Himself or Hisself: What's the Difference

If you’ve ever heard someone say “hisself” instead of “himself,” you may have wondered whether it’s simply a different pronunciation or an actual English word. The two words sound similar, but they are not treated the same in Standard English. One is grammatically correct and widely accepted, while the other belongs mainly to regional dialects and informal speech.

This question often appears in grammar discussions because “hisself” occasionally shows up in movies, novels, television shows, and everyday conversations. Writers sometimes use it intentionally to reflect a character’s dialect or cultural background. However, that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate in formal writing or professional communication.

Understanding the difference between himself or hisself helps you write more accurately and recognize why people use different forms of the same pronoun. It also offers a fascinating glimpse into how English evolves through regional speech and historical change. In this guide, you’ll learn what himself and hisself mean, why one is considered standard while the other isn’t, how each developed over time, and when each form is appropriate. By the end, you’ll know exactly which word to use in every situation.

Table of Contents

Himself vs. Hisself: The Quick Answer

The simplest answer is this:

Himself is the correct reflexive and intensive pronoun in Standard English.
Hisself is a nonstandard dialectal variant that appears in some regional forms of English but isn’t accepted in formal grammar.

If you’re writing for school, work, business, publishing, or online audiences, always choose himself.

Which Word Is Grammatically Correct?

The grammatically correct form is himself.

English reflexive pronouns follow a regular pattern:

Subject Pronoun	Reflexive Pronoun
I	myself
You	yourself
He	himself
She	herself
It	itself
We	ourselves
They	themselves

Notice that every standard reflexive pronoun follows a predictable structure. Himself fits this pattern perfectly.

Examples:

He taught himself how to play the piano.
James introduced himself to the new neighbors.
The manager completed the project himself.

Each sentence uses himself correctly because the pronoun refers back to the subject.

Why People Confuse “Himself” and “Hisself”

The confusion usually comes from spoken language rather than grammar books.

For generations, speakers in some regions have naturally pronounced himself as hisself. Children also sometimes create hisself by analogy. They hear myself, yourself, herself, and assume hisself follows the same pattern.

Although the logic seems reasonable, English standardized himself centuries ago, and grammar authorities continue to recognize it as the only standard form.

The Simple Rule to Remember

If you’re unsure which word to choose, remember this simple rule:

If the writing is formal, academic, professional, or intended for a general audience, always use “himself.”

Reserve hisself only when you’re intentionally representing dialect in dialogue or quoting someone exactly.

What Does “Himself” Mean?

Himself is a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun. It always refers back to a previously mentioned male person or masculine noun.

Definition of “Himself”

A reflexive pronoun reflects the action of the verb back to the subject.

For example:

Michael blamed himself for the mistake.
The athlete challenged himself every day.
The child dressed himself before breakfast.

In each example, the subject performs the action and receives the action.

“Himself” as a Reflexive Pronoun

Most often, himself functions as a reflexive pronoun.

Examples include:

He cut himself while cooking.
David reminded himself about the meeting.
The student encouraged himself before the presentation.

Without the reflexive pronoun, these sentences would either become incomplete or change meaning entirely.

“Himself” as an Intensive Pronoun

Himself can also emphasize a noun or pronoun.

Examples:

The CEO himself announced the decision.
The author himself signed every copy.
The coach himself demonstrated the exercise.

Here, himself adds emphasis rather than reflecting the action.

Common Sentence Patterns

You’ll often see himself used in these structures:

Subject + Verb + Himself
- He introduced himself.
Subject + Verb + Object + Himself
- He built the table himself.
Subject + Himself + Verb
- The president himself attended the ceremony.

Learning these common patterns makes it easier to recognize correct usage in everyday writing.

What Does “Hisself” Mean?

Unlike himself, hisself isn’t part of Standard English. However, it has an interesting history that explains why some people still use it today.

Is “Hisself” a Real Word?

Yes—but with an important qualification.

Hisself is a real dialect word, not a standard English word.

Many dictionaries include it because it appears in spoken English and historical records. However, dictionaries also label it as nonstandard, dialectal, or informal.

That means the word exists, but it isn’t appropriate for most formal writing.

Historical Background of “Hisself”

The form hisself dates back several centuries. Earlier forms of English showed much greater variation in pronoun spellings than modern English.

