Those
/ðoʊz/noun
Plural demonstrative pronoun used to refer to people or things previously mentioned or understood.
Did you know?Those is the plural form of the old demonstrative that began as a Proto-Indo-European pointer word, so it literally descends from a very ancient linguistic act of saying “that one over there.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*to-
“demonstrative pronoun stem meaning “that” or “the””
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sa, *sō, *þat
“demonstrative forms meaning “that,” “the,” and “that (neuter)””
Old English
OE
þā
“plural form used for “those” or “the” in certain contexts”
Middle English
ME
tho, thoo
“plural demonstrative meaning “those””
Modern English
English
those
“plural demonstrative pronoun referring to specific people or things previously identified”