Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
English they
From Middle English þei, borrowed in the 1200s from Old Norse þeir, plural of the demonstrative sá which acted as a plural pronoun. Displaced native Middle English he from Old English hīe — which vowel changes had left indistinct from he (“he”) — by the 1400s, being readily incorporated alongside native words beginning with the same sound (the, that, this). Used as a singular pronoun since 1300, e.g. in the 1325 Cursor Mundi.
The Norse term (whence also Icelandic þeir (“they”), Faroese teir (“they”), Danish de (“they”), Swedish de (“they”), Norwegian Nynorsk dei (“they”)) is from Proto-Germanic *þai (“those”) (from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“that”)), whence also Old English þā (“those”) (whence obsolete English tho), Scots thae, thai, thay (“they; those”), Swabian dia (“they”).
The origin of the determiner they (“the, those”) is unclear. The OED, English Dialect Dictionary and Middle English Dictionary define it and its Middle English predecessor thei as a demonstrative determiner or adjective meaning “those” or “the”. This could be a continuation of the use of the English pronoun they's Old Norse etymon þeir as a demonstrative meaning “those”, but the OED and EDD say it is limited to southern, especially southwestern, England, specifically outside the region of Norse contact.
They rooks as you see … only coom a few year agoo. 1878, Louis John Jennings, Field Paths and Green Lanes, quoting an old East Sussex man
Forty quid a fuckin ticket. No shy they British Rail cunts, ah kin fuckin tell ye. 1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 114:
Darn'd if they Cockney Chaps can zee there worn't nort but lie in him. 1883, Judy, or the London serio-comic journal, volume 33, Harvard University:
page 21: "But you spile [spoil] they gals - they won't be for no good, they won't."
page 30: "'Twas all about they rewks [rooks]," he sobbed.
page 54: "mucking the place up with they weeds" 1895, Under the Chilterns: A Story of English Village Life:
"Bodies and souls," she cried, "if I didn't reckon to have hidden they boots safe from un in the stick-rick." "Off wi' they tight-wasted shoes o' yours, Martha." 1901, Gwendoline Keats (of Devon), Tales of Dunstáble Weir, page 55
But all they kids be listenin' to me religiously / So I'm signin' CDs while police fingerprint me 2002, Eminem, Sing for the Moment:
He guessed one of the well-off people living in these houses must have took a shine to Cody and decided how he'd look good stuck up on they roof. 2016, Alan Moore, Jerusalem, Liveright, published 2016, page 175:
It's a shame to see someone talk so bad about the gays and lesbians in prison. She is brainwash to the fact that she think every gay and lesbian in prison is guilty of they crimes. 1988 February 7, Mike Riegle, quoting John Royal, “Why Does GCN Have A Prisoner Project?”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 29, page 10:
MARY ELLEN is a different case from the others. She has five children and, she claims: "I don't know who they father is. I ain't never kept track. They is always another one. You know, I can catch me a guy[.]" 1974, Arthur Hippler, Hunter's Point: a black ghetto in America, page 88:
I got bitches askin' me about the code for the Wi-Fi / So they can talk about they timeline / And show me pictures of they friends 2015, “Energy”, in If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, performed by Drake:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
English they
From Middle English þei, borrowed in the 1200s from Old Norse þeir, plural of the demonstrative sá which acted as a plural pronoun. Displaced native Middle English he from Old English hīe — which vowel changes had left indistinct from he (“he”) — by the 1400s, being readily incorporated alongside native words beginning with the same sound (the, that, this). Used as a singular pronoun since 1300, e.g. in the 1325 Cursor Mundi.
The Norse term (whence also Icelandic þeir (“they”), Faroese teir (“they”), Danish de (“they”), Swedish de (“they”), Norwegian Nynorsk dei (“they”)) is from Proto-Germanic *þai (“those”) (from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“that”)), whence also Old English þā (“those”) (whence obsolete English tho), Scots thae, thai, thay (“they; those”), Swabian dia (“they”).
The origin of the determiner they (“the, those”) is unclear. The OED, English Dialect Dictionary and Middle English Dictionary define it and its Middle English predecessor thei as a demonstrative determiner or adjective meaning “those” or “the”. This could be a continuation of the use of the English pronoun they's Old Norse etymon þeir as a demonstrative meaning “those”, but the OED and EDD say it is limited to southern, especially southwestern, England, specifically outside the region of Norse contact.
