DictionaryAI

herself

pronoun
Sayhur-SELF/hɝˈsɛlf/UK/hɜːˈsɛlf/

4 meanings of herself

Practice

  1. 1
    action on selfpronounreflexivefeminine
    Refers back to a female subject as the object of a verb or preposition when subject and object are the same person.

    She taught herself to play the piano over the summer.

    Maria caught sight of herself in the shop window.

    UsageUse it when the subject is the same woman: she hurt herself; she hurt her means someone else was hurt.

    Note

    The reflexive fills a real object slot, as in she maintained herself by working as a charwoman, which is what separates it from the emphatic use, where the word adds stress rather than an object.

  2. 2
    for emphasispronounemphaticfeminine
    Used to emphasize the female person just mentioned, often stressing that she did or experienced something in person or without help.

    The queen herself opened the new children's hospital.

    Though others offered to help, she finished the report herself.

    UsageGoes right after the noun (the queen herself) or at the end of the clause (she finished it herself).

    Note

    Here the word is added weight, not a grammatical object. In she was injured herself the verb is passive and has no slot for an object, so herself can be lifted out and the sentence still stands.

  3. 3
    normal selfpronoun
    Her normal state: the way she usually is in health, mood, or behavior.

    Maria hasn't been herself since her father went into the hospital.

    A week at the lake was all it took for her to seem like herself again.

    UsageUsually after be, seem, look or feel, mostly in negatives or with again: she isn't herself, herself again.

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    lady of the housepronounIrelandfeminine
    Used to refer to the woman who runs a household or a lady of importance, often mockingly of a self-important woman.

    Herself will be down for tea at four, so mind the kettle is on.

    Once she got the promotion, herself could barely be bothered to say hello.

    UsageTakes the place of she, often as the subject: Herself will be down at four. Tone decides respect or mockery.

    Note

    An Irish use in which the reflexive form stands on its own as a subject or object: What's herself up to this time? Have you seen herself yet this morning? No earlier she is needed. The word works like a title for a woman everyone present already knows.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of herself apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English, formed from "her" combined with "-self."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts