Why Did the Pronoun 'Thou' Fall Out of Use?

Explore the evolution of language and discover why 'thou' became obsolete in favor of 'you'.

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The word 'thou' fell out of common usage in favor of 'you' due to social and linguistic evolution. 'Thou' was originally a singular informal pronoun, while 'you' was plural or formal. Over time, using 'you' for all cases became more widespread for simplicity and politeness, leading to the eventual decline of 'thou' in everyday language.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is the origin of 'thou'? The word 'thou' traces back to Old English and was used as a singular informal pronoun.
  2. When did 'thou' stop being commonly used? 'Thou' fell out of common usage primarily during the 17th century, replaced by 'you' for simplicity.
  3. What are the modern equivalents of 'thou'? Today, 'you' serves as both the singular and plural form, eliminating the need for distinct pronouns.
  4. Why did language evolve to favor 'you' over 'thou'? 'You' became prevalent due to shifts towards politeness and the simplification of language over time.

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