In some regional communities, speakers gradually adopted hisself because it sounded more regular alongside:

myself
yourself
herself

Over time, English grammar became standardized, and himself became the accepted form in education, publishing, and government writing. Even so, hisself survived in certain dialects and continues to appear in regional speech today.

Regional and Dialect Usage

You may still hear hisself in parts of:

The Southern United States
Appalachian English
Some rural communities
Certain Irish and Scottish dialects
Literary dialogue that reflects local speech

When authors use hisself, they’re usually trying to capture an authentic speaking style rather than demonstrate standard grammar.

For example:

“He can take care of hisself,” the old farmer said.

In this sentence, the spelling reflects the character’s dialect rather than the author’s grammatical recommendation.

Why It Isn’t Standard English

Standard English relies on widely accepted grammar conventions that promote consistency across education, publishing, journalism, and business communication.

Although hisself has historical and regional value, it isn’t accepted in:

Academic essays
Professional emails
Business reports
News articles
Legal documents
Most published nonfiction

Using himself instead ensures your writing remains clear, professional, and grammatically correct for readers everywhere.

FAQs

Is “hisself” a real word?

Yes, hisself is a real word in the sense that it appears in some English dictionaries and has been used for centuries in certain regional dialects. However, it is labeled as nonstandard or dialectal, which means it isn’t considered correct in Standard English. For formal writing and everyday professional communication, himself is the appropriate choice.

Is “hisself” grammatically correct?

No. In Standard English, hisself is not grammatically correct. The correct reflexive pronoun is himself. While some people use hisself in casual speech or regional dialects, it should be avoided in academic, business, and professional writing.

Why do some people say “hisself”?

People often use hisself because it has become part of their local dialect or family speech patterns. It also follows a pattern that seems logical alongside words like myself, yourself, and herself. Although it sounds natural in some communities, modern English grammar recognizes himself as the standard form.

Should I ever use “hisself” in writing?

In most situations, no. You should use himself in essays, articles, emails, reports, and other formal writing. The only common exception is when you’re writing dialogue for a fictional character or directly quoting someone’s speech and want to preserve their regional dialect or authentic voice.

What’s the difference between “himself” and “hisself”?

The main difference is that himself is the standard reflexive and intensive pronoun accepted in modern English, while hisself is a nonstandard dialectal variation. Both words refer to the same person, but only himself is appropriate in formal communication.

Can “hisself” appear in books?

Yes. Many novels, plays, and short stories include hisself in dialogue to represent regional accents, historical speech, or a character’s unique way of speaking. Authors use it for authenticity rather than as an example of standard grammar.

Is “hisself” used in American English?

Yes, but only in certain varieties of American English. It is most commonly associated with some Southern and Appalachian dialects, as well as informal speech in a few rural communities. It is not considered part of Standard American English.

What type of pronoun is “himself”?

Himself is both a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun.

As a reflexive pronoun:

He blamed himself for the mistake.

As an intensive pronoun:

The president himself attended the ceremony.

Its function depends on how it is used in the sentence.

Are there other nonstandard reflexive pronouns?

Yes. English dialects contain several nonstandard reflexive pronouns, including:

Theirselves (instead of themselves)
Hisself (instead of himself)
Ourself (instead of ourselves in some dialects)
Yourselveses (rare regional form)

These variations appear in informal speech and regional dialects but are not accepted in Standard English.

Conclusion

Choosing between himself and hisself becomes much easier once you understand the role each word plays in English. Himself is the standard reflexive and intensive pronoun recognized by modern dictionaries, grammar guides, and style manuals. It belongs in academic writing, professional communication, business documents, and everyday conversations where clear, correct English matters. Hisself, while a genuine dialectal form with a long history, remains nonstandard and is generally limited to regional speech, informal conversations, or fictional dialogue that reflects a character’s accent or background.

Understanding the difference between himself vs. hisself also provides insight into how language develops over time. English contains many regional variations, and some eventually become standard while others remain tied to specific communities or dialects. Hisself is an example of a word that survived in spoken language but never became part of Standard English.

Whenever you’re writing for a broad audience, the safest choice is himself. It communicates your message clearly, meets modern grammar standards, and ensures your writing looks polished and professional. By remembering this simple rule, you’ll avoid a common grammar mistake and use reflexive pronouns with confidence in every situation.