A2 Verb Tenses 14 min read Easy

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Things to Yourself (-se)

When you perform an action on yourself, you must use a reflexive pronoun to act as the mirror.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Reflexive verbs show the subject performing an action upon themselves, marked by the reflexive pronoun 'se'.

  • Use 'me, te, se, nos, se' before the verb: Eu me lavo (I wash myself).
  • In negative sentences, the pronoun stays before the verb: Não me lavo.
  • In Brazilian Portuguese, pronouns often precede the verb; in European, they often follow with a hyphen.
Subject + Reflexive Pronoun + Verb

Overview

Portuguese reflexive verbs describe an action that the subject performs on itself. The core idea is simple: the doer of the action is also the receiver. In their dictionary form (the infinitive), you'll recognize these verbs by the particle -se attached to the end, as in lavar-se (to wash oneself) or vestir-se (to dress oneself).

This -se is a critical flag, signaling that the verb requires a companion: a reflexive pronoun that must agree with the subject.

The linguistic principle at play is valency. A non-reflexive verb like lavar (to wash) directs its action outward, requiring an external object (lavar o carro – to wash the car). By adding the reflexive particle, you change the verb's valency, turning its action inward.

The object becomes the subject itself. This is not just a grammatical curiosity; it's a fundamental mechanism for expressing daily routines, personal care, changes in emotional or physical states, and reciprocal actions.

Mastering these verbs is essential for moving beyond simply describing the world to describing your personal experience within it. For an A2 learner, this is the grammatical key to talking about your daily life, from the moment you get up (levantar-se) to the moment you go to bed (deitar-se).

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Reflexive Pronoun Brazilian Portuguese (Proclisis) European Portuguese (Enclisis) Translation
:--- :--- :--- :--- :---
Eu me Eu me lavo Eu lavo-me I wash myself
Tu te Tu te lavas Tu lavas-te You (informal) wash yourself
Ele/Ela/Você se Ele se lava Ele lava-se He/She/You (formal) wash(es) him/her/yourself
Nós nos Nós nos lavamos Nós lavamo-nos We wash ourselves
Vós vos Vós vos lavais Vós lavais-vos You (pl., informal) wash yourselves
Eles/Elas/Vocês se Eles se lavam Eles lavam-se They/You (pl., formal) wash themselves/yourselves

How This Grammar Works

The engine of a reflexive construction has two parts: the conjugated verb and the reflexive pronoun. The pronoun is not optional; it's what signals the verb's inward-facing action.
Your Reflexive Pronoun Toolkit:
  • me (myself)
  • te (yourself — used with tu)
  • se (himself, herself, yourself — used with você, and themselves/yourselves — used with eles/elas/vocês)
  • nos (ourselves)
  • vos (yourselves — used with vós, mainly in EP)
Pronoun Placement: The Great Divide
This is where learners often get stuck, as the rules differ dramatically.
1. Brazilian Portuguese (BP): Default is Proclisis
In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, the reflexive pronoun almost always comes before the verb. This is called próclise. It's the most natural, common, and relaxed-sounding construction.
  • Eu me sinto bem hoje. (I feel good today.)
  • Ela se esqueceu da reunião. (She forgot about the meeting.)
While placing the pronoun after the verb (sinto-me) exists in BP, it is reserved for very formal writing or literary contexts and can sound unnatural in conversation.
2. European Portuguese (EP): Default is Enclisis
In European Portuguese, the rules are more rigid. For simple affirmative sentences, the pronoun must come after the verb, attached with a hyphen. This is called ênclise.
  • Eu sinto-me bem hoje. (I feel good today.)
  • Ela esqueceu-se da reunião. (She forgot about the meeting.)
However, proclisis (pronoun before) becomes mandatory in EP if certain words, known as "attractive words," appear before the verb. These include:
  • Negative words: não, nunca, jamais
  • Eu não me sinto bem. (I don't feel well.)
  • Question words: quem, quando, onde, por que
  • Quando te deitas normalmente? (When do you normally go to bed?)
  • Certain conjunctions: que, porque, se
  • Espero que te divirtas. (I hope you have fun.)

