Word
myself
Phoneticsmy·self, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌmaɪˈsɛɫf/
UK/maɪsˈɛlf/
Definition
pron. the word you use to refer back to yourself when you are the person doing the action. It is also used to emphasize that you did something personally without help.
pron. the reflexive form of the first-person singular pronoun, used as the object of a verb or preposition when the subject is also 'I'. It also serves an intensive function to emphasize the identity of the speaker.
Examples
“I bought myself a new book today.”
“I prefer to do the repairs myself because I want to make sure everything is fixed correctly.”
“While I could have delegated the task to the junior staff, I felt it was important to present the findings to the board myself to ensure total clarity.”
Examples
simple
“I bought myself a new book today.”
contextual
“I prefer to do the repairs myself because I want to make sure everything is fixed correctly.”
complex
“While I could have delegated the task to the junior staff, I felt it was important to present the findings to the board myself to ensure total clarity.”
Usage
Used reflexively when 'I' is the subject; also used for emphasis after a noun or at the end of a clause.
Pitfall
My friend and myself went to the park.
My friend and I went to the park.
Learners often use 'myself' as a subject pronoun in compound subjects, but 'I' is the correct form for the person performing the action.
Etymology
From Middle English myself, meself, from Old English mē selfum and similar phrases, equivalent to me + self, later partly reinterpreted as my + self / -self. Cognate with Scots mysel, mysell (“myself”), West Frisian mysels (“myself”), Dutch mijzelf (“myself”), German mich selbst, mir selbst (“myself”), Norwegian Bokmål meg selv (“myself”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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