A2 · Elemental Capítulo 4

Reflexive Actions & Daily Routines

3 Reglas totales
32 ejemplos
6 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of reflecting actions back onto yourself with Portuguese reflexive verbs.

  • Identify reflexive verbs that describe daily routines.
  • Conjugate verbs correctly using reflexive pronouns.
  • Determine the ideal position of pronouns in sentences.
Mirror your actions with confidence.

Lo que aprenderás

Hey there! You've already got the Portuguese basics down, right? Now it's time to level up and learn how to talk about actions you perform on yourself. Imagine wanting to say I wash myself or My name is...; that's where reflexive verbs come in! In this exciting chapter, we're diving into the world of 'Portuguese Reflexive Verbs.' These verbs are exactly like a mirror, reflecting any action you perform right back onto yourself. You'll learn how to correctly use reflexive pronouns and where to place them in a sentence. Fun fact: negative words like 'não' (no) have a magnetic power that pulls the reflexive pronoun right to the front of the verb! By the end of this chapter, you'll be a pro at describing your daily routines. You'll comfortably say things like

My name is [your name],
I wake up early,
I sit down, or I lie down. These skills are super important because you'll need them when introducing yourself, or when chatting about your daily happenings in a simple conversation. Ready to make your Portuguese even more exciting?

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe your daily morning routine using at least five reflexive verbs.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome to this exciting Portuguese grammar A2 chapter, where we're going to unlock a super useful and natural way to talk about yourself and your daily routines! You've mastered the basics, and now it's time to add a layer of sophistication to your conversations. This chapter focuses on Portuguese Reflexive Verbs, which are essential for describing actions you perform on yourself.
Think about saying I wash myself, I get up, or My name is... – these all use reflexive verbs.
Understanding these verbs is crucial for anyone learning A2 Portuguese because they appear constantly in everyday speech. This isn't just about memorizing rules; it's about gaining the fluency to express personal actions and habits. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to confidently introduce yourself using chamar-se, discuss your morning routine with levantar-se and lavar-se, and even talk about relaxing with sentar-se and deitar-se.
Get ready to make your Portuguese sound even more authentic and natural!

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of Portuguese Reflexive Verbs is the idea that the subject of the verb is also the object of the action – the action reflects back onto the doer. You'll often see these verbs in their infinitive form ending with -se, like levantar-se (to get up) or lavar-se (to wash oneself). When you conjugate these verbs, the reflexive pronoun changes to match the subject.
The main reflexive pronouns are: me (myself), te (yourself), se (himself/herself/itself/yourself formal), nos (ourselves), vos (yourselves), se (themselves/yourselves).
The placement of these reflexive pronouns is key. Generally, in affirmative sentences, the pronoun comes *before* the conjugated verb in Brazilian Portuguese and *after* the conjugated verb (attached with a hyphen) in European Portuguese. For example: Eu me lavo (I wash myself - BP) vs.
Eu lavo-me (I wash myself - EP). However, a super important rule for Portuguese grammar A2 is that negative words like não (no/not) or adverbs like sempre (always), nunca (never), or question words always pull the pronoun *before* the verb in *both* varieties of Portuguese. So, Eu não me lavo (I don't wash myself) is correct everywhere.
Let's look at some key verbs for daily routines:
* Chamar-se: To be called (literally, to call oneself). Eu chamo-me João / Eu me chamo João (My name is João).
* Levantar-se: To get up. Nós levantamo-nos cedo / Nós nos levantamos cedo (We get up early).
* Sentar-se: To sit down. Ele senta-se na cadeira / Ele se senta na cadeira (He sits down on the chair).
* Deitar-se: To lie down / go to bed. Vocês deitam-se tarde / Vocês se deitam tarde (You all go to bed late).
These verbs are fundamental for talking about yourself in Portuguese.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Eu lavo as mãos.
    (Meaning I wash myself.)
✓ Correct:
Eu lavo-me as mãos.
(EP) /
Eu me lavo as mãos.
(BP)
*Explanation:* The verb lavar can be transitive (wash something) or reflexive (wash oneself). If you're washing *yourself* (or a part of yourself), you need the reflexive pronoun.
Eu lavo as mãos
means
I wash *the* hands
(whose hands? could be anyone's).
Eu lavo-me as mãos
clearly states
I wash *my own* hands.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Eu não lavo-me.
✓ Correct:
Eu não me lavo.
*Explanation:* In negative sentences, the negative word (não) always pulls the reflexive pronoun *before* the verb, regardless of whether you're speaking European or Brazilian Portuguese. This is a crucial rule for Portuguese grammar A2.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Ele chama João.
    (Meaning
    His name is João.
    )
✓ Correct:
Ele chama-se João.
(EP) /
Ele se chama João.
(BP)
*Explanation:* The verb chamar (to call) becomes chamar-se (to be called/to call oneself) when referring to a person's name. Omitting the reflexive pronoun changes the meaning to
He calls João
(he is calling someone named João).

