Standard Lemma guide

bist

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • rhymes with -ɪst

1

verb

Meaning 1

Used to form the second person singular of be.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-England, UK, West-Country, dialectal

Qualifier: Black Country; Bristol; Black Country; Bristol

Examples

  • Where bist goin'. Where are you going?
  • How bist? How are you?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English bist, beest, best, from Old English bist ("(thou) art"; second person singular of bēon (“to be”)), from Proto-Germanic *biusi (“(thou) art”), equivalent to be + -est. Cognate with West Frisian bist (“(thou) art”), Low German büst (“(thou) art”), German bist (“(thou) art”).