A2 Pronouns 12 min read Easy

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Actions to Yourself (Verbos Reflexivos)

In Portuguese, reflexive pronouns act like a mirror, returning the action back to the person who performed it.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Reflexive verbs describe actions where the subject and the object are the same person, using reflexive pronouns like 'me', 'te', or 'se'.

  • Use a reflexive pronoun before the verb: 'Eu me lavo' (I wash myself).
  • In Brazil, pronouns often come before the verb; in Portugal, they often follow with a hyphen.
  • The pronoun must match the subject: 'Eu me', 'Você se', 'Nós nos'.
Subject + Reflexive Pronoun + Verb

Overview

Portuguese reflexive verbs, or verbos reflexivos, describe an action where the subject is also the object. In simpler terms, the person or thing performing the action is the same one receiving it. The action “reflects” back onto the doer.

While English often leaves this implied—you say “I'm showering,” not necessarily “I’m showering myself”—Portuguese grammar requires you to be explicit by using a small but essential word called a reflexive pronoun.

Think of the verb lavar (to wash). If you say Eu lavo a roupa (“I wash the clothes”), the action of washing goes from you to an external object (the clothes). But to say you are washing yourself, you must include the reflexive pronoun me: Eu me lavo (“I wash myself”).

Without me, the sentence is grammatically incomplete, leaving a native speaker wondering, “You wash… what?” This structure is fundamental for describing daily routines, personal care, feelings, and movements.

At the A2 level, mastering reflexive verbs is a significant step toward fluency. It unlocks your ability to talk about your everyday life in a natural, grammatically correct way. These aren't just an optional feature; they are a core component of the language, used constantly in conversation.

Understanding them means moving from simply naming actions to describing how those actions relate to you and others.

How This Grammar Works

The engine behind reflexive verbs is the reflexive pronoun. This pronoun must always match the subject of the verb in person and number (e.g., if the subject is eu, the pronoun must be me). Its job is to signal that the verb's action loops back to the subject.
This system eliminates ambiguity and makes the sentence structure clear.
Here are the reflexive pronouns that pair with each subject. Note the differences for European Portuguese (EP) and Brazilian Portuguese (BP), particularly regarding the second-person forms.
| Subject Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun | English Equivalent | Common Usage |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Eu | me | myself | BP / EP |
| Tu | te | yourself (singular, informal) | EP / Regional BP |
| Ele / Ela / Você | se | himself / herself / yourself (formal/standard) | BP / EP |
| Nós | nos | ourselves | BP / EP |
| Vós | vos | yourselves (plural, archaic) | Very formal/biblical EP |
| Eles / Elas / Vocês | se | themselves / yourselves (plural) | BP / EP |
In modern Brazilian Portuguese, you will almost always use você and vocês instead of tu and vós, so se becomes the most frequent reflexive pronoun you'll encounter after me and nos.
The Linguistic Principle: The Middle Voice
To understand why reflexive verbs exist, it helps to think about the concept of “verbal voice.” In active voice, the subject performs an action on a separate object (Eu comi a maçã - I ate the apple). In passive voice, the subject receives the action from an agent (A maçã foi comida por mim - The apple was eaten by me). Reflexive constructions represent a third category called the middle voice, where the subject acts upon itself.
The reflexive pronoun is the grammatical marker that signals this middle voice, indicating the subject is deeply involved in or affected by the action.
Reflexive vs. Reciprocal Actions
Interestingly, the same pronouns can also express reciprocal actions—things people do to each other. The context makes the meaning clear.
  • Reflexive: Ela se olha no espelho. (She looks at herself in the mirror.)
  • Reciprocal: Eles se abraçam no aeroporto. (They hug each other at the airport.)
For an A2 learner, the key is to recognize that se, nos, and vos can mean both “-self/-selves” and “each other.” The situation, plural subject, and verb will tell you which is which.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with reflexive verbs involves correctly conjugating the verb and, crucially, placing the reflexive pronoun in the right spot. The placement rules are one of the most noticeable differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese.
2
Rule 1: Standard Sentences (Brazilian Portuguese)
3
In most affirmative sentences in Brazilian Portuguese, especially in spoken language, the pronoun comes before the verb. This is called próclise.
4
Formula: Subject + (Negative Word) + Reflexive Pronoun + Conjugated Verb
5
Let’s use the verb vestir-se (to get dressed).
6
| Subject | Pronoun + Verb | Translation |
7
|:---|:---|:---|
8
| Eu | me visto | I get dressed |
9
| Você | se veste | You get dressed |
10
| Nós | nos vestimos | We get dressed |
11
| Eles | se vestem | They get dressed |
12
Example: Eu me visto rapidamente para não me atrasar. (I get dressed quickly so I don't get late.)
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Rule 2: Standard Sentences (European Portuguese)
14
In formal or standard affirmative sentences in European Portuguese, the pronoun comes after the verb, attached with a hyphen. This is called ênclise.
15
Formula: Subject + Conjugated Verb-Reflexive Pronoun
16
Using vestir-se again for comparison:
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| Subject (EP) | Verb-Pronoun | Translation |
18
|:---|:---|:---|
19
| Eu | visto-me | I get dressed |
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| Tu | vestes-te | You get dressed |
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| Nós | vestimo-nos | We get dressed |
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| Eles | vestem-se | They get dressed |
23
Important Note: When attaching nos to a verb ending in -s (like the nós form), the -s is dropped from the verb. For example, levantamos + nos becomes levantamo-nos.
24
Rule 3: Negative Sentences (The Great Equalizer)
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When you make a sentence negative with words like não (not), nunca (never), or ninguém (nobody), the rules align. In both BP and EP, the negative word “attracts” the pronoun, forcing it to come before the verb (próclise).
26
Formula: Subject + Negative Word + Reflexive Pronoun + Conjugated Verb
27
BP: Ela não se lembra do meu nome. (She doesn't remember my name.)
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EP: Ela não se lembra do meu nome. (The structure is identical here.)
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BP/EP: Nós nunca nos esquecemos daquela viagem. (We never forget that trip.)
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Rule 4: With Infinitives and Gerunds
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When a reflexive verb follows another verb (e.g., in the infinitive or gerund), you have options, again differing by dialect.
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Infinitive: Eu preciso me barbear (BP, more common) vs. Eu preciso barbear-me (EP, also possible in formal BP). (I need to shave.)
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Gerund (Present Continuous): Eu estou me preparando (BP) vs. Estou a preparar-me (EP). (I am preparing myself / getting ready.) Note that EP uses a different construction (estar a + infinitive) for the present continuous.

