A1 Pronouns 15 min read Easy

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Doing it to Yourself (-se)

Use reflexive verbs and matching pronouns when the person doing the action is also receiving it.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Reflexive verbs describe actions you do to yourself, identified by the '-se' suffix on the infinitive.

  • Add a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) before the conjugated verb.
  • The pronoun must match the subject (e.g., 'Yo me lavo').
  • In negative sentences, place 'no' before the reflexive pronoun.
Reflexive Pronoun + Conjugated Verb (e.g., 'Me' + 'lavo')

Overview

Spanish reflexive verbs describe actions where the subject performing the action is also the one receiving it. Essentially, you do the action to yourself. This grammatical concept is fundamental in Spanish because it explicitly indicates self-direction, a nuance often implied or omitted in English.

For example, while in English you might simply say "I shower," Spanish requires me ducho (I shower myself) to clarify that you are the recipient of the showering action.

In their infinitive form (the dictionary form), all reflexive verbs are easily identifiable by the suffix -se attached to the end. Examples include lavarse (to wash oneself), levantarse (to get oneself up), and ducharse (to shower oneself). The presence of -se signals that the verb's action is intended to reflect back to the subject.

Without this suffix, the verb typically describes an action directed at someone or something else. Consider lavar (to wash something/someone) versus lavarse (to wash oneself); the small addition of -se critically alters the meaning and recipient of the action.

Mastering reflexive verbs is crucial for beginners because they are used extensively in daily routines and for expressing personal states. They provide precision in communication that is often lacking when directly translating from English. Understanding this structure helps you sound more natural and avoid ambiguities in everyday conversations, from describing your morning routine to expressing how you feel.

For instance, Ella se maquilla cada mañana. (She puts on makeup every morning.) and Nosotros nos preparamos para salir. (We get ready to leave.) both use reflexive verbs to indicate self-directed actions.

