Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun points back to the subject. It is simply the matching object pronoun: Hy skeer hom. (He shaves himself.) Ek bekommer my. (I'm worried.)
How It Works
1. The forms. Each subject has its matching object pronoun:
- ek → my, jy → jou, u → u
- hy → hom, sy → haar
- ons → ons, julle → julle, hulle → hulle
2. Verbs that always take one. Dictionaries list these with jou, and the pronoun cannot be left out:
- jou haas (hurry): Haas jou!
- jou bekommer (worry): Ek bekommer my oor die toets.
- jou vergis (be mistaken), jou skaam (be ashamed), jou gedra (behave)
3. Verbs that can take one. Ordinary verbs use a reflexive when the action is done to oneself: Hy skeer hom (he shaves) but Hy skeer die hond (he shaves the dog). Trek jou warm aan means dress warmly.
4. Where it goes. The reflexive stands right after the conjugated verb, like any object pronoun, and before the first nie: Ek bekommer my nie. In the past it comes after het: Ek het my gehaas. Verbs with be- or ver- take no ge-: Hy het hom bekommer. (See participles without ge-.)
5. Match the subject. Sy was haar means she washes herself, but Sy was hom means she washes him.
Tip: to stress myself or to use it after a preposition, add -self: Hy praat met homself.
Examples (6)
- Hy skeer hom elke oggend.
He shaves every morning.
Word by Word: He shaves him every morning.
Hom points back to hy, so it means himself here.
- Ek bekommer my oor die toets.
I'm worried about the test.
Word by Word: I worry me about the test.
Jou bekommer always needs a reflexive pronoun.
- Haas jou, ons is laat!
Hurry up, we're late!
Word by Word: Hurry you, we are late!
- Jy vergis jou, dit was nie Maandag nie.
You're mistaken, it wasn't Monday.
Word by Word: You mistake you, it was not Monday not.
- Trek jou warm aan, dit is koud buite.
Dress warmly, it's cold outside.
Word by Word: Pull you warm on, it is cold outside.
Aantrek is a separable verb: the reflexive follows the verb and aan goes to the end.
- Die kinders het hulle mooi gedra.
The children behaved well.
Word by Word: The children have them nicely behaved.
Common Mistakes
Using a special reflexive word from Dutch or German.
Hy skeer sig elke oggend.Hy skeer hom elke oggend.Afrikaans has no sig or zich. Use the object pronoun that matches the subject.
Leaving out the pronoun with a verb that always needs one.
Ek haas, want die bus kom.Ek haas my, want die bus kom.Jou haas cannot stand without its reflexive pronoun.
Using a pronoun that does not match the subject.
Sy het hom in die kombuis gesny.Sy het haar in die kombuis gesny.To say she cut herself, the pronoun must match sy. Hom would mean she cut him.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Reflexive pronouns mostly use the object pronoun forms.
Related Patterns
- -selfMyself, Yourself: -self
Adds emphasis or makes the reflexive meaning clear: homself, haarself.
Level 2 - mekaarEach Other: Mekaar
Mekaar means each other, not themselves.
Level 2 - uPolite U
The polite u is also its own reflexive: U moet u nie haas nie.
Level 1 - Participles Without ge-
Reflexive verbs with be- or ver- take no ge- in the past: Hy het hom bekommer.
Level 2 - Separable Verbs
Explains Trek jou aan, where the reflexive follows the verb and the prefix goes to the end.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reflexive Pronouns in Bubblegum
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