When To Use It

Reflexive verbs appear in several key contexts. At the A2 level, you should focus on the first two categories, as they are the most frequent.
1. Daily Routines and Personal Care
This is the classic use case. Most actions you do to your own body as part of a routine are expressed with reflexive verbs.
  • acordar-se - to wake up
  • levantar-se - to get up
  • lavar-se - to wash oneself
  • pentear-se - to comb one's hair
  • barbear-se - to shave
  • maquiar-se / maquilhar-se (EP) - to put on makeup
  • deitar-se - to lie down, to go to bed
Example: Todos os dias, ela se levanta às 6h e se deita às 22h. (Every day, she gets up at 6 a.m. and goes to bed at 10 p.m.)
2. Pronominal Verbs: Feelings, States, and Inherent Actions
This is a crucial category. Some verbs in Portuguese, called verbos pronominais, always appear with a reflexive pronoun. The pronoun is part of the verb's identity and often changes its meaning entirely from its non-pronominal counterpart.
The action isn't literally “reflexive,” but the grammar requires the pronoun.
  • sentir (to feel something, to sense) vs. sentir-se (to feel an emotion):
  • Eu sinto o cheiro de café. (I smell coffee.)
  • Eu me sinto feliz hoje. (I feel happy today.)
  • lembrar (to remind someone) vs. lembrar-se de (to remember something):
  • Você me lembra meu irmão. (You remind me of my brother.)
  • Eu não me lembro do seu telefone. (I don't remember your phone number.)
  • Other key pronominal verbs:
  • esquecer-se de - to forget
  • preocupar-se com - to worry about
  • queixar-se de - to complain about
  • orgulhar-se de - to be proud of
  • casar-se com - to get married to
3. Body Movement and Position Changes
Many verbs describing a change in the subject's physical position are reflexive.
  • sentar-se - to sit down
  • aproximar-se de - to approach, to get closer to
  • afastar-se de - to move away from
  • mudar-se - to move (house)
Example: Por favor, sente-se. (Please, sit down.) In this command form, the pronoun comes after the verb.

