German: the difference between "sich" and "selbst"
I'm starting to learn German and have a question about the difference between "sich" and "selbst". What does each one mean and when do you use each correctly?

Question

German: the difference between "sich" and "selbst"
I'm starting to learn German and have a question about the difference between "sich" and "selbst".  What does each one mean and when do you use each correctly?

Answer

"Sich" is used for reflexive actions, i.e. when the subject and object of an action are the same, in the 3rd person:
– He washes himself. = Er wäscht sich.
– They wash themselves. = Sie waschen sich.

Likewise for prepositions:
– He talks about himself. = Er spricht über sich.

The pronoun systems in German and English are slightly different there. In English you always have a couple "X"/"X-self" of object pronouns for non-reflexive and reflexive use, in German the pronouns only differ in the 3rd person. For example:
– He washes ME. / I wash MYSELF. = Er wäscht MICH. / Ich wasche MICH.
– I wash HIM. / He washes HIMSELF. = Ich wasche IHN. / Er wäscht SICH.

"Selbst" is used (for all persons, not just 3rd) to emphasize that someone does something oneself (but not *to* oneself as above), personally, on one's own:
– I'm coming myself. = Ich komme selbst.
– He writes the letter himself. = Er schreibt den Brief selbst.

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