Dictionary

third person en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable, with-definite-article) The words, word-forms, and grammatical structures, taken collectively, that are normally used of people or things other than the speaker or the audience.
   • “Yes,” said Dr Fairbairn. “Very. And then there’s the interesting question of those who use the third person about themselves.” “Oh,” said Irene, vaguely. It occurred to her that she used the third person on occasion when talking to Bertie. She said things such as: “Mummy is watching, Bertie. Mummy is watching Bertie very closely.” That was using the third person, was it not? In fact, it was a double use of the third person; first (I, mother figure) became third, as did second (you, son). What did this reveal about Irene? she asked herself. No, deliberate play; what does that reveal about me? 2006, Alexander McCall Smith, Love Over Scotland, Random House Digital, published 2007, →ISBN, pages 243–4:
   • In English, the third person consists of pronouns such as he, she, it, and they, verbs such as is and has, and most nouns.
2. (countable, uncountable) the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement. In English, pronouns used with the third person include he, she, it, one, they, and who.
   • “Is” is the third-person singular of “to be”.
3. (countable, uncountable) A form of narrative writing using verbs in the third person in order to give the impression that the action is happening to another person.
4. (countable, uncountable) A form of video game in which the graphical view depicts the player character, rather than the view through the character's eyes.
5. (countable, uncountable) Someone not associated with a particular matter; a third party.
   • The plaintiffs here are third persons, and cannot be made responsible for the inadequate judgment or the improper exercise of power by the defendant's wife. 1828, Comprising Reports of Cases in the Courts of Chancery, King's Bench, and Common Pleas, from 1822 to 1835: and Law Journal Reports divided into Equity and Bankruptcy Cases. Common Law Cases 1836-1858, page 11:
6. (countable, uncountable) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see third, person.

Forms

Coordinates

first person · second person

Deriveds

third-person dual · third-person singular · third-person effect · third-person shooter · third person limited · third-person plural

Translations (57)

lv trešā persona (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · cmn 第三人稱 /第三人称 (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · vi người thứ ba (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · gv trass persoon (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ang þridda hād (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · gv treeoo persoon (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · cs třetí osoba (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sh treće lice (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · hu harmadik személy (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ru тре́тье лицо́ (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · nb tredje person (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · be трэ́цяя асо́ба (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · nrf traîsième pèrsonne (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · it terza persona (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · bn প্রথম পুরুষ (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sv tredje person (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ar غَائِب (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sl tretja oseba (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · fi kolmas persoona (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ga tríú pearsa (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sk tretia osoba (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sh трећа особа (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ug ئۈچىنچى شەخس (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · pl trzecia osoba (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · es tercera persona (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · tr üçüncü kişi (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · tl ikatlong panauhan (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · he נִסְתָּר (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · fr troisième personne (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · he גּוּף שְׁלִישִׁי (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · gl terceira persoa (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ja 三人称 (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ka მესამე პირი (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · bg тре́то лице́ (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · mk трето лице (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · eo tria persono (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · grc τρίτον πρόσωπον (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · uk тре́тя осо́ба (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · zza şexso hirêyın (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · nl derde persoon (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · de dritte Person (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · da tredje person (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · gd an treas pearsa (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · el τρίτο πρόσωπο (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · te ప్రథమ పురుషము (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sa प्रथमपुरुष (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · nv baa yáʼátiʼígíí (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ta படர்க்கை (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ro persoana a treia (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ca tercera persona (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · lt trečiasis asmuo (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sh треће лице (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · pt terceira pessoa (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · ko 삼인칭 (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sq veta e tretë (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · is þriðja persóna (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement) · sh treća osoba (the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement)