What does ourselves mean?
Ourselves is a second-person plural reflexive pronoun, equivalent to “us” when the group is acting on itself or receiving the action. It usually includes the speaker and people being addressed: “We made ourselves comfortable.” It can also be emphatic, indicating that a group acts independently, takes pride in itself, or does something without assistance: “They completed the project by themselves.” The pronoun combines the possessive determiner “our” with the plural form “selves,” making its reference clearly group-based. In careful writing, “ourselves” should generally refer to a group that includes the speaker, while “themselves” normally refers to a third-person group. Although often interchangeable with “us” in reflexive contexts, “ourselves” can carry a stronger emphasis on the group’s own identity or agency.
A reflexive pronoun referring to a group that includes the speaker, especially the speaker and those being addressed.
"We introduced ourselves to the new neighbours."
Often used as the object of a verb or preposition when the subject is a group such as “we” or “you.”
An emphatic pronoun referring to a group in an independent, proud, or self-directed manner.
"The team defended its title and was proud of itself."
Common in constructions such as “by ourselves,” “among ourselves,” and “we should be ourselves.”
Ourselves does more than point back to a group: it can turn the pronoun “we” into a declaration of independence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ourselves
Ourselves is formed in Middle English from the possessive determiner “our” and the plural form of “self,” “selves.” The element “self” comes from Old English itself, originally related to words meaning “same” and derived from a Germanic root also underlying “selfish” and “itself.” Modern English similarly uses “myself,” “yourself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” and “themselves” to express reflexive and emphatic reference.
Related word forms
How ourselves is actually used
The reflexive use is the most common. The emphatic use is especially natural with phrases such as “by ourselves,” “among ourselves,” and “help ourselves to.” It is normally used when the speaker is included in the group being referred to.
Easily confused with ourselves
Ourselves refers to a group including the speaker and usually the people addressed; ourselves may also be used in an emphatic sense to mean the group acting independently or without outside help.