Definition and meaning of English word "ourselves"
ourselves
/ɔːrˈsɛlvz/
Meaning
NounUs; the group including the speaker as the object of a verb or preposition when that group also is the subject.
How to use
The pronoun 'ourselves' is typically used in formal or reflexive contexts, often emphasizing the speaker's group. A common learner mistake is using 'ourselves' as a subject, instead of 'we'. For example, 'We made the decision ourselves' is correct, but 'Ourselves made the decision' is not.
🇬🇧 English
ourselves
Example
We will do it ourselves.
They will do it themselves.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- by ourselves— by ourselves
- ourselves alone— ourselves alone
- among ourselves— among ourselves
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #871 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "ourselves" mean?▼
The English word "ourselves" means "ourselves" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "ourselves"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "ourselves" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "ourselves"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "We will do it ourselves." (which translates as "ourselves").
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