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you

[yoo, yoo, yuh] / ju, jʊ, jə /
PRONOUN
nominative plural pronoun
Synonyms
STRONGEST
they we
PRONOUN
nominative singular pronoun
Synonyms
STRONGEST
I he it she sie they ve xe ze zie
PRONOUN
objective singular pronoun
Synonyms
WEAK
her him hir it me them ver xem zir
PRONOUN
objective plural pronoun
Synonyms
STRONGEST
them us
NOUN
unspecified individual
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anyone one

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a synonym for you?
We don’t traditionally think of you as having synonyms, but there are several situations in which it can replace—or be replaced with—another word, phrase, or series of words. yourself In some cases, the word yourself (plural, yourselves) is used as another way of saying you. For example, it’s common to say things like You should think for yourself (which avoids using it twice, as in You should think for you). Yourself is also sometimes used in place of you after the words as, than, and but, as in I was a girl no older than yourself.  one You is sometimes used not to refer to the listener or reader but to any person in general, much like how the word one is sometimes used, as in You never know what might happen. A more formal way of saying this is One never knows what might happen.  y’all and you-all There are a few alternative ways of saying you when it’s plural. The term y’all—a popular shortening of you-all—can be used when referring to multiple people, as in Y’all are my favorite people, or to a person who represents a group or organization, as in Are y’all going to be open on Saturday? These terms (and similar ones like you guys) are typically used in informal communication.  yous and youse A plural form of you that is considered nonstandard is yous (or youse) as in Where are yous going? ye and thou Archaic forms of the word you include ye and thou.  u You might use the letter u as a substitute for you in very informal communications, such as text messages or online posts, as in i miss u!
What can you use instead of the word you?
There may be some situations when you want to avoid using the word you in a piece of writing, especially in more formal or technical writing, such as a scientific report. In these cases, you can reword things to avoid addressing the reader altogether. For example, instead of saying You’ll see this increase illustrated in the graph below, you could say This increase is illustrated in the graph below.   In interpersonal communication, it is often recommended to state grievances without placing blame on the person you’re talking to. Sometimes, the best way to do this is to avoid using the word you. For example, instead of saying You always leave your socks on the floor, try a more tactful phrasing, like It’s frustrating to me when I find socks on the floor.
What kind of pronoun is you?
You is a personal pronoun. Pronouns are used as substitutes for nouns—they’re another way of referring to a noun without using a specific name. Personal pronouns are used to refer to the speaker, to the person being addressed, or the person being talked about.  You is categorized as a second person pronoun, meaning that it’s used to address the person being spoken to or reading. In contrast, first person pronouns (like I and me) refer to the speaker or writer themselves, and third person pronouns (like he, she, they, him, her, and them) refer to anyone other than the person doing the communicating or the people being addressed.  In literature, second-person point of view is a form of narration in which the events of the story are told using the second person. This technique (using you and its other forms) can express the action as if it’s happening from the point of view of the reader (though it may have other effects). It is far less commonly used than first-person point of view and third-person point of view.  Unlike many other personal pronouns, you does not change forms depending on whether it’s being used as a subject (as in You handled that nicely) or an object (as in The doctor will examine you now). In contrast, the pronouns I, he, she, and they are used as subjects, while their object counterparts are me, him, her, and them.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In one video, which has 2.4 million views, a young woman asks: "Ladies, what do you do during your luteal phase to feel better?! I honestly can't cope any more."

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

“Everybody’s excited in the beginning of a relationship, but you always have to plan for what’s going to happen at the end,” says labor attorney Kathlyn Perez, who isn’t involved in the case.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

“You can never perfectly predict the future but if you said, ‘Hey, place a bet on it,’ I would be very confident placing it that he would be back pitching.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

“If you look at the numbers, it’s actually not ambitious,” Chen said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Inside the brain, you can see die different lobes of the cortex; the corpus callosum, which joins the two hemispheres; the cerebellum at the back of the head; and the brain stem.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

The black-clad, 23-year-old singer-songwriter barely spoke to the audience, uttering only a couple of thank yous during one of two solo performances at the venue this past weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025

"A hundred thank yous for the fabulous doctors, nurses, radiographers, porters, physios, surgeons and more at the Manchester Royal Infirmary," said Archibald.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2024

When she finished, her classmates showered her with a chorus of thank yous — “sucran” in Arabic, “toda” in Hebrew.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2024

They kissed and exchanged I love yous; Joe shuffled to the door.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2023

“No, no. Don’t put out those candles yet. Bring the girls in. I wanna tell yous about the rogarou tonight.”

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

In such a setting, and perhaps especially in the entertainment industry, it could be tempting to feel like you were on a family vacation and let your guard down accordingly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

During this hormonal shift, your body holds on to more fluids, meaning you may end up with a puffier face, general bloating and tender, swollen breasts.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Don’t assume your boss, peers or direct reports are the same.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

But any and all statistics obscure the larger point: If you’re a Brewers fan, when is your year?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

Students of neurology or psychology study his case because it illustrates how the lobes of the frontal cortex—the two halves of your brain that meet in your forehead—are the seat of "executive functions."

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

Celeste replied "of course its yours David", according to testimony from a detective.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

At age 62, he is entitled to collect up to 50% of the amount of his ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits, if they are greater than yours.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

The cleats Shohei Ohtani wore during the Dodgers’ 2025 season opener in Japan could be yours if you’re willing to part with about $1 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

The difference shapes whether you see success as an entitlement or as yours to create.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

“My eyes are better than yours, Colonel,” Dr. Cajazeira said quietly.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

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