Memphasis

I enjoy when a language sets aside a specific word for a useful feature, rather than overloading existing terms. And today is one example of where Esperanto does just that.

A little useful word: mem

Mem goes after a word in order to stress that we’re talking about just that word, not another. It often translates as “itself/herself/himself/self”. But it must not be confused with reflexive pronouns.

mi mem batalis!
I myself fought! (No one else did)

Compared with a reflexive pronoun usage:

mi batalis kontraŭ mi
I fought with myself (mi is acting as a reflexive pronoun in the second instance)

Notice how mem can only intensify the sentiment you’re conveying. Whereas a reflexive pronoun is another entity that can take part in an action. In order to further show that they perform a different function, look at it in the same sentence together with a reflexive pronoun:

oni pensas pri si mem
people think about themselves (but slightly more emphasised, like “themselves alone”).

Couple more examples:

mi aŭdis la belan kanton mem
I heard the beautiful song itself (no other song but this particular one).

ŝi mem kompletigis la laboron
she herself finished the work (she finished without help)

Checkout the PMEG section on mem here.