you

UK: strong: /ˈjuː/, weak: /ju/ /jə/

US: /ju; unstressed jʊ, jə/

US: (yo̅o̅; unstressed yŏŏ, yə)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

you /yu; unstressed yʊ, yə/   pron., poss. your or yours, obj. you, pl. you;
 n., pl. yous. 
pron. 

1. the pronoun of the second person singular or plural (used as the singular or plural pronoun of the person or persons being spoken to, as the subject of a verb, or the object of a verb or preposition):
   You are the highest bidder. I sent it to you.
2. one;
   anyone;
   people in general:
   a tiny animal you can't even see.
3. (repeated for emphasis after the subject):
   You rascal, you!
4. (used in place of the pronoun your before a gerund or present participle):
   There's no sense in you getting upset.

n. 

5. something or someone closely identified with or resembling the person addressed:
   [uncountable] That bright red shirt just isn't you (= It doesn't fit with your personality).
6. the nature or character of the person addressed:
   [countable] After our exercise program, your friends will see a new you!

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

you  (yo̅o̅; unstressed yŏŏ, yə), pron., poss. your  or yours, obj. you, pl. you;
 n., pl. yous. 
pron. 

1. the pronoun of the second person singular or plural, used of the person or persons being addressed, in the nominative or objective case:
   You are the highest bidder. It is you who are to blame. We can't help you. This package came for you. Did she give you the book?
2. one;
   anyone;
   people in general:
   a tiny animal you can't even see.
3. (used in apposition with the subject of a sentence, sometimes repeated for emphasis following the subject):
   You children pay attention. You rascal, you!
4. [Informal.] (used in place of the pronoun your before a gerund):
   There's no sense in you getting upset.
5. Slang Terms [Archaic.]
   • yourself;
     yourselves:
     Get you home. Make you ready.
   • a pl. form of the pronoun ye. 

n. 

6. something or someone closely identified with or resembling the person addressed:
   Don't buy the bright red shirt—it just isn't you. It was like seeing another you.
7. the nature or character of the person addressed:
   Try to discover the hidden you.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English ēow (dative, accusative of gē ye¹); cognate with Old Frisian ju, Old Saxon iu, Dutch u, Old High German iu, eu

Usage

In American English the pronoun you has been supplemented by additional forms to make clear the distinction between singular and plural. You-all, often pronounced as one syllable, is a widespread spoken form in the South Midland and Southern United States. Its possessive is often you-all's rather than your. You-uns (from you + ones) is a South Midland form most often found in uneducated speech; it is being replaced by you-all. Youse (you + the plural -s ending of nouns), probably of Irish-American origin, is most common in the North, especially in urban centers like Boston, New York, and Chicago. It is rare in educated speech. You guys is a common informal expression among younger speakers; it can include persons of both sexes or even a group of women only. See also me. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

you / juː (unstressed) jʊ/ pronoun (subjective or objective)

1. refers to the person addressed or to more than one person including the person or persons addressed but not including the speaker: you know better, the culprit is among you
2. Also: one refers to an unspecified person or people in general: you can't help but wonder
3. a dialect word for yourself or yourselves
   See yourself

noun

1. the personality of the person being addressed or something that expresses it: that hat isn't really you
2. you know what, you know who ⇒ a thing or person that the speaker cannot or does not want to specify

Etymology: Old English ēow, dative and accusative of gē ye¹; related to Old Saxon eu, Old High German iu, Gothic izwisUSAGE
me1

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

your /yʊr, yɔr, unstressed yɚ/   pron. 

1. the form of the pronoun youthat is used to mean possessed or owned by you;
   of or relating to you;
   belonging to you, and is used before a noun:
   I like your idea. The library is on your left.
2. (used to indicate all members of a group, occupation, etc., or things in a general way): some, any, or one:
   It's just your average weekday.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

your  (yŏŏr, yôr, yōr; unstressed yər), pron. 

1. (a form of the possessive case of you used as an attributive adjective):
   Your jacket is in that closet. I like your idea.
   Cf. yours. 
2. one's (used to indicate that one belonging to oneself or to any person):
   The consulate is your best source of information. As you go down the hill, the library is on your left.
3. (used informally to indicate all members of a group, occupation, etc., or things of a particular type):
   Take your factory worker, for instance. Your power brakes don't need that much servicing.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English ēower (genitive of gē ye¹); cognate with German euer

Usage

See me.