yourself
yourself
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "yourself" is /jʊərˈsɛlf/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
your-
/j/ - as in "yes"
/ʊər/ - as in "poor" or "tour"
-self
/s/ - as in "sit"
/ɛ/ - as in "bed"
/l/ - as in "light"
/f/ - as in "fan"
Word Form Variations
"Yourself" is a reflexive pronoun. As such, it does not have typical singular/plural variations in the same way as nouns or verbs. Its variation is primarily in its corresponding personal pronoun:
Singular (reflexive/intensive): yourself
Plural (reflexive/intensive): yourselves
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Pronoun
Definition 1: Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to the person or people being addressed, when that person or people is also the subject of the sentence.
Synonyms: (none directly applicable as it's a reflexive pronoun), self, yourself (in different contexts)
Antonyms: (none directly applicable)
Example: "You should treat yourself to a nice dinner."
Definition 2: Used for emphasis when the person being addressed performs an action directly and without the help of others.
Synonyms: personally, independently, on your own
Antonyms: with help, dependently
Example: "Did you build that yourself?"
Definition 3: Used in polite formulas or expressions of well-being, often implying a state of being or a focus on one's own condition.
Synonyms: (in this context, often interchangeable with "you" or "one")
Antonyms: (none directly applicable)
Example: "Please make yourself at home." or "How are you yourself doing today?"
Examples of Use
Books:
"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." (Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them, 1912)
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." (Mahatma Gandhi, attributed quote)
Newspapers:
"The best way to prepare for the marathon is to challenge yourself in training runs." (The New York Times, October 2024)
"Remember to protect yourself from phishing scams by never clicking on suspicious links." (The Wall Street Journal, March 2025)
Online Publications:
"How to Motivate Yourself When You Just Don't Feel Like It." (Lifehacker.com, January 2025)
"Before you can love anyone else, you have to truly love yourself." (PsychologyToday.com, November 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Dialogue): "You've really outdone yourself on this project, detective." (From a crime drama episode, aired on a major network, Spring 2025)
Music (Song Title/Lyrics): "Lose Yourself" (Eminem, 8 Mile soundtrack, 2002)
Video Game (Instruction): "Customize yourself with new armor and weapons to face tougher challenges." (From an online role-playing game tutorial, accessed April 2025)
Podcast (Discussion): "Take some time each day to check in with yourself and your mental well-being." (From a popular self-help podcast, February 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"Help yourself to more salad if you'd like." (Heard at a family dinner, June 2025)
"You should really see this movie yourself; it's incredible." (A common recommendation among friends, May 2025)
"Please make yourself comfortable." (A common welcoming phrase when someone visits a home, July 2025)
10 Quotes Using Yourself
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." (Mahatma Gandhi)
"Know yourself." (Socrates)
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." (Oscar Wilde)
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." (Christian D. Larson)
"When you connect with yourself, you can connect with the world." (Oprah Winfrey)
"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." (Janis Joplin)
"Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." (Lucille Ball)
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." (Judy Garland)
"The privilege of a lifetime is to be who you really are." (Joseph Campbell, though often paraphrased as "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are.")
Etymology
The word "yourself" is a combination of two older English words: "your" and "self."
Think of it like this:
"Your" comes from the Old English word "eower," which meant "belonging to you." It's the possessive form of "you."
"Self" comes from the Old English word "self" or "sylf," meaning "one's own person" or "the same."
So, when these two words came together, "yourself" literally meant something like "your own person."
The first known use of "yourself" appeared in the early 14th century (around the 1300s). At that time, its meaning was much like it is today: to refer back to the person being addressed, either to show that they are the one doing the action to themselves (reflexive), or to add emphasis that they are the one doing it (intensive). For example, "You did it yourself" or "You hurt yourself."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Yourself
Be yourself: Act naturally and authentically.
Help yourself (to something): Take something for your own use, especially food or drink.
Make yourself at home: Act as if you are in your own home; relax and be comfortable.
By yourself: Alone; without anyone else.
For yourself: For your own benefit or understanding.
To yourself: Kept private or for your own use; without sharing.
Put yourself in someone else's shoes: Imagine what it would be like to be in another person's situation.
Treat yourself: Indulge in something enjoyable.
Ask yourself: Consider carefully; reflect.
Pick yourself up: Recover from a difficult situation or setback.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of yourself from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
