Cool MateThemselves vs They
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Themselves
Top 1,000 (very common)A2pronoun
They
Top 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
| Themselves | They | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ðəmˈselvz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðəmˈselvz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ðeɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðeɪ/"]/ |
| Meaning | the people being talked about do something on their own | A word used to refer to a group of people or to someone whose gender is not specified. |
| Example | They seemed to be enjoying themselves. | ‘Where are John and Liz?’ ‘They went for a walk.’ |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Collocations | manage themselves, enjoy themselves, clean themselves | they say, they are, they want |
| Antonyms | others, another, different people | we, I |
| Common mistakes | 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. | Using 'they' with singular verbs (e.g., 'They is going')., Confused with 'them' as the subject., Misunderstanding its use as a singular pronoun. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use 'they' when referring to multiple people. It can also be used as a singular pronoun when a person's gender is unknown. Avoid using in very formal writing where gender-specific pronouns might be preferred. |
Frequently asked questions: Themselves vs They
What's the difference between Themselves and They?
Themselves: the people being talked about do something on their own They: A word used to refer to a group of people or to someone whose gender is not specified.
Which is more advanced: Themselves and They?
Themselves is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Themselves and They the same CEFR level?
Themselves: A2, They: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Themselves and They?
Themselves: pronoun, They: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Themselves: They seemed to be enjoying themselves. They: ‘Where are John and Liz?’ ‘They went for a walk.’
Can I use Themselves and They interchangeably?
Not always. Themselves and They 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.