Meanings
(derogatory, informal, offensive, sometimes) A non-binary person.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
English they
From Middle English þei, borrowed in the 1200s from Old Norse þeir, plural of the demonstrative sá which acted as a plural pronoun. Displaced native Middle English he from Old English hīe — which vowel changes had left indistinct from he (“he”) — by the 1400s, being readily incorporated alongside native words beginning with the same sound (the, that, this). Used as a singular pronoun since 1300, e.g. in the 1325 Cursor Mundi.
The Norse term (whence also Icelandic þeir (“they”), Faroese teir (“they”), Danish de (“they”), Swedish de (“they”), Norwegian Nynorsk dei (“they”)) is from Proto-Germanic *þai (“those”) (from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“that”)), whence also Old English þā (“those”) (whence obsolete English tho), Scots thae, thai, thay (“they; those”), Swabian dia (“they”).
The origin of the determiner they (“the, those”) is unclear. The OED, English Dialect Dictionary and Middle English Dictionary define it and its Middle English predecessor thei as a demonstrative determiner or adjective meaning “those” or “the”. This could be a continuation of the use of the English pronoun they's Old Norse etymon þeir as a demonstrative meaning “those”, but the OED and EDD say it is limited to southern, especially southwestern, England, specifically outside the region of Norse contact.
Meanings
(nominative, plural, qualifier:the third-person plural nominative, singular, sometimes, third-person, usually) A group of entities previously mentioned.
I have a car and a truck, but they are both broken.
There is no reason to be scared of iguanas. They do not attack humans. 2010, Iguana Invasion!: Exotic Pets Gone Wild in Florida, →ISBN, page 9:
Dogs may bark if they want to be fed.
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; And they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; And they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away 1611, King James Bible:
Fred and Jane? They just arrived.
Plants wilt if they are not watered.
[…]purſued his vnneighbourly purpoſe in ſuch ſort: that hee being the ſtronger perſwader, and ſhe (belike) too credulous in beleeuing or elſe ouer-feeble in reſiſting, from priuate imparlance, they fell to action; and continued their cloſe fight a long while together, vnſeene and vvithout ſuſpition, no doubt to their equall ioy and contentment. 1620, Giovanni Bocaccio, translated by John Florio, The Decameron, Containing an Hundred Pleaſant Nouels: Wittily Diſcourſed, Betweene Seuen Honourable Ladies, and Three Noble Gentlemen, Isaac Iaggard, Nouell 8, The Eighth Day:
(nominative, plural, qualifier:the third-person singular nominative; occasionally proscribed, singular, sometimes, third-person, usually) A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary. ▸ One whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or both.
One of the boys tripped over, and they hit their head on the door. [The gender is known but irrelevant; the particular subclass of usage in this example was seldom accepted before the 21st century, but its acceptance is increasing.]
I'm angry that we're here again, that we have had to tell another mother that their child is dead. 2015 April, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (mayor of Baltimore), commenting on the death of Freddie Gray
Then shalt thou bring forth that man, or that woman (which haue committed that wicked thing) vnto thy gates, euen that man, or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones till they die. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 17:5:
I asked my friend if they wanted to come, but they said no. [The gender is known but irrelevant.]
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione. 1997, J. K. Rowling, chapter 10, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, (quoted edition: London: Bloomsbury, 2000, →ISBN, page 187):
One thing a nominee earns is the right to pick the vice president that they think will best reflect their vision of the country, and I am just glad I will have nothing to do with it. 2008, Michelle Obama, quoted in Lisa Rogak, Michelle Obama in Her Own Words, New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2009. →ISBN, page 18
Somebody requested a seat at Friday's performance but didn't say if they preferred the balcony or the floor. [The gender is unknown and irrelevant.]
(nominative, plural, qualifier:the third-person singular nominative; occasionally proscribed, singular, sometimes, third-person, usually) A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary. ▸ One who is nonbinary.
There is no need to panic. Robin should be here soon and they will know what to do. [Robin is nonbinary and uses singular they.]
