shall
/ʃæl/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.03 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
Used before a verb to indicate the simple future tense in the first person singular or plural.
verb
Used similarly to indicate determination or obligation in the second and third persons singular or plural.
Example Sentences
- "I shall sing in the choir tomorrow."
- "I hope that we shall win the game."
- ""Then, having used up the powers of the Golden Cap, I shall give it to the King of the Monkeys, that he and his band may thereafter be free for evermore.""
- "A woman shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage for being elected to or sitting or voting as a Member of the Commons House of Parliament."
- "(determination): You shall go to the ball!; He shall be given a fair trial."
- "(obligation): Citizens shall provide proof of identity."
Etymology
From Middle English schal (infinitive schulen), from Old English sċeal (infinitive sċulan (“should, must”)), from Proto-West Germanic *skulan, from Proto-Germanic *skal (infinitive *skulaną), from Proto-Indo-European *skel- (“to owe, be under obligation”). Cognate with Scots sall, sal (“shall”), North Frisian skal, schal, Saterland Frisian skäl, schäl, schal (infinitive skälle, schälle), West Frisian sil (infinitive sille (“shall”)), Dutch zal (infinitive zullen (“shall”)), Low German schall (infinitive schölen (“shall”)), German soll (infinitive sollen (“ought to”)), Danish skal (infinitive skulle (“shall”)), Icelandic skal (infinitive skulu (“shall”)), Afrikaans sal, Swedish skall (“shall”) (infinitive skola).