sé tú mismo
/se tu mismo/from spelling rules
To say 'be who you are' in Spanish, you use sé tú mismo.
This expression is used to encourage someone to act naturally and stay true to their own personality.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative form of ser (to be), the pronoun tú (you) and the reflexive pronoun mismo (self/same), literally meaning 'be you yourself'.
Which one should you use?
You might also use Sé quien tú eres to mean 'Be who you are'. Another common alternative with a similar sentiment is sé auténtico, which means 'be authentic'.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to a woman, you must change the masculine mismo to the feminine misma to say sé tú misma.
How do you pronounce it?
/se tu mismo/
Did you know?
- While sé tú mismo suggests individuality, Spanish speakers often navigate the tension of el qué dirán, a phrase meaning 'what people will say' that describes the social pressure to conform.
- The word tú is a distant relative of the archaic English word 'thou'. Both evolved from the same Proto-Indo-European root for the second person singular.
- Depending on the tone and a smile, the imperative sé can shift from a strict command to a gentle piece of encouragement.
Examples in context
- simplemente sé tú mismoSimply be yourself
- No finjas ser otro, sé tú mismo.Don't pretend to be someone else, be who you are.
- Confía en tu esencia y sé tú mismo.Trust your essence and be true to yourself.
- En esta entrevista, solo sé tú mismo.In this interview, just be yourself.
Example conversation
Mateo is nervous before a first date, and Lucía encourages him.
- Lucía¿Estás nervioso por la cita de esta noche?Are you nervous about the date tonight?
- MateoSí, quiero causar una buena impresión.Yes, I want to make a good impression.
- LucíaNo te presiones, simplemente sé tú mismo.Don't pressure yourself, just be who you are.
- MateoTienes razón, gracias por el consejo, Lucía.You're right, thanks for the advice, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mismo, sé, tú, CC BY-SA 4.0.
