Tu
/tuː/noun
A pronoun used in some languages for the familiar singular “you.”
Did you know?In languages like French, Spanish, and Italian, the choice between familiar and formal second-person pronouns became a real social ritual, so saying the wrong one could signal disrespect or dangerous closeness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tuh₂
“Second-person singular pronoun, “thou/you.””
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þū
“Familiar singular second-person pronoun.”
Old English
English
þū
““Thou,” familiar singular “you.””
Latin
Latin
tū
“Second-person singular pronoun, “you.””
Modern English
English
tu
“Borrowed form used in linguistic discussion for a familiar singular “you” in some languages.”