εαυτό
Wordform Details
Translation: selfoneself
Part of Speech: pronoun
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularaccusativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: εαυτός
Translation: self; oneself; himself; herself; itself (pronoun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἑαυτοῦ (heautoû), a compound of ἑ (he, 'of him') and αὐτός (autos, 'self'). The word αὐτός is cognate with English 'auto-' as in 'automatic' or 'automobile', literally meaning 'self-moving'. This reflexive pronoun has maintained its core meaning across millennia, making it one of the most stable grammatical elements in Greek. The compound nature reflects the Greek tendency to build complex pronouns from simpler elements, similar to how English builds 'himself' from 'him' + 'self'.
Example Usage
Πρέπει να φροντίζεις τον εαυτό σου.
You must take care of yourself.
Μιλάει συνέχεια για τον εαυτό του.
He talks constantly about himself.
Δεν είμαι ο εαυτός μου σήμερα.
I'm not myself today.
Έχει μεγάλη ιδέα για τον εαυτό της.
She has a high opinion of herself.
Βρες τον εαυτό σου.
Find yourself.
Φροντίζω τον εαυτό μου.
I take care of myself.
Πρέπει να πιστεύεις στον εαυτό σου.
You must believe in yourself.
Mnemonics
- Think 'auto' (self) + 'tos' (this) = 'self this' = oneself
- Remember 'autonomous' - acting by oneself
Synonyms
Cultural Context
Used in both formal and informal contexts. Essential for expressing reflexive actions and self-reference. Common in philosophical and psychological discussions, as well as everyday speech when talking about self-care, self-improvement, or personal responsibility.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: αυτός means 'this/that person' or 'he/she/it' while εαυτός specifically means 'self' and is reflexive
Confused word:
Βλέπω αυτόν στον καθρέφτη.
I see him in the mirror.
Notes: εαυτός always refers back to the subject of the sentence, while αυτός refers to someone else
Mnemonic: εαυτός has 'εα' at the start - think 'each self' for reflexive meaning