themselves
gb/ðəmsˈɛlvz/ us/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
A2
English
~ 500
maguk, egyedül
A2
1
maguk
A2
Usage pattern:
[they] [verb] themselves
They taught themselves how to play the guitar.
Maguktól tanultak meg gitározni.
The children dressed themselves without help.
A gyerekek segítség nélkül öltöztek fel.
They blame themselves for the mistake.
The team congratulated themselves after the win.
Learner examples
They made dinner for themselves.
Vacsorát készítettek maguknak.
The kids washed themselves.
A gyerekek megmosakodtak.
They looked at themselves in the mirror.
They helped themselves to food.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'themselves' with 'each other'. 'They saw themselves' means they saw their own reflection, while 'They saw each other' means they saw one another.
Meaning
Reflexive pronoun for 'they'
Collocations
by themselves
|for themselves
|to themselves
|among themselves
Synonyms
their own selves (A more emphatic or formal way to say 'themselves')
Antonyms
others (Refers to people different from the subject, opposite of reflexive reference)
Themes
grammar
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used when 'they' do something to the same people or things that are the subject.
The reflexive form of the pronoun 'they', used when the subject and object of a verb are the same people or things.
B1
2
maguk
B1
Usage pattern:
[they] themselves [verb]
They themselves admitted it was a bad idea.
Ők maguk ismerték be, hogy rossz ötlet volt.
The players themselves chose the coach.
Maguk a játékosok választották ki az edzőt.
The witnesses themselves confirmed the story.
Learner examples
They themselves started the project.
Ők maguk indították el a projektet.
The teachers themselves wrote the exam.
Maguk a tanárok állították össze a vizsgát.
The workers themselves fixed the problem.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes place 'themselves' incorrectly in the sentence. For emphasis, it typically comes right after the subject or at the end of a clause.
Meaning
Emphatic pronoun for 'they'
Collocations
they themselves said
|they themselves admitted
|they themselves decided
Synonyms
personally (Can be used similarly for emphasis, but is an adverb and not a pronoun)
Themes
grammar
|emphasis
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to show it was really 'they' and not someone else who did something.
Used to emphasize the identity of the subject 'they' as being the ones who performed an action.
A2
3
egyedül
A1
Usage pattern:
by themselves
They live by themselves in the countryside.
Egyedül élnek vidéken.
The children went to school by themselves for the first time.
A gyerekek először mentek egyedül iskolába.
They traveled by themselves across Europe.
Learner examples
They went to the park by themselves.
Egyedül mentek a parkba.
The boy fixed the bike by himself.
A fiú egyedül javította meg a biciklit.
They cooked by themselves.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'by themselves' with 'themselves' as a simple reflexive; 'by' adds the meaning of being alone or independent.
Meaning
Alone without help or company
Collocations
all by themselves
|live by themselves
Synonyms
alone ('Alone' is an adjective/adverb; 'by themselves' is a phrase with similar meaning)
Antonyms
together (Indicates being with others, opposite of alone)
Themes
independence
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used when 'they' are alone or do something without help from anyone else.
Used to indicate that 'they' are alone or acting without help from others.
Grammar
Dictionary form
themselves
IPA
GB/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
US/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
Syllables & stress
them - selves (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (selves)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: themselves
- Plural: themselveses
Word family
Expressions
be beside themselves (with emotion)
1/bˈi bɪsˈaɪd ðəmsˈɛlvz wˈɪθ ɪmˈoʊʃən/
idiom
Extremely upset or excited
To be very upset, angry, or excited.
Examples
- They were beside themselves with joy at the news.
- The parents were beside themselves with worry.
by themselves
1/bˈaɪ ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
Alone without help or company
Without help from anyone else; alone.
Examples
- They finished the project by themselves.
- The children went to school by themselves for the first time.
in and of themselves
1/ˈɪn ˈænd əv ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
formal
Considered alone, without outside factors
Looked at alone, without thinking about anything else.
Examples
- These facts, in and of themselves, are not enough to prove guilt.
- In and of themselves, the changes seem small.
keep to themselves
1/kˈip tə ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
Avoid social interaction with others
To not talk or mix much with other people.
Examples
- They tend to keep to themselves at parties.
- The new neighbors keep to themselves most of the time.