Malay

Alternative forms

• itu
• tu
• ايت

Determiner

تو ‎(tu)

1. that (what is being indicated)

Pronoun

تو ‎(tu)

1. that (that thing)

Persian

Etymology 1

From Old Persian (compare 𐎬𐎺𐎶 (tuvam)), from Proto-Iranian, from Proto-Indo-Iranian (compare Kurdish tu, Pashto ته ‎(tə), Avestan 𐬙𐬏𐬨 ‎(tūm)), from Proto-Indo-European *túh₂.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /to/
  • (Iranian Persian) IPA^(key): [to]
  • (Dari) IPA^(key): [tʊ]

Pronoun

تو • ‎(to)

1. you, thou (informal, singular)
2. (generally with following را) you, thee
3. (at the end of an ezafe) your, thy

Usage notes

• The form تو را ‎(to râ) may be contracted into ترا ‎(torâ), both of which are pronounced the same, however.

See also

• شما ‎(formal, polite, and grammatically plural)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tuː/

Noun

تو • ‎(tav, tow)

1. (archaic) pool, puddle

Etymology 3

Cognate with Russian туда́ ‎(tudá).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tuː/

Noun

تو • ‎(tu)

1. inside; interior

Usage notes

• In this sense, the word is often used like a preposition, but with ezâfe so it is grammatically a noun.

Adjective

تو • ‎(tu)

1. within; interior

Adverb

تو • ‎(tu)

1. inside

Urdu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t̪uː/

Pronoun

تو • ‎(tū) ?, Devanagari spelling: तू ‎(tū)

1. you, thou (informal, grammatically singular)

Declension

Usage notes

• تو is least formal way of expressing "you" in Urdu and is used when addressing those of much lower social status or those one has a close enough relationship with to justify the reduced formality. Because the less formal forms could offend others, آپ is the safest way to express "you" unless there is reason to be less formal. The usage of تو varies. In some cases speakers would use it to refer to babies or children or even close friends, while others would use it only to refer to those they consider socially inferior, and some consider its use for people to be very rude in any situation. However تو, when used to address deities reflects a sense of reverence and closeness commensurate with the lack of formalities.

See also

• آپ ‎(highest formality, grammatically plural)
• تم ‎(mid level formality, grammatically plural)