herself
gb/hɚsˈɛlf/ us/hɚsˈɛlf/
A2
English
~ 600
maga, egyedül
A2
1
maga
A2
Usage pattern:
[subject] [verb] herself
She taught herself to play the guitar.
Magától tanult meg gitározni.
The cat scratched herself while climbing the tree.
A macska megkarmolta magát, miközben a fára mászott.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Maria made herself a cup of tea.
Anna blamed herself for the mistake.
Learner examples
She hurt herself with the knife.
Megvágta magát a késsel.
She is talking to herself.
Magában beszél.
She made herself a sandwich.
She can dress herself now.
She saw herself in the photo.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'herself' with 'her' in reflexive contexts, e.g., saying 'She hurt her' when they mean 'She hurt herself'.
Meaning
Reflexive pronoun for 'she'
Collocations
by herself
|for herself
|hurt herself
|proud of herself
|teach herself
Synonyms
itself (Refers to an object, animal, or concept rather than a female person.)
|
myself (Refers to the speaker instead of a female third person.)
Antonyms
himself (Refers to a male subject instead of a female.)
Themes
grammar
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used when the woman or girl does something to the same woman or girl, or to make 'she' stronger.
Used to refer back to a female subject as the object of a verb or preposition, or for emphasis.
A2
2
egyedül
A1
Usage pattern:
by herself
She went to the movie by herself.
Egyedül ment moziba.
Maria lives by herself in a small apartment.
Maria egyedül él egy kis lakásban.
Anna enjoys traveling by herself.
She sat by herself at the café.
The girl walked home by herself.
Learner examples
She goes to school by herself.
Egyedül megy iskolába.
She eats lunch by herself.
Egyedül ebédel.
She walks to the park by herself.
She sits by herself in class.
She plays by herself.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'by herself' with 'herself' alone, forgetting the preposition 'by' is needed for the 'alone' meaning.
Meaning
Alone, without help (female)
Collocations
live by herself
|travel by herself
|sit by herself
Synonyms
alone (General term meaning without others present.)
Antonyms
together (Indicates being with others instead of alone.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to say a woman or girl is alone or does something without help.
Used to indicate that a female person is alone or without help from others.
B1
3
maga
B1
Usage pattern:
[subject] herself [verb/phrase]
The CEO herself approved the decision.
Maga a vezérigazgató hagyta jóvá a döntést.
The author herself will be signing books today.
Ma maga a szerző fog könyveket dedikálni.
The teacher herself explained the rules.
The mayor herself attended the event.
The bride herself baked the cake.
Learner examples
The queen herself came to the party.
Maga a királynő jött el a partira.
The singer herself met her fans.
Maga az énekesnő találkozott a rajongóival.
The teacher herself talked to me.
The boss herself called me.
The chef herself cooked my meal.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this emphatic use with reflexive use, thinking it always means the action is done to oneself.
Meaning
Emphasis on female subject
Collocations
the Queen herself
|the author herself
|the teacher herself
Synonyms
personally (Can emphasize direct involvement, though not limited to females.)
Themes
grammar
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to show it is that woman or girl and no one else.
Used for emphasis to show that a particular woman or girl is the one involved, not someone else.
Grammar
Dictionary form
herself
IPA
GB/hɚsˈɛlf/
US/hɚsˈɛlf/
Syllables & stress
her - self (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (her)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: herself
- Plural: herselves
Word family
Expressions
all by herself
1/ˈɔl bˈaɪ hɚsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
Completely alone (female)
When a woman or girl does something completely without help from anyone else.
Examples
- She built the bookshelf all by herself.
- Anna solved the problem all by herself.
by herself
1/bˈaɪ hɚsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
Alone, without others (female)
When a woman or girl is alone or does something without help from anyone else.
Examples
- She fixed the car by herself.
- Maria likes to eat by herself at lunch.