Visitors to almost any English-speaking historical touristy type of town will encounter establishments named "Ye Olde..." such as "Ye Olde Candle Shoppe" or "Ye Olde Rat Trappe Emporium." Most folks, including myself (until recently), thought that "ye" was just an archaic way of saying "your" and would translate such a sign into something like "Your Old Candle Shop."
Actually, however, when used in this context, "ye" means "the." The Old English alphabet centuries ago had a letter called a "thorn" and which was pronounced "th." The thorn was difficult to write without confusing it with "p," and people both in handwriting and in printing substituted "Y" for the thorn instead. Icelanders, however, did not give up so easily and still have the thorn letter in their alphabet.
"Ye" did also mean "you" a long time ago (although it is still employed in a few English-speaking regions) when used for more than one person or for royalty. However, it was originally spelled as "ge" and its derivation as a pronoun was free from thorns.
"Ye" did also mean "you" a long time ago (although it is still employed in a few English-speaking regions) when used for more than one person or for royalty. However, it was originally spelled as "ge" and its derivation as a pronoun was free from thorns.
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