language note: Himself is a third person singular reflexive pronoun. Himself is used when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same person as thesubject of the verb, except in meaning [sense 4].language note: Himself is a third person singular reflexive pronoun. Himself is used when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same person as thesubject of the verb, except in meaning [sense 4].
1. pronoun
You use himself to refer to a man, boy, or male animal.
He smiles, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
When that doesn't work, he gets angry at his father and himself.
William went away muttering to himself.
2. pronoun
In written English, himself is sometimes used to refer to a person without saying whether that person is a man or a woman. Many people prefer to use 'himself or herself' or 'themselves' as an alternative to 'himself'.
The child's natural way of expressing himself is play.
The student is invited to test each item for himself by means of specific techniques.
In some religions, Himself is used to refer to God.
He thanked God for concealing Himself from the wise and revealing Himself to thesimple.
4. pronoun
You use himself to emphasize the person or thing that you are referring to. Himself is sometimes used instead of 'him' as the object of a verb or preposition.
[emphasis]
I heard this with my own ears from the President himself.
He himself had joined the others straight from the office.
There's no work and no future for students like himself.
English Easy Learning GrammarReflexive pronounsReflexive pronouns are used: person singular plural 1st2nd3rd masculine3rd feminine3rd neuterGeneral myselfyourselfhimselfherselfitselfoneselfourselvesyourselvesthemselvesthemselvesthemselves ... Read more
himself in British English
(hɪmˈsɛlf, medially often ɪmˈsɛlf)
pronoun
1.
a.
the reflexive form of he or him
b.
(intensifier)
the king himself waved to me
2. (preceded by a copula)
his normal or usual self
he seems himself once more
3. Irish and Scottish
the man of the house
how is himself?
Word origin
Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self; see he1, self
himself in American English
(hɪmˈsɛlf)
pronoun
a form of he1, used:
a.
as an intensifier
he said so himself
b.
as a reflexive
he hurt himself
c.
with the meaning “his real, true, or normal self” [he is not himself today]
in this construction him functions as an adjective and self as a noun; when they are separated, the form his is used [his own sweet self]
d. Irish
as a subject
himself will have his tea now
Word origin
OE him selfum, dat. sing. of he self: see him & self
Examples of 'himself' in a sentence
himself
This new product has taken the tan man himself a year and a half to perfect.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The man himself will have no trouble keeping busy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not too shabby for a man who declared himself bankrupt six years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is not fit to call himself a man.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the holy grail is a sighting of the man himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And no one is more surprised than the man himself.
The Sun (2016)
The text message from the senior politician was short, like the man himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He's bought a house for himself and a house for his mother, a social worker.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Throughout his life he referred to himself as German by birth and a German composer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What does this do to a person who used to view himself as a servant?
Christianity Today (2000)
He agreed to make the programme in a bid to promote not himself but the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is not the only time he refers to himself in the third person during our interview.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The great man himself liked the idea when buzz put it to him.
The Sun (2011)
He used himself as a human shield to protect his injured colleague.
The Sun (2011)
He still refers to himself in the third person though.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
That the man himself was not all bad.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He admitted that he planned to use it on himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He might have been referring to himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He needs to see himself as a man who sits at the high table as of right.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He decided to go back and force himself into the house as a game to show the kitten around.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He is expected to appoint himself the club 's chairman if successful with his bid.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He holds himself at arm 's length as he becomes progressively more unpleasant.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And if he encouraged any germ of lover 's feeling in himself it would lead up to that issue.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
The Prime Minister himself will need to provide answers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The Prime Minister himself should explain what is happening to the money.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There's a fireman here who's bought himself a vacation house.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The Prime Minister has bought himself time.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If he doesn't appeal, he will have three months to tear the house down himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The blame lies with the Prime Minister himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
himself
British English: himself /hɪmˈsɛlf; ɪmˈsɛlf/ PRONOUN
You use himself when you want to say that something a man or a boy does has an effect on him.
He fell and hurt himself.
American English: himself
Arabic: نَفسِهِ
Brazilian Portuguese: ele mesmo
Chinese: 他自己
Croatian: sam sebe
Czech: se
Danish: sig
Dutch: zichzelf
European Spanish: se él
Finnish: hän itse miespuolinen
French: lui-même
German: er selbst
Greek: αυτός ο ίδιος
Italian: se stesso
Japanese: 彼自身
Korean: 그 남자 자신
Norwegian: seg selv
Polish: siebie
European Portuguese: ele mesmo
Romanian: el însuși
Russian: себя
Latin American Spanish: se
Swedish: han själv
Thai: ตัวเขาเอง
Turkish: kendisi erkek
Ukrainian: себе
Vietnamese: tự anh ấy
Chinese translation of 'himself'
himself
(hɪmˈsɛlf)
pron
他自己 (tā zìjǐ)
⇒ He'll have to try it out for himself.他必须得自己试试。 (Tā bìxū děi zìjǐ shìshì.)
(emphatic) 他本人 (tā běnrén)
⇒ He himself lives in London.他本人住在伦敦。 (Tā běnrén zhù zài Lúndūn.)
by himself (= unaided) 他独(獨)立地 (tā dúlì de)
⇒ He painted the house by himself.他自己一个人粉刷了房子。 (Ta zìjǐ yī gè rén fěnshuāle fángzi.)
(= alone) 他独(獨)自地 (tā dúzì de)
he hurt himself他伤(傷)了自己 (tā shāngle zìjǐ)
he prepared the supper himself他自己准(準)备(備)了晚餐 (tā zìjǐ zhǔnbèile wǎncān)
he lives by himself他独(獨)自一人住 (tā dúzì yīrén zhù)
All related terms of 'himself'
by himself
( unaided ) 他独(獨)立地 tā dúlì de ⇒ He painted the house by himself. → 他自己一个人粉刷了房子。 Ta zìjǐ yī gè rén fěnshuāle fángzi.