refl.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

refl.
Stands forReflexive
CategoriesWriting & Everyday

refl. stands for Reflexive, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Marks reflexive pronouns or verbs, where the object refers back to the subject, as in "She taught herself" or French "se laver" ("to wash oneself"). It appears in grammars and bilingual dictionaries.

Example: enjoy oneself (v. refl.) to have a good time: "We enjoyed ourselves at the fair."

Usage notes

English reflexive pronouns end in -self or -selves; using "myself" where "me" is correct ("Contact John or myself") is a common hypercorrection. Romance languages use reflexive verbs far more widely than English. The same pronouns used for emphasis ("I did it myself") are called intensive pronouns.

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

  • poss. – Possessive
  • pp. – Past participle
  • pred. – Predicative
  • prep. – Preposition
  • pres. – Present (tense)
  • pron. – Pronoun
  • rel. – Relative
  • RP – Received Pronunciation
  • sb – Somebody
  • Scot. – Scottish
  • sg – Singular (linguistic glossing)
  • sing. – Singular

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.