WordGarden.iothyself
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /θaɪsˈɛlf/
US
- /ˌðaɪˈsɛlf/
Meanings
Pronoun
yourself, used as the object of thou in archaic or stylized English
used for emphasis to mean you personally in archaic or stylized English
Beyond the definition
"Thyself" is an old-fashioned way of saying "yourself." It is the reflexive form of the old pronoun "thou." You will usually see it in the Bible, in Shakespeare, or in other old or poetic writing. It often appears in lines that sound moral, spiritual, or thoughtful, such as "Love thy neighbor as thyself" or "Know thyself." The word gives a sentence a serious, reflective feeling and points back to the person being spoken to.
"Thyself" is an archaic reflexive pronoun. In simple terms, it means "yourself" and refers back to the person being addressed when that person is expressed as "thou." Just as we use "yourself" today, "thyself" was used when the person spoken to was also the object of the action. Because it comes from Early Modern English, it is not normally used in everyday modern conversation, except sometimes for comic effect, in very formal religious language, or in writing that wants an old or poetic tone.
Its power lies in its formal tone and the sense of self-reflection it brings. It often appears in sayings that ask a person to examine their own character or soul. A famous example is "Know thyself." This does not simply mean knowing facts about yourself; it suggests understanding your deeper values, strengths, and flaws.
In literature, you may find "thyself" in phrases like "help thyself" or "be true to thyself." It is often paired with verbs like "know," "find," "lose," or "prove" in lines about personal struggle or discovery. While you probably will not use "thyself" in a modern email, recognizing it helps you understand classic literature, religious texts, and older forms of English. It acts as a bridge to the past and often carries a timeless call to look inward.
Examples
- 1
Old style
Prepare thyself, for the road ahead will be hard.
- Usage
thyself is used in old, poetic, or religious language; modern English usually uses "yourself"
- 2
Self-knowledge
The words "Know thyself" were carved above the doorway.
- PhraseKnow thyself
understand your own nature and limits
- 3
Hypocrisy
"Physician, heal thyself," she said, when he criticized everyone else but ignored his own faults.
- PhrasePhysician, heal thyself
fix your own problems before judging others
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- thyself