How This Grammar Works

To properly use reflexive verbs, you need to employ reflexive pronouns. These small words are essential because they specify who is performing the action upon themselves. Just as the subject of the verb changes, so too must the reflexive pronoun.
The pronoun must always match the subject in person and number. Think of these pronouns as the Spanish equivalents of "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," "ourselves," and "themselves."
Here is a table outlining the reflexive pronouns and their corresponding subjects:
| Subject Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun | English Equivalent |
|:----------------|:------------------|:-------------------|
| yo (I) | me | myself |
| tú (you, informal singular) | te | yourself |
| él (he) | se | himself |
| ella (she) | se | herself |
| usted (you, formal singular) | se | yourself |
| nosotros/as (we) | nos | ourselves |
| vosotros/as (you, informal plural, Spain) | os | yourselves |
| ellos (they, masculine) | se | themselves |
| ellas (they, feminine) | se | themselves |
| ustedes (you, formal plural/all plural in Latin America) | se | yourselves |
Notice that se is used for all third-person subjects (he, she, you formal singular, they, you formal/informal plural in Latin America). This means se is highly versatile but also a common point of confusion for beginners. The pronoun os is exclusively used in Spain for the informal plural "you all" (vosotros/as), while in Latin America, ustedes and its corresponding se are used for both formal and informal plural situations.
When constructing a sentence with a reflexive verb, the reflexive pronoun always precedes the conjugated verb. This placement is fixed and crucial for correct Spanish syntax. For example, if you want to say "I wash myself," you would say Yo me lavo.
You cannot say Yo lavo me; this is grammatically incorrect. Similarly, Ella se mira en el espejo. (She looks at herself in the mirror.) correctly places se before mira.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with reflexive verbs involves a clear, step-by-step process. Adhering to this pattern ensures grammatical accuracy and proper meaning. Remember that at the A1 level, we typically focus on the present indicative tense for conjugation.
2
Step 1: Identify the Reflexive Infinitive
3
Look for verbs ending in -se. This suffix explicitly marks the verb as reflexive. For instance, if you want to say "to get dressed," the infinitive is vestirse.
4
Step 2: Remove the -se Ending
5
Once you've identified the reflexive infinitive, remove the -se to find the base verb that you will conjugate. For vestirse, the base verb is vestir.
6
Step 3: Conjugate the Verb
7
Conjugate the base verb according to the subject and the desired tense (for A1, typically the present tense). Remember your regular -ar, -er, and -ir verb endings. For vestir (an -ir verb that also stem-changes e to i in some forms, e.g., yo visto), if the subject is yo, the conjugated form is visto.
8
Step 4: Select the Correct Reflexive Pronoun
9
Choose the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject of your sentence. If the subject is yo, the pronoun is me. If the subject is nosotros, the pronoun is nos. For our example with yo, the pronoun is me.
10
Step 5: Place the Pronoun
11
Place the chosen reflexive pronoun immediately before the conjugated verb. Combining me and visto yields me visto. So, "I get dressed" becomes Yo me visto. (You can often omit the subject pronoun yo if the context is clear: Me visto.).
12
Let's apply this to another example: ducharse (to shower oneself) for tú (you informal).
13
Infinitive: ducharse
14
Remove -se: duchar
15
Conjugate duchar for tú (present tense): duchas
16
Select pronoun for tú: te
17
Place pronoun: Te duchas. (You shower yourself.)
18
Alternative Pronoun Placement with Verb Phrases
19
When you have a construction with two verbs – typically a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive (e.g., querer + infinitive, ir a + infinitive, deber + infinitive) – you have two options for placing the reflexive pronoun. This flexibility is a common feature in Spanish and allows for stylistic variation.
20
Before the conjugated verb: The reflexive pronoun can be placed directly before the first conjugated verb in the phrase. For example, "I want to get up" can be Yo me quiero levantar. (I myself want to get up.)
21
Attached to the end of the infinitive: Alternatively, the reflexive pronoun can be attached directly to the end of the second verb, which is in its infinitive form. Using the same example, Yo quiero levantarme. (I want to get up myself.)
22
Both Me quiero levantar and Quiero levantarme are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice often comes down to personal preference or the rhythm of the sentence. However, it is a crucial rule that the pronoun can never be placed between the two verbs in such a construction (e.g., Quiero me levantar is incorrect).
23
Examples:
24
Voy a bañarme ahora. (I am going to bathe myself now.)
25
Me voy a bañar ahora. (I am going to bathe myself now.)
26
Él necesita prepararse. (He needs to prepare himself.)
27
Él se necesita preparar. (He needs to prepare himself.)

