If you’ve ever read Shakespeare or the King James Bible, you’ve seen forms like thou, thee, thy, and thine. Today, we use you for nearly everything, and they is increasingly accepted as a singular pronoun.
How did English pronouns change so dramatically? The story reveals not just grammar shifts, but also centuries of social and cultural change.
Old English Pronouns: A Complex System
In Old English (spoken until about 1150), pronouns were far more complex:
- Singular: ic (I), þu (thou), he/heo/hit (he/she/it).
- Dual (two people only): wit (we two), git (you two).
- Plural: we (we), ge (you all), hie (they).
Yes—English once had special pronouns just for “two people.” Over time, these forms simplified and disappeared.
Thou, Thee, and the Rise of You
By Middle English (1150–1500), þu evolved into thou (subject) and thee (object). Meanwhile, ge shifted into ye/you.
Here’s the key change:
- Thou/Thee: Used for individuals, especially equals or inferiors.
- Ye/You: Used for groups—or as a mark of respect for higher-status individuals.
So if a servant spoke to a lord, they’d say you. Among friends or children, they’d use thou.
Shakespeare’s Pronouns: Nuance and Power
In Shakespeare’s time (late 1500s–1600s), pronoun choice carried social weight.
- Thou could signal intimacy, affection, or even insult.
- You was more formal, polite, or distant.
For example, in Twelfth Night, shifts between thou and you show changes in relationships.
By the 17th century, however, thou was fading, replaced by you in almost all contexts.
Why Did “Thou” Disappear?
Several factors explain the decline:
- Politeness inflation: You felt more respectful, so people began using it universally.
- Social leveling: After the 1600s, society leaned toward egalitarianism, making thou sound old-fashioned or rude.
- Standardization: Printing presses and education spread you as the standard form.
Today, thou survives mainly in poetry, religious texts, and regional dialects (like Yorkshire English).
The Singular “They”: Not So New
Many think of singular they as a modern invention, but it has deep roots. Writers have used they for singular, gender-unknown references for centuries.
- 14th century: Chaucer wrote, “And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame, They wol come up.”
- 16th century: Shakespeare used singular they in multiple plays.
- 18th century: Jane Austen casually wrote, “Every body has their failing.”
Grammar guides pushed he as the “default” in the 18th–19th centuries, but singular they never disappeared in actual usage.
Modern Shifts: They/Them in the 21st Century
Today, singular they has reemerged not just for unknown subjects (someone left their book), but also for individuals who prefer they/them. Dictionaries like Merriam-Webster and Oxford now officially recognize this use.
This isn’t a radical change—it’s a continuation of English’s long history of adapting pronouns for clarity and inclusivity.
Other Curious Pronoun Shifts
- Its: Didn’t exist in Old English. People once said his or itself. Its appeared around 1600.
- Who/Whom: Whom is slowly fading, as everyday speech simplifies.
- Y’all / You Guys: English has no formal plural “you,” so regional innovations fill the gap. Y’all (Southern U.S.), youse (Irish, Australian), you guys (North America) all show how speakers adapt.
Final Thoughts: Pronouns as Mirrors of Society
Pronoun shifts reflect more than grammar—they mirror power, respect, intimacy, and inclusivity. From thou vs. you to the rise of singular they, pronouns track how societies change.
The next time you say you or they, remember: those tiny words carry centuries of history, culture, and evolving human relationships.
