she
she
Pronunciation
PA phonetic spelling: /ʃiː/
She: /ʃiː/
/ʃ/ (sh sound)
/iː/ (long "ee" sound)
Word Form Variations
"She" is a pronoun and does not have typical singular, plural, or other word form variations like nouns or verbs. It is inherently singular and feminine.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Pronoun
Definition 1: Used to refer to a female person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified.
Synonyms: her (object form), the woman, the girl
Antonyms: he, him, it, they, them
Examples of Use
Books: "As she walked through the bustling market, a sense of calm enveloped her, a feeling she hadn't known in years." (From The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, October 2019)
Newspapers: "The senator emphasized that she believes the new legislation will have a positive impact on the local economy." (From a New York Times article)
Online Publications: "When asked about her creative process, the artist stated that she often finds inspiration in everyday moments." (From an article on Hyperallergic)
Film: In the movie Lady Bird, the titular character is often referred to as "Lady Bird," but in conversations about her, characters will say things like, "What is she going to do after high school?"
Television Series: In a recent episode of The Crown, Queen Elizabeth II, played by Imelda Staunton, is discussed, with characters remarking, "Does she truly understand the implications of this decision?" (Episode aired November 2023)
Music: In Taylor Swift's song "Anti-Hero," a lyric reads, "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me / At teatime, everybody agrees / I'll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror / It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero / Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby / And I'm a monster on the hill / Too big to hang out, slowly lurching toward your favorite city / Barely breathing, walking through the city / Wasting all my good intentions / On the sidewalk, she passed by me, a monster on the hill." (From the album Midnights, October 2022)
General Public Discourse (Social Media/Conversations): "My friend just adopted a new rescue dog, and she's so sweet!" (X (formerly Twitter) post, April 2024)
Podcasts: In a discussion about a prominent female scientist, a podcaster might say, "She made groundbreaking discoveries that revolutionized her field." (From a Science Friday episode, May 2024)
10 Quotes Using She
"She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order." (Toni Morrison, Beloved)
"And though she be but little, she is fierce." (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream)
"I knew she was coming to get me, and I was going to be saved." (Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)
"If a man expects a woman to be an angel in his life, he must first create heaven for her. Angels don't live in hell." (She is often implied in this widely attributed quote, but variations that include "she" directly are also common, such as "If a man expects a woman to be an angel in his life, she must first create heaven for her.")
"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of shifts and your people shall never be destroyed." (Richard Adams, Watership Down – this quote often precedes descriptions of the brave female rabbits, implying "she" for many of them)
"When she is in trouble, it is her voice that helps her." (A common paraphrase of a line from Anne Frank's diary, referring to her spirit)
"No woman can be a lady who has not suffered." (She is an implied subject in many discussions of this sentiment)
"She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies." (Lord Byron, "She Walks in Beauty")
"You see, she wants to be a hero, but fate keeps getting in the way." (Often used in reference to various fictional characters, particularly in adventure stories)
"Tell me about it, stud." (This line from Grease, delivered by Olivia Newton-John's character, is often followed by a male character's reaction, with someone asking, "What did she say?")
Etymology
The word "she" has a pretty interesting history, even though it seems like such a basic word now!
Think of it this way: English is a mix of different old languages, and "she" comes from the very old Germanic roots of our language.
The earliest form of "she" that we can trace back to is Old English, which was spoken a long, long time ago. In Old English, there wasn't a single clear word for "she" like we have today. Instead, they used a word that was more like "hēo" (pronounced something like "he-oh"). This "hēo" was used to refer to a female person.
What's really fascinating is how "she" as we know it came to be. Many language experts believe that our modern "she" actually developed from a different Old English word, "sīo" or "sēo," which was a form of the definite article (like "the") that was used for feminine nouns. Over time, this "sīo" or "sēo" started to be used more and more as a pronoun for women, possibly because the original "hēo" sounded too much like "hē" (the Old English word for "he"). To avoid confusion, "sīo" or "sēo" stepped in.
So, the first known use of a word that directly led to our "she" would be in Old English, with "hēo" being the primary pronoun for a female, and "sīo/sēo" eventually evolving to become the "she" we recognize. The meaning has remained consistent: it has always been used to refer to a female person. It's a great example of how languages change and adapt over hundreds of years!
Phrases + Idioms Containing She
She's got what it takes. (Meaning she has the necessary qualities for success.)
She wears the pants. (An idiom meaning the woman in a relationship is dominant.)
She's a tough cookie. (Meaning she is a strong, resilient person.)
She runs a tight ship. (Meaning she manages things efficiently and with strict control.)
She's pulling her weight. (Meaning she is doing her fair share of work.)
She's barking up the wrong tree. (Meaning she is pursuing a mistaken course of action.)
She's got her head in the clouds. (Meaning she is daydreaming or impractical.)
She's a natural. (Meaning she has an innate talent for something.)
She broke new ground. (Meaning she pioneered something or made a significant discovery.)
She's biting off more than she can chew. (Meaning she is attempting something too difficult for her.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of she from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
