Ourselves: Reflexive Pronoun Usage and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：ourselves (reflexive) (ourselves)

ourselves 🔊

/ɑːrˈsɛlvz/

pron.

Used when the people doing an action are also receiving it, like "we did it for us."

Group of friends high-fiving after painting a room together

ourselves (reflexive) 🔊

➕

/ɑːrˈsɛlvz/

pron.

Used when the subject and object of a verb refer to the same group of people including the speaker, indicating the action is done to or for the group itself.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Our + selves (plural of self). Meaning: the reflexive form of 'we'.

💡 Mnemonic

We treat 'our' own 'selves' — think of a group treating themselves.

📖 Example

After winning the competition, we treated ourselves to a nice dinner to celebrate our hard work. 🔊 After winning the competition, we treated ourselves to a nice dinner to celebrate our hard work.

🔗 Collocations

by ourselves – Alone, without help from others.

for ourselves – For our own benefit or pleasure.

to ourselves – Privately, not shared with others.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old English 'self' (self) and the possessive 'our'. The concept of the self referring back to the group 'we' developed in Middle English.

Meaning 2：ourselves (reciprocal) (ourselves)

ourselves 🔊

/ɑːrˈsɛlvz/

pron.

Used when "we" do something to or for each other, like "we talk to each other."

Two friends having a deep conversation at a cafe table

ourselves (reciprocal) 🔊

➕

/ɑːrˈsɛlvz/

pron.

Used to indicate that members of a group perform an action on or for one another, equivalent to 'each other'.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

As close friends, we promised to always be honest with ourselves and share both our joys and worries. 🔊 As close friends, we promised to always be honest with ourselves and share both our joys and worries.

🔗 Collocations

among ourselves – Within our group; privately.

between ourselves – Confidentially, not to be shared outside.

with ourselves – With each other; mutually.

🔄 Synonyms

each other (pron.) – Used to show that each person in a group does something to the others.

one another (pron.) – Each other; used similarly in reciprocal actions.