him | TKG English Learner's Dictionary

himpronoun

American /hɪm/ British /hɪm/ In fast, connected speech him is often reduced to a quick, weak sound close to im, especially right after a verb (tell him); said alone or for emphasis, it is pronounced fully, hihm.

very commondefining vocabulary

used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned or clear from context
Him is the object form; the subject form is he. The same idea placed directly before a noun is the possessive determiner his (his book), a separate entry; used alone, without a following noun, it is also his (this book is his).
- I saw him at the store yesterday.
- Can you give him this message?
- We went to the movies with him.
- Sam asked him to help with the project.
Compare her

Word family

he (the subject form)
his (the possessive, before a noun)
his (the independent possessive)
himself

Usage

Him is the object pronoun (I saw him). The related possessive word his is a separate entry: it serves as the possessive determiner directly before a noun (his book) and, unlike her/hers, keeps the same spelling when used alone, without a noun (this book is his).

Common mistakes

Him is my friend. He is my friend.
Him is not used as the subject of a sentence; the subject pronoun is he.

See also he (the subject form); his (the possessive, directly before a noun: his book); his (the independent possessive, used without a noun: this is his)

For translators

Grammar trap English pronouns change form for subject, object, and possessive (he, him, his); many languages use one form for all three.