Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| te | /te/ | |
| se | /se/ | |
| ti mismo (tuteo) | masculine | |
| ti misma (tuteo) | feminine | |
| vos mismo | /bos mismo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine, with voseo |
| vos misma | /bos misma/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, with voseo |
| usted mismo | /usted mismo/ (from spelling rules) | formal, masculine |
| usted misma | /usted misma/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, formal |
In Spanish, 'yourself' is expressed using reflexive pronouns like te or se or by using a combination of a pronoun and the word for 'same' (mismo/a) to emphasize that the person is performing an action on or for their own self. Phrases like ti mismo or usted mismo can translate to 'you yourself' to emphasize a specific action or decision.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the subject and the level of formality. Use te as a reflexive pronoun when the subject is the informal 'tú'. Use se as a reflexive pronoun for third-person subjects (himself, herself, themselves) or for the formal 'usted' (yourself). When you want to emphasize 'you yourself', you use forms like ti mismo (masculine) or ti misma (feminine) for informal address or usted mismo (masculine) and usted misma (feminine) for formal address. For groups, vosotros mismos/as is used for informal groups in Spain, while ustedes mismos/as is used for formal groups or can be used for informal groups in some Latin American regions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For informal situations, use te or the 'tuteo' forms ti mismo and ti misma. For formal situations when addressing a single person with respect, use usted mismo or usted misma.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In regions that use 'voseo', such as parts of Argentina, Uruguay and Central America, vos mismo (masculine) and vos misma (feminine) are used for 'yourself' instead of the 'tuteo' forms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form te functions as a reflexive pronoun specifically when the subject is the informal 'tú'. The form se is used as a reflexive pronoun for the formal 'usted' as well as for third-person subjects. When using the emphatic forms like tú mismo/a, ensure you use the feminine adjective when addressing a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
/te/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, Spanish speakers use se to describe 'accidental' actions. Instead of saying 'I broke the glass', they might say se rompió el vaso, implying the glass broke 'itself'.
- Spanish uses reflexive pronouns like se to create the 'passive voice' in a way English cannot. A phrase like se habla español literally means 'Spanish speaks itself' but is understood as 'Spanish is spoken'.
- In Spanish, many verbs change their meaning entirely when you add a reflexive pronoun like te or se. For example, ir means 'to go', but irse means 'to leave' or 'to go away'.
Examples in context
- Te vas a lastimar.You will hurt yourself.This sentence shows how to use te to indicate an action being done to oneself.Tatoeba #941425 by hayastan, translation #22289 by CK
- Te amas a ti mismo.You love yourself.This sentence demonstrates using te with a verb expressing an emotion toward oneself.Tatoeba #3462722 by SemperAutumnus, translation #3462702 by shekitten
- ¡No te dejes engañar!Don't let yourself be fooled!This sentence illustrates a warning using the reflexive pronoun te.Tatoeba #1536992 by marcelostockle, translation #1536995 by marcelostockle
- Tú mismo tienes el poder de cambiar tu vidaYou yourself have the power to change your life
- Usted mismo debe decidir qué hacerYou yourself must decide what to do
- Ustedes mismos pueden tomar la decisiónYou yourselves can make the decision
- Tú misma puedes hacerloYou yourself can do it
- Tú mismo tienes que buscar una soluciónYou yourself have to find a solution
- Ustedes mismos pueden hacerloYou yourselves can do it
- 220 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking about a new hobby.
- SofíaDebes darte tiempo para aprender.You must give yourself time to learn.
- MateoTienes razón, estoy muy presionado.You are right, I am under a lot of pressure.
- SofíaNo te exijas demasiado, Mateo.Don't demand too much of yourself, Mateo.
- MateoEstá bien, voy a descansar hoy.Okay, I am going to rest today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yourself” translations and entries te, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
