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herself

A2
pronoun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /hɜːsˈɛlf/

US

  • /hərˈsɛlf/

Description

"Herself" is a reflexive pronoun. It points back to a woman or girl already named in the sentence. We use it when the action comes back to that same person, as in "She hurt herself," or when we want to show that she did something alone or without help, as in "She built it by herself."

It can also add emphasis. In "She decorated the room herself," the idea is that she did it, not someone else. So this word often helps tell a small story: the same person is involved again, or she did the thing on her own.

Examples

  1. 1

    Reflection

    She looked at herself in the mirror before the interview.

  2. 2

    Without help

    Maya fixed the bike herself.

  3. 3

    Alone

    After dinner, she walked home by herself.

    • Phrase

      by herself

      alone

  4. 4

    Hospitality

    Please tell Anna to help herself to some fruit.

    • Pattern

      help herself to + food/drink

      take some for herself

  5. 5

    Privacy

    She kept the good news to herself until the contract was signed.

    • Pattern

      keep something to herself

      not tell other people

  6. 6

    Natural behavior

    Around close friends, she can just be herself.

    • Phrase

      be herself

      act naturally, not pretend

  7. 7

    Self-care

    The first few days after the accident, she could hardly dress herself.

  8. 8

    Emphasis

    She herself admitted that the plan needed more time.

    • Grammar

      she herself

      used for emphasis

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • herselfpronoun