Standaardreflexief

Standaardreflexief is a Dutch grammatical term that refers to the default reflexive pronoun used when a verb is reflexive but no other reflexive pronoun is explicitly required. In Dutch, many verbs can form reflexive constructions in which the subject is also the object, for example “ik kofferben” (I pack) versus “ik koffer op mijzelf” (I pack myself). The standaardreflexief is the pronoun that appears in the default or unmarked reflexive form of these verbs. It is typically marked by the suffix “zelf” attached to the subject’s pronoun: “mijzelf” for “ik”, “jijzelf” for “jij”, “zichzelf” for “hij/zij/het”, “onszelf” for “wij”, “iesself" for “jullie” and “zichzelf” for “zij”.

The construction is called standaard because it does not require a preposition or additional nominal phrase; the verb itself carries the reflexive sense. In contrast, non‑standaard reflexive constructions involve a preposition such as “aan” or “voor” and a separate noun, for example “de moeder van zichzelf” (the mother of herself). The use of het standaardreflexief is common in everyday speech, especially in idiomatic expressions where the self‑directed action is implicit, such as “ik keek mezelf aan” (I looked at myself).

In historical linguistics, the standaardreflexief evolved from older Dutch infinitive and participle forms where the reflexive element was not always overt. Modern Dutch grammar textbooks treat it as a regular part of the reflexive verb system and provide guidelines for its correct usage. The term is also studied in comparative linguistics, where Dutch reflexive patterns are compared with those of other Germanic languages.