English · Word Candidate

the

/ðə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun — The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... — ...because it has already been mentioned, is to be completely specified in the same sentence, or very shortly thereafter.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Được sử dụng trước cụm từ danh từ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Article

Examples

I’m reading the book Mary reviewed. (Compare I’m reading a book Mary reviewed.)

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun — The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... — ...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge. — Used before a noun designating something considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Được sử dụng trước cụm từ danh từ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Article

Examples

No one knows how many galaxies there are in the universe.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

With a comparative or with more and a verb phrase, establishes a correlation with one or more other such comparatives.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Thiết lập sự tương quan với so sánh

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adverb

Examples

The hotter(,) the better. (comma usually omitted in such very short expressions)

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

With a comparative, and often with for it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated with none.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Chỉ ra kết quả giống như so sánh

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adverb

Examples

It was a difficult time, but I’m the wiser for it.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “the” mean?

Is “the” formal or informal?

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