The Reflexive Particle -si in Simple Verbs
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The particle '-si' turns a standard action into one directed back at the subject or describes a state.
- Add '-si' to the end of a verb to make it reflexive: 'prausti' (to wash) -> 'praustis' (to wash oneself).
- If the verb ends in a vowel, the 's' often doubles or changes: 'mokyti' -> 'mokytis'.
- In negative forms, the '-si' stays attached to the end of the verb: 'nesiprausia'.
Conjugation of 'Praustis' (to wash oneself)
| Person | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
|
Aš
|
prausiuosi
|
nesiprausiu
|
|
Tu
|
prausiesi
|
nesiprausi
|
|
Jis/Ji
|
prausiasi
|
nesiprausia
|
|
Mes
|
prausiamės
|
nesiprausiame
|
|
Jūs
|
prausiatės
|
nesiprausiate
|
|
Jie/Jos
|
prausiasi
|
nesiprausia
|
Meanings
The particle '-si' is a suffix added to Lithuanian verbs to indicate that the action is performed by the subject upon themselves or to indicate a reciprocal action.
Self-directed action
The subject performs an action on their own body or person.
“Jis prausiasi. (He is washing himself.)”
“Aš šukuojuosi. (I am combing my hair.)”
Reciprocal action
Two or more subjects perform an action on each other.
“Jie bučiuojasi. (They are kissing each other.)”
“Mes sveikinamės. (We are greeting each other.)”
State of being
Describes a state or a change of state.
“Diena temsta. (The day is getting dark.)”
“Jis džiaugiasi. (He is happy/rejoicing.)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + si
|
Aš rengiuosi
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + si + Verb
|
Aš nesirengiu
|
|
Question
|
Ar + Verb + si
|
Ar tu rengiesi?
|
|
Past Tense
|
Verb + si + -o
|
Jis rengėsi
|
|
Future Tense
|
Verb + si + -s
|
Aš rengsiuosi
|
|
Reciprocal
|
Verb + si (plural)
|
Mes bučiuojamės
|
Spectre de formalité
Aš ruošiuosi susitikimui. (Daily life)
Aš ruošiuosi į darbą. (Daily life)
Aš ruošiuosi į vakarėlį. (Daily life)
Aš ruošiuosi. (Daily life)
Reflexive Particle Functions
Self-Action
- praustis wash oneself
Reciprocal
- bučiuotis kiss each other
State
- temsta getting dark
Transitive vs Reflexive
Negative Form Flowchart
Is it negative?
Common Reflexive Verbs
Morning Routine
- • praustis
- • rengtis
- • šukuotis
Social
- • sveikintis
- • susitikti
- • bučiuotis
Exemples par niveau
Aš prausiuosi.
I am washing myself.
Jis rengiasi.
He is getting dressed.
Mes sveikinamės.
We are greeting each other.
Ji šukuojasi.
She is combing her hair.
Aš nesirengiu.
I am not getting dressed.
Ar tu džiaugiesi?
Are you happy?
Jie pykstasi.
They are arguing.
Mes susitinkame rytoj.
We are meeting tomorrow.
Oras keičiasi kiekvieną dieną.
The weather is changing every day.
Jis domisi istorija.
He is interested in history.
Mes susipažinome pernai.
We met last year.
Jie bučiuojasi stotyje.
They are kissing at the station.
Ši knyga skaitosi labai lengvai.
This book reads very easily.
Jis bijosi pasakyti tiesą.
He is afraid to tell the truth.
Mes stengiamės padėti.
We are trying to help.
Jie elgiasi labai keistai.
They are behaving very strangely.
Tai savaime suprantasi.
It goes without saying.
Jis visada giriasi savo pasiekimais.
He always boasts about his achievements.
Mes susitarėme dėl laiko.
We agreed on the time.
Ji rūpinasi savo sveikata.
She takes care of her health.
Diena po truputį temsta.
The day is gradually getting dark.
Jie susiduria su problemomis.
They are encountering problems.
