hisself
Himself, the regular rural way of saying it.
Updated September 24, 2026
hisself pronunciation
/hiz-SELF/
Meaning
Reflexive pronoun for a man or boy, used where school English wants himself. He cut hisself, he did it by hisself, the preacher hisself showed up. Same pattern as theirselves. Folks are matching his + self the way myself and yourself already work.
How folks use it
- “He hurt hisself trying to jump that ditch.”
- “He built that shed all by hisself.”
Origin and etymology
The form goes back to Middle English (OED cites 1389). It stayed common in British dialects and in Southern and South Midland American speech. DARE labels it chiefly South and South Midland. It is not a new mistake. It is an older pattern that never quit in rural talk.
Frequently asked questions
Is hisself wrong?
In formal writing, people expect himself. In Southern and Appalachian speech, hisself is normal and has been for a long time.