se stessa
The English word "herself" is translated into Italian as se stessa.
se stessa is used as a reflexive object. It is used to provide emphasis or when the pronoun follows a preposition.
Meaning: (reflexive object) her (pron)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between using se stessa and the unstressed clitic pronoun si. While si is used for standard reflexive actions (for example, si lava to say "she washes herself"), se stessa is used when you want to emphasize the person or when the pronoun follows a preposition.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gender of the second word must match the subject: use se stessa for a female and se stesso for a male.
Did you know?
- The word stessa is the feminine form of stesso, which is used to mean 'same'. When saying 'herself', an Italian speaker is literally saying 'her same'.
- If you want to say 'she did it herself' to mean she did it without help, you might use da sola instead of se stessa. While se stessa emphasizes her identity, da sola emphasizes her solitude or lack of assistance.
- In Italian, you cannot use se stessa as a subject. To say 'she herself arrived', you must use lei stessa, switching from se to lei.
Examples in context
- Non è se stessa.She isn't herself.This sentence shows how to use se stessa to describe someone's state of being.Tatoeba #2777363 by Guybrush88, translation #7383121 by CH
- Rise di se stessa.She laughed at herself.This sentence demonstrates using se stessa in the context of laughing at oneself.Tatoeba #11089361 by Guybrush88, translation #7383078 by CH
- Votò per se stessa.She voted for herself.This sentence shows how to use se stessa following the preposition "per".Tatoeba #8346189 by Guybrush88, translation #7382668 by CH
- Laura si vuole difendere da sola.Laura wants to defend herself.
- Francesca è sicura di sé stessa.Francesca is confident in herself.
- Maria si è vestita lei stessa per la cerimonia.Maria dressed herself for the ceremony.
- Laura ha preparato la presentazione da sé lei stessa.Laura prepared the presentation by herself.
- Maria si è fatta la tinta lei.Maria dyed her hair herself.
- Francesca si è tagliata i capelli da sola.Francesca cut her hair herself.
- 122 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are discussing a friend who has changed her behavior.
- MartinaGiulia non sembra se stessa ultimamente.Giulia doesn't seem like herself lately.
- MatteoHai ragione, è molto silenziosa.You're right, she is very quiet.
- MartinaPenso che stia mentendo a se stessa.I think she is lying to herself.
- MatteoSpero che risolva presto tutto.I hope she resolves everything soon.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
