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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:

When you see a picture of a children eagerly raising their hands in class, Ms. Watson dryly observes, the students are likely answering a teacher’s prompt, rather than raising a query.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

“No, I don’t think Thanksgiving should be abolished, but let me tell you more about how groceries should be cheaper.”

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

"It's tough to break through when you have that many messages out there," said Kempczinski.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

While watching a film is something you could do back home, she says people might stumble on an old theatre which is "still a part of the history of that city".

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

“I get carried away. But I believe in miracles. Just like meeting you two. A father and son, happy together.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

When comedian and actress Amy Poehler of Good Hang with Amy Poehler won the prize, she fangirled over the rapper and excitedly delivered her thank yous.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026

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

Unlike a typical awards show, the acceptance speeches didn’t include laundry lists of thank yous to studio heads.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2025

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

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2023

There were shrieks, tears, laughs, there were countless Thank Gods, I'kneW'it'Wasn’t'hims, I-told- yous.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd

In basic terms, your whole squad's salaries have to add up to £6.4m or less.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

“Spotify lives across your whole day — the commute, the workout, studying, gaming, the dinner table, and sleep. At our scale, that is rare.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Stacking these habits now can help you grow your wealth and confidence as you navigate your financial journey.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

You tap the Family and Medical Leave Act and ask for time off from your job.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

If you keep losing heat, the brain shuts down blood circulation over a larger and larger area of your skin.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

"We made a commitment to each other that what's mine is yours, and vice versa."

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

“Ladies Room” was a zippy ode to the sanctity of a room of one’s own; “Time” promised that “It’s up to me to spend my time / I gave you yours, so give me mine.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Hathaway, 43, had recently announced her pregnancy on Instagram, with the caption: “x Baby, I’m yours x.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

If yours is a private student loan, ask the lender whether it offers temporary-hardship assistance or payment-relief programs.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

REELTOK: Piece of cake for a kid with guts like yours.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

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