You vs. Thou — What's the Difference?

"You" serves as the universal second-person pronoun in contemporary English, applicable in all contexts, whether formal or informal, singular or plural. It has replaced other forms over time to become the default way of addressing one or more people. On the other hand, "thou" was historically used for addressing a single individual in a more personal or less formal setting, distinguishing it from the more formal or respectful "you," which was used in plural contexts or when showing deference.

While "you" remains consistent in its usage across various contexts today, the usage of "thou" has significantly declined, surviving mainly in religious texts, poetry, and historical literature. "Thou" brings a sense of antiquity or solemnity to language, whereas "you" is neutral, reflecting modern English usage.

The grammatical rules for "you" are straightforward, aligning with contemporary English conventions. "You are," "you have," and "you will" demonstrate its uniform application. Conversely, "thou" follows a unique set of conjugations, such as "thou art" (you are), "thou hast" (you have), and "thou wilt" (you will), which are seldom encountered in everyday language.

Pronoun forms also differ; the objective case of "you" remains "you" (e.g., I see you), while "thou" changes to "thee" in the objective case (e.g., I see thee). Additionally, the possessive forms are "your" for "you" and "thy" or "thine" for "thou" before a vowel sound (e.g., thy book, thine apple).

In modern English, the use of "you" is a symbol of the language's evolution towards simplicity and uniformity in pronouns. Meanwhile, "thou" serves as a linguistic relic, offering insight into the language's history and the social distinctions of past English speakers.