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Illeism (; from Latin ille: "he; that man") is the act of referring to oneself in the third person instead of first person. It is sometimes used in literature as a stylistic device. In real-life usage, illeism can reflect a number of different stylistic intentions or involuntary circumstances.

In literature
Early literature such as 's Commentarii de Bello Gallico or 's Anabasis, both ostensibly non-fictional accounts of wars led by their authors, used illeism to impart an air of objective impartiality, which included justifications of the author's actions. In this way personal bias is presented, albeit dishonestly, as objectivity.

In an essay, theologian Richard B. Hays challenged earlier findings that he disagrees with: "These were the findings of one Richard B. Hays, and the newer essay treats the earlier work and earlier author at arms' length."Richard B. Hays, “‘Here We Have No Lasting City’: New Covenantalism in Hebrews” in Richard J. Bauckham et al. (eds.), The Epistle to the Hebrews and Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009), 151–173, esp. 151–152, 167.

Illeism may also be used to show , as with the character Mongo in , e.g. "Mongo like candy" and "Mongo only pawn in game of life", though it may also show innocent simplicity, as it does with 's Dobby the Elf ("Dobby has come to protect, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door"). The childlike Muppet character almost exclusively speaks in the third person.

In the Babylonian Talmud and related texts, illeism is used extensively, often taking the form of the speaker utilizing the expression hahu gavra ("That man") when referring to himself.Cf. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Chagigah 15a

used the device in his memoir .

In everyday speech
In different contexts, illeism can be used to reinforce self-promotion, as used to sometimes comic effect by throughout his political career ("When the president is ready to deploy, Bob Dole is ready to lead the fight on the Senate Floor", Bob Dole speaking about the Strategic Defense Initiative at the NCPAC convention, 1987). This was particularly made notable during the United States presidential election of 1996 and lampooned broadly in popular media for years afterwards. Deepanjana Pal of noted that speaking in the third person "is a classic technique used by generations of to establish a character's , power and ".

On the other hand, third person self-referral can be associated with , , and not taking oneself too seriously (since the excessive use of the pronoun "I" is often seen as a sign of and ), as well as with eccentricity in general. Psychological studies show that thinking and speaking of oneself in the third person increases and has a positive effect on one's mental state because an individual who does so is more intellectually humble, more capable of and understanding the perspectives of others, and is able to distance themself emotionally from their problems.

Accordingly, in certain Eastern religions, like , illeism is sometimes seen as a sign of , since through it, an individual detaches their self (atman) from their bodily form; in particular, encourages its practitioners to refer to themselves in the third person. Known illeists of that sort include , ,

(2014). 9780199368631, Oxford University Press.
and Mata Amritanandamayi.

A number of celebrities, including ,

(2026). 9780815411833, Rowman & Littlefield. .
(2026). 9780307557773, Crown. .
, and ,Private letter to film historian/critic William K. Everson in the late 1970s referred to themselves in the third person to distance their public persona from their actual self. Mary J. Blige, in her song "Family Affair", introduces herself in the third person.

Some parents use illeism (refer to themselves as "Daddy" or "Mommy") because very young children may not yet understand that the pronouns "I" and "you" refer to different people based on context. Toddlers acquiring speech often refer to themselves in the third person before learning proper usage of the pronoun "I", and their speech evolves past using illeism once they develop a strong sense of self-recognition, often before age two.

In Japanese, children may refer to themselves by their name, girls in particular. Furthermore, Japanese women may refer to themselves by their name to appear cute or childish. This practice is associated with , a Japanese term for women who put on an affect of cuteness.

Notable illeists
Real people
Politics and military
  • 's (c. 430–355/356 BC) Anabasis (ca. 370 BC) where the author puts the description of his own military campaign into and back under the pen of an otherwise unknown "Themistogenes of Syracuse" — see above, and also Anabasis (Xenophon)#Authorship.
  • 's (100– 44 BC) Commentarii de Bello Gallico (58–49 BC) present the author's exploits in the in the third person.
    (2026). 9780521808002, Cambridge University Press. .
  • (1838–1918), historian, author and descendant of presidents and John Quincy Adams, throughout his autobiography The Education of Henry Adams (1918)See the Wikisource of the book:
    (2026). 9780814731604, NYU Press. .
  • Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) was known to refer to himself as "MacArthur" in telling stories involving himself
  • Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970), President of France (1959–1969)
  • (1913–1994), 37th President of the United States (1969–1974)
  • (1923–2021), during his United States presidential campaign in 1996
  • Mikhail Gorbachev (1931–2022), Leader of the (1985–1991)
  • (born 1931), Brazilian politician
  • (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)
  • Silvio Berlusconi (1936–2023), Prime Minister of Italy (1994–1995; 2001–2006; 2008–2011)
  • (1945–2020), during his United States presidential campaign in 2012
  • (born 1950), Prime Minister of India (2014–present)
  • Anthony Garotinho (born 1960), Brazilian politician
  • (born 1983), District Councilor and legislator of Hong Kong
  • (born 1950), President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (2000–2008)
  • Mark Robinson (born 1968), Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (2021–2025)
  • (born 1960), Mayor of New York City (2022–2025)