Mes pasigendame jūsų nuomonės.
We are missing your opinion.
Jis pasirodo esąs teisus.
He turns out to be right.
Facile à confondre
Learners mix up 'rengti' (to dress someone) and 'rengtis' (to dress oneself).
Learners put '-si' at the end of negative verbs.
Learners don't know when to use reciprocal verbs.
Erreurs courantes
Aš prausiu
Aš prausiuosi
Aš nesirengiuosi
Aš nesirengiu
Jis rengia
Jis rengiasi
Mes sveikiname
Mes sveikinamės
Ar tu rengiesi?
Ar tu rengiesi?
Jie pyksta
Jie pykstasi
Aš domiu
Aš domiuosi
Oras keičia
Oras keičiasi
Jis bijo
Jis bijosi
Mes susitinkame
Mes susitinkame
Tai suprantasi
Tai savaime suprantasi
Jis giria
Jis giriasi
Mes pasigendame
Mes pasigendame
Structures de phrases
Aš ___ ryte.
Mes ___ stotyje.
Jis ___ istorija.
Oras ___ kiekvieną dieną.
Real World Usage
Jie pykstasi komentaruose.
Susitinkam?
Aš domiuosi šia pozicija.
Mes susitinkame stotyje.
Užsakymas ruošiasi.
Aš prausiuosi.
Mirror Rule
Negative Placement
Reciprocal Check
Daily Usage
Smart Tips
Use the reflexive form 'praustis'.
Move -si before the verb.
Use reflexive verbs like 'keičiasi'.
Use reflexive verbs for 'each other'.
Prononciation
Particle -si
The 's' is soft, like in 'see'.
Question
Ar tu rengiesi↗?
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'si' as 'Self-Inside'. If the action stays inside the subject, add 'si'.
Association visuelle
Imagine a mirror. When you look at the verb, if you see yourself in the mirror, you add the '-si' sticker to the verb.
Rhyme
When the action is for me, add -si for all to see!
Story
Jonas wakes up. He washes himself (prausiasi). He dresses himself (rengiasi). He meets his friend (susitinka). They greet each other (sveikinasi).
Word Web
Défi
Describe your entire morning routine in 5 sentences using only reflexive verbs.
Notes culturelles
Reflexive verbs are very common in daily life. Lithuanians value personal hygiene and social etiquette, which is reflected in the high frequency of these verbs.
The reflexive particle '-si' evolved from the Proto-Indo-European reflexive pronoun *sue.
Amorces de conversation
Ką tu veiki ryte?
Ar tu dažnai susitinki su draugais?
Kuo tu domiesi?
Kaip tu elgiesi streso situacijose?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Aš ___ (praustis).
Find and fix the mistake:
Aš nesirengiuosi.
Mes ___ (susitikti) rytoj.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
He is washing himself.
Answer starts with: Jis...
Tu (rengtis)
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Reflexive verbs always end in -si.
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesAš ___ (praustis).
Find and fix the mistake:
Aš nesirengiuosi.
Mes ___ (susitikti) rytoj.
ryte / aš / prausiuosi
He is washing himself.
Tu (rengtis)
Match reflexive to meaning.
Reflexive verbs always end in -si.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
It is a reflexive suffix indicating self-directed or reciprocal action.
Move the -si between 'ne' and the verb.
No, only those that can be self-directed or reciprocal.
It's a phonetic adjustment for easier pronunciation.
Only if the action is reciprocal (they do it to each other).
Yes, it is used daily.
You might change the meaning of the verb.
Yes, it attaches to the end of the past tense form.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se)
Lithuanian attaches the particle to the end of the verb.
Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se)
Lithuanian is a suffix-based language for this.
Reflexive pronoun 'sich'
Lithuanian integrates it into the verb.
Passive/Potential forms
Lithuanian uses a specific reflexive suffix.
Form V and VI verbs
Lithuanian uses a particle suffix.
Reflexive pronouns (ziji)
Lithuanian is synthetic (suffix), Chinese is analytic.
