# herself

/hɝˈsɛɫf/ (US) · /hɜːsˈɛlf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/herself
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. reflexive use

pronoun · CEFR A2

you use this when the woman or girl doing the action is also the one receiving the action.

For teachers: the reflexive form of the third-person feminine pronoun, used as the object of a verb or preposition when it refers to the same person as the subject.

- She looked at herself in the mirror before leaving the house.
- The scientist found herself questioning the initial results after the second round of testing failed to produce the expected outcome.

Usage: Used as a direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.

### 2. emphasis

pronoun · CEFR B1

you use this to emphasize that a specific woman did something alone or personally.

For teachers: an intensive pronoun used to emphasize the female subject or object, often to highlight that the action was performed without help.

- The queen herself signed the document to show its importance.
- Although she had a large staff, the director herself conducted the final interviews to ensure the candidates fit the company culture.

Usage: Often placed immediately after the noun it emphasizes or at the end of the clause.

### 3. the woman in charge

pronoun · CEFR C1 · Dialect · British English · Humorous

a way to refer to the woman of the house or a female boss, sometimes showing respect or being a bit funny.

For teachers: used as a subject or object to refer to a woman of high status or the female head of a household.

- Is herself at home today, or has she gone to the market?
- The staff whispered that herself was in a foul mood, so everyone made sure to stay out of the main office.

Teaching tip: This usage is most common in Irish and some British dialects; it can sound sarcastic if used to describe someone acting too important.

## Examples

- She bought herself a new book.
- After months of practice, she finally taught herself how to play the piano without any help from a teacher.
- The director herself attended the premiere to address the audience, demonstrating a level of personal commitment that surprised many of the critics present.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.