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"Themselves" is a pronoun which is often translated as "ellos mismos", and "each other" is a phrase which is often translated as "se". Learn more about the difference between "themselves" and "each other" below.
themselves(
thehm
-
sehlvz
)A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
1. (emphatic)
a. ellos mismos (third person masculine plural)
They managed to fix the car themselves.Consiguieron arreglar el coche ellos mismos.
b. ellas mismas (third person feminine plural)
The girls can wash the dishes themselves.Las chicas pueden lavar los platos ellas mismas.
2. (reflexive)
a. se (third person plural)
They bought themselves suits for the wedding.Se compraron trajes para la boda.
a. sí mismos (third person masculine plural)
Those guys only think about themselves.Esos tipos solo piensan en sí mismos.
b. sí mismas (third person feminine plural)
The students who failed the test were ashamed of themselves.Las alumnas que fallaron el examen estaban avergonzadas de sí mismas.
4. (as normal)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
After coming back from the war, it took a while for them to act themselves again.Después de volver de la guerra, tardaron un tiempo en volver a ser ellos mismos.
What's wrong with the twins? They don't seem like themselves.¿Qué pasa con los gemelos? No parecen los de siempre.
each other(
ich
uh
-
thuhr
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (general)
a. se
Ana and Ben always cook each other food on their anniversary.Ana y Ben siempre se preparan comida en su aniversario.
Lupita and Sam were kissing each other when I came into the room.Lupita y Sam se estaban besando cuando entré al cuarto.
b. el uno al otro (M) (masculine)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
They always help each other.Siempre se ayudan el uno al otro.
c. la una a la otra (F) (feminine)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Did you see how Gemma and Elaine were looking at each other?¿Viste cómo Gemma y Elaine se miraban la una a la otra?
