What does thyself mean?
Thyself is an archaic English pronoun used to refer to the person being addressed. It functions as the reflexive equivalent of modern “yourself,” as in “Take care of thyself,” and can also give emphasis, as when someone says they heard something “thyself.” The word belongs to the older second-person singular system built around “thou,” “thee,” “thy,” and “thine.” In earlier English, this form was a normal part of speech; today it is mainly encountered in older literature, religious texts, poetry, quotations, and speech that imitates an archaic register. Because “thyself” directly combines the familiar second-person pronoun with the intensifying or reflexive element represented by “self,” it makes a particularly emphatic reference to the addressee. It is therefore more distinctive than a direct modern replacement and often signals solemnity, intimacy, historical atmosphere, or deliberate self-reference.
pronounThyself is an archaic second-person singular reflexive and intensive pronoun, corresponding to modern English “yourself.” It refers to the person being addressed and may be used for emphasis.
- A second-person singular reflexive pronoun referring to the person addressed.
- An emphatic or intensive second-person pronoun reinforcing a reference to the person addressed.
"Keep the secret to thyself, and trust no one to guard it better."
"The road is dangerous, so take care of thyself."
"Who told thee that? Didst thou not hear it thyself?"
Once the standard way for one person to speak directly to another, “thyself” survives mainly in poetry, scripture, and the language of the past.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thyself come from?
Thyself is a compound formed within the English second-person pronoun system, combining “thou” with “self.” “Thou” continues Old English þū, while “self” continues Old English self; the modern compound developed during the Middle English period alongside related forms such as “yourself,” “himself,” and “herself.” Its modern occurrence is chiefly literary or archaic because the pronoun “thou” fell out of ordinary standard English except in special contexts.
How thyself is actually used
Thyself is archaic rather than part of ordinary modern standard English. It belongs to the second-person singular system expressed with “thou,” “thee,” “thy,” and “thine,” and occurs especially in older literature, religious texts, poetry, and deliberately archaic or dramatic speech.
Easily confused with thyself
“Thyself” is the archaic form associated with “thou,” while “yourself” is the standard modern second-person reflexive and intensive pronoun.