Reflexive Pronoun (Kendi)

The reflexive pronoun in Turkish is kendi ("self"). It covers myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.

As a pronoun, kendi takes a possessive ending that shows whose "self" it is. It has three main jobs: an object that refers back to the subject, emphasis ("I did it myself"), and "own" before a noun.

Forms:

These forms decline like any noun with a possessive ending: kendim, kendimin, kendimi, kendime, kendimde, kendimden, kendimle.

Note: kendini and kendine can mean "yourself" or "himself/herself" (the short form of kendisini / kendisine). The subject tells you which: Kendini tanıt. (Introduce yourself.) / Ali kendini tanıttı. (Ali introduced himself.)

1. Reflexive Object:

• Ben kendime bir hediye aldım. (I bought a gift for myself.)
• Aynada kendine baktı. (She looked at herself in the mirror.)
• Kendimi iyi hissetmiyorum. (I don't feel well.)
• Kendine güveniyor musun? (Do you believe in yourself?)

2. Emphasis ("…myself", "in person"):

• Bu yemeği kendimiz yaptık. (We made this meal ourselves.)
• Müdür kendisi aradı. (The manager called in person.)
• Çocuklar odalarını kendileri topladılar. (The children tidied their rooms themselves.)

3. "Own" before a Noun:

Here kendi stays bare and the noun carries the possessive ending: kendi evim (my own house), kendi arabası (his/her own car), kendi odanızda (in your own room).

Useful Expressions:

• Kendine iyi bak. (Take care of yourself.)
• kendi kendine / kendi başına (by oneself, alone): Kapı kendi kendine açıldı. (The door opened by itself.)
• Kendi kendime konuşuyorum. (I'm talking to myself.)

Common Mistakes:

• ✗ Ben kendini gördüm. → ✓ Ben kendimi gördüm. (the ending must match the subject)
• ✗ kendim evim → ✓ kendi evim ("my own house")
• ✗ Kendimi suçlamıyorsun. → ✓ Kendini suçlamıyorsun. (You don't blame yourself.)