Sports
  • (born 1986) gave a post-game interview in the third person, after pitching Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimović (born 1981), Swedish footballer
  • (born 1984) made several references to himself in the third person during The Decision program on in 2010.
  • (1958–2024), baseball left fielder, often referred to himself as “Rickey."
  • (born 1972), professional wrestler, referenced himself in the third person as The Rock during his career, particularly with his trash-talking promos.
  • (born 1963), basketball player
  • (1960–2020), Argentinian footballer
  • Lothar Matthäus (born 1961), German football manager and former player, is quoted with the phrase: "A Lothar Matthäus does not let himself be beaten by his body. A Lothar Matthäus decides on his fate himself."e. g. here
  • (born 1989), NFL quarterback, referred to himself in third person during his press conference at the in 2011.
  • Pelé (1940–2022), Brazilian footballer

Entertainment

Religion and spirituality

Other
  • Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) in his interview with , also known as The Mike Wallace Interview, on April 19, 1958.
  • 's (1923–2007) non-fiction work The Fight (1975) refers to the author in the third person throughout, explaining why he has chosen to do so at the beginning of the book.
    (1997). 9780375700385, Vintage. .
  • (1876–1952), American lawyer and bootlegger.
    (2019). 9781635765861

Fictional characters
Books
  • Major Bagstock, the apoplectic retired officer in ' Dombey and Son (1848), refers to himself solely as Joseph, Old Joe, Joey B, Bagstock, Josh, J.B., Anthony Bagstock, and other variants of his own name.
    (2026). 9780415238267, Psychology Press. .
  • Captain Hook in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy (1911): "'Better for Hook,' he cried, 'if he had had less ambition!' It was in his darkest hours only that he referred to himself in the third person."
    (2026). 9780340246290, Hodder and Stoughton. .
  • , a Native American character in the eponymous novel by . 'Winnetou' actor Pierre Brice dies Seeking the Aboriginal experience in Germany, Windspeaker
  • , a fictional Belgian detective created by British writer , usually refers to himself in the third person. Your next box set: Agatha Christie's Poirot, Emine Saner, The Guardian, 28 Jul 2011
  • in The Lord of the Rings (1954–55) spoke in an idiosyncratic manner, often referring to himself in the third person, and frequently talked to himself—"through having no one else to speak to", as Tolkien put it in .
    (1997). 9780345339683, Ballantine Books.
  • Charlie Gordon in the acclaimed novel Flowers for Algernon (1959) speaks in third person in the "being outside one's body and watching things happen" manner in his flashbacks to his abusive and troubled childhood suffering from .
  • Boday, a quirky female artist in 's Changewinds trilogy (1987–88).
    (2013). 9780575097995, Orion. .
  • Y. T., a teenage girl in (1992) by Neal Stephenson.
  • Bast the Wood Elf in The Council Wars series by .
  • The healer and wisewoman Magda Digby in the Owen Archer series (1993–2019) by .
  • Jaqen H'ghar, an assassin of the Faceless Men in the fantasy suite A Song of Ice and Fire (1996–), consistently refers to himself ("a man") as well as frequently the person he is addressing (e.g. "a girl") in impersonal, third person form, and never by name.
  • Dobby the House-Elf in the series (1997–2007).
  • Ramona, the housekeeper and mentor in 's Witches Chillers series (2000–01).
    (2026). 9780738700496, Llewellyn Worldwide. .
  • The old man Nakata in Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore (2002).
    (2026). 9780761441243, Marshall Cavendish. .
  • in the Winnie the Pooh books, films and television series frequently refers to himself in the third-person plural, e.g. "That's what Tiggers do best!"
  • At least in the book versions of Rumpole of the Bailey, protagonist Horace Rumpole sometimes narrates Rumpole's fate in the third person.
  • Herbert Stencil, a major character within 's novel V. refers to himself as Stencil and speaks in the third person.
    (1999). 9780060930219, Harper Collins. .

Comics
  • is known for more often than not referring to himself as "Doom" instead of "me" or "I".
  • The
  • Solomon Grundy
  • Mantis almost always refers to herself as "Mantis", "she", and "this one"; this has to do with her upbringing at the Temple of the Priests of Pama, an alien pacifistic sect heavily inspired by real-life Eastern religious movements.

