Quick answer
Prithee means “please” in archaic English. It comes from a shortened form of “I pray thee.”
Word page
Prithee Meaning
Prithee means “please” or “I pray thee.” It is an archaic little request word that sounds instantly stagey today, making it useful for historical dialogue, Shakespeare-style writing, or comic old-fashioned politeness.
At a glance
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How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, prithee is a polite request marker. A speaker might say “Prithee, listen” where modern English would simply say “Please listen.”
Example sentences
- Simple: Prithee, tell me what happened at the gate.
- Everyday: A modern version is “Please tell me what happened.”
- Writing: The knight bowed and said, “Prithee, stay a moment longer.”
- Nuance: Prithee sounds polite, but it also signals an old-fashioned voice.
- Awkward: “Prithee, restart the router.” Better: “Please restart the router,” unless you are joking.
Tone, context, and nuance
Prithee is gentle but unmistakably archaic. It is useful in old plays, historical fiction, fantasy dialogue, and comic imitation of old speech. In modern everyday writing, please is almost always clearer.
Common mistakes
- Do not use prithee as a noun or adjective.
- Do not spell it as two words unless quoting “pray thee.”
- Do not use it in modern professional writing unless the old-fashioned tone is intentional.
- Do not assume it sounds natural today; it is strongly archaic.
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference |
|---|---|
| please | The plain modern equivalent. |
| pray | An older request word, often in phrases like “pray tell.” |
| I beg you | Stronger and more emotional than prithee. |
| kindly | Polite, but modern and sometimes formal. |
| forsooth | Archaic too, but it means “indeed,” not “please.” |
Opposite words
| Opposite | Nuance |
|---|---|
| command | An order rather than a request. |
| refusal | The opposite speech act from asking politely. |
| plain modern wording | The natural choice outside stylized writing. |
Word family
Prithee is historically shortened from “I pray thee.” It is mostly used as a fixed archaic interjection.
Word origin
Prithee developed as a contraction of “I pray thee,” with pray meaning ask or request and thee meaning you. The compressed form survived as a familiar marker of old-fashioned speech.
Writing tip
Use prithee when you want instantly recognizable archaic politeness. Use please when you want the sentence to disappear into modern English.
Common questions
- What does prithee mean in simple words? Prithee means please, or “I pray thee,” in archaic English.
- How do you pronounce prithee? Prithee is pronounced PRITH-ee.
- Is prithee Shakespearean? It is strongly associated with Shakespearean and early modern-style dialogue, though it is not limited to Shakespeare.
- Is prithee still used today? Only rarely, usually for historical, fantasy, theatrical, or humorous effect.
- What is another word for prithee? The best modern substitute is please.
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Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.