sig / sér / sín
The Reflexive Pronoun (Sig)
sig, sér and sín point back to a third-person subject: Hann klæðir sig. (He gets dressed.) Hún flýtir sér. (She hurries.)
How It Works
The forms
The reflexive pronoun has no nominative, and it is the same in the singular and plural:
- Accusative: sig — Hann klæðir sig. (He gets dressed.)
- Dative: sér — Hún flýtir sér. (She hurries.)
- Genitive: sín — Hún bauð okkur heim til sín. (She invited us to her home.)
Only for he, she, it and they
For the other persons, use the ordinary object pronouns (accusative and dative):
- Ég klæði mig. · Þú klæðir þig. · Hann klæðir sig.
- Við flýtum okkur. · Þið flýtið ykkur. · Þau flýta sér.
sig or hann?
Jón sá sig í speglinum means Jón saw himself. Jón sá hann means Jón saw another man. So sig is needed when the subject and the object are the same person.
Common verbs with sig or sér
Learn the case with the verb:
- With sig: klæða sig (get dressed), kynna sig (introduce oneself), meiða sig (hurt oneself)
- With sér: flýta sér (hurry), þvo sér (wash)
To stress himself or herself, add sjálfur: Hann hugsar bara um sjálfan sig. (He only thinks about himself.) Some verbs use -st instead of sig, see Verbs Ending in -st.
Examples (6)
- Hann klæðir sig.
He gets dressed.
Word by Word: He dresses himself.
- Hún flýtir sér í vinnuna.
She hurries to work.
Word by Word: She hurries herself into the-work.
flýta takes the dative, so the form is sér.
- Ég klæði mig.
I get dressed.
Word by Word: I dress me.
The subject is ég, so the object is mig, not sig.
- Við flýtum okkur.
We hurry.
Word by Word: We hurry us.
- Þau kynntu sig.
They introduced themselves.
Word by Word: They introduced themselves.
- Hún bauð okkur heim til sín.
She invited us to her home.
Word by Word: She invited us home to herself.
til takes the genitive, so the form is sín.
Common Mistakes
Using sig with ég, þú, við or þið.
Ég klæði sig.Ég klæði mig.sig only refers back to he, she, it or they. With ég, use mig.
Using hann when the subject acts on himself.
Hann klæðir hann.Hann klæðir sig.Hann klæðir hann means he dresses another man. To say he dresses himself, use sig.
Using sig with a verb that takes the dative.
Hún flýtir sig.Hún flýtir sér.flýta takes the dative, so use sér.
How It Connects
Learn This First
sig builds on the genitive pronouns.
Related Patterns
- mig / þig / hann / hanaObject Pronouns (Accusative)
Other persons use their accusative pronouns: Ég klæði mig.
Level 1 - mér / þér / honum / henniDative Pronouns
Other persons use their dative pronouns: Ég flýti mér.
Level 1 - sinnHis, Her or Their Own (Sinn)
sinn is the possessive that belongs with sig: Hann tók bílinn sinn.
Level 3 - sjálfurSelf (Sjálfur)
sjálfur adds emphasis: sjálfan sig.
Level 3 - Verbs Ending in -st
Some verbs use -st instead of sig.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice sig / sér / sín in Bubblegum
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