Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Easy Explanation
A reflexive verb describes an action that the subject does to itself: I wash myself, she gets dressed, we get up. English often drops the “myself,” but Spanish keeps a small pronoun in front of the verb. Once you know the five pronouns, you can talk about your whole day.
Quick answer
- A reflexive verb has a pronoun that points back to the subject: me lavo, te lavas, se lava, nos lavamos, se lavan.
- The infinitive ends in -se: levantarse, ducharse, llamarse.
- Use the, not my, for body parts and clothes: Me lavo las manos. (I wash my hands.)
The reflexive pronouns
Reflexive verbs use the regular present tense endings and add one pronoun before the verb. The pronoun must match the subject.
| Who | Pronoun + verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| yo | me lavo | I wash (myself) |
| tú | te lavas | you wash |
| él, ella, usted | se lava | he, she, you (formal) washes |
| nosotros | nos lavamos | we wash |
| ellos, ustedes | se lavan | they, you all wash |
A daily routine
Reflexive verbs are the verbs of daily life. Read this routine out loud, in order, and notice the pronoun before each verb. Some verbs change their stem, like despertarse (e → ie: me despierto) and vestirse (e → i: me visto).
Examples
- Me despierto a las seis y media.I wake up at six thirty.Despertarse: e → ie.
- Me levanto, me ducho y me visto.I get up, shower, and get dressed.Three reflexive verbs in a row.
- Mi hermana se peina frente al espejo.My sister combs her hair in front of the mirror.Se for ella.
- Nos acostamos temprano los domingos.We go to bed early on Sundays.Nos for nosotros.
- Siempre me duermo con la tele prendida.I always fall asleep with the TV on.Dormirse: to fall asleep.
Where the pronoun goes
Put the pronoun before a conjugated verb. When there is an infinitive, you can attach the pronoun to the infinitive or put it before the first verb. The pronoun still matches the subject.
Examples
- Voy a ducharme ahora.I am going to shower now.Attached to the infinitive.
- Me voy a duchar ahora.I am going to shower now.Before the first verb.
- No quiero levantarme temprano.I do not want to get up early.Attached after a negative.
Body parts and clothes: use the, not my
When you do something to your own body or clothes, Spanish uses the definite article instead of “my.” The reflexive pronoun already tells you whose it is.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me lavo las manos. | I wash my hands. |
| Se cepilla los dientes. | She brushes her teeth. |
| Me pongo el abrigo. | I put on my coat. |
| Nos quitamos los zapatos. | We take off our shoes. |
Verbs that change meaning
Many verbs have both a regular and a reflexive form, and the meaning can shift. The reflexive version often means a change of state or an action on yourself.
| Regular | Reflexive |
|---|---|
| dormir to sleep | dormirse to fall asleep |
| ir to go | irse to leave, to go away |
| llamar to call | llamarse to be called |
| poner to put | ponerse to put on, to become |
| sentir to feel (something) | sentirse to feel (a state) |
Examples
- Me llamo Sofía.My name is Sofía.Literally, I call myself.
- Me siento muy bien hoy.I feel very well today.Sentirse for a state.
- Se fue sin decir nada.He left without saying anything.Irse: to leave.
Each other: the reciprocal use
The plural reflexive pronouns nos and se can also mean “each other.” Context tells you which meaning is intended.
Examples
- Nos escribimos todos los días.We write to each other every day.Reciprocal.
- Mis padres se quieren mucho.My parents love each other very much.Reciprocal.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Yo llamo Pablo.
Correct: Me llamo Pablo.
Llamarse needs me. Without it, the verb means “I call.”
Incorrect: Yo lavo mis manos.
Correct: Me lavo las manos.
Use the reflexive pronoun and the definite article.
Incorrect: Nosotros se despertamos temprano.
Correct: Nos despertamos temprano.
The pronoun must match the subject: nos for nosotros.
Incorrect: Ella levanta a las siete.
Correct: Ella se levanta a las siete.
Levantarse needs se when she gets herself up.
Three habits
- If the infinitive ends in -se, add the matching pronoun: me, te, se, nos, se.
- With body parts and clothes, use el, la, los, las, not mi or su.
- Place the pronoun before the verb, or attach it to the infinitive.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a verb is reflexive?
Look at the infinitive. If it ends in -se (levantarse, llamarse), it is reflexive. Dictionaries list it that way.
Why do we say ‘me llamo’ and not ‘yo llamo’?
Because the verb is llamarse: literally “to call oneself.” Yo llamo would mean “I call” someone or something.
What is the difference between reflexive and reciprocal?
A reflexive action goes back to the subject (Me lavo). A reciprocal action goes between two or more people (Nos abrazamos, we hug each other).
Is this the same as object pronouns?
The pronouns are similar in the first and second person, but the reflexive third person is always se. For the other pronouns, see Spanish object pronouns.
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