Thee is an old English word meaning “you,” used when speaking to one person. You'll find thee in older books, poems, prayers, and songs, especially those written before the 1700s. Shakespeare's characters say things like “I love thee” instead of “I love you.”

The word might seem fancy or formal now, but it was actually the opposite: thee was the casual, familiar way to address someone you knew well, like a friend, family member, or child. (The formal version was you.) Over time, English speakers started using you for everyone, and thee faded from everyday speech.

Today, thee survives mainly in religious texts, traditional hymns, and classic literature. Some religious groups, like the Quakers, continued using thee as part of their plain speech. When you encounter thee in your reading, you can simply substitute “you” in your mind. The word often appears alongside thou (another word for “you”), thy (your), and thine (yours).