Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'themselves'

English Word: themselves

Key Russian Translations:

• себя [ˈsʲe.bə] - [Reflexive pronoun, used for emphasis or reciprocity]
• сами [ˈsa.mʲi] - [Used in contexts implying 'by themselves' or self-action, Informal]

Frequency: High (Reflexive pronouns like 'себя' are fundamental in everyday Russian communication, appearing frequently in spoken and written language).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; understanding and using reflexive pronouns requires familiarity with Russian case systems, but 'себя' is straightforward once basic grammar is learned. For 'сами', it may vary to A2 if used in simple sentences).

Pronunciation (Russian):

себя: [ˈsʲe.bə]

сами: [ˈsa.mʲi]

Note on себя: The initial 'с' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like 's' in 'measure'. Stress falls on the first syllable.

Note on сами: Pronounce with a clear 'мʲ' sound, similar to 'm' in 'muse', and stress on the first syllable for natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Reflexive pronoun referring to third-person plural subjects

Translation(s) & Context:

• себя - Used in accusative case to indicate the object is the same as the subject, e.g., in sentences emphasizing self-action or reflection (Formal or Informal contexts).
• сами - Emphasizes independence or self-performance, often in adverbial phrases (Informal, everyday speech).

Usage Examples:

• Они любят себя больше, чем кого-либо другого.

  They love themselves more than anyone else. (This example shows 'себя' in a reflexive context, highlighting self-centered behavior in personal relationships.)

• Дети играют сами с собой в парке.

  Children play by themselves in the park. (Here, 'сами' indicates self-reliance, common in descriptions of children's activities.)

• Учёные изучают себя и свои открытия.

  Scientists study themselves and their discoveries. (This demonstrates 'себя' in a professional or academic setting, emphasizing introspection.)

• Группа решила справиться сами без посторонней помощи.

  The group decided to handle it themselves without outside help. (Illustrates 'сами' in a problem-solving context, showing autonomy in group dynamics.)

• Люди часто обманывают себя, игнорируя реальность.

  People often deceive themselves, ignoring reality. (This example uses 'себя' to convey psychological self-deception, applicable in philosophical discussions.)

Emphatic or reciprocal use in plural contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• себя - For mutual actions, e.g., when subjects act upon each other (Formal writing or speech).

Usage Examples:

• Друзья помогают себе в трудные моменты.

  Friends help themselves in difficult moments. (Shows reciprocal use of 'себя' in social interactions.)

• Они выражают себя через искусство.

  They express themselves through art. (Emphasizes self-expression, common in creative contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The Russian reflexive pronoun 'себя' is invariant and does not change based on gender, number, or case in the same way as personal pronouns. It remains 'себя' in all contexts, primarily in the accusative case. However, it can be used with other cases implicitly through context.

For 'сами', it is an adjective/adverb form that inflects based on case and number:

Note: 'Сами' in plural nominative is straightforward and doesn't require complex inflections in basic usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • собой (more emphatic, used for 'with themselves')
  • самостоятельно (for 'by themselves', implying independence)
  (Fine distinctions: 'Собой' is used in instrumental contexts, while 'самостоятельно' is more adverbial and emphasizes autonomy.)
• Antonyms: Not directly applicable, as 'себя' is a reflexive pronoun. However, concepts like dependency might contrast with 'чужой' (foreign/strange, implying not self).

Related Phrases:

• Беречь себя - To take care of oneself (Common in health and self-preservation contexts).
• Выразить себя - To express oneself (Used in artistic or personal development scenarios).
• Справиться самим - To manage by themselves (Implies self-sufficiency in problem-solving).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'себя' directly corresponds to English reflexive pronouns like 'themselves' and is used to show that the object of the verb is the same as the subject. Unlike English, Russian reflexive pronouns do not vary by person or number, making 'себя' versatile but requiring attention to case (e.g., always accusative). For 'сами', it's often used for emphasis on independence, similar to 'themselves' in phrases like 'by themselves'. Choose 'себя' for direct reflexivity and 'сами' for self-action in informal settings. Be cautious with word order, as Russian sentence structure can alter emphasis.

• Always pair with the correct verb to avoid ambiguity.
• In formal writing, 'себя' is preferred for clarity.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'себя' with personal pronouns like 'их' (them), leading to sentences like "Они любят их" instead of "Они любят себя" (meaning "They love them" instead of "They love themselves"). Correct usage: Use 'себя' for reflexivity to avoid implying an external object. Another error is overusing 'сами' without context, e.g., saying "Они сами" when "Они сами по себе" is needed for "They are by themselves." Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement, so always check the verb's requirements.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions involving 'себя' often reflect themes of self-reflection and collectivism, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works. For instance, the idea of 'knowing oneself' (знать себя) ties into philosophical traditions influenced by Orthodox Christianity, emphasizing introspection as a path to personal and communal harmony.

Related Concepts:

• себе (to oneself)
• нас (us, for first-person reflexivity)
• вас (you, plural)