What is herself? Pronunciation and usage in English

herself means . Learn how to pronounce and use herself through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of herself

herselfpronoun

/həːˈsɛlf/
Definition & pronunciation of herself

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "herself" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown and a few ways to approach it:

1. The Core Sounds:

  • her: Pronounced like "h-er" – very similar to the word "her" as in “her book.”
  • self: Pronounced like "self" – as in the word "selfish."

2. The Combination - The Key is the "s"

This is where it gets tricky. The 's' in "herself" doesn’t have a standard “s” sound like in "sun." Instead, it's a voiceless postalveolar fricative. Let's break that down further:

  • Voiceless: This means your vocal cords don't vibrate when you say it.
  • Postalveolar: This refers to the placement of your tongue – it’s just behind your alveolar ridge (the bumpy part behind your teeth).
  • Fricative: This means the air is forced through a narrow channel, creating a hissing or friction sound.

3. How to Mimic the Sound (Approaches):

Here are a few ways to try and get it right:

  • The "th" approach: Many people find it easiest to think of it as a very soft, quick “th” sound, almost like the “th” in “thin” but much lighter and quicker. You're not making a full "th" sound, just a brief, subtle "th" feeling.

  • The “f” approach: Some speakers try to approximate it with an "f" sound, but it should still be very subtle and not a full "f."

  • The “s” with a tap: Think of a very light “s” sound that’s almost like you’re tapping your tongue lightly behind your teeth.

4. Putting It All Together - The Rhythm and Stress

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable: her-self.
  • Rhythm: Say "her" quickly, and then blend in the "self" sound smoothly. It shouldn't be two separate words.

5. Listen to Examples:

  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/herself/ – This website has native speakers pronouncing the word. Listen to several different voices to get a good feel for it.
  • YouTube: Search on YouTube for "how to pronounce 'herself' English" – you'll find many video tutorials.

6. Practice!

The best way to learn is to practice repeatedly. Record yourself saying it and compare it to native speakers.

In short, aim for a very quick, subtle "th" or "f" sound blended smoothly with the "self" sound, with the emphasis on “her”.

Would you like me to:

  • Give you some more specific tips?
  • Break down the sound further (e.g., describing tongue placement)?

Usage and examples with the word herself in English

Let's break down how to use "herself" correctly in English. It's a tricky pronoun because it can be a bit confusing, but once you understand the rules, it becomes quite straightforward.

What is "herself"?

"Herself" is a reflexive pronoun. This means it refers back to a female noun (or pronoun) and is used when the female subject performs the action of the verb and receives the action of the verb. Essentially, it indicates that a woman is doing something to or for herself.

Here's a breakdown with examples:

1. Reflexive Verbs - The Core Rule

  • Reflexive verbs are verbs that describe an action that a subject performs on themselves. This is where "herself" comes in.

    • Example: “She washed herself.” (She washed herself - She is the one doing the washing, and she’s the one being washed.)
    • Example: “He decorated himself.” (He decorated himself - He’s doing it, and he’s the one being decorated.) Notice we can use “himself” for a male subject.

2. Using "Herself" with Female Subjects:

  • When the subject is a female, you must use "herself."

    • Example: “She cooked herself dinner.” (She cooked it for herself – she’s the one doing the cooking.)
    • Example: “The actress praised herself.” (The actress praised herself – she’s the one doing the praising.)
    • Example: “My daughter made herself a sandwich.” (She made it for herself.)

3. Important Distinctions – When NOT to use "herself":

  • Passive Voice: If the sentence is in the passive voice, do not use "herself." The subject receives the action, not performs it.

    • Incorrect: “The cake was eaten by herself.”
    • Correct: “The cake was eaten by her.” (Here, “her” refers to the person who ate the cake.)

  • Direct Object: If "herself" is part of the direct object, don't use it.

    • Incorrect: “She cut herself.” (This implies she cut something else and accidentally injured herself.)
    • Correct: “She cut herself.” (She deliberately cut her own body.)

4. Combining with Other Pronouns

  • You can often combine “herself” with other pronouns.

    • Example: “She told herself that she would succeed.” (She is telling herself something about herself.)

5. Summary Table

Scenario Use "herself"? Example
Female subject doing an action to/for herself Yes She painted herself red.
Passive voice No The window was broken by her.
"Herself" is a direct object No She saw herself in the mirror.

Tips for Remembering:

  • Think about the action: Does the person performing the action also receive it? If so, “herself” is likely correct.
  • Read the sentence aloud: Sometimes, hearing the sentence can help you identify the correct pronoun.

Would you like me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Explain a specific scenario where you're unsure about using "herself"?
  • Provide some practice sentences for you to try?

Synonyms for the word herself

Practice with vocabulary herself

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Dr. Anya Sharma dedicated _____ to researching sustainable energy solutions, often working late into the night.
  2. Despite the team's initial skepticism, Sarah managed the complex client presentation _____, impressing everyone with her composure.
  3. The project manager delegated the task of compiling the quarterly report to the new intern, giving clear instructions to _____.
  4. The CEO praised the entire department for their outstanding performance, singling out Maria for her innovative contributions, which truly set _____ apart.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The lead researcher, Dr. Chen, insisted on presenting the groundbreaking findings _____, without any co-presenters. a) herself b) by herself c) independently d) for her
  2. Before submitting the proposal, Ms. Davies decided to meticulously review the entire document _____, searching for any potential errors. a) her b) by herself c) herself d) one's own
  3. To better understand the challenges her team faced, the director immersed ____ in the daily operational tasks for a week. a) her b) by herself c) herself d) her own
  4. The annual report clearly outlined the company's financial performance, highlighting its strengths and areas for improvement, particularly concerning _____ sustainability initiatives. a) its b) their c) their own d) it's
  5. Due to her exceptional analytical skills, Sarah was always the first person the team turned to for advice on complex data, as everyone trusted _____ judgment. a) hers b) her c) she d) them

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Maria completed the entire project without any assistance from her colleagues.
  2. The CEO personally oversaw the new product launch to ensure its success.
  3. She found it essential to conduct the analysis on her own.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Dr. Anya Sharma dedicated herself to researching sustainable energy solutions, often working late into the night.
  2. Despite the team's initial skepticism, Sarah managed the complex client presentation herself, impressing everyone with her composure.
  3. The project manager delegated the task of compiling the quarterly report to the new intern, giving clear instructions to him.
  4. The CEO praised the entire department for their outstanding performance, singling out Maria for her innovative contributions, which truly set her apart.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) herself, b) by herself, c) independently
  2. b) by herself, c) herself
  3. c) herself
  4. a) its
  5. b) her

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Maria completed the entire project by herself.
  2. The CEO herself oversaw the new product launch to ensure its success.
  3. She found it essential to conduct the analysis independently.

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