Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs refer to actions that the subject performs on itself. In other words, the action “reflects back” onto the person doing it. These verbs need a special pronoun that matches the subject (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to indicate that the action is both done by and to the same person.

Below is a thorough explanation of how reflexive verbs work, complete with examples and clarifications to ensure every step is understandable.

A reflexive verb is one where the subject (the person performing the action) is the same as the object (the person or thing receiving the action). In English, it’s sometimes seen with verbs like “to wash oneself,” although English often just says “to wash” in the same context. Spanish, however, requires a special pronoun to show the reflexive action clearly.

Example:

• Lavarse (to wash oneself) → The action of washing is done by the subject, and the same subject receives the action.

Why it matters:

• In a non-reflexive verb, someone else or something else is receiving the action.

• In a reflexive verb, the doer of the action and the receiver of that action are the same.

Reflexive pronouns in Spanish are:

• me (myself)

• te (yourself, informal singular)

• se (himself, herself, yourself formal, themselves)

• nos (ourselves)

• os (yourselves, informal plural in Spain)

• se (themselves, yourselves formal plural)

These pronouns correspond to the subject performing the action. They must be used in conjunction with the verb to show reflexiveness.

Notice how the reflexive pronoun changes to match the subject of the sentence.

Reflexive verbs often appear in dictionaries with the pronoun “se” attached, for example, lavarse, ducharse, or levantarse. To conjugate them, remove the “se” at the end and conjugate the verb normally, then place the appropriate reflexive pronoun in front of the conjugated verb (or sometimes attached to the end of an infinitive or gerund).

Present Tense Example: Lavarse (to wash oneself)

#Before a Conjugated Verb

Most commonly, the reflexive pronoun goes before the conjugated verb.

Example:

• Me levanto a las siete. (I get up at seven.)

If that position confuses you, remember that Spanish personal pronouns (like me/te/se) often go in front of the verb to clarify who or what is receiving the action.

#Attached to an Infinitive or Gerund

When using reflexive verbs in a phrase with an infinitive or a gerund, the pronoun can either go before the helping (conjugated) verb or attach directly to the end of the infinitive/gerund.

Both versions are correct; it’s a matter of style and emphasis.

If it still seems complicated, think of the pronoun and the verb as a pair that can either stand together (attached) or be separated by the conjugated auxiliary verb (like “estar” or “ir a”).

Here is a list of some frequently used reflexive verbs. Notice that while some may have direct non-reflexive counterparts (like “sentar” vs. “sentarse”), others are always reflexive:

If you see a verb ending in “se,” it signals a reflexive usage. If that concept feels new or abstract, keep in mind that these verbs describe actions people do to themselves.

Not all verbs in Spanish are automatically reflexive. Some can be either reflexive or non-reflexive depending on the context:

Tip: If you see “se” at the end of a verb, it’s a clue that the verb might be reflexive. Decide if the subject is acting upon itself or someone/thing else.

Reflexive verbs commonly describe daily routines:

In these examples, each action is performed by the speaker on themselves.

If that pattern seems repetitive, it’s because reflexive verbs are a central part of describing a personal routine in Spanish. By repeatedly using them, you get used to how the pronoun “se” (or me/te/nos) works in real-life contexts.

#Reciprocal Actions

Sometimes the pronoun “se” can also indicate reciprocal actions between two or more people, although grammatically it still looks like a reflexive form. This is where two or more individuals do the same action to each other.

• Nos queremos mucho. (We love each other a lot.)

• Se hablan por teléfono. (They talk to each other on the phone.)

If that overlap creates confusion, remember the context will often clarify whether the action is truly reflexive (one person doing something to themselves) or reciprocal (two or more people doing an action to one another).

#Emotional and “Pseudo-Reflexive” Verbs

Some verbs can be used reflexively even when the meaning is more about internal states or changes in emotion rather than a strictly physical “on oneself” action.

Examples:

• Alegrarse (to become happy)

• Preocuparse (to worry)

• Enojarse (to get angry)

• Aburrirse (to get bored)

They still use the reflexive pronoun even though it’s not a typical “I wash myself” kind of action. Instead, the reflexive pronoun signals that the subject is experiencing the emotion or internal change.

#1. Forgetting to use the reflexive pronoun

• Incorrect: Lavo por la mañana. (This might suggest you wash something else in the morning, but not yourself.)

• Correct: Me lavo por la mañana.

#2. Using the wrong reflexive pronoun

• Incorrect: Te lavo por la mañana. => “I wash you in the morning.”

• Correct: Me lavo por la mañana. => “I wash myself in the morning.”

#3. Placing the pronoun incorrectly with infinitives/gerunds

• Incorrect: Estoy lavando me las manos.

• Correct: Estoy lavándome las manos or Me estoy lavando las manos.

Reflexive verbs are indispensable for expressing actions we do to ourselves, describing our daily routines, and narrating emotional or internal changes.

Mastering them involves:

• Recognizing and correctly placing the reflexive pronoun.

• Understanding how context shifts a verb from non-reflexive to reflexive usage.

A good next step is to take a list of common reflexive verbs and use each in a full sentence. Repeat them aloud or write them down until the placement of the pronoun feels natural. Over time, you’ll notice how reflexive forms are woven into everyday communication, allowing you to describe both your personal routines and emotional states with clarity.