Common Mistakes

Learners, especially those with an English-speaking background, often make a few predictable errors with reflexive verbs. Recognizing them is the first step to avoiding them.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
This is the most frequent mistake. Because English often implies reflexivity, learners forget to add the required pronoun in Portuguese.
  • Incorrect: Eu acordo às 8h e visto.
  • Why it's wrong: To a native speaker, this sounds like “I wake up at 8 and I dress…” They are left waiting for the object. Who or what do you dress?
  • Correct: Eu me acordo às 8h e me visto.
Mistake 2: Confusing Subject and Reflexive Pronouns
Learners sometimes use a subject pronoun (eu, você) where a reflexive pronoun (me, se) is needed.
  • Incorrect: Ela quer que ela senta ali.
  • Why it's wrong: Subject pronouns are the doers of the action. Reflexive pronouns are the receivers. You cannot use one in place of the other.
  • Correct: Ela quer se sentar ali. or Ela quer sentar-se ali.
Mistake 3: Incorrect Pronoun Placement
This is common when mixing BP and EP rules or when dealing with negative sentences.
  • Incorrect (Affirmative EP): Eu me chamo João. (This uses the BP word order.)
  • Correct (Affirmative EP): Chamo-me João.
  • Incorrect (Negative Sentence in either dialect): Não visto-me bem no inverno. (The negative word não was ignored.)
  • Correct (Negative Sentence): Não me visto bem no inverno. (The não pulls the me to the front.)
Mistake 4: Misusing Pronominal Verbs
It's easy to confuse a verb like lembrar (to remind) with lembrar-se de (to remember).
  • Incorrect: Eu me lembro o filme. (Mixing the reflexive pronoun with the structure of the non-reflexive verb.)
  • Why it's wrong: The verb lembrar-se requires the preposition de.
  • Correct: Eu me lembro do filme. (do = de + o)

Real Conversations

Textbook examples are useful, but seeing reflexive verbs in authentic contexts shows how they truly function in daily life.

S

Scenario 1

Making Plans via WhatsApp (Informal BP)

- Leo: E aí, cara! A gente se encontra no bar mais tarde? Tipo umas 20h?

(Hey, dude! Do we meet each other at the bar later? Around 8 p.m.? — using encontrar-se reciprocally)

- Mari: Fechado! Vou me arrumar e já saio. Me espera aí!

(Deal! I'm going to get myself ready and head out. Wait for me! — using arrumar-se reflexively)

Note: In Brazil, a gente is a very common colloquial substitute for nós (we). It is treated as a third-person singular subject, which is why it pairs with se encontra, not nos encontramos.

S

Scenario 2

A Formal Work Email (EP)

- Subject: Alteração da reunião

- Body: Prezados, Lamento informar que a reunião de amanhã foi cancelada. Eu me enganei na data ao enviar o convite. Desculpem-me pelo transtorno. Enviarei um novo agendamento em breve.

(Dear all, I regret to inform you that tomorrow's meeting has been cancelled. I made a mistake with the date when I sent the invitation. I apologize for the trouble. I will send a new schedule shortly. — using enganar-se (to be mistaken) and the formal command desculpem-me)

S

Scenario 3

Social Media Caption (Instagram)

- (Photo of a person on a mountain summit)

- Caption: Finalmente! Depois de 5 horas de trilha, eu me sinto realizada. Orgulho-me da minha persistência! 💪 #trilha #natureza #superação

(Finally! After a 5-hour hike, I feel accomplished. I am proud of my persistence! — using sentir-se to express a feeling and orgulhar-se as a pronominal verb.)

Quick FAQ

Q: In Brazil, can I just always put the pronoun before the verb?

In everyday conversation, yes, placing the pronoun before the verb (próclise) is almost always correct and natural. Formal writing, however, still follows stricter rules, often requiring the pronoun after the verb (ênclise) to start a sentence. For example, a sign might say Aluga-se (For Rent) instead of Se aluga. As an A2 learner, using próclise in Brazil is your safest and most common option.

Q: Do I ever need to add a mim mesmo or a si mesmo for emphasis?

Yes, sometimes you'll see these phrases, which translate to “to myself” or “to himself/herself.” They are used for clarification or emphasis, to make it absolutely clear the action is reflexive and not reciprocal. For example: Ele só engana a si mesmo. (He only deceives himself.) For now, the simple reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, etc.) are all you need.