Formation Pattern

1
Forming a reflexive sentence follows a clear, two-step pattern.
2
Step 1: Identify the components
3
Your starting point is a reflexive infinitive, like preocupar-se (to worry).
4
You need a subject, for example, nós (we).
5
Step 2: Assemble according to the rules
6
Select the pronoun: The subject is nós, so the reflexive pronoun must be nos.
7
Conjugate the verb: The verb is preocupar. For nós in the present tense, it becomes preocupamos.
8
Place the pronoun:
9
BP: The pronoun goes before the verb. Nós nos preocupamos.
10
EP: In a simple affirmative sentence, it goes after. Remember to drop the final -s of the verb: preocupamos + nos → Nós preocupamo-nos.
11
Let's try one more with queixar-se (to complain) and the subject ela (she).
12
Pronoun: se
13
Verb: queixar → queixa
14
Assembly:
15
BP: Ela se queixa.
16
EP: Ela queixa-se.
17
This systematic process works for any reflexive verb in any tense.

When To Use It

Reflexive verbs are not random; they cluster around specific types of actions. At the A2 level, you should focus on these primary categories.
  • 1. Daily Routines and Personal Care: This is the most common and intuitive use. These are actions you do to your own body.
  • acordar-se (to wake up)
  • levantar-se (to get up)
  • barbear-se (to shave oneself)
  • pentear-se (to comb one's hair)
  • deitar-se (to lie down/go to bed)
  • Example: Eu me levanto sempre às sete horas. (I always get up at seven.)
  • 2. Changes in Emotional or Physical State: Verbs that describe a change in how you feel or your condition are often reflexive.
  • sentir-se (to feel an emotion/condition)
  • preocupar-se com (to worry about)
  • zangar-se (to get angry)
  • apaixonar-se por (to fall in love with)
  • Example: Ela se apaixonou pelo colega de trabalho. (She fell in love with her coworker.)
  • 3. Actions Involving Body Movement: This category includes verbs describing how you move or position your own body.
  • sentar-se (to sit down)
  • mover-se (to move oneself)
  • virar-se (to turn oneself around)
  • Example: Por favor, sente-se. (Please, sit down.)
  • 4. Remembering and Forgetting: In Portuguese, the acts of remembering and forgetting are often framed as reflexive internal processes.
  • lembrar-se de (to remember)
  • esquecer-se de (to forget)
  • Example: Você se lembra do nome dele? (Do you remember his name?)
  • 5. Reciprocal Actions: Reflexive pronouns (especially nos and se) can also mean "each other." The context makes the meaning clear. This is called a reciprocal use.
  • Eles se abraçaram. (They hugged each other.)
  • Nós nos encontramos amanhã. (We'll meet each other tomorrow.)

When Not To Use It

Understanding when not to use a reflexive pronoun is just as important as knowing when to use it. The error is almost always applying the reflexive structure to an action directed at an external object.
The rule is simple: if the action is directed at something or someone other than the subject, the verb is not reflexive.
Compare the following pairs. The reflexive version's action turns inward; the non-reflexive version's action flows outward to an object.
| Reflexive (Action on Self) | Non-Reflexive / Transitive (Action on Other) |
| :--- | :--- |
| Eu me lavo de manhã. (I wash myself in the morning.) | Eu lavo a louça. (I wash the dishes.) |
| Ela se veste para a festa. (She gets dressed for the party.) | Ela veste a filha. (She dresses her daughter.) |
| Nós nos vemos no espelho. (We see ourselves in the mirror.) | Nós vemos um filme. (We see a movie.) |
Trying to use a reflexive pronoun where it doesn't belong creates a nonsensical sentence. For instance, Eu me como a pizza literally means "I eat myself the pizza," which is incorrect. The correct sentence is simply Eu como a pizza (I eat the pizza), as the action of eating is directed at the pizza, not at you.

