French word

toi

Pronunciation

IPA/twa/

Meaning

  • pronounyou

Example

Je parle de toi.

I am talking about you.

Illustration for toi (you)

More examples

Ceci est pour toi.

This is for you.

Core concept

One person clearly marked as the conversational focus.

Common phrases

  • pour toi

    for you

  • chez toi

    at your place

  • sans toi

    without you

Similar words

tu: A singular subject pronoun for addressing someone familiarly.
vous: A polite pronoun for addressing someone directly.
te: A short object pronoun placed before a verb when addressing someone familiarly.
toi-même: An emphatic form referring to the familiar addressee personally.

Definition in French

Forme de la deuxième personne du singulier employée après une préposition, pour l'emphase ou seule dans des réponses courtes.

Word origin

Toi continues the Latin second-person pronoun te, with Old French preserving it as an independent form for emphasis and after prepositions.

Usage tips

  • Toi pairs with the familiar subject pronoun tu, whereas vous is the corresponding form for formal or plural address.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word