Meaning
- (pronoun) (reflexive pronoun) Your own self (singular). “Be careful with that fire or you'll burn yourself.”
- (pronoun) You (singular); used emphatically, especially to indicate exclusiveness of the referent's participation in the predicate, i.e., that no one else is involved. “After a good night's sleep you'll feel like yourself again.”
About this word
The precise origin is debated, but the term 'yourself' likely gained prominence in English during the Middle Ages. As a reflexive pronoun, it references the individual in question, emphasizing personal identity or self-reference in contexts where the subject and object are the same. Commonly used in phrases like 'be yourself' or 'trust yourself', it conveys a sense of self-empowerment or individual authenticity.
In everyday conversation, 'yourself' appears frequently in motivational contexts, therapy discussions, or personal development literature. It highlights the importance of self-awareness and introspection, often encouraging individuals to embrace their true selves. Expressions such as 'find yourself' or 'believe in yourself' resonate across various mediums, including self-help books and wellness workshops.
For word puzzle enthusiasts, 'yourself' holds a Scrabble score of 14, making it a valuable asset in gameplay. It fits within the eligibility criteria for Wordle, being eight letters long. The word contains common bigrams like 'ou' and 'ur', and players can also form sub-words such as 'sorely', 'surely', and 'floury', enhancing its versatility in word games.
The evolution of 'yourself' is tied to the reflexive pronoun development in English, with roots tracing back to Old English. It emerged as a way to emphasize the subject in relation to their actions. This form has been used to denote ownership and personal identity over centuries, reflecting a consistent focus on the self. Notably, variations like 'yourselves' serve as its plural form. Understanding its usage is crucial, especially in distinguishing it from similar terms such as 'your', which indicates possession without the reflexive nuance.
Using Yourself in a sentence
- You should always be true to yourself.
- In a world full of opinions, it's essential to know yourself.
- Therapists often encourage clients to express themselves and reflect on their feelings.
- As she stood in front of the mirror, she whispered, 'Just be yourself.'
Origin of Yourself
The precise origin is debated, but 'yourself' likely evolved from the Old English 'eower selfa', which combined 'eower' (your) and 'selfa' (self). By the late Middle Ages, it became common in English usage, emphasizing the reflexive quality of self-reference. Over time, it has maintained its focus on personal identity, adapting alongside the language's evolution. Various forms such as 'yourselves' emerged to denote plural use, showcasing its flexibility in expression.
Letter breakdown
- Yourself contains 8 letters: 3 vowel(s) and 5 consonant(s).
- It uses 8 unique letters.
- Estimated syllable count: 2.
- Scrabble-style letter score: 14.
Words from these letters
- flours
- floury
- flyers
- fouler
- foyers
- sorely
- sourly
- surely
- euros
- floes
- flour
- flues
- flyer
- fores
- fouls
- fours
- foyer
- fuels
- furls
- loser
- louse
- lousy
- lures
- lyres
- roles
- rouse
- rules
- slyer
- surly
- yours
- euro
- floe
- flue
- foes
- fore
- foul
- four
- fuel
- furl
- furs
- fury
- fuse
- lore
- lose
- lure
- lyre
- ores
- ours
- refs
- rely
- roes
- role
- rose
- rosy
- rues
- rule
- ruse
- self
- serf
Connected words
Other 8-letter words
- aardvark
- abacuses
- abalones
- abandons
- abashing
- abattoir
- abbesses
- abdicate
- abdomens
- abducted
- abductee
- abductor
- aberrant
- abetters
- abetting
- abettors
- abeyance
- abhorred
Words starting with YOU
- you
- young
- younger
- youngest
- youngish
- youngster
- youngsters
- your
- yours
- yourselves
- yous
- youth
- youthful
- youthfully
- youthfulness
- youths
See all words starting with YOU →
Words ending with ELF
Reader questions
What does Yourself mean?
(reflexive pronoun) Your own self (singular).
How many letters are in Yourself?
Yourself has 8 letters.
How valuable is 'yourself' in Scrabble?
'Yourself' scores 14 points in Scrabble, making it a strategic play, especially when combined with other words for parallel scoring.
What common mistake do people make with this word?
Many confuse 'yourself' with 'your', which indicates possession rather than self-reference. Remember, 'yourself' is used when the subject and object are the same.
When did 'yourself' become commonly used?
'Yourself' likely gained currency during the Middle Ages, evolving from Old English roots to emphasize reflexivity and personal identity.
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