Know Your English (May 2001)

Know your English

Is it O.K to use the word ``thrice'' to mean ``three times''?

It is very common to hear people in our country use this word to mean ``three times''. For example, we often hear people say, ``I saw the movie thrice'' and ``I have read the book thrice.'' Native speakers of English seldom use this word; it is considered rather old fashioned. Native speakers would say ``once, twice, three times.'' Is it wrong to say ``thrice''? Not really. You will sound old fashioned that's all.
``Relations are simply a tedious pack of people who haven't got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die.'' - Oscar Wilde


Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, May 15, 2001