Ever since El Martinez started asking to be called by the gender-neutral pronouns “they/them” in the ninth grade, they have fielded skepticism in a variety of forms and from a multitude of sources about what it means to identify as nonbinary. 2019 May 29, Amy Harmon, “Which Box Do You Check? Some States Are Offering a Nonbinary Option”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 08 Jun 2019:
The boycott, led by Elisha Lim, of a Toronto gay and lesbian newspaper after it refused to use their preferred pronoun ["they"], citing grammar considerations, inspired me. 2014, Ivan E. Coyote, Rae Spoon, Gender Failure, →ISBN:
(indefinite, nominative, plural, pronoun, qualifier:vague meaning, singular, sometimes, third-person, usually) People; some people; people in general; someone, excluding the speaker.
Hurtling through the air that evening in seat 10C, I read the US House committee’s Max investigation, a disruptor of illusions. Like many fliers, I’d long ago made my bargain with risk. I’d taken comfort in statistics, summoned faith in the engineers and assembly workers, the pilots, the system. I’d shunted away the knowledge—paralyzing, if you let it in—that stepping on an airplane is an extraordinary act of trust. Deep in the report, I reached the part about a senior manager at Boeing’s factory in Renton, a guy named Ed Pierson, who seemingly knew what we all know when we soothe ourselves by thinking, They wouldn’t let it fly if it weren’t safe. We’re all relying on someone to be the “they.” 2025 March 11, Lauren Smiley, “The Worst 7 Years in Boeing’s History—and the Man Who Won’t Stop Fighting for Answers. Fatal crashes. A door blowout. Grounded planes. Inside the citizen-led, obsessive campaign to hold Boeing accountable and prevent the next disaster”, in Wired:
I am beautiful, no matter what they say 2002, Linda Perry, “Beautiful”, in Stripped, performed by Christina Aguilera:
They say it’s a good place to live.
They built this city on rock and roll.
They don’t make them like they used to.
Always get a second source, they tell us in investigative lexicography;[…] 1986 February 16, William Safire, “On Language; Moon Of My Delight”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 May 2015, Section 6 / Magazine, page 10:
They didn’t have computers in the old days.
(indefinite, nominative, plural, pronoun, singular, sometimes, third-person, usually) The authorities, the (power) elites, the powers that be, the establishment, the man, the system: government, police, employers, etc.
They should increase our wages.
They'll tax us for the air we breathe next.
Ha, you believe the moon is real? That's just what they want you to think.
(nominative, plural, singular, sometimes, third-person, usually) The opponents of the side which is keeping score.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
English they
From Middle English þei, borrowed in the 1200s from Old Norse þeir, plural of the demonstrative sá which acted as a plural pronoun. Displaced native Middle English he from Old English hīe — which vowel changes had left indistinct from he (“he”) — by the 1400s, being readily incorporated alongside native words beginning with the same sound (the, that, this). Used as a singular pronoun since 1300, e.g. in the 1325 Cursor Mundi.
The Norse term (whence also Icelandic þeir (“they”), Faroese teir (“they”), Danish de (“they”), Swedish de (“they”), Norwegian Nynorsk dei (“they”)) is from Proto-Germanic *þai (“those”) (from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“that”)), whence also Old English þā (“those”) (whence obsolete English tho), Scots thae, thai, thay (“they; those”), Swabian dia (“they”).
The origin of the determiner they (“the, those”) is unclear. The OED, English Dialect Dictionary and Middle English Dictionary define it and its Middle English predecessor thei as a demonstrative determiner or adjective meaning “those” or “the”. This could be a continuation of the use of the English pronoun they's Old Norse etymon þeir as a demonstrative meaning “those”, but the OED and EDD say it is limited to southern, especially southwestern, England, specifically outside the region of Norse contact.
Meanings
(transitive) To refer to (someone, sometimes especially someone who does not use gender-neutral pronouns) using they/them pronouns.
I have a pin that says she/her, but I still get theyed all the time.
(US, dialectal) There (especially as an expletive subject of be).
They ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. 2000, Janice Giles, Hill Man, page 58:
They’s music in the twitter of the bluebird and the jay. 1889, James Whitcomb Riley, Pipes o' Pan:
But they ain’t nothin’ in there you didn’t already have. 2008, Christian Carvajal, Lightfall, page 82:
MARY ELLEN is a different case from the others. She has five children and, she claims: "I don't know who they father is. I ain't never kept track. They is always another one. You know, I can catch me a guy[.]" 1974, Arthur Hippler, Hunter's Point: a black ghetto in America, page 88:
Well, they’s a lot of ‘em didn’t survive, if you believe me. 2010, Alessandro Portelli, They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History, page 207: