Reflexive Verbs
Spanish Grammar 2
Course 2 · Chapter 6 · Reflexive Verbs
🪞 Reflexive Verbs — Los verbos reflexivos
A reflexive verb comes with a small pronoun (me, te, se…) that points back to the subject: me levanto, "I get (myself) up". Spanish uses many more of these than English, especially for the daily routine, and some verbs are never used without the pronoun. This chapter covers the pronouns, where they go, and the three kinds of verb that use them: true reflexives, reciprocals ("each other") and pronominal verbs.
The forms
| Pronoun | levantarse (to get up) | llamarse (to be called) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me | me levanto | me llamo |
| tú | te | te levantas | te llamas |
| él / ella / usted | se | se levanta | se llama |
| nosotros | nos | nos levantamos | nos llamamos |
| vosotros | os | os levantáis | os llamáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | se | se levantan | se llaman |
The daily routine
| Verb | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| despertarse (ie) | Me despierto a las siete. | I wake up at seven. |
| levantarse | Me levanto enseguida. | I get up straight away. |
| ducharse · lavarse | Me ducho y me lavo los dientes. | I have a shower and brush (wash) my teeth. |
| vestirse (i) | Me visto rápido. | I get dressed quickly. |
| peinarse · afeitarse | Él se afeita cada día. | He shaves every day. |
| acostarse (ue) | Nos acostamos a las once. | We go to bed at eleven. |
| dormirse (ue) | Me duermo enseguida. | I fall asleep straight away. |
| sentarse (ie) | ¿Te sientas aquí? | Are you sitting here? |
Where the pronoun goes
| Situation | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| conjugated verb | before the verb | Me levanto temprano. |
| negative | after no, still before the verb | No me levanto temprano. |
| question | before the verb | ¿Te acuestas tarde? |
| conjugated verb + infinitive | before the first verb or attached to the infinitive | Me quiero levantar. = Quiero levantarme. |
| ir a + infinitive | same two options | Me voy a duchar. = Voy a ducharme. |
| estar + gerund | before estar or attached to the gerund (with a written accent) | Me estoy duchando. = Estoy duchándome. |
The pronoun must always match the subject: Nosotros queremos levantarnos. (not levantarse), and an infinitive on its own keeps -se only in the dictionary.
Reflexive, reciprocal and pronominal
True reflexive: the action returns to the subject
Me lavo. (I wash myself.) · Se mira en el espejo. (He looks at himself in the mirror.) Many reflexives have a non-reflexive twin where the action goes to someone else:
| Reflexive | Not reflexive |
|---|---|
| Me lavo. I wash. | Lavo el coche. I wash the car. |
| Me levanto. I get up. | Levanto la mano. I raise my hand. |
| Me llamo Philip. My name is Philip. | Llamo a Ana. I call Ana. |
Reciprocal: "each other"
Plural subjects (nos, os, se) can mean "each other":
Nos queremos. (We love each other.) · Se ven cada semana. (They see each other every week.) · Os escribís mucho. (You write to each other a lot.)
Context decides between reflexive and reciprocal; Se miran. can mean "they look at themselves" or "they look at each other". Add el uno al otro or mutuamente to be sure.
Pronominal: the pronoun is simply part of the verb
Some verbs have the pronoun but no reflexive meaning, and some change meaning with it:
| Without the pronoun | With the pronoun |
|---|---|
| ir to go | irse to leave, go away: Me voy. |
| quedar to arrange to meet, to fit, to be left | quedarse to stay: Me quedo en casa. |
| dormir to sleep | dormirse to fall asleep |
| poner to put | ponerse to put on; to become: Me pongo nervioso. |
| parecer to seem | parecerse a to resemble: Me parezco a mi padre. |
| llevar to take, carry | llevarse bien / mal con to get on well / badly with |
| Always with the pronoun | English |
|---|---|
| quejarse (de) · arrepentirse (de) | to complain (about) · to regret |
| darse cuenta (de) · acordarse (de) | to realise · to remember |
| sentirse · portarse | to feel (well, ill) · to behave |
🗣️ In Use — En situación
Find the pronoun and its position in every sentence.
① Morning routine
② Introductions
③ Plans
📋 Quick Reference — Resumen
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| pronouns | me, te, se, nos, os, se |
| position | before the conjugated verb; or attached to infinitive and gerund |
| negative | no me levanto |
| body, clothes | use the article: me lavo las manos |
| reciprocal | nos queremos = we love each other |
| pronominal | irse, quedarse, dormirse, ponerse, quejarse, darse cuenta |
| gerund with pronoun | written accent: duchándome |
✏️ Try It Yourself — Ejercicios
Say the answer first, then click to check.
1. Conjugate llamarse in the present.
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me llamo · te llamas · se llama · nos llamamos · os llamáis · se llaman.
2. Fill in with the pronoun and the verb: "Yo (levantarse) a las siete." · "Ellos (acostarse) tarde." · "Nosotros (ducharse) por la mañana."
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me levanto · se acuestan · nos duchamos.
3. Say in two ways: "I want to get up early."
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Quiero levantarme temprano. · Me quiero levantar temprano.
4. Say in two ways: "I'm having a shower."
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Me estoy duchando. · Estoy duchándome.
5. Make negative: "Me levanto temprano." · "Nos acostamos tarde."
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No me levanto temprano. · No nos acostamos tarde.
6. Say in Spanish: "I wash my hands." and "She puts on her coat."
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Me lavo las manos. · Se pone el abrigo. (the article, not mis / su)
7. Explain the difference: Lavo el coche / Me lavo and Llamo a Ana / Me llamo Ana.
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I wash the car / I wash (myself). I call Ana / My name is Ana.
8. Say in Spanish: "We love each other." and "They write to each other every week."
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Nos queremos. · Se escriben cada semana.
9. Say in Spanish: "I'm leaving." · "He's staying at home." · "She resembles her mother."
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Me voy. · Se queda en casa. · Se parece a su madre.
10. Correct the mistakes: Yo levanto a las siete. · Nosotros quiere acostarnos. · Me lavo mis manos. · Voy a ducharse.
Show answer
Me levanto a las siete · Nosotros queremos acostarnos · Me lavo las manos · Voy a ducharme (the pronoun matches the subject).