ipse, "himself", and īdem, "the same"
The intensive pronoun and the demonstrative īdem, eadem, idem.
LatinIntermediate Latin · PronounsAbout 3 min: 1 reading, 2 practiceUpdated
- Decline ipse and īdem
- Tell the intensive ipse from the reflexive sē
- Translate ipse as -self, even or very
Latin Level 2: verbs and the other declensions: lesson 28 of 35
- Intermediate Latin · Verbs: the present system
- sum: I am, I was, I shall be 3 min
- The present of amō and moneō 4 min
- The imperfect: was doing 4 min
- The future: will do 3 min
- The dative with adjectives 3 min
- The present of regō and audiō 4 min
- The imperfect of regō and audiō, and verbs that take the dative 3 min
- The future of regō and audiō 3 min
- capiō, and giving orders 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The passive voice
- The passive: being done to 3 min
- The passive of regō, audiō and capiō; passive infinitives 3 min
- Synopses, and the ablative of "from" 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The perfect tenses
- fuī, fueram, fuerō: the perfect tenses of sum 3 min
- The perfect active: did, have done 5 min
- Had done, will have done: pluperfect and future perfect active 3 min
- amātus sum: the perfect passive 4 min
- Principal parts, prepositions, and yes-or-no questions 5 min
- possum, "I can", and the infinitive 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- quī, quae, quod: who, which, that 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · The third declension
- rēx, rēgis: the third declension 4 min
- hostis, urbs, mare: i-stems 4 min
- vīs and iter; gender in the third declension 4 min
- omnis, ācer, pār: third-declension adjectives 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The fourth and fifth declensions
- manus, cornū: the fourth declension 3 min
- Rōmae, domī, Athēnīs: place and the locative 4 min
- diēs, rēs: the fifth declension and the ablative of time 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- ego, tū, sē: personal and reflexive pronouns 4 min
- ipse, "himself", and īdem, "the same" 3 min
- hic, iste, ille: this and that 4 min
- aliquis, quīdam, quisque: someone, a certain, each 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Comparison
- clārior, clārissimus: comparing adjectives 4 min
- melior, optimus: irregular comparison, plūs, and "by how much" 3 min
- clārē, fortiter: adverbs and their comparison 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · Numerals
- ūnus, duo, trēs: numerals, "of" the whole, and "for how long" 5 min
- Intermediate Latin · Deponent verbs
- hortor, sequor: deponent verbs 3 min
Try first
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson L ("The Intensive Pronoun Ipse and the Demonstrative Īdem"), §§ 285–287
What it is
ipse, ipsa, ipsum adds emphasis: "himself, herself, itself", or "the very …". It is declined like the nine irregular adjectives (genitive -īus, dative -ī):
| Case | Masc., fem., neut. |
|---|---|
| Nom. | ipse, ipsa, ipsum |
| Gen. | ipsīus (all genders) |
| Dat. | ipsī (all genders) |
| Acc. | ipsum, ipsam, ipsum |
| Abl. | ipsō, ipsā, ipsō |
(Plural like bonī, -ae, -a: ipsī, ipsae, ipsa; ipsōrum …)
ipse versus sē. Sē is a pronoun that refers back to the subject (he sees himself). Ipse is an adjective that emphasises a word (he himself sees):
- Rēx sē videt. → The king sees himself. (reflexive)
- Rēx ipse hostēs videt. → The king himself sees the enemy. (intensive)
īdem, eadem, idem (the same) is is, ea, id + -dem; m before d becomes n:
| Case | Masc., fem., neut. |
|---|---|
| Nom. | īdem, eadem, idem |
| Gen. | eiusdem (all genders) |
| Dat. | eīdem (all genders) |
| Acc. | eundem, eandem, idem |
| Abl. | eōdem, eādem, eōdem |
(Plural: eīdem or iīdem, eaedem, eadem; eōrundem, eārundem; eīsdem or iīsdem; eōsdem, eāsdem, eadem.)
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
"The soldiers themselves came."
- sē is "themselves" as an object; this needs emphasis
Show answer
Mīlitēs ipsī vēnērunt.. Emphasis on the subject: ipse, agreeing with mīlitēs.
Why it matters
English uses "himself" for two jobs; Latin keeps them apart. Spotting ipse tells you a word is being stressed, and īdem ("the same men, on the same day") is common in narrative.
Worked example
- Lēgātus ipse vēnit. → The lieutenant himself came.
- Eōdem diē puerī domum vēnērunt. → On the same day the boys came home.
- Eundem rēgem vīdimus. → We saw the same king.
Common mistake
Using sē for emphasis: wrong: Rēx sē vēnit. Sē is never the subject. For "the king himself came", use ipse: Rēx ipse vēnit.
Key terms
- ipse, ipsa, ipsum
- -self (emphasis); the very
- īdem, eadem, idem
- the same
- intensive
- adds emphasis: ipse
- reflexive
- refers back to the subject: sē
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 4 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| ipse, ipsa, ipsum | -self (emphasis); the very |
| īdem, eadem, idem | the same |
| intensive | adds emphasis: ipse |
| reflexive | refers back to the subject: sē |
Practice
Sort it
Intensive (ipse) or reflexive (sē)?
The king himself came.
Emphasis on the king.Show answer
ipse. Emphasis on the king.
The king praises himself.
He acts on himself.Show answer
sē. He acts on himself.
I saw the general himself.
Emphasis on the general.Show answer
ipse. Emphasis on the general.
The girls see themselves.
They act on themselves.Show answer
sē. They act on themselves.
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
"the same town" (accusative)
- oppidum is neuter
Show answer
idem oppidum. Neuter accusative: idem.
"on the same day"
- Time when: ablative, no preposition
Show answer
eōdem diē. Ablative of time: eōdem diē.
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: ipse, ipsa, ipsum, īdem, eadem, idem, eundem, eōdem, rēx, lēgātus, puella, diēs, oppidum, vēnit, vīdimus. Say English sentences like 'the king himself came', 'on the same day' or 'we saw the same town', and I will say them in Latin. Do 8 sentences. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- ipse, ipsa, ipsum: -self, very; declined like ūnus (gen. ipsīus).
- ipse emphasises; sē reflects back to the subject.
- īdem, eadem, idem = is + -dem; m before d becomes n (eundem).
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Give the dative singular of ipse.
Show answer
ipsī.
Translate Eadem puella vēnit.
Show answer
The same girl came.
Why is Rēx sē vēnit wrong for "the king himself came"?
Show answer
Sē can't be a subject; emphasis needs ipse.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson L, §§ 285–287. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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