Q: What is the difference between Você se senta and Sente-se?

Você se senta is a declarative statement: “You are sitting down” or “You sit down.” Sente-se is a formal command (the imperative mood): “Sit down.” The pronoun moves after the verb for affirmative commands.

Q: Is the verb ser (to be) or estar (to be) ever reflexive?

No, ser and estar are not used reflexively. You express states of being with estar (Eu estou cansado) or with a reflexive verb like sentir-se (Eu me sinto cansado). You would never say Eu me estou. It's a fundamental difference in how Portuguese handles states of being versus actions.

Reflexive Verb Conjugation (Lavar-se)

Subject Pronoun Verb Translation
Eu
me
lavo
I wash myself
Tu
te
lavas
You wash yourself
Você/Ele/Ela
se
lava
He/She washes himself/herself
Nós
nos
lavamos
We wash ourselves
Vós
vos
lavais
You all wash yourselves
Eles/Elas/Vocês
se
lavam
They wash themselves

Meanings

Reflexive verbs are used when the subject of the sentence performs an action upon themselves.

1

Self-directed action

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

“Eu me penteio.”

“Ela se olha no espelho.”

2

Reciprocal action

Two or more people perform an action to each other.

“Eles se amam.”

“Nós nos abraçamos.”

3

Inherent reflexive

Verbs that are always reflexive in Portuguese but not necessarily in English.

“Eu me lembro da festa.”

“Ele se queixa muito.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Actions to Yourself (Verbos Reflexivos)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + Pron + Verb
Eu me lavo
Negative
Subj + Não + Pron + Verb
Eu não me lavo
Interrogative
Pron + Verb + Subj?
Você se lava?
Infinitive
Verb + Pron
Lavar-se
Gerund
Verb + -ndo + Pron
Lavando-se
Passive
Verb + se
Vende-se

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Eu retirar-me-ei.

Eu retirar-me-ei. (Leaving a place)

Neutral
Eu vou me embora.

Eu vou me embora. (Leaving a place)

Informal
Eu vou-me.

Eu vou-me. (Leaving a place)

Slang
Vou vazar.

Vou vazar. (Leaving a place)

Reflexive Pronoun Map

Reflexive Pronouns

1st Person

  • me myself
  • nos ourselves

2nd Person

  • te yourself
  • vos yourselves

3rd Person

  • se himself/herself/themselves

Brazil vs Portugal Placement

Brazil (Proclisis)
Eu me visto I get dressed
Portugal (Enclisis)
Visto-me I get dressed
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Examples by Level

1

Eu me chamo Ana.

I call myself Ana.

2

Você se chama Pedro?

Do you call yourself Pedro?

3

Eu me sinto bem.

I feel good.

4

Ele se chama Lucas.

He calls himself Lucas.

1

Eu me visto às oito.

I get dressed at eight.

2

Ela não se lava agora.

She is not washing herself now.

3

Nós nos levantamos cedo.

We get up early.

4

Eles se barbeiam todo dia.

They shave every day.

1

Nós nos conhecemos na escola.

We met each other at school.

2

Eu me lembro daquele dia.

I remember that day.

3

Eles se queixam do barulho.

They complain about the noise.

4

Vocês se arrependem?

Do you regret it?

1

Eu quero me preparar para a prova.

I want to prepare myself for the test.

2

Vende-se este carro.

This car is for sale.

3

Ele se deixou levar pela emoção.

He let himself be carried away by emotion.

4

Nós nos temos visto pouco.

We have been seeing each other little.

1

Ele foi-se embora sem dizer nada.

He left without saying anything.

2

Diz-se que a economia vai melhorar.

It is said that the economy will improve.

3

Não se deve julgar as pessoas.

One should not judge people.

4

Eles se viram obrigados a sair.

They found themselves forced to leave.

1

Sentiu-se o impacto da decisão.

The impact of the decision was felt.

2

Arrependo-me amargamente do que fiz.

I bitterly regret what I did.

3

Vimo-nos em uma situação difícil.

We found ourselves in a difficult situation.

4

Perdeu-se a esperança naquele momento.

Hope was lost at that moment.