Television
  • from (1980–present), whose speech is intended to mimic the speech of preschoolers. Elmo's third-person speech is similarly adopted by younger Muppet characters in many of the show's international co-productions, including Lola from Plaza Sésamo in Mexico & Hispanic America, Chaos from in Canada, Avigail from in Israel, and Tonton from in Jordan.
  • Brian "Bomber" Busbridge, played by , in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–2004)
  • Disco Stu and Duffman from (1989–present).
  • (a character portrayed by )
  • in Super Mario World (1991)
  • Waspinator in (1996–99)
  • Uncle Chan, from the animated series Jackie Chan Adventures (2000–2005)
  • The Flea from
  • Nick Mallory from .
  • Jimmy from the episode "" (1995) of (1989–98), whose usage leads to confusion about his identity. The usage rubs off on , who exclaims "George is getting upset!"
  • Bob, played by Saverio Guerra, in Becker (1998–2004)
  • from Babylon 5
  • Ugh the caveman from Dino Boy.
  • Java the caveman from .
  • Ackbar from Disney's Aladdin the TV series.
  • Mossy from Sofia the First
  • Rolf from animated series Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999–2009)
  • Stick-up man from (2002–08). Examples include "Omar don't scare" and "Omar listening".
  • Numbuh 5 from the Cartoon Network animated series (2002–08).
  • Frank Jeffries, played by , in Grey's Anatomy (2005–present)
  • Detective Eddie Alvarez from (2009)
  • Kenny Powers, from the television show Eastbound & Down (2009–13)
  • George Remus, a recurring character played by Glenn Fleshler, in (2010–14)
  • The Great and Powerful Trixie and Yona from the animated series (2010–19)
  • Hesh Hepplewhite from Sealab 2021.
  • Lavon Hayes, the mayor from Hart of Dixie (2011–15).
  • Lieutenant Terry Jeffords from Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–21)
  • Ice Bear from the animated series We Bare Bears (2015–20)
  • Bobgoblin from the animated series Wallykazam! (2014–17)
  • from the titular animated series (1991–92)
  • Treelo from Bear in the Big Blue House (1997–2006)
  • Foo from The Save-Ums! (2003–05)
  • Mr. Cook and his nephew Poco from Allegra's Window (1994–96)
  • Remy LeBeau/Gambit in and X-Men ’97

Film
  • E.T., the eponymous character from Stephen Spielberg's 1982 film.
  • from The Karate Kid (1984) sometimes refers to himself as "Miyagi".
  • from The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
  • Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski from The Big Lebowski (1998)
  • Dwight, from Fast & Furious (2009)
  • Francesco Bernoulli, from Cars 2 (2011)
  • Sid from Children of Men (2006)
  • Spike from (1994)

Manga and anime
  • from Kanon (1999–2000) speaks this way in order to separate herself from her past treatment of her little brother, which she regrets.
  • Megumi Noda, aka Nodame, the title character from (2001–09)
  • Rika Shiguma from (2010–15)
  • Juvia Lockser from (2006–17)
  • from Dragon Ball Z (1989–1996)
  • from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure commonly refers to himself as "I, Dio", especially when boasting.
  • Tom from Deltora Quest.
  • Ed from (1998–1999), particularly in the anime's English dub.
  • Meme Bashame from My Deer Friend Nokotan

Video games
  • from the series (notably, "it's a-me, Mario!")
  • from the Super Mario series (notably, "Peachy's got it!")
  • Candice, the seventh Gym Leader in the Sinnoh region in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, often uses illeism in her speech, such as "Candice is on fire!"
  • Lyle in
  • Wiggler in
  • Mormo in Pirate101
  • Bronya Zaychik in Honkai Impact 3rd
  • Guzma, the leader of in Pokémon Sun & Moon, speaks like this; notable examples are "It's ya boy Guzma!" and "Guzmaaaaaaaaaaaaa! What's wrong with you?!"
  • The Khajiit, a race of humanoid cats in The Elder Scrolls, often refer to themselves in the third person, whether by name, or by saying 'this one' or 'Khajiit'.
  • The Hanar, a race of sentient jellyfish in , refer to themselves as 'this one'. In their culture, it is narcissistic and rude to refer to oneself as 'I'.
  • Rena Ryūgū in Higurashi When They Cry
  • Paimon and Razor in .
  • M. Bison, the grand villain of gaming franchise, often refers to himself in third person such as "Master Bison" in order to emphasize his own ego and sense of self-importance.
  • Sora Harukawa in Ensemble Stars!
  • Count Bleck in Super Paper Mario
  • Fernando Martinez from the Grand Theft Auto series addresses himself in both first and third-person. "Stay with me. Stay with Fernando. Por favor. Mi amor. Siolito. It's like Fernando said to his ex-wife: 'I love you, please, don't leave me. It is not what you think; I was bitten by a snake, and the nice lady, she came to suck out the poison. The story, she no work very well.'"
  • Slackjaw in
  • Renne Bright from the Trails series refers to herself in the third person, most notably in her debut game .
  • The Vortigaunts, a race of hive-minded aliens in the Half-Life series, refer to themselves as "this one", "we", or "us".

See also

: , ,
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