Definition and meaning of English word "themselves"
themselves
/ðəmˈsɛlvz/
Meaning
NounThe reflexive case of they, the third-person plural personal pronoun. The group of people, animals, or objects previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition.
How to use
The pronoun 'themselves' is a reflexive pronoun used to refer back to the subject of a sentence. A common mistake learners make is using 'themself' instead of 'themselves', which is not grammatically correct.
🇬🇧 English
themselves
Example
The students will do it themselves.
The students will not do it themselves.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- by themselves— alone, without help
- themselves alone— only themselves, no one else
- for themselves— for their own benefit
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This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #886 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "themselves" mean?▼
The English word "themselves" means "themselves" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "themselves"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "themselves" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "themselves"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "The students will do it themselves." (which translates as "themselves").
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