herself
- 1Used when a woman or girl is both the one doing something and the one it happens to.
Like a mirror: what she does comes straight back to the same person.
She hurt herself when she fell off her bike.
The little girl dressed herself this morning.
UsageShe hurt herself means she was hurt. She hurt her means another person was hurt.
Note
- 2Used to add force when talking about a certain woman or girl, often to show she did something without help.
Like underlining someone's name to show it was that person and no one else.
The teacher herself said the test would be hard.
She painted the whole fence herself.
UsagePut it after the person (the queen herself) or at the end (she did it herself).
Note
- 3Her usual self: how she normally is in her health, mood, or the way she acts.
She isn't herself today and has hardly said a word.
After the flu, Grandma finally feels like herself again.
UsageOften not herself (not well or not happy) or herself again.
Less common meaning
- 4A way of saying 'she' for the lady in charge, or as a joke about a woman who acts too important.
Herself wants the whole house cleaned before her guests arrive.
Here comes herself, acting like she owns the street.
UsageUsed instead of she: Herself wants tea.
Note
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English. It comes from "her" plus "-self."
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- 'Herself' comes from Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
- 'Herself' combines 'her' and '-self'. en.wiktionary.org