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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:

“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

But I’ll bet you a pint of Guinness that getting a little more in writing, and sharing a little less out loud at work, would serve us all well.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

However, a rule change and more flexible lending mean first-time buyers can now borrow up to six, or at the most, seven times what you earn in a year.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

“We were all set to go, but when the allies asked to call it off, you got to sort of say, ‘well, let’s see,’” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

“Thank you, Caesar, for fighting to end slavery.”

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

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

Both etiquette experts advise sending a thank you note to the host after Christmas Day which is something that Mr Wesson calls "the gold standard of thank yous".

From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2024

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

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2023

Certainly, if the rest of Hollywood was having similarly complicated feelings about the Globes, it largely kept them to itself amid all the thank yous to the H.F.P.A.

From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 2023

There’s always a footnote to her I love yous.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Call me a broken record, but I have cautioned before that the movement to “bring your whole self to work” is a minefield.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

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

"But when you're self-employed, like I am, your calendar can't just stop because your hormones are changing."

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Personal circumstances can change too, such as losing a job, having to take time out to care for a loved one, or illness of your own.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

Making synaptic connections is how your brain actually thinks, learns, remembers, acts, and reacts.

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

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

But it’s important to remember that this is still your grandmother’s money, not yours and not your father’s.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

The vast Lake Tahoe estate of Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love, complete with a theater, wine tasting room, ice-skating rink and sauna, could be yours — for the small price of $43 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

It gives you an understanding that is distinctly, wholly yours.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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