Common Mistakes

Learners consistently make a few key errors with reflexive verbs. Recognizing them is the first step to avoiding them.
  1. 1Forgetting the Pronoun Entirely: This is the most frequent mistake. A learner says Eu levanto às 8, trying to say "I get up at 8." To a native speaker, this sounds like "I lift (something) at 8." The sentence is incomplete because the verb levantar requires an object. By adding me (Eu me levanto), you clarify that you are the object being lifted.
Incorrect
✗2. Mismatching the Pronoun and Subject: This often happens when learners memorize se as the main reflexive particle. You might see Eu se chamo... instead of the correct Eu me chamo... or Tu se lavas instead of Tu te lavas. Always double-check that the pronoun matches the subject (eu
✓me, tu → te, nós → nos, etc.).
  1. 1Confusing Brazilian and European Placement: Using BP's proclisis (me lavo) in a formal EP context will sound wrong. Conversely, using EP's enclisis (lavo-me) in a casual BP conversation can sound stiff or even arrogant. When you're starting, it's best to choose one standard (usually based on where you plan to travel or who your teacher is) and stick with it to build consistency.
  1. 1Misusing Esquecer vs. Esquecer-se: This is a finer point. Both Eu esqueci a chave and Eu me esqueci da chave mean "I forgot the key." The reflexive form, esquecer-se de, is often more common in speech and emphasizes a mental lapse. The non-reflexive form is also correct and focuses more on the object that was forgotten. As an A2 learner, you can use either, but be aware that the reflexive version is extremely common.

Memory Trick

To internalize reflexive verbs, use mental models to make the concept stick.

- The "To Myself" Test: This is your most reliable trick. When you see a verb, ask if you can logically add "(to/for) myself, yourself, himself, etc." after it in English. If yes, it's very likely reflexive in Portuguese.

- I get (myself) up. → levantar-se

- She puts (herself) to bed. → deitar-se

- He worries (himself). → preocupar-se

- The Mirror Image: Think of the reflexive pronoun as a mirror. The action of the verb (ver - to see) leaves the subject (Eu), hits the mirror (me), and bounces right back. The result: Eu me vejo (I see myself). For any action you can imagine doing while looking in a mirror—washing your face, combing your hair, getting dressed—the verb is reflexive.

- Routine = Reflexive: Create a strong mental link between the concept of a "daily routine" and reflexive verbs. Memorize this core sequence: acordar-se → levantar-se → lavar-se → vestir-se → deitar-se. If you can lock this sequence in your mind as definitively reflexive, you'll have a solid foundation for the entire category.

Real Conversations

Textbook examples are clean, but real-world Portuguese is fast and often abbreviated. Here’s how you'll see and hear reflexive verbs in the wild.

- Texting / WhatsApp (BP):

- Td bem? A gente se fala dps. (Tudo bem? A gente se fala depois. - All good? We'll talk later.) Note: a gente is a common colloquial substitute for nós in BP and uses the se pronoun.

- Vc se lembra onde a gente se encontrou? (Você se lembra onde a gente se encontrou? - Do you remember where we met?)

- Social Media Captions:

- BP: Me sentindo feliz e realizada! (Feeling happy and fulfilled!) Note the common BP pattern of starting a sentence with a pronoun, which is considered incorrect in formal grammar but is ubiquitous in speech.

- EP: A preparar-me para um fim de semana incrível. (Getting myself ready for an incredible weekend.)

- Casual Spoken Dialogue (BP):

- A: E aí, cara, beleza?

- B: Beleza. Me atrasei um pouco, foi mal. O trânsito tava tenso. (Great. I was a bit late, my bad. Traffic was intense.) Atrasar-se means to be late/to delay oneself.

- A Cultural Insight: Notice how chamar-se is used for names (Como você se chama?). The literal translation is "How do you call yourself?" This reflects a worldview where your name is part of your identity that you present to the world—an inherently reflexive concept.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

As you advance, you'll see the pronoun se used in ways that aren't reflexive. Distinguishing between them is crucial for accurate comprehension.
1. Reflexive se vs. Impersonal se
The impersonal se indicates that there is no specific subject. It's used to make general statements, similar to "one does" or the passive voice in English.
  • Reflexive: Ele se machucou. (He hurt himself.) The se is the object and refers directly to Ele.
  • Impersonal: Aqui se fala português. (One speaks Portuguese here / Portuguese is spoken here.) The se does not refer to anyone in particular; it makes the action generic.
2. Reflexive se vs. Reciprocal se
This distinction depends entirely on context. Does the action reflect back on each individual subject, or does it happen between them?
  • Reflexive: As meninas se maquiam. (The girls put makeup on themselves.) Each girl is doing the action to her own face.
  • Reciprocal: Os amigos se cumprimentam. (The friends greet each other.) The action of greeting occurs between the friends.
3. Reflexive se vs. Passive se (SE Apasivador)
This is similar to the impersonal se but is used with transitive verbs to form a passive-like construction.
  • Reflexive: A mulher se olhou no espelho. (The woman looked at herself in the mirror.)
  • Passive: Vende-se esta casa. (This house is for sale / This house is sold.) The house isn't selling itself. This structure hides the agent (the seller) and focuses on the object.

