Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| se | /se/ |
| ella misma | /eʝa misma/ (from spelling rules) |
| sí misma | /si misma/ (from spelling rules) |
The translation of 'herself' depends on whether you are marking the object within a verb phrase or providing emphasis. Use the unstressed pronoun se as the reflexive object marker in a sentence. Use ella misma or sí misma when you need to provide emphasis.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ella misma literally translates to 'she herself'.
Which one should you use?
The unstressed pronoun se is used as the reflexive object marker in a sentence. In contrast, ella misma is used when you want to emphasize that she did something personally or without help. Sí misma is used specifically after a preposition (such as 'para' or 'a') to mean 'herself'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using a prepositional phrase to mean 'herself', you must use the tonic pronoun sí instead of se or ella.
How do you pronounce it?
/se/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, using se can change a verb's meaning entirely. For example, the verb ir means 'to go', but the reflexive irse means 'to leave' or 'to depart'.
- The pronoun sí shares a common ancestor with the English word 'self' and the Latin word 'sibi', both of which trace back to the same ancient Indo-European root for the concept of the self.
- While sí means 'herself' when following a preposition, the word for 'yes' is also spelled sí. These two words are distinguished in writing only by a written accent mark.
Examples in context
- Se va a ver.She'll see herself.This sentence shows how to use se as a reflexive object.Tatoeba #7160144 by arh, translation #8165610 by magnificentgoddess
- Mary se hirió ayer.Mary hurt herself yesterday.Tatoeba #1332434 by Shishir, translation #881381 by CN
- Ella se dedicó a él.She devoted herself to him.Tatoeba #1259961 by hayastan, translation #887067 by CK
- La directora se preparó para la reunión ella misma.The director prepared herself for the meeting.
- La profesora se presentó a la señora Gutiérrez.The professor introduced herself to Mrs. Gutiérrez.
- 180 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking about a friend's recent actions.
- Elena¿Viste a Lucía en la fiesta?Did you see Lucia at the party?
- MateoSí, ella se presentó ante todos.Yes, she introduced herself to everyone.
- ElenaParecía muy segura de sí misma.She seemed very confident in herself.
- MateoEs una mujer muy valiente.She is a very brave woman.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “herself” translations and entries se, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ella, se, sí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
