German word

sich

Pronunciation

IPA/zɪç/

Meaning

  • pronounoneself

Example

Sie kämmt sich die Haare.

She combs her hair.

Illustration for sich (oneself)

More examples

Er stellt sich kurz vor.

He briefly introduces himself.

Core concept

An action leaves its subject and curves back to affect that same subject.

Common phrases

  • sich vorstellen

    introduce oneself

  • sich freuen über

    be happy about

  • sich beeilen

    hurry

Similar words

mich: Marks an action or state directed at the speaker.
dich: Marks an action or state directed at one person being addressed.
uns: Marks an action or state directed at a group that includes the speaker.
euch: Marks an action or state directed at several people being addressed.

Definition in German

Bezeichnet Handlungen, die auf das Subjekt zurückfallen, und wird in der dritten Person sowie in der Höflichkeitsform gebraucht.

Word origin

Sich is an inherited Germanic reflexive pronoun whose modern form descends from Old High German sih.

Usage tips

  • Sich has the same form in the accusative and dative for third-person and formal second-person subjects, unlike many other German pronouns.

Word lists with this word