uzelf

Uzelf is a Dutch reflexive pronoun meaning "yourself" and refers to the addressee in formal address. It is used when the subject and the object of a verb are the same person and the pronoun is needed to emphasize or clarify that the addressee is the one performing or bearing the action.

Etymology and grammar: Uzelf is a compound formed from the polite second-person pronoun u and the word zelf (self). In standard Dutch, resolutely formal contexts use uzelf as the reflexive object for u, similar to how zichzelf is used for third-person nouns like hij, zij, of zichzelf. Uzelf is typically employed to stress responsibility, involvement, or self-directed action, and it often appears in written or formal speech rather than in casual conversation.

Usage notes: Uzelf appears most often in formal or official language. It can function as the reflexive object in verbs or in prepositional phrases, such as aan uzelf om te beslissen (it is up to yourself to decide) or u beschermt uzelf tegen de zon (you protect yourself against the sun). In everyday spoken Dutch, speakers may prefer simpler forms like uzelf less frequently, or use the informal jezelf in contexts with jij/je, depending on the degree of informality and emphasis desired. In most informal contexts referring to the polite pronoun u, uzelf is less common, and other constructions may be used.

See also: Dutch pronouns, reflexive pronouns, zelf, zichzelf, zich.