Real Conversations

A

A

Olá! Como é que te chamas? (Hello! What's your name? - lit. How do you call yourself?)
B

B

Olá! Eu chamo-me Ana. E tu? (Hello! My name is Ana. And you?)
A

A

A que horas te levantas de manhã? (What time do you get up in the morning?)
B

B

Eu levanto-me sempre às sete. (I always get up at seven.)
A

A

Depois de um dia longo, eu sento-me no sofá e relaxo-me. (After a long day, I sit down on the sofa and relax.)
B

B

Ah, sim! E à noite, deito-me cedo. (Oh, yes! And at night, I go to bed early.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I know if a verb is reflexive in Portuguese?

You'll often see the infinitive form ending with -se, like pentear-se (to comb one's hair) or vestir-se (to get dressed). If the action is performed by the subject *on* the subject, it's likely reflexive.

Q

Are there any verbs that are *always* reflexive?

Yes! Verbs like chamar-se (to be called), lembrar-se (to remember), and esquecer-se (to forget) are inherently reflexive and almost always used with a reflexive pronoun.

Q

What's the main difference in reflexive pronoun placement between European and Brazilian Portuguese?

In affirmative sentences, European Portuguese often places the pronoun *after* the verb (lavo-me), while Brazilian Portuguese typically places it *before* the verb (me lavo). However, in negative sentences, the pronoun *always* comes before the verb in both varieties (não me lavo).

Q

Can I use reflexive verbs to talk about my pets?

Absolutely! If your dog washes itself, you can say O cão lava-se (The dog washes itself). The pronoun se works for itself too.

Cultural Context

In Portuguese-speaking cultures, especially in Brazil, using reflexive verbs for daily routines is incredibly natural and common. You'll hear people use chamar-se every time they introduce themselves. When discussing morning rituals, verbs like levantar-se, lavar-se, vestir-se, and pentear-se are standard.
While European Portuguese tends to place the reflexive pronoun after the verb more often in affirmative statements, Brazilian Portuguese almost exclusively places it before. Understanding these patterns is key to sounding more like a native speaker and connecting with the rhythm of everyday Portuguese grammar A2 conversations.

Ejemplos clave (6)

1

Eu levanto-me às 7h todos os dias.

Me levanto a las 7 am todos los días.

Verbos reflexivos en portugués: Acciones hacia ti mismo (-se)
2

Eu me visto rápido para não perder o Uber.

Me visto rápido para no perder el Uber.

Verbos reflexivos en portugués: Acciones hacia ti mismo (-se)
3

Eu me levanto às sete horas todos os dias.

Me levanto a las siete todos los días.

Verbos reflexivos en portugués: acciones sobre uno mismo (Verbos Reflexivos)
4

Você se sente melhor hoje?

¿Te sientes mejor hoy?

Verbos reflexivos en portugués: acciones sobre uno mismo (Verbos Reflexivos)
5

Eu não me arrependo de nada.

No me arrepiento de nada.

Pronombres Reflexivos: ¿Dónde van? (Me lavo vs. Lavo-me)
6

Como você se chama?

¿Cómo te llamas?

Pronombres Reflexivos: ¿Dónde van? (Me lavo vs. Lavo-me)

Consejos y trucos (3)

💬

Brasil vs Portugal

No te estreses por dónde poner el pronombre. Los brasileños entienden perfectamente levanto-me y los portugueses entienden me levanto. ¡Lo importante es usar el pronombre correcto!
Eu me sinto bem aqui.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: Acciones hacia ti mismo (-se)
🎯

El truco de 'A Gente'

Si usas 'A gente' para decir 'nosotros', siempre usa el pronombre 'se' en lugar de 'nos'. Por ejemplo:
A gente se vê amanhã.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: acciones sobre uno mismo (Verbos Reflexivos)
💬

El 'A Gente' brasileño

En Brasil usamos 'a gente' para decir 'nosotros'. Aunque significa 'nosotros', usa el pronombre 'se' por ser singular:
A gente se fala depois.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronombres Reflexivos: ¿Dónde van? (Me lavo vs. Lavo-me)

Vocabulario clave (5)

lavar-se to wash oneself acordar-se to wake up chamar-se to call oneself (to be named) sentar-se to sit down deitar-se to lie down / go to bed

Real-World Preview

sun

Morning Routine

Review Summary

  • Verb + -se
  • Pronoun + Verb
  • Não + Pronoun + Verb

Errores comunes

In European Portuguese, the hyphen is mandatory for reflexive verbs in the positive form.

