What does “they” mean?
- 1
pronounthe people or things already mentioned, as the subject of a verb
My parents called; they’re coming tomorrow.
- 2
pronounused for one person when you don’t know or don’t say their gender
If anyone calls, tell them they can leave a message.
- 3
pronounpeople in general, or people in authority
They say it will rain this weekend.
They at a glance
- Part of speech
- pronoun
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ðeɪ/ · THAY
- Forms
- them, their, theirs, themselves
How to use “they” correctly
“They” always takes a plural verb, even for one person: “they are”, not “they is”.
“they” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- anything pronounA1any thing; used in questions and negative sentences
- everything pronounA1all things, or all the things in a situation
- he pronounA1used to talk about a man, boy or male animal already mentioned
- her pronounA1used for a woman or girl as the object of a verb or preposition
- him pronounA1used for a man or boy as the object of a verb or preposition
- I pronounA1used by the speaker or writer to talk about themselves as the subject
- it pronounA1used for a thing, animal or situation already mentioned
- me pronounA1used by the speaker to refer to himself or herself as the object of a verb or preposition