In this article, we are going to briefly go over - What reflexive verbs are, How to use them, and then I’ll give you a ton of examples of commonly used reflexive verbs.
My goal is to make this lesson as easy as possible for you to understand by not using any big linguistic words.
Are you ready to learn how we use reflexive verbs in Spanish? ¡Empecemos! (let's start!)
What Are Reflexive Verbs?
Reflexive verbs in Spanish are verbs that describe actions that a person does to themselves, such as "I wash my hair." They use reflexive pronouns like "me," "te," "se," "nos," "os," or "se" to show that the subject is both the doer and receiver of the action.
For example, in English, we can say "I wash myself" to show the action is done to ourselves.
In Spanish, it becomes "Me lavo," where "me" (myself) is the reflexive pronoun indicating the action is directed back to the subject. These verbs commonly talk about daily routines, personal care, and feelings.
How To Use Reflexive Verbs 101
Using reflexive verbs in Spanish is pretty straightforward! Just follow these simple steps:
Identify the action: Look for actions that someone does to themselves, like getting up, washing, dressing, or feeling.
Add the reflexive pronoun: Choose the appropriate reflexive pronoun that matches the subject of the sentence. The reflexive pronouns are: "me," "te," "se," "nos," "os," or "se."
Conjugate the verb: Conjugate the reflexive verb according to the subject. Pay attention to the regular verb endings and any irregularities.
Place the reflexive pronoun: Attach the reflexive pronoun to the end of the verb or place it right before the conjugated verb.
For example, let's take the verb "levantarse" (to get up):
"I get up" would be "Me levanto" ("me" is the reflexive pronoun for "yo" - I).
"You get up" (informal singular) would be "Te levantas" ("te" is the reflexive pronoun for "tú" - you).
"He/She gets up" would be "Se levanta" ("se" is the reflexive pronoun for "él/ella" - he/she).
"We get up" would be "Nos levantamos" ("nos" is the reflexive pronoun for "nosotros" - we).
Examples Of When Reflexive Verbs Are Used In Spanish
To feel (Like something) | Sentirse |
I feel happy | Me siento feliz |
You feel happy | Te sientes feliz |
He/She/You-Formal feel happy | Se siente feliz |
They/You-Plural feel happy | Se sienten felices |
We feel happy | Nos sentimos felices |
To look (like something) | Verse |
I look beautiful | Me veo hermoso/a |
You look beautiful | Te ves hermoso/a |
He/She/You-Formal look beautiful | Se ve hermoso/a |
They/You-Formal look beautiful | Se ven hermosos/as |
We look beautiful | Nos vemos hermosos/as |
To take a bath (To bath oneself) | Bañarse |
I take a bath | Me baño |
You take a bath | Te bañas |
He/She/You-Formal take a bath | Se baña |
They/You-Plural take a bath | Se bañan |
We take a bath | Nos bañamos |
To relax (oneself) | Relajarse |
I relax | Me relajo |
You relax | Te relajas |
He/She/You-Formal relax | Se relaja |
They/You-Plural relax | Se relajan |
We relax | Nos relajamos |
To get (oneself) up | Levantarse |
I get up | Me levanto |
You get up | Te levantas |
He/She/You-Formal gets up | Se levanta |
They/You-Plural get up | Se levantan |
We get up | Nos levantamos |