de

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Pronunciation spelling of the.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

“He went to’ds de back, ma’am.” The negro opened the door and slid his legs, clad in army O.D. and a pair of linoleum putties, to the ground. “‘I’ll go git ’im.”’

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “de” mean?

Pronunciation spelling of the.

Is “de” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.