering that one official had called Blazer at Concacaf to tell him about the payments, is alleged to have become angry and said: "There are some people here who think they are more pious than thou.

The Guardian - Sport

We used to distinguish between thou and thee (singular); ye and you (plural).

The Guardian

One day in 1947, when he had pranged his car, Mr Roberts opened the Bible to 3 John 2: "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth".

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

"Instead they have managed to alienate even natural allies by adopting a hostile negotiating strategy and holier-than-thou approach.

The Guardian

French style also means cool girls looking intimidating on Purple Diary (hipper-than-thou website where nipples, cigarettes and black and white photography go hand in hand).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I certainly don't want to sound holier-than-thou or greener-than-thee.

The Guardian

But you could say the same about Richard Price's ability to capture the fraught police/criminal relationship in Clockers, or Elmore Leonard's understanding of the criminal underbelly, and neither of them adopted the same holier-than-thou, I-speak-for-this-city approach Simon does.

The Guardian - Opinion

The only restriction appears to be that they cannot tear small animals apart in the process.Dan TarzeyOxfordSIR – As a lifelong Methodist I am disappointed to be categorised as "gloomier-than-thou".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thou" sparingly and only when aiming for an archaic, formal, or religious tone. Ensure consistency in its usage within the text.

Common error

Avoid mixing "thou" with modern pronouns like "you" in the same sentence or paragraph, as this creates a jarring and unintended effect. Maintain a consistent archaic style throughout.

Linguistic Context

The word "thou" functions as a second-person singular pronoun, primarily in archaic or religious contexts. Ludwig AI shows its common use in older texts and formal declarations, mirroring its intended grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the pronoun "thou" is an archaic form of "you", primarily used in formal, religious, or historical contexts. Ludwig highlights its proper grammatical function as a second-person singular pronoun. While grammatically correct, its use should be deliberate to achieve the desired tone, avoiding inconsistency with modern English. The frequency of "thou" is categorized as common due to its presence in literature and historical documents, as referenced by Ludwig. When aiming for modern communication, alternatives like "you" are recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

you

Modern equivalent and direct replacement.

thee

Another archaic form, often used alongside "thou".

yourself

More formal, emphasizing the individual.

your honor

Very formal, used in legal contexts.

you there

Direct address, sometimes used to get attention.

hey you

Informal and direct address.

oi you

Colloquial and direct address.

you folk

Plural form, addressing a group.

you all

Regional plural form.

youse

Informal plural form.

FAQs

How to use "thou" in a sentence?

"Thou" is used as the singular second-person pronoun (like "you"), typically in formal or religious contexts. For example, "Thou art my shepherd."

What can I say instead of "thou"?

In modern English, the direct replacement for "thou" is "you". However, the choice depends on the context and desired tone.

Which is correct, "thou art" or "thou is"?

"Thou art" is the correct conjugation. The verb "to be" conjugates differently in archaic English, so use "art" with "thou".

What's the difference between "thou" and "thee"?

"Thou" is the subjective form (used as the subject of a sentence), while "thee" is the objective form (used as the object of a verb or preposition). For instance, "Thou art wise" versus "I give this to thee."