When To Use It

Reflexive verbs are used in various contexts, extending beyond simple self-care to express changes in state, reciprocal actions, and even to alter the meaning of certain verbs. Understanding these categories is key to using them naturally.
1. Daily Routines and Personal Care
This is arguably the most common use of reflexive verbs, encompassing actions you perform on your own body or for your personal upkeep. If an action is part of your morning or evening routine, it is highly likely to be reflexive.
  • despertarse (to wake up)
  • levantarse (to get up)
  • ducharse (to shower)
  • bañarse (to bathe)
  • lavarse (to wash oneself)
  • cepillarse (to brush oneself)
  • afeitarse (to shave oneself)
  • vestirse (to get dressed)
  • arreglarse (to get ready/fix oneself up)
  • acostarse (to go to bed)
Important Note on Body Parts and Clothing: When using reflexive verbs with body parts or articles of clothing, Spanish typically uses the definite article (el, la, los, las) instead of a possessive adjective (mi, tu, su). This is because the reflexive pronoun already indicates who owns the body part or clothing. You are washing yourself, and thus it's understood you are washing your hands.
This is a common point of difference from English.
  • Me lavo las manos. (I wash my hands.) – Not mis manos
  • Ella se cepilla el pelo. (She brushes her hair.) – Not su pelo
  • Nos ponemos los zapatos. (We put on our shoes.) – Not nuestros zapatos
2. Changes in State or Emotion
Many verbs that describe a change in condition or an emotional shift become reflexive. This structure emphasizes that the subject experiences or undergoes the change.
  • alegrarse (to become happy/to be glad)
  • enojarse (to get angry/to become angry)
  • preocuparse (to worry/to become worried)
  • aburrirse (to get bored/to become bored)
  • cansarse (to get tired/to become tired)
  • sentirse (to feel)
  • Él se enoja fácilmente. (He gets angry easily.)
  • Nos alegramos por tu éxito. (We are happy for your success.)
  • Yo me siento bien hoy. (I feel well today.)
3. Reciprocal Actions
Reflexive verbs can also describe actions that two or more people perform to each other or for each other. In these cases, the reflexive pronoun (nos, os, se) acts as "each other" or "one another." This usage is distinct from the primary self-directed reflexive action, but uses the same pronouns and conjugation patterns.
  • abrazarse (to hug each other)
  • besarse (to kiss each other)
  • verse (to see each other)
  • hablarse (to speak to each other)
  • escribirse (to write to each other)
  • ayudarse (to help each other)
  • Mis padres se abrazan mucho. (My parents hug each other a lot.)
  • Nos vemos mañana. (We will see each other tomorrow.)
  • Ellos se escriben correos electrónicos. (They write emails to each other.)
4. Verbs That Change Meaning When Reflexive
Some verbs acquire a completely different meaning when used reflexively. The addition of the reflexive pronoun can transform the verb's scope or intention.
| Non-Reflexive Meaning | Reflexive Meaning |
|:---------------------------|:-------------------------|
| ir (to go) | irse (to leave/go away)|
| dormir (to sleep) | dormirse (to fall asleep)|
| poner (to put/place) | ponerse (to put on [clothing], to become [a state])|
| volver (to return) | volverse (to turn around, to become [a state])|
| llevar (to carry/take) | llevarse (to take away/carry off)|
  • Ellos van a la fiesta. (They go to the party.)
  • Ellos se van de la fiesta. (They are leaving the party.)
  • Mi hijo duerme bien. (My son sleeps well.)
  • Mi hijo se duerme en el sofá. (My son falls asleep on the sofa.)
  • Me pongo la chaqueta. (I put on my jacket.)

Common Mistakes

Beginners frequently encounter specific challenges when learning Spanish reflexive verbs. Being aware of these pitfalls and understanding the underlying reasons helps in avoiding them.
1. Omitting the Reflexive Pronoun Entirely
This is perhaps the most common error. Forgetting to include me, te, se, nos, os, se drastically changes the meaning of a sentence, often making it sound incomplete or incorrect. Without the pronoun, the verb implies an action directed at someone or something else.
  • Incorrect: Yo lavo. (I wash. – Implies washing something else, but what?) Ella viste. (She dresses. – Implies dressing someone else.)
  • Correct: Yo me lavo. (I wash myself.) Ella se viste. (She gets dressed.)
2. Using the Incorrect Reflexive Pronoun
Another frequent mistake is using the wrong pronoun for the subject. For instance, using se for yo or tú.
  • Incorrect: Yo se lavo. (I washes himself/herself/itself/themselves – makes no sense for 'I'.)
  • Correct: Yo me lavo. (I wash myself.)
  • Incorrect: Tú se cepillas los dientes. (You brushes his/her/their teeth.)
  • Correct: Tú te cepillas los dientes. (You brush your teeth.)
Remember that se is exclusively for third-person subjects (él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, ustedes).
3. Incorrect Placement of the Reflexive Pronoun
While English places "myself" at the end of a sentence, Spanish places the reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb. Reversing this order is ungrammatical.
  • Incorrect: Lavo me. (Grammatically incorrect word order.)
  • Correct: Me lavo.
  • Incorrect: Duchas te.
  • Correct: Te duchas.
When dealing with two-verb constructions (conjugated verb + infinitive), remember the two correct placements and avoid placing the pronoun between the two verbs.
  • Correct: Quiero bañarme. OR Me quiero bañar.
  • Incorrect: Quiero me bañar.
4. Using Possessive Adjectives with Body Parts/Clothing
As discussed, with reflexive verbs, the ownership of body parts or clothing is already implied by the reflexive pronoun. Therefore, using a possessive adjective (mi, tu, su, etc.) is redundant and sounds unnatural to native speakers.
  • Incorrect: Me lavo mis manos. (Literally: I wash my my hands.)
  • Correct: Me lavo las manos. (I wash my hands.)
  • Incorrect: Ella se pone su chaqueta. (She puts on her her jacket.)
  • Correct: Ella se pone la chaqueta. (She puts on her jacket.)
This pattern reflects a key difference in how Spanish and English express possession in such contexts, with Spanish being more concise.
5. Confusing Reflexive and Non-Reflexive Verbs
Some verbs can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively, with a significant difference in meaning. A common error is to use the reflexive form when a non-reflexive verb is intended, or vice-versa.
  • levantar (to lift/raise something) vs. levantarse (to get up/rise)
  • Levanto la mesa. (I lift the table.)
  • Me levanto a las seis. (I get up at six.)
  • dormir (to sleep someone/something, or just to sleep generally) vs. dormirse (to fall asleep)
  • Duermo a mi bebé. (I put my baby to sleep.) / Duermo ocho horas. (I sleep eight hours.)
  • Me duermo en el sofá a menudo. (I often fall asleep on the sofa.)
Always consider whether the action is directed outwards or reflects back upon the subject to choose the correct verb form.