Progressive Practice

1

Work through these levels to build your skills from recognition to production.

2

Level 1: Fill in the Pronoun

3

Fill the blank with the correct reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, vos).

4

Eu ___ chamo Ana.

5

Eles ___ deitam muito tarde.

6

Nós (BP) ___ preocupamos com você.

7

Tu (EP) lavas-___ todos os dias?

Answers: me, se, nos, te

Level 2: Conjugate the Verb

Provide the correct reflexive form based on the subject and pronoun placement standard.

8

(Eu / sentar-se / BP) → Eu me sento

9

(Ela / vestir-se / EP) → Ela veste-se

10

(Nós / encontrar-se / EP) → Nós encontramo-nos

11

(Vocês / lembrar-se / BP) → Vocês se lembram

Level 3: Create a Sentence

Use the prompt to write a full sentence using at least one reflexive verb.

12

Prompt: Describe what you do as soon as you wake up.

Possible Answer: Eu me espreguiço e depois me levanto. (I stretch and then I get up.)

13

Prompt: Ask a friend if he remembers your birthday.

Possible Answer: Você se lembra do meu aniversário?

Level 4: Correct the Error

Find and fix the mistake in each sentence.

14

*Maria levanta às sete. → Maria se levanta às sete. (BP) / Maria levanta-se às sete. (EP)

15

*Nós se vemos no cinema. → Nós nos vemos no cinema.

16

*Eu não lavo-me aqui. (EP) → Eu não me lavo aqui. (Negative word attracts the pronoun).

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can I just ignore the European Portuguese rules and always use the Brazilian style?
  • A: In casual conversation in Portugal, people will understand you, but it will immediately mark you as a foreigner or a Brazilian. For writing, exams, or any formal context in Portugal, you must use the correct EP placement rules (enclisis/proclisis). It's a matter of correctness, not just style.
  • Q: Is a gente se... considered proper grammar in Brazil?
  • A: In informal, spoken Brazilian Portuguese, it is completely standard and correct. A gente se vê amanhã is far more common than Nós nos vemos amanhã. However, in formal writing (academic papers, business reports), nós is still preferred.
  • Q: What is the difference between sentir and sentir-se?
  • A: Sentir is transitive and means to feel or perceive an external thing (Eu senti o cheiro de café - I smelled the coffee). Sentir-se is reflexive and describes your internal state or emotion (Eu me sinto cansado - I feel tired).
  • Q: Why do some reflexive verbs need de after them, like esquecer-se de?
  • A: This is called verb regency (regência verbal). Certain verbs require a specific preposition to connect to their object or complement. Esquecer-se and lembrar-se are two key reflexive verbs that almost always require the preposition de when followed by the thing you forgot or remembered. It's best to memorize them as a complete chunk: lembrar-se de algo.

Reflexive Verb Conjugation (Lavar-se)

Subject Pronoun Verb
Eu
me
lavo
Tu
te
lavas
Ele/Ela
se
lava
Nós
nos
lavamos
Eles/Elas
se
lavam

Meanings

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

1

Direct Reflexive

The subject performs an action on their own body.

“Eu me penteio.”

“Ela se corta.”

2

Reciprocal

Two or more subjects perform an action on each other.

“Eles se amam.”

“Nós nos abraçamos.”

3

Inherent Reflexive

Verbs that are always used with a pronoun, often indicating a change of state.

“Eu me arrependo.”

“Ele se queixa.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Things to Yourself (-se)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Pronoun + Verb
Eu me lavo
Negative
Não + Pronoun + Verb
Eu não me lavo
Interrogative
Pronoun + Verb + ?
Você se lava?
Reciprocal
Pronoun + Verb
Eles se amam
Inherent
Pronoun + Verb
Eu me arrependo
Past
Pronoun + Verb (Past)
Eu me lavei

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Vou preparar-me.

Vou preparar-me. (Getting ready for an event)

Neutral
Eu vou me preparar.

