# thine

/ˈðaɪn/ (US) · /ðˈaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thine
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. yours

pronoun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old word meaning 'yours'.

For teachers: the archaic second-person singular possessive pronoun, used as the equivalent of the modern 'yours'.

- I am mine, and thou art thine.
- In the final scene of the play, the knight declares that his heart and sword are forever thine.

Usage: Used as a standalone pronoun without a following noun.

### 2. your (before a vowel)

determiner · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old word for 'your' used before a word starting with a vowel sound.

For teachers: the archaic second-person singular possessive determiner, used instead of 'thy' before a word beginning with a vowel or a silent 'h'.

- To thine own self be true.
- The poet wrote, 'Open thine eyes to the morning sun,' using the older form to maintain the meter.

Usage: Typically precedes a noun starting with a vowel sound (e.g., 'thine eyes', 'thine uncle').

Teaching tip: Learners should recognize this in historical literature but avoid using it in modern speech or writing unless they are intentionally imitating an old style.

## Examples

- All that I have is thine.
- In the old text, the knight says to the king that his sword and his life are thine.
- The poet uses 'thine' instead of 'thy' before the word 'eyes' to create a smoother transition between the vowel sounds, a common practice in Early Modern English verse.

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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.