Definitions

you

[yoo, yoo, yuh] / ju, jʊ, jə /

Part of Speech:

All (5) Pronoun (4) Noun (1)

Jump To:

nominative plural pronoun pron.
nominative singular pronoun pron.
objective singular pronoun pron.
objective plural pronoun pron.
unspecified individual n.

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:

you yous your yours

Lake Como is 29 miles long and 2.5 miles wide in some parts - you also come across a yacht club and an 'Aero Club' for the sea-planes that take off at regular intervals.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

Here’s more of what you need to know about the candidates.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

"With Susan Collins, you know what you're getting," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

“That’s not a conversation you can really have with a family—‘You don’t fit into our box anymore,’” said Lindsay Watkins, a behavior analyst who helped run an AIM clinic in Apex, N.C.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

In your brain, Broca's area may let you speak and Wernicke's area may let you understand, but listening is also a complicated social behavior.

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

It's a rare flash of humour from the frontman, whose onstage utterings are mostly limited to mumbled "thank yous".

From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025

Volunteers were greeted with fist bumps, air kisses and shouted thank yous.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2025

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

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2023

Milkman slumped over the crate and caught his breath, barely able to nod to the old man’s thank yous.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

"I will let you keep ice hockey, and I will let you keep your 'O Canada' national anthem," he promised before adding: "We're only kidding."

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

“Many of you would carry groceries upstairs for your mom for free, but in California, they will pay you a lot of money for it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

But if you’re 22, lonely and convinced every institution has given up on you, these streams offer company, community and an authority figure who takes your anger seriously and gives you someone to blame.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

Work out what they are - the gym, a book, a long walk - and make them non-negotiable fixtures in your routine.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

“How did the dinner with your dad’s new girl go? Did you get a Flash about what she’d be like before she came over?”

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

But don't assume responsibility for things that were never yours to carry.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

While we’re on the subject of shirts, let me ask about yours, Michael.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

You mention that, unlike some of your friends’ kids, yours don’t have access to specific resources.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

It’s cozy and low-effort enough to make on repeat for just you and yours, but substantial — and just showy enough — to answer a last-minute “Come over for dinner!” text, too.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

“Good luck, Jake. Have fun. And use that big brain of yours to help them catch the bad guys!”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

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