sich
himself, herself, itself, themselves, yourself (formal) · each other, one another
The German reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', 'itself', 'themselves' or 'yourself/yourselves' (formal). It is used with reflexive verbs and often changes the meaning of a verb compared to its non-reflexive use.
What sich means
- himself, herself, itself, themselves, yourself (formal) — Used as the object of a verb when the subject and object are the same person or thing.
- each other, one another — Used with plural subjects to express reciprocal action.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where sich was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Aber Edmund irrt sich eigentlich nie.But Edmund is practically never wrong.
- Oh, das fühlt sich gut an.Oh, that feels good.
Example sentences
- Er wäscht sich die Hände.He washes his hands.
- Sie freuen sich auf das Wochenende.They are looking forward to the weekend.
- Ich habe mich verlaufen.I got lost.
- Wir treffen uns um acht.We are meeting at eight.
Grammar
| Type | Reflexive pronoun |
|---|---|
| Forms | mich (acc.), mir (dat.), dich (acc.), dir (dat.), sich (acc./dat.), uns (acc./dat.), euch (acc./dat.) |
| Position | In main clauses, typically follows the finite verb, but may be preceded by subject pronouns or other elements; in subordinate clauses, usually after the subject and before other elements. |
In main clauses, 'sich' often comes after the finite verb when the subject is first (e.g., 'Er freut sich'), but if another element is first, the subject pronoun may come before 'sich' (e.g., 'Heute freut er sich'). In subordinate clauses, it usually appears after the subject: '..., weil er sich freut.'
Common phrases
- sich freuen auf/überto look forward to / to be happy about
- sich erinnern anto remember
- sich interessieren fürto be interested in
- sich beeilento hurry
- sich ausruhento rest
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often omit 'sich' with reflexive verbs, saying 'Ich freue' instead of 'Ich freue mich'. Always learn the reflexive pronoun as part of the verb.
Don’t confuse it with
- selbst — 'sich' is a pronoun used with verbs, while 'selbst' is an adverb meaning 'oneself' used for emphasis, e.g., 'Er hat es selbst gemacht' (He did it himself).
Questions learners ask
When do I use 'sich' in German?
Use 'sich' when the subject and object of a verb are the same person or thing, as in 'Er wäscht sich' (He washes himself). Many German verbs are reflexive and require 'sich' even when English does not use a reflexive pronoun, e.g., 'sich freuen' (to be glad).
What is the difference between 'sich' and 'mich'?
'sich' is used for the third person (er/sie/es, sie) and formal 'Sie', while 'mich' is used for the first person singular (ich). For example: 'Ich freue mich' but 'Er freut sich'.
How do I know if a verb is reflexive in German?
You need to learn reflexive verbs as fixed expressions, e.g., 'sich beeilen' (to hurry), 'sich erinnern' (to remember). Dictionaries mark them with 'sich' or 'refl.'.