# shalt

/ˈʃæɫt/ (US) · /ʃˈælt/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shalt
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

an old-fashioned way to say 'shall'. You only see this in very old books or religious texts when someone is giving a strong command.

For teachers: the archaic second-person singular form of 'shall'. Used exclusively with the pronoun 'thou' in historical, liturgical, or poetic contexts.

## Examples

- Thou shalt not steal.
- In the old text, the king declares that thou shalt obey the laws of the land.
- The poet uses 'thou shalt' to evoke a sense of timeless authority, grounding the modern verse in the linguistic traditions of the King James Bible.

## Pitfalls

- Not "You shalt go" but "Thou shalt go" — 'Shalt' is only used with the archaic second-person singular pronoun 'thou', never with 'you'.

## Usage notes

- Always follows the archaic pronoun 'thou'. Functions as an auxiliary verb to express a command or a future certainty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.