theyyou

Theyyou is a neologism used in sociolinguistics and online discourse to describe a communicative stance in which the second-person pronoun you is used to address both the speaker and the audience, creating a sense of shared agency. The term blends they and you, signaling both plurality and immediacy in discourse and reflecting broader trends toward inclusive language.

Origin and usage: The term emerged in online discussions in the early 2020s, with no single inventor. It has been discussed in relation to collaborative writing, fandom discourse, and digital rhetoric, where speakers seek to align themselves with their readers or peers. Theyyou appears as a rhetorical device or pronoun strategy that frames actions as collective. People might write “theyyou decide what happens next,” or employ pronouns that blur the line between speaker and audience in order to distribute responsibility and initiative.

Reception and analysis: Opinions vary. Proponents see theyyou as a practical tool for creating solidarity, reducing perceived hierarchy, and encouraging participation. Critics warn that it can be ambiguous, fatiguing to readers, or confusing for those unfamiliar with the term. Some linguists view it as one of several strategies for shifting point of view in contemporary digital communication.

Variants and related terms: It is related to inclusive language, plural pronouns, they/them usage, and other forms of collective address such as we or you all. See also: pronoun usage, inclusive language, second-person pronouns, they/them pronouns.