Pronom disjoint indéfini
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French grammar includes a variety of indefinite and impersonal constructions, and one of the most important of these is the third person indefinite stressed pronoun soi. Because it doesn’t have a straightforward English equivalent, soi is commonly misused by French students, who confuse it with lui.
Soi is used like other stressed pronouns: for emphasis. What makes soi unique is that it’s used only for indefinite, unspecified persons; that is, when speaking in generalities and with indefinite pronouns and impersonal verbs.
Possible translations for soi
- everyone
- one, oneself
- people
- they, themselves
- you, yourself, yourselves
Par exemple…
On va rester chez soi. | We’re (all) going to stay home (in our own homes). | |
Il est important d’être soi. | It’s important to be yourself/oneself. | |
Il faut regarder devant soi. | It’s necessary to look ahead. | |
Cela va de soi. | That is self evident, That goes without saying. |
Soi-même
The emphatic stressed pronoun soi-même is likewise used only for generalities, indefinites, and impersonal constructions.
Par exemple…
Il est important d’avoir le respect de soi-même. | It’s important to have self-respect. | |
Il ne faut jamais pitoyer soi-même. | One should never feel sorry for oneself. | |
Tout le monde travaille pour soi-même. | Everyone works for themselves. |
In contrast to the above, lui and lui-même are used only for specific people.
Par exemple…
Il reste chez lui. | He’s staying at (his own) home. | |
Pierre ne regarde pas devant lui. | Pierre isn’t looking ahead. | |
Thomas a le respect de lui-même. | Thomas has self-respect. | |
Mon fils travaille pour lui-même. | My son works for himself. |
Soi, soi-même vs nous, nous-mêmes
When on is used as an informal equivalent for nous – and is therefore not impersonal – the stressed pronoun is typically nous rather than soi.
Par exemple…
On doit le faire soi-même. | Everyone has to do it him/herself. | |
On doit le faire nous-mêmes. | We have to do it ourselves. |

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