þīn
singular
The Old English word for 'your' is þīn.
þīn is a possessive determiner used to indicate that something belongs to you (singular. One owner).
Meaning: belonging to you (singular, one owner) (det)
Which one should you use?
While þīn refers to a single owner, ēower is the possessive pronoun used when the ownership belongs to more than one person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form þīn must agree in gender, number and case with the noun it modifies, so it changes to forms like þīne depending on the noun's grammatical properties. The form of þīn changes to þīnes when modifying a noun in the genitive singular case. þīne is used for feminine/masculine/neuter nominative/accusative plural or feminine/neuter nominative/accusative singular.
Did you know?
- The letter þ in þīn is called 'thorn' and was used to represent the 'th' sound. In early printing, it was often replaced by the letter 'y', leading to the archaic 'ye' in phrases like 'Ye Olde Curiositie Shoppe'.
- While þīn is the singular 'your', Old English had no polite form of address: þīn was used with anyone, from a servant to a king. The polite plural came into English later, under French influence.
- The word þīn is a direct ancestor of the modern English word 'thine'. In Early Modern English, 'thine' was used instead of 'thy' when the following word began with a vowel, much like 'a' and 'an'.
Examples in context
- Þæt is þīn bōc.That is your book.This sentence shows how to use þīn to indicate possession of a book.Tatoeba #1360174 by rul, translation #67105 by CK
- Hwæt cwiþ þīn mōdor?What does your mom say?This sentence demonstrates the use of þīn when referring to a mother.Tatoeba #13899756 by rul, translation #12362180 by rul
- Nā, ic eom þīn fæder.No, I am your father.This sentence illustrates how to use þīn when identifying a relationship as a father.Tatoeba #13880382 by rul, translation #10028900 by espamatics
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Godric and Mildryth are talking about a lost item.
- GodricHwǣr is þīn sweord?Where is your sword?
- MildrythHit is on þām hūse.It is in the house.
- GodricIs þīn hūs her nēah?Is your house near here?
- MildrythGēa, hit is nēah.Yes, it is near.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “your” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