Easily Confused

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Actions to Yourself (Verbos Reflexivos) vs Reflexive vs. Direct Object Pronouns

Learners mix up 'me' (reflexive) and 'me' (direct object).

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Actions to Yourself (Verbos Reflexivos) vs Proclisis vs. Enclisis

Learners don't know when to put the pronoun before or after the verb.

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Actions to Yourself (Verbos Reflexivos) vs Reciprocal vs. Reflexive

Both use the same pronouns.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu lavo.

✓

Eu me lavo.

Missing the reflexive pronoun.
✗

Eu se lavo.

✓

Eu me lavo.

Wrong pronoun for the subject.
✗

Eu me não lavo.

✓

Eu não me lavo.

Incorrect negative placement.
✗

Eu lavo-me.

✓

Eu me lavo.

Using European structure in Brazil.
✗

Nós nos lavamos.

✓

Nós nos lavamos.

Actually correct, but often confused with 'nos' (us) as an object.
✗

Você se lava?

✓

Você se lava?

Often forgotten in questions.
✗

Ele lava-se.

✓

Ele se lava.

Placement issue.
✗

Eu me lembro da festa.

✓

Eu me lembro da festa.

Often forgotten that 'lembrar' is reflexive.
✗

Eles se amam.

✓

Eles se amam.

Confusion between reflexive and reciprocal.
✗

Eu me queixo.

✓

Eu me queixo.

Verb conjugation error.
✗

Vende-se casas.

✓

Vendem-se casas.

Agreement error with passive reflexive.
✗

Ele se foi.

✓

Ele foi-se.

Register error.
✗

Se deve fazer.

✓

Deve-se fazer.

Initial proclisis error.

Sentence Patterns

Eu me ___ todos os dias.

Você se ___ cedo?

Nós nos ___ muito na festa.

Ele se ___ de ter dito aquilo.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Eu me sinto incrível hoje! #selfie

Texting very common

A gente se fala depois.

Job Interview common

Eu me preparei para este desafio.

Travel common

Onde eu posso me hospedar?

Food Delivery occasional

Eu me sinto com fome.

Medical common

Eu me sinto tonto.

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💡

Check the subject

Always identify the subject first. If it's 'Eu', the pronoun is 'me'. If it's 'Eles', it's 'se'.
⚠️

Don't skip the pronoun

Skipping the pronoun changes the meaning entirely. 'Eu lavo' is not 'I wash myself'.
🎯

Listen to music

Listen to Brazilian pop music; they use reflexive verbs in almost every song.
💬

Regional differences

If you are in Brazil, put the pronoun before the verb. If you are in Portugal, put it after.

Smart Tips

Remember to include the pronoun when you conjugate it.

Eu levanto às 7. → Eu me levanto às 7.

Group verbs like 'lavar-se', 'vestir-se', 'pentear-se'.

Eu lavo, visto, penteio. → Eu me lavo, me visto, me penteio.

Use the European structure (verb-pronoun) if you are in a formal setting.

Eu me sinto honrado. → Sinto-me honrado.

Ask: 'Am I doing this to myself?' If yes, use the pronoun.

Eu corto o cabelo. → Eu me corto (accidentally) vs Eu corto o cabelo (at a salon).

Pronunciation

me -> [mi]

Pronoun reduction

In fast speech, 'me' and 'te' often sound like 'mi' and 'ti'.

nos -> [nõs]

Nasalization

The 'nos' pronoun has a nasal sound.

Question intonation

Você se lava? ↑

Rising pitch at the end for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember the 'Mirror Rule': If you see yourself in the mirror, you need a reflexive pronoun.

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in front of a mirror. Every time they move, a little 'me' or 'se' pops out of the mirror to join the verb.

Rhyme

When the subject does the deed, to themselves, a pronoun they need.

Story

João wakes up. He 'se levanta' (gets up). He 'se lava' (washes himself). He 'se veste' (dresses himself). He looks in the mirror and says, 'Eu me amo!' (I love myself).

Word Web

metesenosvoslavar-sevestir-se

Challenge

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

Cultural Notes

Brazilians strongly prefer placing the pronoun before the verb. Using it after the verb can sound overly formal or poetic.

In Portugal, placing the pronoun after the verb is standard and preferred in most contexts.

Usage is similar to Portugal, but with distinct rhythmic patterns in speech.

