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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

thou

/ðaʊ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does thou mean?

verb

  1. To address (a person) using the pronoun thou, especially as an expression of contempt or familiarity.
  2. To use the word thou.

noun

  1. A unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch (25.4 µm).
More meanings (5)

noun

  1. (slang) A thousand, especially a thousand of some currency (dollars, pounds sterling, etc.).

adverb

  1. Misspelling of though.

conjunction

  1. Misspelling of though.

pronoun

  1. Honorific alternative letter-case form of thou, sometimes used when referring to God or another important figure who is understood from context.
  2. (archaic, literary) Nominative singular of ye (“you”).

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ðaʊ/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Other dictionary pronunciations

/θaʊ//ðoʊ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

His violence thou fearst not, being such, As wee, not capable of death or paine, Can either not receave, or can repell.
John MiltonParadise LostProject Gutenberg ebook #20
Art thou not he who coming to the town of Cadmus freed us from the tax we paid To the fell songstress?
SophoclesPlays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; AntigoneTranslated by Francis StorrProject Gutenberg ebook #31
More book examples (3)
Thou art crushed under this seven years’ weight of misery,” replied Hester, fervently resolved to buoy him up with her own energy.
Nathaniel HawthorneThe Scarlet LetterProject Gutenberg ebook #33
“My Prince,” he started, “where hast thou—” and then he stopped, but I knew the question that his lips dared not frame.
Edgar Rice BurroughsThe gods of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #64
“I have heard the story,” said Fitzurse, “though either the Prior or thou has made some singular alterations in date and circumstances.”
Walter ScottIvanhoe: A RomanceProject Gutenberg ebook #82