they
Formstheys, theying, theyed
- 1Used as the subject of a verb for people, animals or things already mentioned or understood.
Fred and Jane? I think they just arrived.
I bought new shoes, but they hurt my feet.
UsageThey're means 'they are'. Use their before a noun (their coats) and theirs alone (the coats are theirs).
- 2Used for one person whose gender is unknown or does not matter, or who goes by 'they' rather than 'he' or 'she'.
Someone left a message, but they didn't leave a name.
If a student is late, they must sign in at the office.
UsageSay they are, even for one person.
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- 3People in general, or an unnamed group such as those in charge, not including the speaker.
Like a rumor with no named source: 'they' is everyone and no one.
They are building a new school near my house.
In the old days they didn't have computers.
UsageSay they say to mean 'people say'.
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Less common meanings
- 4To call someone 'they' instead of 'he' or 'she' when talking about them.
Some of my coworkers they me even though my pin says she/her.
She gets theyed constantly because of her short hair.
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- 5In some US dialects, used instead of 'their' before a noun.
Them kids left they bikes out in the rain again.
All they kids be running around the yard.
Similartheir
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- 6In some US dialects, used instead of 'there' to say that something exists.
They ain't nothing wrong with that.
Back then they was music everywhere in the streets.
Similarthere
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- 7In some English country dialects, used before a noun to mean 'those'.
Mind they nettles by the gate, or you'll get stung.
Pass me one of they apples from the basket, will you?
Similarthose
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Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Middle English "þei", borrowed by around 1200 from Old Norse "þeir", the plural of a word meaning "that". It slowly replaced the older native English word for "they" by the 1400s.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- English they descends from Middle English þei, borrowed from Old Norse þeir. en.wiktionary.org
- The pronoun was already attested in the late-twelfth-century Ormulum, so the borrowing had occurred by around 1200. su.se
- Old Norse þeir was the plural of a demonstrative meaning that. en.wiktionary.org
- They gradually replaced the native English plural pronoun by the 1400s. en.wiktionary.org
From an earlier form "the'e", from "there".
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Dialectal 'they' meaning 'there' derives from the earlier form 'the'e'. en.wiktionary.org
- The intermediate form 'the'e' derives from 'there'. en.wiktionary.org