A1 Pronouns 1 min read Fácil

Reflexive Object Pronouns (Се, Си)

Marcar como aprendido
Practícalo

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'се' for direct reflexive actions (I wash myself) and 'си' for indirect/possessive actions (I buy myself a coffee).

  • Use 'се' when the action reflects back on the subject: 'Той се мие' (He washes himself).
  • Use 'си' for actions done for one's own benefit: 'Купувам си книга' (I am buying myself a book).
  • Place these particles before the verb in standard sentences: 'Аз си почивам' (I am resting).
Subject + (се/си) + Verb

Reflexive Particle Placement

Subject Particle Verb Example
Аз
се
мия
Аз се мия
Ти
се
миеш
Ти се миеш
Той/Тя
се
мие
Той се мие
Ние
се
мием
Ние се мием
Вие
се
миете
Вие се миете
Те
се
мият
Те се мият

Dative (Си) vs Accusative (Се)

Type Function Example
Се
Direct Object
Той се мие
Си
Indirect Object
Той си мие ръцете

Meanings

Reflexive particles indicate that the subject of the sentence is also the object of the action, or that the action is performed for the subject's benefit.

1

Direct Reflexive

Action performed on oneself.

“Той се мие.”

“Тя се облича.”

2

Indirect Reflexive (Benefactive)

Action performed for one's own benefit.

“Пия си кафето.”

“Купувам си кола.”

3

Reciprocal

Action done to each other.

“Те се обичат.”

“Ние се виждаме.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Reflexive Object Pronouns (Се, Си)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + Part + Verb
Аз се мия
Negative
Subj + не + Part + Verb
Аз не се мия
Question
Part + Verb + ли + Subj
Миеш ли се?
Neg. Question
Не + Part + Verb + ли + Subj
Не се ли миеш?
Imperative
Verb + Part
Мий се!
Past Tense
Subj + Part + Verb(past)
Аз се измих

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
Аз се подготвям.

Аз се подготвям. (Getting ready for an event)

Neutral
Аз се приготвям.

Аз се приготвям. (Getting ready for an event)

Informal
Оправям се.

Оправям се. (Getting ready for an event)

Jerga
Стягам се.

Стягам се. (Getting ready for an event)

Reflexive Particle Map

Reflexive Particles

Direct

  • се myself

Indirect

  • си for myself
Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

Ejemplos por nivel

1

Аз се мия.

I wash myself.

2

Ти се обличаш.

You get dressed.

3

Пия си кафето.

I am drinking my coffee.

4

Той се казва Иван.

He is called Ivan.

1

Ние се срещаме в парка.

We are meeting in the park.

2

Купувам си нова кола.

I am buying myself a new car.

3

Те се обичат много.

They love each other very much.

4

Вземам си почивка.

I am taking a break.

1

Трябва да се подготвим за изпита.

We must prepare for the exam.

2

Той си мисли, че е прав.

He thinks (to himself) that he is right.

3

Срещаме се всяка седмица.

We meet every week.

4

Защо си купи тази рокля?

Why did you buy yourself this dress?

1

Не се притеснявай за това.

Don't worry about that.

2

Той си позволи да закъснее.

He allowed himself to be late.

3

Те се разбраха бързо.

They understood each other quickly.

4

Тя си припомни детството.

She recalled her childhood.

1

Това се случва рядко.

This happens rarely.

2

Той си приписа заслугите.

He attributed the merits to himself.

3

Не се поддавай на провокации.

Do not give in to provocations.

4

Тя си навлече неприятности.

She brought trouble upon herself.

1

Сещам се за онези времена.

I remember those times.

2

Той си е наумил нещо.

He has something in mind.

3

Всичко се свежда до пари.

Everything boils down to money.

4

Той си знае работата.

He knows his job (well).

Fácil de confundir

Reflexive Object Pronouns (Се, Си) vs Personal Pronouns vs. Reflexive

Learners often use personal pronouns where reflexive ones are needed.

Reflexive Object Pronouns (Се, Си) vs Се vs. Си

Mixing up direct and indirect reflexivity.

Reflexive Object Pronouns (Се, Си) vs Clitic Placement

Putting the particle at the end of the sentence.

Errores comunes

✗

Се мия

✓

Аз се мия

Particles cannot start a sentence.
✗

Мия се аз

✓

Аз се мия

Particle must be before the verb.
✗

Аз мия

✓

Аз се мия

Missing the reflexive particle changes the meaning.
✗

Той се купува кола

✓

Той си купува кола

Use 'си' for benefit, not 'се'.
✗

Не мия се

✓

Не се мия

Particle must precede the verb even in negation.
✗

Мия ли се аз

✓

Мия ли се

Particle placement in questions.
✗

Той се мие ръцете

✓

Той си мие ръцете

Body parts are possessed with 'си'.
✗

Ние се виждаме един друг

✓

Ние се виждаме

Redundant phrase.
✗

Той се мисли

✓

Той си мисли

Internal thought process uses 'си'.
✗

Тя се поръча кафе

✓

Тя си поръча кафе

Benefactive 'си'.
✗

Това се случи на мен

✓

Това ми се случи

Clitic placement rules.
✗

Той се знае работата

✓

Той си знае работата

Idiomatic usage.
✗

Не се поддавай на това

✓

Не му се поддавай

Complex clitic chains.

