Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns

• For a definition of reflexive see Reflexive (definition)

Reflexive pronouns (in English forms like myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves) are used obligatorily when referring back to another noun that has been named in the same clause, e.g., John loves himself (himself refers back to John). In other words they are used as anaphors.

In Gaelic, unlike English (but used this way in Irish English and Hebredean English), reflexive pronouns can also be used as Emphasis. In such uses, they are not anaphoric (i.e. they don't refer back to a previous noun). For example, they can be used in subject position: Tha è fhèin a' tighinn (Literally "himself is coming", but colloquially HE is coming.)

In Gaelic the reflexive is formed by attaching fhèin (sometimes fhìn in the first person) to either basic grade or emphatic grade pronouns. This is usually written as a separate word.

person	Singular	Plural
1st	mi fhìn or mi fhèin	sinn fhèin
2nd	thu fhèin	sibh fhèin
3rd masc	e fhèin	iad fhèin
3rd fem	i fhèin

Note:

• The choice of fhìn or fhèin with the 1st person singular is a matter of dialect. In Skye the form fhìn is more frequently used than fhèin
• Also: mise fhìn, thusa fhèin, esan fhèin, ise fhèin, sinne fhèin, sibhse fhèin, and iadsan fhèin.

Examples

Chuir	Jill	uimpe	fhèin	gu	cabhagach.
put.pst	Jill	on.3sg.f	self	adv	hurry
'Jill dressed herself hurriedly.' (Levin)

• Virtual reflexive alternation

Cha	mhòr	nach	gear	an	fheòil	seo	i	fhèin.
Neg	big	Neg.C	cut.fut	the	meat	Prox	3sg.f	Refl
'This meat (practically) cuts itself.' (Levin)

Fosglaidh	an	uinneag	i	fhèin.	open.fut	the	window	3sg.f	Refl
'The window opens itself.' (Levin)

• Reflexive of appearance

Thaisbean	fuasgladh	dhan	a'	cheist	e	fhèin	an dè.
present.pst	solution	to.def	the	question	3sg.m	Refl	yesterday
'A solution to the problem presented itself yesterday.' (Levin)

• Obligatory reflexive object

Shleuchd	an	t-sagart	e	fhèin.
prostrate.pst		the	priest	3sg.m	Refl
'The priest prostrated himself.' (Levin)