Wrong: Eu lavo me.
Correcto: Eu lavo-me.

Negative words like 'não' act like magnets and pull the pronoun before the verb.

Wrong: Eu não lavo-me.
Correcto: Eu não me lavo.

Ensure the verb conjugation matches the subject pronoun 'Eu'.

Wrong: Eu chama-me João.
Correcto: Eu chamo-me João.

Next Steps

You've done an amazing job! Keep practicing these routines, and you'll be speaking Portuguese with ease in no time.

Write your daily routine in a journal.

Continue to: Shortcuts: Object Pronouns

Práctica rápida (10)

Completa la frase con la posición correcta de 'se'.

Ela não ___ (vestir) bem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se veste
Como 'não' es una palabra negativa, actúa como un imán y atrae al 'se' antes del verbo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronombres Reflexivos: ¿Dónde van? (Me lavo vs. Lavo-me)

¿Cuál frase negativa está escrita correctamente?

Elige la frase negativa correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não me sinto bem.
Las palabras negativas como 'não' atraen al pronombre antes del verbo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: acciones sobre uno mismo (Verbos Reflexivos)

Rellena con el pronombre correcto.

A Maria não ___ lembra de mim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se
Maria es 'ela', que requiere 'se'. Además, 'não' atrae al pronombre antes del verbo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: Acciones hacia ti mismo (-se)

Encuentra el error en esta frase.

Nós se lavamos antes do jantar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós nos lavamos antes do jantar.
El sujeto 'Nós' (nosotros) debe coincidir con el pronombre 'nos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: acciones sobre uno mismo (Verbos Reflexivos)

¿Qué frase sigue la regla estándar para 'nunca'?

Elige la opción correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu nunca me esqueço do seu aniversário.
'Nunca' es un imán negativo, por lo que el pronombre 'me' debe ir inmediatamente después de él y antes del verbo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronombres Reflexivos: ¿Dónde van? (Me lavo vs. Lavo-me)

Completa el espacio con el pronombre reflexivo correcto.

Eu ___ acordo cedo todos os dias.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
Con el sujeto 'Eu', el pronombre reflexivo que corresponde es 'me'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: acciones sobre uno mismo (Verbos Reflexivos)

Corrige el error de posición en esta frase formal.

Find and fix the mistake:

Me desculpe pelo atraso. (Contexto formal)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Desculpe-me pelo atraso.
En un contexto formal (o en Portugal), no se debe empezar una frase con un pronombre. Se usa la posición después del verbo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronombres Reflexivos: ¿Dónde van? (Me lavo vs. Lavo-me)

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta (Portugués de Portugal).

Eu ___ às oito da manhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: levanto-me
En Portugal, el pronombre se une al final con un guion en frases afirmativas. 'Eu' requiere 'me'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: Acciones hacia ti mismo (-se)

Encuentra y corrige el error en esta frase de Portugal.

Nós sentamos-nos no sofá.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós sentamo-nos no sofá.
Al añadir '-nos' a un verbo que termina en 's', debes quitar esa 's' final: 'sentamo-nos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: Acciones hacia ti mismo (-se)

¿Cuál frase es correcta para el portugués de Brasil?

Selecciona la frase brasileña natural:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me visto para a festa.
En Brasil, lo más natural es poner el pronombre antes del verbo conjugado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos reflexivos en portugués: Acciones hacia ti mismo (-se)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Es cuando la persona que hace la acción es la misma que la recibe. Piensa en ello como hacer algo a ti mismo, como Eu me lavo.
Mira el final. Si el infinitivo termina en -se (como levantar-se), necesita un pronombre. Si solo dice levantar, es la versión normal.
Solo si el verbo no es reflexivo en ese momento. Si dices Eu me lavo, te lavas tú; si dices
Eu lavo o carro
, lavas un objeto.
Significan lo mismo. Eu me chamo es la forma reflexiva de presentarse y es súper común en todos los países de habla portuguesa.
Es el que usas cuando el sujeto hace la acción sobre sí mismo. Por ejemplo: Eu me lavo (Yo me lavo). La acción 'refleja' al que la hace.
Solo si el pronombre va *después* del verbo, como en Lavo-me. Si va antes, no se usa guion jamás.
Capítulo anterior
Direction, Purpose & Deadlines
Siguiente capítulo
Shortcuts: Object Pronouns
Volver a la hoja de ruta