Real Conversations

Reflexive verbs are integral to daily communication in Spanish, appearing in informal chats, routine descriptions, and even formal inquiries. Here are examples of how native speakers use them naturally.

1. Describing a Daily Routine (Informal, tú form):

Amigo 1: ¿A qué hora te despiertas los fines de semana? (What time do you wake up on weekends?)

Amigo 2: Uf, me despierto tarde, como a las diez. Después, me ducho y me visto rápido para salir. (Ugh, I wake up late, like at ten. Afterwards, I shower and get dressed quickly to go out.)

In this exchange, despertarse, ducharse, and vestirse are all used to describe personal actions in a routine.

2. Expressing Feelings or Changes in State (Formal, usted form, common in Latin America):

Compañero A: Disculpe, ¿cómo se siente hoy? Parece preocupado. (Excuse me, how do you feel today? You seem worried.)

Compañero B: Gracias. Me siento un poco cansado porque no me acosté temprano anoche. (Thank you. I feel a little tired because I didn't go to bed early last night.)

Here, sentirse, preocuparse, and acostarse convey personal states and actions, demonstrating polite usage.

3. Reciprocal Actions (General, ellos form):

Vecina 1: ¿Viste a los nuevos vecinos? (Did you see the new neighbors?)

Vecina 2: Sí, se saludaron en la calle esta mañana. Me parece que se caen muy bien. (Yes, they greeted each other on the street this morning. I think they get along very well.)

Saludarse (to greet each other) and caerse bien (to like each other, literally 'to fall well to each other') exemplify reciprocal actions between people.

4. Using ponerse (to put on clothes) and irse (to leave):

Hermana A: ¡Date prisa! Se está haciendo tarde. Ponte los zapatos. (Hurry up! It's getting late. Put on your shoes.)

Hermana B: Ya casi estoy. Me pongo los pendientes y nos vamos. (I'm almost ready. I'll put on my earrings and we're leaving.)

This dialogue shows ponerse for dressing and irse for leaving, both common in fast-paced conversations. Note the definite article los with zapatos and pendientes.

Quick FAQ

Q: Do I always need me, te, se, etc., with reflexive verbs?

Yes, absolutely. The reflexive pronoun is an integral part of the reflexive verb structure. Without it, the verb loses its self-directed meaning and often becomes a transitive verb (acting on an external object) or incomplete. For example, lavo (I wash [something/someone]) is different from me lavo (I wash myself).

Q: Where does no go when negating a reflexive verb?

The negative word no always comes before the reflexive pronoun. This rule applies consistently across all tenses and moods.

  • No me ducho por las mañanas. (I don't shower in the mornings.)
  • Ella no se preocupa por nada. (She doesn't worry about anything.)
  • Nosotros no nos levantamos temprano hoy. (We didn't get up early today.)
Q: Can non-living things be used with reflexive verbs?

Yes, though it's less about the object doing an action to itself in a conscious way, and more about describing an action that happens to the object, often implying an automatic or inherent process. This is related to the passive se or impersonal se constructions, which you will learn at higher CEFR levels. For A1, just recognize that sentences like La puerta se abre sola. (The door opens by itself.) are valid, indicating that the action occurs to the door without an external agent specified.

