In English, we use words like "myself" or "herself" to show that the subject and the object of an action are the same person. In Arabic, you create these reflexive expressions using the noun نفس (self).
Creating Singular Reflexives
To specify who the self belongs to, simply add the standard attached pronouns to the end of the word. For example, adding ي creates "myself" (نفسي), adding ه creates "himself" (نفسه), and adding ها creates "herself" (نفسها).
These reflexive nouns can be used as the direct object of a verb.
| I developed myself before developing the team. | طورت نفسي قبل أن أطور الفريق.tawwartu nafsî qabla an utawwira al-farîqa. |
| She hurt herself in the kitchen, then treated herself. | آذت نفسها في المطبخ ثم عالجت نفسها.âdhat nafsahâ fi al-matbakhi thumma aalajat nafsahâ |
Reflexives with Prepositions
When a verb requires a specific preposition, the reflexive word follows that preposition exactly as a regular noun would.
| I am an independent young man; I rely on myself. | أنا شاب مستقل، أعتمد على نفسي.ana shâbbun mustaqillun, a'tamidu 'alâ nafsî. |
| The independent woman always trusts herself. | تثق المرأة المستقلة بنفسها دائما.tathiqu al-mar'atu al-mustaqillatu binafsihâ dâ'iman. |
You will also frequently see the preposition بـ attached directly to the reflexive word (بنفس) to mean doing something "by oneself" or "personally".
| He realized his responsibility by himself. | أدرك مسؤوليته بنفسه.adraka mas'ûliyyatahu binafsihi |
Plural Reflexives
When referring to a plural subject like "we", "you (plural)", or "they", the base word shifts to its plural form: أنفس.
Attach the corresponding plural pronouns just as you would with the singular form. For example, "ourselves" becomes أنفسنا and "yourselves" becomes أنفسكم.
| There is no problem, so we trust ourselves. | ليس هناك مشكلة، فنحن نثق بأنفسنا.laysa hunâka mushkilatun, fanahnu nathiqu bi'anfusinâ. |
| Did you reward yourselves because you developed your skills? | هل كافأتم أنفسكم لأنكم طورتم مهاراتكم؟hal kâfa'tum anfusakum li'annakum tawwartum mahârâtikum? |