Eu vou me preparar. (Getting ready for an event)

Informal
Vou me arrumar.

Vou me arrumar. (Getting ready for an event)

Slang
Vou me aprontar.

Vou me aprontar. (Getting ready for an event)

Reflexive Pronouns Map

Reflexive Pronoun

1st Person

  • me myself
  • nos ourselves

2nd Person

  • te yourself

3rd Person

  • se himself/herself
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Examples by Level

1

Eu me lavo.

I wash myself.

2

Ele se veste.

He gets dressed.

3

Nós nos olhamos.

We look at ourselves.

4

Você se chama?

Do you call yourself?

1

Eu não me sinto bem.

I don't feel well.

2

Eles se encontram no parque.

They meet in the park.

3

Tu te lembras de mim?

Do you remember me?

4

Nós nos preparamos para a viagem.

We prepare ourselves for the trip.

1

Eles se amam profundamente.

They love each other deeply.

2

Eu me arrependo do que disse.

I regret what I said.

3

Ela se queixa do barulho.

She complains about the noise.

4

Nós nos divertimos muito ontem.

We had a lot of fun yesterday.

1

Ele se deixou levar pela emoção.

He let himself be carried away by emotion.

2

Eles se viram obrigados a sair.

They found themselves forced to leave.

3

Eu me pergunto se ele virá.

I wonder if he will come.

4

Nós nos dedicamos ao projeto.

We dedicated ourselves to the project.

1

O livro se lê facilmente.

The book is easily read.

2

Eles se fizeram passar por médicos.

They posed as doctors.

3

Eu me vi diante de um dilema.

I found myself facing a dilemma.

4

Nós nos havemos de encontrar.

We shall meet.

1

Viu-se, então, a verdade.

The truth was then seen.

2

Eles se hão de arrepender.

They will regret it.

3

Eu me viro como posso.

I manage as I can.

4

Nós nos desfazemos em desculpas.

We are full of apologies.

Easily Confused

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Things to Yourself (-se) vs Direct Object Pronouns

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

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Things to Yourself (-se) vs Passive Voice

Both use 'se'.

Portuguese Reflexive Verbs: Doing Things to Yourself (-se) vs Reciprocal vs Reflexive

Both use 'nos' and 'se'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu lavo.

✓

Eu me lavo.

Missing the reflexive pronoun.
✗

Eu se lavo.

✓

Eu me lavo.

Wrong pronoun for the subject.
✗

Não lavo-me.

✓

Não me lavo.

Incorrect word order in negative.
✗

Eu me lavo o rosto.

✓

Eu lavo o meu rosto.

Double reflexivity is redundant.
✗

Nós nos lavamos.

✓

Nós nos lavamos.

Actually correct, but often learners write 'Nós nos lavamos' as 'Nós lavamos'.
✗

Eles se veste.

✓

Eles se vestem.

Verb conjugation error.
✗

Tu se lava.

✓

Tu te lavas.

Mixing tu/você forms.
✗

Eu me arrependo-me.

✓

Eu me arrependo.

Redundant pronoun usage.
✗

Eles se amam-se.

✓

Eles se amam.

Redundant pronoun.
✗

O livro se lê-se.

✓

O livro se lê.

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Se viu-se o problema.

✓

Viu-se o problema.

Incorrect clitic placement.
✗

Eles se hão de se arrepender.

✓

Eles hão de se arrepender.

Clitic placement in periphrastic verbs.
✗

Eu me viro-me.

✓

Eu me viro.

Redundant.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ ___ todos os dias.

Nós ___ ___ no parque.

Eu não ___ ___ com isso.

Ele ___ ___ a sair.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

Eu me sinto feliz hoje!

Texting constant

Vou me arrumar, já volto.

Job Interview common

Eu me preparei para esta vaga.

Travel common

Onde posso me hospedar?

Food Delivery occasional

Vou me servir de um café.

Daily Routine constant

Eu me acordo às 7h.

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💡

Mirror Rule

If you are the doer and the receiver, use a reflexive pronoun.
⚠️

Don't Forget the Pronoun

Without the pronoun, the meaning changes completely.
🎯

Placement

In Brazil, keep it before the verb for natural flow.
💬

Regional Differences

Expect to see it after the verb in Portugal.

Smart Tips

Always pair the verb with the reflexive pronoun.

