The tautomerism o f alkyl and/or a r y l p y r a z o l i n -5 -t h i o n e s , which can exist under three prototropic forms (CH, NH, SH) is examined by N.M.R., I.R. and U.V. spectroscopy.The equilibrium takes place between the SH and NH tautomers : in neutral solvents, the SH isomer is predominant while i n aprotic basic media, the ratio [NHI/[SH] depends upon several polarity parameters. In protic media (alcohols),the percentage of the NH form increases with the hydrogen bond donating power of the solvent. Some substituents ( acyl-, phenylazo-) are able to stabilize one of the tautomers via an intramolecular bond. The differences in the tautomeric behaviour between pyrazolin-5-ones and 5-thiones are discussed in terms of relative polarity and stability of the carbonyl and thiocarbonyl groups.