What's the difference between "the( thee)" and "the"?

Question

It really puzzles me...

Answer 1

The word "the" is correctly pronounced "thuh" before words that do not start with a vowel sound, as in "the book."

The word "the" is correctly pronounced "thee" before words that start with a vowel sound, as in "the ocean."

Informally you can get away with either at any time, but if you are doing formal speaking or singing, these rules apply, so take note of them.

Answer 2

There is many words like this. They're just words that have two vowel forms (long and short). Both are used so commonly that society has just come to except both of them into our language. Such as the word a. Some people pronounce it "uh" with a short vowel sound, or "a" with a long vowel sound.

I hope this helps you!! =)

Answer 3

You say toe-may-toe I say toe-mah-toe. Thee is an older form of the but it means the same thing. People generally take thee as a more formal (snootier?), higher class version of the.

Answer 4

Used before singular or plural nouns and noun phrases that denote particular, specified persons or things.

The secret here is that when 'the' is before a word that begins with a vowel you pronounce it as "thee". If 'the' is before a word that starts with a consonant then you pronounce it as "thuh".

Example: the baby, the film, the tree (thuh)
the infection, the engine, the apple (thee)

The word 'thee' is a pronoun as is 'thy'.

Answer 5

"The"said in pronounciation can be "thuh". It's the same word. "The" is the word as you've always known it. "Thee" means "you."

Answer 6

What is the difference between tomato (toe-mate-oh) and tomato (toe-mot-oh)?

Answer 7

it all depends on where you come from..

Answer 8

(e)?