Reflexive pronouns in Portuguese come from Latin accusative pronouns (me, te, se).

Conversation Starters

“

Como você se sente hoje?

“

A que horas você se levanta?

“

Você se lembra da nossa última aula?

“

Como as pessoas se comportam no seu país?

Journal Prompts

Write about your morning routine.
Describe a time you felt very happy.
Write about a habit you want to change.
Discuss the importance of self-care.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.

Eu ___ lavo todos os dias.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
The subject is 'Eu', so the pronoun is 'me'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me visto.
In Brazil, the pronoun comes before the verb.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu não lavo-me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não me lavo.
The negative 'não' must come before the pronoun.
Transform into a question. Sentence Transformation

Você se levanta cedo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você se levanta cedo?
Just add a question mark for intonation.
Conjugate 'sentir-se' for 'Nós'. Conjugation Drill

Nós ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nos sentimos
The pronoun for 'Nós' is 'nos'.
Match the verb with its meaning. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
Standard reflexive verb meanings.
Order the words. Sentence Building

festa / na / nos / divertimos / nós

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós nos divertimos na festa.
Standard SVO order with reflexive pronoun.
Is this reflexive or reciprocal? Multiple Choice

Eles se abraçam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Reciprocal
They are hugging each other.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.

Eu ___ lavo todos os dias.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
The subject is 'Eu', so the pronoun is 'me'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me visto.
In Brazil, the pronoun comes before the verb.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu não lavo-me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não me lavo.
The negative 'não' must come before the pronoun.
Transform into a question. Sentence Transformation

Você se levanta cedo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você se levanta cedo?
Just add a question mark for intonation.
Conjugate 'sentir-se' for 'Nós'. Conjugation Drill

Nós ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nos sentimos
The pronoun for 'Nós' is 'nos'.
Match the verb with its meaning. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Lavar-se, 2. Vestir-se, 3. Lembrar-se

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
Standard reflexive verb meanings.
Order the words. Sentence Building

festa / na / nos / divertimos / nós

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós nos divertimos na festa.
Standard SVO order with reflexive pronoun.
Is this reflexive or reciprocal? Multiple Choice

Eles se abraçam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Reciprocal
They are hugging each other.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Eles ___ chamam de 'os reis da pista'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se
Put the words in the correct order (Brazilian style). Sentence Reorder

se / Ela / no espelho / vê

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela se vê no espelho
Translate 'I feel happy' to Portuguese. Translation

I feel happy (using sentir-se).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me sinto feliz
Which one is a daily routine verb? Multiple Choice

Select the reflexive routine verb:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Barbear-se
Fix the pronoun. Error Correction

Você me deita tarde?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você se deita tarde?
Match the subject to the pronoun. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu:me, Nós:nos, Você:se
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Tu ___ vestes bem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Reorder for a negative sentence. Sentence Reorder

não / nos / Nós / esquecemos

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós não nos esquecemos
What does 'A gente se vê' mean? Multiple Choice

Translate the phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We see each other
Translate 'She combs her hair'. Translation

She combs her hair (pentear-se).

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

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Without it, the verb means you are doing the action to someone else. 'Eu lavo' (I wash [it]), 'Eu me lavo' (I wash myself).

No, it is grammatically incorrect. It is essential for the meaning.

No, it can also be used for passive or impersonal constructions like 'Vende-se casa'.

It's just the standard reflexive pronoun for the first person plural.

It will sound confusing to native speakers, like saying 'I wash yourself'.

No, only those that describe actions done to oneself or reciprocal actions.

Look for the '-se' at the end of the infinitive form, like 'lavar-se'.

Yes, the placement of the pronoun is usually after the verb, attached with a hyphen.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Verbos reflexivos

Pronoun placement is more rigid in Spanish.

French high

Verbes pronominaux

French requires an auxiliary verb 'être' for past tense.

German moderate

Reflexive Verben

German pronouns change based on the case (accusative/dative).

Japanese low

Jibun (self)

Japanese does not conjugate verbs reflexively.

Arabic low

Form VIII verbs

Arabic changes the verb root rather than adding a pronoun.

Chinese low

Ziji (self)

Chinese has no verb conjugation for person or reflexivity.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Things to Yourself (-se)
Next
Reflexive Pronouns: Where do they go? (Me lavo vs. Lavo-me)

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A2 Requires

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