savęs / sau / save
The Reflexive Pronoun Savęs
Savęs is one word for myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves and themselves. It always points back to the subject: Nupirkau sau dviratį (I bought myself a bike).
How It Works
1. The forms. Savęs changes like tu (tavęs, tau, tave, tavimi, tavyje):
- genitive: savęs
- dative: sau
- accusative: save
- instrumental: savimi
- locative: savyje
It has no nominative and no separate plural.
2. One word for every person. English changes myself, yourself, themselves. Lithuanian uses savęs for all of them: Aš galvoju apie save. Tu galvoji apie save. Jie galvoja apie save.
3. Choose the case the verb or preposition needs. Nupirkau sau dviratį (dative, a gift for yourself), Jis galvoja apie save (accusative after apie), Ji pasitiki savimi (instrumental, she is self-confident), Jis nemyli savęs (genitive after negation).
4. Savęs versus a personal pronoun. Jis galvoja apie save means he thinks about himself. Jis galvoja apie jį means he thinks about another man. With aš and tu, too, the subject's own self is savęs: say Nupirkau sau, not Nupirkau man.
5. Savęs versus -si verbs. For everyday actions done to yourself, Lithuanian usually uses a reflexive verb: Jis prausiasi (He is washing). Save adds weight or contrast: Jis myli tik save (He loves only himself).
6. Useful phrases. su savimi (with you, on you), pats su savimi (to himself), papasakoti apie save (to tell about yourself), rūpintis savimi (to take care of yourself). Do not mix it up with savo, which marks possession: my own, your own.
Examples (6)
- Jis galvoja tik apie save.
He thinks only about himself.
Apie takes the accusative, so the form is save.
- Nupirkau sau dviratį.
I bought myself a bike.
Word by Word: Bought to-self bike.
Sau is dative: the bike is for the speaker.
- Papasakok apie save.
Tell me about yourself.
The same save works for tu.
- Ar turi pasą su savimi?
Do you have your passport on you?
Su takes the instrumental: su savimi.
- Ji labai pasitiki savimi.
She is very self-confident.
Word by Word: She very trusts self.
Pasitikėti takes the instrumental.
- Rūpinkis savimi!
Take care of yourself!
Rūpintis takes the instrumental, like domėtis.
Common Mistakes
Using a personal pronoun for the subject's own self.
Nupirkau man dviratį.Nupirkau sau dviratį.When the person is the same as the subject, Lithuanian uses savęs for every person, including aš and tu.
Using savo instead of savęs.
Jis galvoja tik apie savo.Jis galvoja tik apie save.Savo marks possession, as in apie savo darbą. For the intended meaning “about himself”, use save.
Using a personal pronoun when he means himself.
Jis myli tik jį.Jis myli tik save.Jis myli tik jį means he loves only some other man. To mean himself, use save.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject and has no nominative.
Related Patterns
- savoReflexive Possessive Savo
Savo is the possessive partner of savęs: one's own.
Level 2 - Reflexive -siReflexive Verbs in -si
Everyday actions done to yourself usually use a -si verb instead of save.
Level 2 - pats / patiEmphatic Pats
Pats adds emphasis, often together with savęs: pats su savimi.
Level 3 - vienas kitąEach Other with Vienas Kitą
Vienas kitą means each other, while savęs means oneself.
Level 4 - domėtis / rūpintis / džiaugtis + instrumentalVerbs That Take the Instrumental
Rūpintis savimi uses the instrumental form savimi.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice savęs / sau / save in Bubblegum
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