Patrones de oraciones

Аз ___ ___.

Ние ___ ___ в парка.

Той ___ ___ ръцете.

Не ___ ___ за това.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Срещаме се довечера!

Texting very common

Оправям се.

Job Interviews common

Подготвям се за интервюто.

Travel common

Къде се намира хотелът?

Food Delivery occasional

Поръчвам си пица.

Gym common

Загрявам се.

Regístrate gratis para ver todos los ejemplos
💡

The Mirror Rule

If you are doing it to yourself, use 'се'.
⚠️

No Sentence Starters

Never start a sentence with 'се' or 'си'.
🎯

Body Parts

Always use 'си' when talking about your own body parts.
💬

Natural Sounding

Native speakers use these particles constantly; don't skip them!

Smart Tips

Use 'си' for any action involving your body or personal items.

Мия ръцете. → Мия си ръцете.

Don't add 'един друг' (each other) if the verb is already reflexive.

Ние се виждаме един друг. → Ние се виждаме.

Use 'притеснявам се' instead of just 'притеснявам'.

Аз притеснявам. → Аз се притеснявам.

Use 'си' to show you are ordering for yourself.

Поръчвам пица. → Поръчвам си пица.

Pronunciación

se-MI-ya

Clitic stress

Particles are unstressed and lean on the following verb.

Statement

Аз се МИЯ ↘

Neutral declaration.

Question

Миеш ли СЕ? ↗

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Се is for Self (Direct), Си is for Self-Interest (Indirect).

Asociación visual

Imagine a mirror. When you look in it, you see 'се' (yourself). Imagine a gift box. When you give it to yourself, you use 'си'.

Rhyme

Се is for the action you do to you, Си is for the benefit that's true.

Story

Ivan wakes up. He 'се' (washes himself). He 'си' (makes himself) a coffee. He 'се' (meets himself) in the mirror and smiles.

Word Web

сесимия сеобличам секупувам сивиждаме се

Desafío

Spend 5 minutes describing your morning routine using only reflexive verbs.

Notas culturales

The use of 'си' for body parts is very common. You don't say 'I wash my hands', you say 'I wash [to myself] the hands'.

Derived from Old Church Slavonic reflexive pronouns.

Inicios de conversación

“

Как се казваш?

“

Какво си купуваш днес?

“

Кога се срещате с приятели?

“

За какво се притесняваш?

Temas para diario

Describe your morning routine.
What did you buy for yourself recently?
Describe a time you felt worried.
Reflect on a social interaction.

Errores comunes

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct particle.

Аз ___ мия.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: се
Direct reflexive requires 'се'.
Choose the correct sentence. Opción múltiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Аз се мия
Subject-Particle-Verb order.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Се обличам.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Аз се обличам
Particle must be after subject.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

кафе / си / пия / Аз

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Аз си пия кафе
Correct clitic placement.
Conjugate the reflexive verb. Conjugation Drill

Ти (мия се) ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: се миеш
Correct conjugation for 'ти'.
Match the verb to the particle. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-се, 2-си
Direct vs indirect.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Can 'се' start a sentence?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Clitics cannot start sentences.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Какво правиш? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Мия се
Natural response.

Score: /8

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Fill in the correct particle.

Аз ___ мия.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: се
Direct reflexive requires 'се'.
Choose the correct sentence. Opción múltiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Аз се мия
Subject-Particle-Verb order.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Се обличам.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Аз се обличам
Particle must be after subject.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

кафе / си / пия / Аз

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Аз си пия кафе
Correct clitic placement.
Conjugate the reflexive verb. Conjugation Drill

Ти (мия се) ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: се миеш
Correct conjugation for 'ти'.
Match the verb to the particle. Match Pairs

Match: 1. мия, 2. купувам

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-се, 2-си
Direct vs indirect.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Can 'се' start a sentence?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Clitics cannot start sentences.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Какво правиш? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Мия се
Natural response.

Score: /8

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

In Bulgarian, 'мия' is transitive. You must specify who is being washed. If it's you, use 'се'.

Yes, it indicates the action is for your benefit or relates to your possession.

No, 'се' is strictly for the subject of the sentence.

The particle usually attaches to the verb it modifies.

They are used in all registers, from formal to slang.

It's a standard Bulgarian way to show ownership without using possessive pronouns.

Place 'не' before the particle: 'не се мия'.

Some verbs are inherently reflexive and must always have 'се'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Regístrate gratis para practicar

In Other Languages

Spanish high

se

Bulgarian clitics are strictly pre-verbal.

French high

se

French has more complex vowel elision rules (s').

German moderate

sich

German 'sich' is a full pronoun.

Japanese low

jibun

Japanese does not use clitics.

Arabic low

nafs

Arabic is not a clitic-based system.

Chinese low

zìjǐ

Chinese lacks verb-particle conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Object Pronouns with Prepositions

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Direct Object Pronouns (Кого/Какво)
A2

Reflexive Pronoun 'Се' (Direct/Indirect)
A0

Personal Pronouns (Аз, Ти, Той/Тя/То)
A1

Demonstrative Pronouns (Това е...)
A1

Indirect Object Pronouns (На кого)
Was this helpful?

Comentarios (0)

Inicia Sesión para Comentar
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!