Thu (pronoun)
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Thu is a proposed gender-neutral pronoun.
History and Usage
changeThe use of "thu" as a pronoun has roots in contemporary movements for inclusive and nonbinary language, although it is not widely adopted in most standard language practices. It belongs to a category of neopronouns—newly created pronouns meant to fill gaps in existing language systems. The origins of the word remain unclear, with "thu" emerging sporadically in forums, social media, and discussions on language evolution as an alternative to other gender-neutral options like "they," "ze," or "xe."
Grammar
changeThe pronoun "thu" typically follows English pronoun rules and can be adapted to various grammatical cases:
Subjective: Thu Objective: Thum Possessive: Thus Possessive adjective: Thus (e.g., "Thus book is here.") Reflexive: Thumself Examples in Sentences Subjective: "Thu went to the store to buy groceries." Objective: "I saw thum at the event yesterday." Possessive: "The decision was thus to make." Possessive adjective: "Thus car is new." Reflexive: "Thu reminded thumself about the meeting." Reception and Adoption The adoption of "thu" is still limited, with most people opting for the more widely recognized "they" as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. However, some advocates argue that creating additional pronoun options like "thu" can further validate individual identity expressions and provide more nuanced language options.
Related Pronouns "Thu" is part of a broader trend of neopronouns, which includes terms like "ze," "xe," and "ey." These pronouns reflect efforts to allow individuals to select pronouns that resonate with their gender identity or expression outside the binary gender system.