Definition

A form of the pronoun 'them' used when referring back to a non-gender-specific singular person.

Example

If someone wants to express their feelings, they should talk to themself about it.

Conversation

I heard Sam prefers to do things by themself these days.

Yeah, I think they just want some independence.

That makes sense; it's good for themself to explore on their own.

Exactly! Everyone needs time to figure things out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'themself' is a reflexive pronoun formed from 'them' (from Old English 'þā', meaning those) and the suffix '-self' (meaning oneself). It is used to refer back to the subject of the sentence, emphasizing the individual identity of the person or people referred to by 'them'.

Memory Tip

Think of 'them' as referring to a group of people and '-self' as emphasizing individuality — 'themself' means that individual person from that group.

Visually Confused Words