# myself

/ˌmaɪˈsɛɫf/ (US) · /maɪsˈɛlf/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Pronoun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/myself
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "My friend and myself went to the park." but "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.

## Usage notes

- Used reflexively when 'I' is the subject; also used for emphasis after a noun or at the end of a clause.

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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.