/ˌmaɪˈsɛlf/
Say it backMyself is a reflexive pronoun used for emphasis or to refer back to the subject of the sentence. It can also function as a non-reflexive noun phrase in certain constructions, though in modern usage it most commonly emphasizes the speaker or functions as an object emphasis (e.g., I did it myself). Typical pronunciation emphasizes the middle /ə/ or /ɪ/ vowel and a final /self/ with a clear /s/ and /f/ blend.
"I did it myself, not you."
"Please blame me, not anyone else—myself included."
"You can go on without help, but I’d like to do it myself."
Pronounce as /maɪˈsɛlf/ with two syllables and primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable features the diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'my,' followed by a clear /s/ and the vowel /ɛ/ before the hard /l/ and final /f/. In fast speech, the /ə/ may appear in the middle as a reduced vowel in some accents, but emphasis on /ɛ/ helps prevent slurring into /mysel/ or /myself/. Audio references you can listen to: check Cambridge/Forvo entries and pronunciation videos. Practice by isolating /maɪ/ then /ˈsɛlf/, then blend smoothly.
Common errors: (1) Slurring /s/ into /z/ or dropping the /s/ entirely, which makes it sound like /maɪɛlf/. (2) Pronouncing /ɛ/ too close to /i/ so it sounds like /maɪ-seelf/ or /maɪsɪlf/. (3) Weak middle vowel; treating the /ə/ or /ɪ/ as a silent or near-silent segment. Correction: segment the word into /maɪ/ + /ˈsɛlf/, keep the /s/ and /f/ crisp, and ensure the stressed /ɛ/ is prominent. If you’re in rapid speech, preserve the /ɛ/ by slightly elongating it before the /l/. Use a slow pronunciation drill to cement the two-syllable rhythm before speeding up.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /maɪ/ diphthong remains similar. The second syllable /ˈsɛlf/ has tiny variations: US tends to have a slightly tenser /ɛ/ and crisper /f/ release; UK often features a marginally rounded /e/ and more precise sibilant timing; Australian speakers may exhibit a more centralized or reduced vowel before /l/ depending on speaker. Rhotics do not affect this word (non-rhotic accents may showcase subtle vowel quality differences). Overall, the main difference is vowel length and consonant crispness rather than a different phoneme inventory. Practice with region-specific audio to hear minor shifts in vowel height and consonant release.
The difficulty lies in two subtle areas: (a) the mid vowels /ɛ/ and the transition into /l/—getting a clean /t-ʃ/ blend but here /t/ is not present; ensure clear /s/ + /ɛ/ + /l/ onset and avoid altering the /f/ which must be released crisply. (b) The second syllable carries stress, which can cause the first syllable to be mis-placed under pressure, leading to /maɪself/ with weak second syllable. Focus on isolating /ˈsɛlf/ as a unit, maintaining a crisp /s/ and /f/ with a well-formed /ɛ/ before the /l/. Listen to native audio and imitate the rhythm to avoid a monotone or mis-stressed word.
Yes—emphasis placement and the /self/ cluster. Many learners naturalize the word as /maɪself/ with reduced /ɛ/ or an assimilated /f/ that blends into /v/ in rapid speech; to avoid this, keep a distinct /ɛ/ vowel and a firm /f/ release, especially in careful speech or in careful reading. The word’s emphasis on the second syllable is a key cue, and practicing with a short pause before the final syllable can help maintain accurate rhythm and avoid truncation into /maɪsɜːf/ or /maɪslf/.
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Myself derives from Old English mys(el) or self, formed from the genitive of my + self, evolving from the Proto-Germanic *mizalaz and Proto-Indo-European *m(es- (self)). In early English, forms like my-self or mysil were used as reflexives. By Middle English, myself appears as a compound of my (the possessive pronoun) and self, mirroring other self-forms like yourself and himself that function as intensifiers or emphatic pronouns. The term retained both the reflexive function—referencing the subject for emphasis or to reflect a reflexive action—and the non-reflexive emphasis role in coordination and apposition. The frequency of usage rose in Early Modern English as personal pronouns gained greater syntactic flexibility, enabling speakers to place emphasis after the verb or at sentence ends. In contemporary English, myself is primarily used for emphatic emphasis (“I myself”) or as the object of a preposition in emphatic constructions (“by myself”). Its semantic drift toward strong self-reference mirrors broader shifts toward explicit self-emphasis in discourse. First known written occurrences appear in Middle English dictionaries and glossaries from the 14th–15th centuries, with continued standardization in Early Modern English texts and later modern usage reinforced by prescriptive grammar guides.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "myself" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "myself"
-elf sounds
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