Reciprocal Reflexive Verbs (e.g., voljeti se)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the reflexive pronoun 'se' with plural verbs to express that two or more people are doing something to each other.
- Use plural verb forms (1st, 2nd, or 3rd person plural).
- Add the reflexive particle 'se' after the verb.
- Ensure the verb implies a mutual action (e.g., 'vidjeti se' - to see each other).
Reciprocal Conjugation (Voljeti se - To love each other)
| Person | Pronoun | Verb Form |
|---|---|---|
|
1st Plural
|
Mi
|
volimo se
|
|
2nd Plural
|
Vi
|
volite se
|
|
3rd Plural
|
Oni/One
|
vole se
|
Meanings
Reciprocal reflexive verbs describe actions performed by two or more subjects upon one another.
Mutual action
Actions done between two or more people.
“Oni se ljube.”
“Mi se razumijemo.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb + se
|
Oni se vole.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + ne + Verb + se
|
Oni se ne vole.
|
|
Question
|
Verb + li + se + Subject
|
Vole li se oni?
|
|
Past Tense
|
Subject + Verb(past) + se
|
Oni su se voljeli.
|
|
Future Tense
|
Subject + će + se + Verb
|
Oni će se voljeti.
|
|
Modal
|
Subject + Modal + Verb + se
|
Oni se moraju voljeti.
|
Espectro de formalidade
Susrećemo se. (Greeting)
Vidimo se. (Greeting)
Vidimo se! (Greeting)
Vidimo se, ekipa! (Greeting)
Reciprocal Reflexive Flow
Action
- vidjeti se see each other
Feeling
- voljeti se love each other
Exemplos por nível
Mi se vidimo.
We see each other.
Oni se igraju.
They are playing together.
Vi se znate?
Do you know each other?
Mi se volimo.
We love each other.
Oni se ne poznaju.
They don't know each other.
Zašto se viđate?
Why do you see each other?
Svi se smiju.
Everyone is laughing together.
Oni se često svađaju.
They often argue with each other.
Moramo se češće viđati.
We must see each other more often.
Jesu li se upoznali?
Have they met each other?
Oni se razumiju bez riječi.
They understand each other without words.
Dugo se nisu vidjeli.
They haven't seen each other for a long time.
Oni se međusobno poštuju.
They respect each other mutually.
Svi su se gledali u čudu.
They were all looking at each other in surprise.
Ne bismo se trebali svađati.
We shouldn't be arguing with each other.
Oni se podržavaju u svemu.
They support each other in everything.
Oni se gledaju kao da se ne poznaju.
They look at each other as if they don't know each other.
Svi su se složili oko plana.
They all agreed with each other on the plan.
Oni se neprestano nadopunjuju.
They constantly complement each other.
Nisu se mogli dogovoriti.
They couldn't agree with each other.
Oni se odavno nisu susreli.
They haven't encountered each other for a long time.
Svi se moraju prilagoditi jedni drugima.
Everyone must adapt to each other.
Oni se ne mogu podnijeti.
They cannot stand each other.
Svi su se iznenadili reakcijom.
They were all surprised by each other's reaction.
Fácil de confundir
Both use 'se'.
Some verbs change meaning.
Passive voice also uses 'se'.
Erros comuns
On se voli.
Oni se vole.
Oni vole.
Oni se vole.
Oni se voli.
Oni se vole.
Oni se ne vole.
Oni se ne vole.
Oni su se vidio.
Oni su se vidjeli.
Se oni vole?
Vole li se oni?
Oni se vidimo.
Oni se vide.
Oni se međusobno vole se.
Oni se međusobno vole.
Oni se razumijemo.
Oni se razumiju.
Oni su se upoznali jedan drugoga.
Oni su se upoznali.
Oni se ne mogu razumjeti se.
Oni se ne mogu razumjeti.
Oni se gledaju jedan drugog.
Oni se gledaju.
Oni su se sreli se.
Oni su se sreli.
Padrões de frases
Mi se ___.
Oni se ne ___.
___ li se vi?
Dugo se nismo ___.
Real World Usage
Vidimo se!
Oni se vole.
Surađujemo.
Poznajete li se?
Dostavljamo se.
Pojmovi se nadopunjuju.
Plurality is Key
Don't Forget 'li'
Context is King
Regional Variations
Smart Tips
Use the plural verb + 'se'.
Listen for 'se' to identify social actions.
Check your subject-verb agreement.
Don't let the 'se' confuse you; look for the plural verb.
Pronúncia
se
Pronounced as 'seh'.
Question
Vole li se oni? ↗
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'se' as a mirror. If two people look into the mirror, they see each other!
Associação visual
Imagine two people holding hands in a circle. The circle is the 'se' connecting them.
Rhyme
When two are there, add 'se' to the air, to show they care.
Story
Ana and Marko met at a cafe. They saw each other (vidjeli su se). They liked each other (svidjeli su se). Now they love each other (vole se).
Word Web
Desafio
Write 3 sentences about your friends using reciprocal verbs.
Notas culturais
Often drop the 'se' in very casual speech.
Standard usage is strictly followed.
Very expressive, often adds emphasis.
From Proto-Slavic reflexive pronoun *sę.
Iniciadores de conversa
Poznajete li se?
Viđate li se često?
Svađate li se ikada?
Kako se razumijete?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Mi ___ vidimo.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Oni se voli.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
They know each other.
Answer starts with: Oni...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Oni ___.
A: Poznajete li se? B: Da, ___.
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesMi ___ vidimo.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Oni se voli.
se / oni / vole
They know each other.
vidjeti se
Oni ___.
A: Poznajete li se? B: Da, ___.
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Only if it is a standard reflexive verb (e.g., 'On se pere'). It cannot be reciprocal.
Usually, yes. In some cases, it can move, but keep it after the verb for now.
The meaning changes to a simple transitive action, which might sound strange.
Yes, verbs like 'svađati se' (to argue) are almost always used with 'se'.
Put 'ne' before the verb: 'Oni se ne vole.'
Yes, for emphasis, but it is often redundant.
Yes, it is standard in all registers.
English uses 'each other', while Croatian uses the reflexive particle 'se'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
se
Spanish often uses 'mutuamente' for emphasis.
se
French requires 'l'un l'autre' for clarity.
sich
German 'sich' is a pronoun, not a particle.
au
Japanese is agglutinative; Croatian is inflectional.
Form VI
Arabic changes the verb root; Croatian adds a particle.
hùxiāng
Chinese does not use verb particles for this.
