How Do You Spell THEMSELVES?

Pronunciation: [ðɛmsˈɛlvz] (IPA)

The word "themselves", pronounced /ðəmˈsɛlvz/, is spelled using the letters t-h-e-m-s-e-l-v-e-s. The phonetic transcription shows that the first syllable "them" is pronounced with the voiced interdental fricative sound /ð/, whereas the rest of the word "selves" is pronounced with the voiceless alveolar fricative sound /s/. This word is a reflexive pronoun used to indicate that a group of people or things are performing an action on themselves. It is important to spell this word correctly to avoid confusion in written communication.

THEMSELVES Meaning and Definition

1. Themselves is a reflexive pronoun used to refer to the object of a sentence when the subject and the object are the same group of individuals or things mentioned previously in the conversation or text. It is the plural form of the third-person reflexive pronoun "itself" or "himself/herself" and is commonly used in English grammar.

   Themselves is used to emphasize that the group being referred to is acting on their own, without any external influence or assistance. It indicates self-reliance and individual agency within a collective unit. This pronoun is typically employed when discussing or highlighting an action or state of being performed by the same individuals previously mentioned in the conversation or text.

   The term "themselves" implies that the subject has a distinct sense of identity within the group and is capable of independent thought or action. It can refer to people, animals, or even inanimate objects, as long as they have been previously mentioned or established in the context.

   For example, in the sentence "The employees organized the event themselves," the word "themselves" emphasizes that the employees took charge of organizing the event without any external assistance. It highlights their ability to act independently and perform tasks collectively.

   In summary, "themselves" is a reflexive pronoun used to refer to a group or individuals mentioned earlier in a conversation or text, emphasizing their self-reliance and independent action.

2. An emphatic form of them; those very persons.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for THEMSELVES *

• themselfs 27.0436187%
• themselve 7.1405492%
• themseleves 5.0726978%
• themeselves 3.0048465%
• themselvs 2.8432956%
• themsevles 2.4232633%
• themselfes 1.6155088%
• themslves 1.5831987%
• themseves 1.5185783%
• theselves 0.9693053%
• themselevs 0.9693053%
• themelves 0.9046849%
• thereselves 0.6462035%
• thenselves 0.6138933%
• themseles 0.3231017%
• thmselves 0.2907915%
• temselves 0.2907915%
• themeslves 0.2584814%
• themsels 0.1615508%
• themselv 0.1292407%
• thmeselves 0.1292407%
• thierselves 0.1292407%
• themselvse 0.1292407%
• themselved 0.743134%
• themselfves 0.549273%
• tehmselves 0.193861%
• themselse 0.193861%
• themshelves 0.0969305%
• themselvess 0.0969305%
• themselvles 0.0646203%
• theemselves 0.0646203%
• thiemselves 0.0646203%
• themsevelves 0.0646203%
• temselfes 0.0646203%
• themmselves 0.0646203%
• hemselves 0.0646203%
• thermselves 0.0646203%
• thyemselves 0.0646203%
• thesmselves 0.0646203%
• themselces 0.0646203%
• themsevs 0.0646203%
• themserves 0.0646203%
• theimselves 0.0646203%
• themselver 0.0646203%
• therselves 0.0646203%
• themsvles 0.0646203%
• thimselves 0.0646203%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for THEMSELVES

• themrselves
• themseolves
• temselfves
• themselvves
• themselths
• themslve
• themseelves
• themselvels
• themselvies
• thenmselves
• inthemselves
• thsmselves
• themselmes
• thelselves
• themselives
• themsevels
• himselves
• themselvesto
• themselevles
• themselveds
• themselvees
• rhemselves
• bythemselves
• themseives
• themelsves
• themsevlves
• themsellves
• themnselves
• themselvers
• htemselves
• yhemselves
• themselveson
• gthemselves
• themslelves
• themsves
• themselvces
• themselkves
• themselvses
• thenslves
• themshelve
• themeleves
• thesmelves
• themsselves
• themeselve
• themselbes
• themselsves
• themseleve
• theyselves
• themselfe
• themseilved
• themselvese
• themselfvs
• Hemselfes
• Theemselve

Etymology of THEMSELVES

The word "themselves" has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the Old English word "ȝemsylfum", which was a combination of "ȝe" (meaning "ye", or "you") and "selfum" (meaning "self"). Over time, the "ȝe" evolved into "the", leading to the Middle English word "the selfum" or "the selfs". Eventually, it transformed further into "themselves" in modern English.

