Us

Definition

Us is a pronoun that refers to the speaker and at least one other person as the object of a verb or preposition.

Parts of Speech

• Pronoun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ʌs/
• Respelling: uhs

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ʌs/
• Respelling: uhs

Etymology

The word "us" originates from Old English "ūs," the accusative and dative form of "wē" (we), which derives from Proto-Germanic "*unsiz" and Proto-Indo-European "*n̥s" (us). Its usage has remained consistent since early Germanic and English forms.

Derivatives

• Ourselves (reflexive pronoun)
• Our (possessive adjective)
• We (subject pronoun)
• Usward (archaic)
• Us-ness (informal, noun)

Synonyms

• The speaker and others
• None

Antonyms

• None

Usage

Us is used as the object of a verb or preposition. For example, "They invited us to the party."

It is often used colloquially in fixed expressions, such as "It’s up to us to decide."

Related Terms

• We: The subject form referring to the speaker and others.
• Our: The possessive form indicating ownership by the speaker and others.
• Ourselves: The reflexive form referring back to the speaker and others.

Detailed Definitions

Pronoun

• Referring to the speaker and one or more others as the object: Used when the speaker and others are affected by an action or preposition.
  • Example: "The teacher gave us an assignment."
• Used in informal or emphatic expressions: Refers to the speaker and their group in emphasis or casual speech.
  • Example: "It’s not just about me, it’s about all of us."