# that

> English word · Conjunction · IPA /ðət/ · frequency rank #10

## Definitions
1. Introducing a clause that is the object of a verb, especially a reporting verb or verb expressing belief, knowledge, perception, etc.
2. Introducing a clause that is the subject of a verb, especially the 'be' verb or a verb expressing judgement, opinion, etc.
3. Introducing a clause that is the subject of a verb, especially the 'be' verb or a verb expressing judgement, opinion, etc.
4. Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle.
5. Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle.
6. Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb.
7. Introducing a clause that describes the information content of a preceding reporting noun.
8. Introducing — especially, but not exclusively, with an antecedent like so or such — a subordinate clause expressing a result, consequence, or effect.
9. Introducing a subordinate clause that expresses an aim, purpose, or goal ("final"), and usually contains the auxiliaries may, might, or should: so, so that, in order that.
10. Introducing a premise or supposition for consideration: seeing as; inasmuch as; given that; as would appear from the fact that.
11. Introducing an exclamation expressing a desire or wish.
12. Introducing an exclamation expressing a strong emotion such as sadness or surprise.

## Etymology
From Middle English that, from Old English þæt (“the, that”, neuter definite article and relative pronoun), from Proto-West Germanic *þat, from Proto-Germanic *þat. Cognate to Scots that, Saterland Frisian dät, West Frisian dat, Dutch dat, Low German dat and datt, German dass and das, Danish det, Swedish det, Icelandic það, Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰 (þata). Further from Proto-Indo-European *tód; compare Ancient Greek τό (tó), Sanskrit तद् (tád), Waigali ta, Lithuanian tai̇̃, Polish to.

## Easily confused with
- **TT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tt)
- **the** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-the)
- **tho** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tho)
- **thy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-thy)
- **tit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tit)
- **TSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tsa)
- **THC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-thc)
- **TNT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tnt)
- **Tia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tia)
- **Thi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-thi)
- **tot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tot)
- **Thu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-thu)
- **tra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tra)
- **tut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tut)
- **TWA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-twa)
- **toa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-toa)
- **THT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-tht)
- **this** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-this)
- **they** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-they)
- **them** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/that-vs-them)

## Common misspellings (6)
`htat`, `taht`, `thatt`, `thhat`, `thta`, `tthat`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/that