Q: How do I know whether to attach the pronoun to the infinitive or put it before the conjugated verb in two-verb constructions?

Both options are correct for sentences with a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive (e.g., poder + infinitive, querer + infinitive). There is no strict rule dictating one over the other; it is often a matter of preference or rhythm. Choose the one that feels most natural to you. The key is to avoid placing the pronoun between the two verbs.

  • Quiero lavarme las manos. (I want to wash my hands.)
  • Me quiero lavar las manos. (I want to wash my hands.)
Both are grammatically sound and convey the same meaning. Consistent practice with both structures will help you feel comfortable with their usage.

Conjugation of 'Lavarse' (To wash oneself)

Subject Pronoun Verb Full Form
Yo
me
lavo
me lavo
Tú
te
lavas
te lavas
Él/Ella/Ud.
se
lava
se lava
Nosotros
nos
lavamos
nos lavamos
Vosotros
os
laváis
os laváis
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
se
lavan
se lavan

Meanings

Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject of the verb is also the object of the action.

1

Self-directed action

The subject performs an action on their own body or person.

“Me lavo las manos.”

“Él se peina el pelo.”

2

Reciprocal action

Two or more people perform an action to each other.

“Ellos se abrazan.”

“Nos escribimos a menudo.”

3

Inherent reflexive

Verbs that are always reflexive in Spanish, even if not strictly 'self-directed'.

“Me arrepiento de todo.”

“Ella se queja mucho.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Doing it to Yourself (-se)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Pronoun + Verb
Me lavo
Negative
No + Pronoun + Verb
No me lavo
Question
¿Pronoun + Verb?
¿Te lavas?
Infinitive
Verb + Pronoun
Lavarse
Gerund
Verb + Pronoun
Lavándose
Reciprocal
Plural Pronoun + Verb
Nos abrazamos

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Voy a acostarme.

Voy a acostarme. (End of day)

Neutral
Me voy a acostar.

Me voy a acostar. (End of day)

Informal
Me voy a dormir.

Me voy a dormir. (End of day)

Slang
Me voy a la cama.

Me voy a la cama. (End of day)

Reflexive Pronoun Map

Reflexive Pronouns

1st Person

  • me myself
  • nos ourselves

2nd Person

  • te yourself
  • os yourselves

3rd Person

  • se himself/herself/themselves

Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive

Non-Reflexive
Lavo el coche I wash the car
Reflexive
Me lavo I wash myself

Do I need a reflexive verb?

1

Is the subject doing the action to themselves?

YES
Use reflexive pronoun
NO
Use standard verb

Common Reflexive Categories

☀️

Morning Routine

  • • despertarse
  • • lavarse
  • • vestirse
😊

Feelings

  • • sentirse
  • • enojarse
  • • aburrirse
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Examples by Level

1

Yo me lavo las manos.

I wash my hands.

2

Ella se llama María.

Her name is Maria.

3

Tú te despiertas tarde.

You wake up late.

4

Nosotros nos vestimos.

We get dressed.

1

¿A qué hora te acuestas?

What time do you go to bed?

2

No me gusta levantarme temprano.

I don't like to get up early.

3

Ellos se miran en el espejo.

They look at themselves in the mirror.

4

Nos vemos mañana.

We'll see each other tomorrow.

1

Me siento muy cansado hoy.

I feel very tired today.

2

Ella se arrepiente de lo que dijo.

She regrets what she said.

3

Nos divertimos mucho en la fiesta.

We had a lot of fun at the party.

4

Él se queja de todo.

He complains about everything.

1

Voy a ducharme antes de salir.

I'm going to shower before leaving.

2

Se dice que va a llover.

It is said that it will rain.

3

Se han ido sin avisar.

They have left without warning.

4

Me estoy peinando ahora mismo.

I am combing my hair right now.

1

Me comí el pastel entero.

I ate the whole cake (emphatic).

2

Se las arregló para llegar a tiempo.

He managed to arrive on time.

3

Se fueron de vacaciones a Italia.

They went on vacation to Italy.

4

Se lo tomó muy en serio.

He took it very seriously.

