2 syllables: him, self. Stress on self.
/hɪˈmsɛlf/
Say it backHimself is a reflexive pronoun used to refer back to a male subject, often for emphasis (e.g., He did it himself). It can also function as an intensive pronoun in certain constructions. Pronounced as a single word with the primary stress on the first syllable, it blends the /h/ onset with an /ɪ/ vowel, a light /m/ and a syllabic /s/ at the end in connected speech.
- You might over-articulate the second syllable, making it /ˈhaɪm-self/ or /hɪm-se lf/. Keep it light and crisp: hɪmˈself. - Another error is flattening the first vowel, producing hæm-SELF instead of hɪm-SELF; aim for a short, lax /ɪ/ as in 'kit'. - Finally, learners often extend the final /f/ or insert an extra schwa before /lf/. Practice ending with a crisp /f/ and no vowel after it. - Correction tips: use minimal pairs like 'him' vs 'himself' to keep the /ɪ/ distinct, and practice a quick, controlled transition from /m/ to /s/.
"He presented himself at the door, unannounced."
"The project was finished by John himself, not by his assistant."
"She blamed herself and, to her surprise, himse…"
Pronounce as hɪmˈsɛlf with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a light /h/ breath, then the short /ɪ/ as in ‘hit’, move to a light /m/ with a quick, closed jaw, and end with /s/ + /ɛ/ + /lf/. In US/UK, the final 'elf' is typically /sɛlf/ or /self/, with only limited vowel rounding. An audio model: hɪm-SELF. Mouth position: breathe in through the teeth lightly, keep the tongue high and relaxed, and finish with a crisp /f/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress to 'him-Self' or mispronouncing the second syllable as /seɪ/ or /səl/ instead of /sɛlf/. Some learners may insert an extra syllable or elongate the 'm' before the /s/, producing something like hɪm-ˈselfe. The fix is to keep the second syllable short and crisp: hɪmˈself, with a quick, closed mouth for /s/ and a sharp /f/ at the end. Practice with minimal pairs: him-self vs him-selfs.
In US English, final /lf/ tends to be light and /self/ with a clear /ɛ/ vowel; the /r/ is not involved, so rhoticity doesn’t touch this word. In UK English, the second syllable may be slightly less tense, and some speakers reduce /ɪ/ to a more centralized vowel before /m/, but the /s/ remains clear. In Australian English, vowel quality can be a bit more centralized, with slightly flatter /eɪ/ or /ɛ/; you’ll hear a non-rhotic or semi-rhotic pattern depending on speaker. The IPA remains /hɪmˈself/ (US) or /hɪmˈself/ (UK/AU), but vowel quality and emphasis may vary.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a clear transition between the /m/ and /s/, ensuring the /h/ starts with a gentle breath, and delivering a crisp final /f/ in rapid speech. The second syllable’s /ɛ/ vowel requires precise jaw lowering without introducing an extra vowel or lingering. For non-native speakers, the sequence h-ɪ-m-s-e-l-f demands tight coordination of lips and tongue: keep the mouth small for /ɪ/, bring the tongue to the alveolar ridge for /s/, then align the lower lip with the upper teeth for /f/.
A distinctive feature is the rapid, nearly syllabic ending /lf/ that blends the /l/ and /f/ without a strong vowel between them. You should finish with the tongue lightly touching the alveolar ridge for /l/ just before gently releasing into /f/. This tiny gliding movement helps avoid a clipped or over-exaggerated final consonant and ensures the word sounds natural in connected speech.
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- US: rhoticity is not relevant here; focus on the clear /ɪ/ and crisp /s/ before /lf/. Maintain a slightly brighter vowel in stressed syllable. - UK: allow for a slightly shorter /ɪ/ and a tighter lip closure for /f/, with a lightly rounded /e/ in some speakers. - AU: expect a more centralized /ɪ/ and subtle vowel flattening; keep the /s/ sharp and the final /f/ unvoiced. - IPA references: /hɪmˈself/ (approx). - General tip: keep jaw relaxed, lips ready for /h/ and /f/, and practice with a mirror to ensure the /h/ is a soft breath, not a full plosive.
The word himself arises from Old English mirrors of the reflexive pronoun se (the masculine demonstrative) combined with - self, a development tied to Middle English. The structure reflects a broader Germanic pattern where reflexivity is formed by adding - self to the corresponding personal pronoun or demonstrative (him + self). Over time, the form stabilized into 'himself' in Early Modern English, paralleling other self- forms like himself, yourself, themselves. The pronoun himself appeared in some contexts as an emphatic/ intensive form before becoming common in the late Middle Ages, with usage expanding into modern pronoun systems to emphasize agency or to refer back to a male subject. First known written appearances can be traced to Middle English texts, where s-forms of reflexive pronouns were increasingly standardized in the grammars of the period, aligning with the broader syntactic shift toward fixed word order and explicit reflexivity notes. By the 16th–17th centuries, himself was established as both a reflexive and intensive pronoun in modern English, with consistent phonological realization as /hɪmˈsɛlf/ in General American and /hɪmˈself/ in some varieties, though spelling kept the 'e' which visually marks the 'self' element. The word’s core meaning and function have remained stable—referring back to a masculine antecedent, with enhanced emphasis when used for emphasis or contrast.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "himself" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "himself"
-elf sounds
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