Cool MateThem vs They
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Them
High-frequency chunkA1pronoun
They
Top 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
| Them | They | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ðəm//ðem/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðəm//ðem/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ðeɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðeɪ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A word used to refer to people or things that are not you or I. | A word used to refer to a group of people or to someone whose gender is not specified. |
| Example | Tell them the news. | ‘Where are John and Liz?’ ‘They went for a walk.’ |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Collocations | tell them, show them, get to them | they say, they are, they want |
| Antonyms | us, we | we, I |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'those' when referring to people., Using 'them' as a singular pronoun in formal writing., Mixing up 'them' with 'they' in subject vs. object position. | Using 'they' with singular verbs (e.g., 'They is going')., Confused with 'them' as the subject., Misunderstanding its use as a singular pronoun. |
| Usage notes | Used to refer to a group of people or things. It's informal in some contexts. Avoid using it as a singular pronoun. | Use 'they' when referring to multiple people. It can also be used as a singular pronoun when a person's gender is unknown. Avoid using in very formal writing where gender-specific pronouns might be preferred. |
Frequently asked questions: Them vs They
What's the difference between Them and They?
Them: A word used to refer to people or things that are not you or I. They: A word used to refer to a group of people or to someone whose gender is not specified.
Are Them and They the same CEFR level?
Them: A1, They: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Them and They?
Them: pronoun, They: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Them: Tell them the news. They: ‘Where are John and Liz?’ ‘They went for a walk.’
Can I use Them and They interchangeably?
Not always. Them and They are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.