1

Se vive bien en esta ciudad.

One lives well in this city.

2

Se me olvidaron las llaves.

I forgot the keys (unintentional).

3

Se ha hecho tarde.

It has gotten late.

4

Se dice y se comenta en el pueblo.

It is said and rumored in town.

Easily Confused

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Doing it to Yourself (-se) vs Reflexive vs. Direct Object Pronouns

Both use 'me', 'te', 'se'.

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Doing it to Yourself (-se) vs Reflexive vs. Passive 'Se'

Both use 'se'.

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Doing it to Yourself (-se) vs Reflexive vs. Impersonal 'Se'

Both use 'se'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Yo lavo

✓

Yo me lavo

Missing the reflexive pronoun.
✗

Me lavo el coche

✓

Lavo el coche

Using reflexive when not needed.
✗

Yo se lavo

✓

Yo me lavo

Wrong pronoun for 'yo'.
✗

Lavo me

✓

Me lavo

Wrong pronoun placement.
✗

Nosotros nos lavamos el coche

✓

Nosotros lavamos el coche

Reflexive used for non-reflexive action.
✗

Él se levanta a las 7

✓

Él se levanta a las 7

Correct, but often forgotten in negative.
✗

Te duchas tú?

✓

¿Te duchas?

Redundant subject pronoun.
✗

Me siento feliz

✓

Me siento feliz

Often confused with 'estar'.
✗

Se arrepiento

✓

Me arrepiento

Wrong person conjugation.
✗

Nos divertimos nosotros

✓

Nos divertimos

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Se me olvidó las llaves

✓

Se me olvidaron las llaves

Agreement error with plural object.
✗

Me comí la pizza

✓

Me comí la pizza

Often misused as just 'comí'.
✗

Se dice que ellos son

✓

Se dice que son

Redundant subject.

Sentence Patterns

Yo me ___ todos los días.

¿Te ___ a las ocho?

Nosotros nos ___ mucho en la clase.

Ella se ___ de lo que dijo ayer.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

Me estoy divirtiendo mucho.

Texting constant

Nos vemos luego.

Job Interview common

Me preparo bien para los retos.

Travel common

Me voy a la playa.

Food Delivery occasional

Me pido una pizza.

Daily Routine constant

Me levanto a las 7.

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💡

Pronoun Placement

Always put the pronoun before the conjugated verb. It's like a prefix.
⚠️

Don't Forget the Pronoun

If you forget the pronoun, you are saying you are doing the action to someone else!
🎯

Morning Routine Practice

Narrate your morning routine out loud using reflexive verbs to build muscle memory.
💬

Regional Differences

Remember that 'os' is only used in Spain; in Latin America, use 'se' for plural.

Smart Tips

Remember to drop the '-se' and add the reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb.

Yo lavar el coche. → Yo me lavo.

Group your verbs by time of day to remember them better.

Yo despierto, yo visto, yo ducho. → Yo me despierto, yo me visto, yo me ducho.

Check if the action is being done to the subject.

Yo me como una manzana. → Yo como una manzana.

You can place the pronoun before the auxiliary verb or attached to the infinitive.

Me voy a duchar. → Voy a ducharme.

Pronunciation

me-LA-vo

Stress

The stress remains on the verb, not the pronoun.

me-la-vo-en

Linking

Pronouns often link to the next word if it starts with a vowel.

Question

¿Te la-VAS? ↑

Rising intonation at the end for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'Me, Te, Se, Nos, Os, Se' like a rhythm: 'Me-Te-Se, Nos-Os-Se'.

Visual Association

Imagine a mirror. Whatever you do in front of the mirror, you are doing to yourself. The mirror reflects the action back to you.

Rhyme

For actions you do to your own self, add a pronoun for your own health.

Story

Juan wakes up (se despierta). He washes his face (se lava). He gets dressed (se viste). He looks in the mirror (se mira) and says, 'I am ready!'

Word Web

lavarsedespertarsevestirsepeinarsesentirsedivertirseacostarse

Challenge

Describe your entire morning routine in 5 sentences using reflexive verbs.

Cultural Notes

The 'os' pronoun is used frequently for 'vosotros'.

