Cool MateThem vs Themselves
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Them
High-frequency chunkA1pronoun
Themselves
Top 1,000 (very common)A2pronoun
| Them | Themselves | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ðəm//ðem/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðəm//ðem/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ðəmˈselvz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðəmˈselvz/"]/ |
| Meaning | A word used to refer to people or things that are not you or I. | the people being talked about do something on their own |
| Example | Tell them the news. | They seemed to be enjoying themselves. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Collocations | tell them, show them, get to them | manage themselves, enjoy themselves, clean themselves |
| Antonyms | us, we | others, another, different people |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'those' when referring to people., Using 'them' as a singular pronoun in formal writing., Mixing up 'them' with 'they' in subject vs. object position. | Using 'themself' instead of 'themselves', which is not standard., Confusing with 'their' as a possessive pronoun., Omitting 'themselves' in sentences where it's needed for clarity. |
| Usage notes | Used to refer to a group of people or things. It's informal in some contexts. Avoid using it as a singular pronoun. | Used when the subject and the object of the verb are the same. Appropriate in both spoken and written English but more common in neutral contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Them vs Themselves
What's the difference between Them and Themselves?
Them: A word used to refer to people or things that are not you or I. Themselves: the people being talked about do something on their own
Which is more advanced: Them and Themselves?
Themselves is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Them and Themselves the same CEFR level?
Them: A1, Themselves: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Them and Themselves?
Them: pronoun, Themselves: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Them: Tell them the news. Themselves: They seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Can I use Them and Themselves interchangeably?
Not always. Them and Themselves are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.