Reflexive Pronouns Across Clauses
In English, reflexive pronouns like "himself" or "herself" are normally only used when the subject and object of the same clause are the same person (e.g., "He sees himself"). If you start a new clause, you switch back to regular pronouns: "He thinks that the people judge him."
In Icelandic, however, a special grammar feature called long-distance reflexivization allows reflexive pronouns to reach across clause boundaries. When a subordinate clause expresses the thoughts, words, or desires of the main clause's subject, the reflexive pronoun inside the subordinate clause refers back to that main subject.
The Accusative: sig
If the verb or preposition in the subordinate clause requires the accusative case, use sig.
In the following example, dæma (to judge) takes the accusative. Because the subordinate clause describes what "he" is thinking, sig points all the way back to "Hann". (If you used hann instead of sig, it would mean he thinks people are judging a different man!)
| He thinks that the people judge him. | Hann heldur að fólkið dæmi sig. |
The Dative: sér
If the verb or preposition in the subordinate clause requires the dative case, use sér. For instance, the verb hjálpa (to help) always takes the dative.
| She hopes that the doctor helps her. | Hún vonar að læknirinn hjálpi sér. |
The Genitive: sín
When the verb in the subordinate clause requires the genitive case, such as sakna (to miss), the reflexive pronoun becomes sín.
| The patient says that his friend misses him. | Sjúklingurinn segir að vinurinn sakni sín. |
Talking About the Self
Because long-distance reflexives deal heavily with thoughts, beliefs, and speech, they pair naturally with vocabulary about psychology and self-perception.
You will frequently see these reflexive pronouns combined with prepositions, such as hjá sér (with/of oneself) or fyrir sér (for oneself), to describe how a subject believes others interact with their mind, mood, or life.
| She thinks that he perceives her mindset. | Hún heldur að hann skynji hugarfarið hjá sér. |
| She says that this self-awareness ruins things for her. | Hún segir að þessi sjálfsvitund skemmi fyrir sér. |
Doubts and Desires
Long-distance reflexives are also very common when talking about desires (what someone wants to happen) or insecurities (what someone fears might happen). Verbs like vilja (to want) strongly trigger this pattern.
In the following examples, notice how sig and sér are used to refer back to the subjects of the main clauses across the boundary of the word að (that).
| She didn't want the man to judge her for her loneliness. | Hún vildi ekki að maðurinn dæmdi sig fyrir einmanaleikann. |
| The boy himself is insecure and does not want us to forget him. | Strákurinn sjálfur er óöruggur og vill ekki að við gleymum sér. |