Reflexive verbs are used very commonly in daily speech for emphasis.

The 'vos' form changes the conjugation, but the reflexive pronoun remains 'te'.

Derived from Latin pronominal constructions using 'se'.

Conversation Starters

“

¿A qué hora te despiertas?

“

¿Te gusta vestirte bien?

“

¿Cómo te sientes hoy?

“

¿Te arrepientes de algo en tu vida?

Journal Prompts

Describe your morning routine.
How do you feel when you are stressed?
Write about a time you had fun with friends.
Reflect on a change in your life.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.

Yo ___ lavo las manos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
Yo requires 'me'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ella ___ (vestirse) temprano.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se viste
Ella requires 'se'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Yo lavo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo me lavo
Need the reflexive pronoun.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Me levanto temprano.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No me levanto temprano
No goes before the pronoun.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ¿Te despiertas temprano? B: Sí, ___ a las seis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me despierto
Answering for oneself.
Order the words. Sentence Building

lavo / me / yo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo me lavo
Subject + Pronoun + Verb.
Match the verb to its meaning. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1. Wash, 2. Dress
Correct definitions.
Conjugate for 'Nosotros'. Conjugation Drill

Nosotros (ducharse)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nos duchamos
Correct conjugation for nosotros.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.

Yo ___ lavo las manos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
Yo requires 'me'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ella ___ (vestirse) temprano.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se viste
Ella requires 'se'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Yo lavo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo me lavo
Need the reflexive pronoun.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Me levanto temprano.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No me levanto temprano
No goes before the pronoun.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ¿Te despiertas temprano? B: Sí, ___ a las seis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me despierto
Answering for oneself.
Order the words. Sentence Building

lavo / me / yo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo me lavo
Subject + Pronoun + Verb.
Match the verb to its meaning. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Lavarse, 2. Vestirse

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1. Wash, 2. Dress
Correct definitions.
Conjugate for 'Nosotros'. Conjugation Drill

Nosotros (ducharse)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nos duchamos
Correct conjugation for nosotros.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

Tú ___ despiertas tarde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Select the formal version Multiple Choice

How do you ask 'How do you feel?' formally?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¿Cómo se siente?
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

mañana / me / la / lavo / cara / cada

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Me lavo la cara cada mañana.
Translate to Spanish Translation

We fall asleep.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nos dormimos.
Match the pronoun to the subject Match Pairs

Match them:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo - me
Fix the body part error Error Correction

Me lavo mis manos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Me lavo las manos.
Choose the right ending Fill in the Blank

Ustedes ___ visten elegante.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se
Reflexive vs Non-reflexive Multiple Choice

I wash the car.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lavo el coche.
Order the negative sentence Sentence Reorder

no / se / cepilla / él

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Él no se cepilla.
Translate to Spanish Translation

I want to wash myself.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

The pronoun indicates that the action is directed back to the subject. Without it, the verb is transitive.

Only if the verb is in the infinitive or gerund form (e.g., 'voy a ducharme').

It is also used for 'usted' and 'ustedes', and for the plural 'ellos/ellas'.

It will have '-se' at the end of the infinitive form.

Then you don't use the reflexive pronoun. You use a direct object pronoun if needed.

Yes, like 'arrepentirse' or 'quejarse'. These must be learned as reflexive.

In Argentina, the pronoun is 'te', but the verb conjugation changes (e.g., 'te levantás').

Yes, if the animal is the subject of the action.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

French high

Se laver

French uses 'être' for compound tenses of reflexive verbs, while Spanish uses 'haber'.

German moderate

Sich waschen

German reflexive pronouns change based on person, unlike Spanish 'se'.

Japanese low

Jibun de

Japanese does not conjugate verbs for reflexivity.

Arabic low

Form VIII verbs

Arabic changes the verb root pattern rather than adding a pronoun.

Chinese low

Ziji (self)

Chinese has no verb conjugation for reflexivity.

English partial

Reflexive pronouns (-self)

English only uses these for emphasis or specific reflexive verbs, not for daily routines.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Myself, Yourself (llamarse, levantarse)
Next
Where to Put Pronouns (lo, la, me, te)

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A1 Builds On

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