Eu acordo às 7h. → Eu me acordo às 7h.

Keep the 'não' at the very beginning.

Eu me não lavo. → Eu não me lavo.

Ensure the subject is plural.

Eu me abraço com ele. → Nós nos abraçamos.

Consider the placement of the pronoun.

Eu me preparo. → Preparo-me.

Pronunciation

me-LAVO

Pronoun stress

Reflexive pronouns are unstressed and attached to the verb's rhythm.

Question

Você se lava? ↑

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Me, Te, Se, Nos, Se — like a mirror, the action comes back to me.

Visual Association

Imagine looking into a mirror. Everything you do, your reflection does too. The 'se' is the mirror.

Rhyme

Eu me lavo, tu te lavas, ele se lava, a reflexão não acaba.

Story

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

Word Web

metesenoslavar-sevestir-sesentir-se

Challenge

Describe your morning routine in 5 sentences using reflexive verbs.

Cultural Notes

Pronouns almost always precede the verb in spoken language.

Pronouns often follow the verb in formal writing.

Similar to Portugal, but with regional variations in pronoun usage.

Derived from Latin pronominal constructions.

Conversation Starters

“

A que horas você se acorda?

“

Como você se diverte no fim de semana?

“

Você se arrepende de alguma coisa?

“

Como você se vê daqui a cinco anos?

Journal Prompts

Describe your morning routine.
Describe a time you felt happy.
Write about a conflict you resolved.
Reflect on your personal growth.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ lavo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person singular.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ vestem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se
3rd person plural.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu lavo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me lavo
Needs reflexive pronoun.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me lavo
Standard order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I feel good.

Answer starts with: Eu ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me sinto bem
Reflexive verb.
Match the pronoun. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

Tu (vestir-se)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te vestes
2nd person.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você se diverte? B: Sim, eu ___ divirto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person answer.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ lavo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person singular.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ vestem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se
3rd person plural.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu lavo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me lavo
Needs reflexive pronoun.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

lavo / me / Eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me lavo
Standard order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I feel good.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me sinto bem
Reflexive verb.
Match the pronoun. Match Pairs

Eu -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

Tu (vestir-se)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te vestes
2nd person.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você se diverte? B: Sim, eu ___ divirto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person answer.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complete the sentence with the correct pronoun. Fill in the Blank

Tu deitas-___ tarde aos fins de semana?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Fix the negative sentence in European Portuguese. Error Correction

Eu não esqueço-me do teu aniversário.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não me esqueço do teu aniversário.
Reorder the words to form a correct Brazilian Portuguese sentence. Sentence Reorder

para o trabalho / se arruma / ele / rápido

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ele se arruma rápido para o trabalho
Translate into European Portuguese: 'We get dressed.' Translation

How do you say 'We get dressed' in PT-EU?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós vestimo-nos.
Which sentence means 'They say goodbye'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct translation:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles despedem-se.
Match the subject to its correct reflexive pronoun. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu - me
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Os meus pais ___ levantam muito cedo. (Brazilian style)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Como chamas-se?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Como te chamas?
Translate: 'I wash my hands' (Literally: I wash myself the hands). Translation

Translate to Portuguese:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu lavo-me as mãos.
Which sentence uses the reflexive correctly for an emotional change? Multiple Choice

Select the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu irrito-me com o trânsito.
Reorder to make a negative sentence (European Portuguese). Sentence Reorder

lembro / não / me / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: eu não me lembro
Complete the informal greeting. Fill in the Blank

A gente ___ vê amanhã!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

It shows the action is directed at yourself.

Usually before the verb in Brazil.

Yes, it often follows the verb.

Only if it's a reciprocal action.

The meaning changes to a non-reflexive action.

No, only those that can be self-directed.

Put 'não' before the pronoun.

No, it follows a simple pattern.

Scaffolded Practice

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4

Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Verbos reflexivos

Pronoun placement rules are very similar.

French high

Verbes pronominaux

French uses 'être' as an auxiliary in past tenses.

German moderate

Reflexive Verben

German has specific reflexive pronouns for all persons.

Japanese low

Jidoushi/Tadoushi

No reflexive pronouns.

Arabic low

Form VIII/V

No pronouns.

Chinese low

Ziji

Word order is different.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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

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