Idioms with the word THEMSELVES

• God helps those who help themselves The idiom "God helps those who help themselves" means that divine assistance or intervention is more likely to come to those who make an effort to solve their own problems or improve their situations. It emphasizes the importance of taking personal responsibility and initiative rather than relying solely on the assistance or intervention of others or a higher power.
• keep (themselves) to themselves The idiom "keep (themselves) to themselves" means to be private or reserved and to not share personal matters or interact much with others. It refers to individuals who prefer to remain more introverted and tend to maintain a certain distance from social interactions or personal relationships.
• give sb enough rope (to hang themselves) The idiom "give someone enough rope (to hang themselves)" refers to allowing a person to have the freedom or opportunity to act or speak in a way that will eventually lead to their own downfall or expose their true intentions or character. It means to grant someone the necessary space or autonomy, often with the belief that their actions will ultimately lead to negative consequences for themselves.
• squeeze (themselves) up The idiom "squeeze (themselves) up" means to make oneself fit or accommodate in a tight or small space by moving closer together or by adjusting one's position in order to make room for someone or something else. It implies physically organizing or arranging oneself to occupy a limited area.
• squeeze (themselves) together The idiom "squeeze (themselves) together" refers to the act of fitting or arranging oneself or a group of people into a tight or limited space. It implies making adjustments, physically or metaphorically, to accommodate everyone in a confined area or situation.
• God helps them that help themselves The idiom "God helps them that help themselves" means that one's efforts and actions are more likely to be successful if they are driven and self-reliant. It implies that relying solely on divine intervention or assistance without personal effort is unlikely to lead to favorable outcomes.
• by themselves The idiom "by themselves" means doing something without any help or support from others. It implies that individuals are handling or completing a task independently, without any external assistance.
• take care of the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves The idiom "take care of the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves" means that if you are diligent in managing and saving small amounts of money or being thrifty, it will eventually accumulate and result in significant savings or financial security. It emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the small details and being frugal to achieve long-term financial stability.
• take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves The idiom "take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves" means that by being vigilant and careful with small or minor matters, one can avoid larger problems or financial difficulties in the long run. It emphasizes the importance of paying attention to small details, as they can accumulate and have a significant impact. In essence, managing and tending to the smaller aspects will ultimately lead to overall success.
• take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves The idiom "take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves" means that by being cautious and frugal with small amounts of money or trivial matters, one can ultimately save and manage larger amounts or more significant issues. It emphasizes the importance of being mindful of the small details, as they can accumulate and contribute to a bigger outcome or success.
• give someone enough rope to hang themselves The idiom "give someone enough rope to hang themselves" means to allow someone to proceed with their actions or behavior in a way that will eventually lead to their own downfall or consequences. It refers to giving someone the freedom or opportunity to make mistakes or display their true nature, which ultimately leads to their own downfall or negative outcome.
• the facts speak for themselves The idiom "the facts speak for themselves" means that the available evidence or information is clear and conclusive, requiring no further explanation or argument. It implies that the truth or validity of something is self-evident and can easily be understood or recognized based on the facts presented.
• give someone just enough rope to hang themselves The idiom "give someone just enough rope to hang themselves" means to allow someone enough freedom or opportunity to make a serious mistake or reveal their true nature, leading to their own downfall or failure. It implies giving someone the chance to display their incompetence, deceit, or negative traits, which ultimately result in negative consequences for them.
• heaven helps those who help themselves The idiom "heaven helps those who help themselves" means that individuals who take action and make efforts to solve their own problems are more likely to receive assistance or support from others, or that divine intervention or luck tends to favor those who take initiative and work towards their goals. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and proactivity in overcoming difficulties or achieving success.
• the Lord helps those who help themselves The idiom "the Lord helps those who help themselves" means that one's efforts and actions are crucial for achieving success and receiving assistance. It suggests that divine intervention or assistance is more likely to be given to those who actively work towards their goals, rather than relying solely on external help or waiting for miraculous interventions. It emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and taking initiative.
• Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves The idiom "Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves" means that if someone listens in on conversations or tries to gather information about themselves secretly, they are unlikely to hear anything positive, complimentary, or advantageous. Instead, they are more likely to discover negative or critical remarks about themselves. It highlights the idea that prying or engaging in secretive behavior often leads to negative outcomes or unfavorable information.
• speak for itself/themselves The idiom "speak for itself/themselves" means that something is so clear or evident that it requires no further explanation or justification, as it can be understood or evaluated on its own merit. It implies that the object or situation being referred to is self-explanatory and does not require additional clarification or interpretation.