Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the same sentence and appear when a verb refers an action to the acting person or group. They occur in German in the forms mich, dich, sich, uns, euch and sich in the Accusative as well as mir, dir, sich, uns, euch and sich in the Dative. Their form and case depend on the verb, meaning and sentence structure, as with Personal pronouns and in connection with Reflexive Verbs.

The accusative occurs with many reflexive verbs and often denotes the direct reference back to the person themselves. It is especially common when an action concerns the body, well-being, or the self in general. Some verbs can also be used non-reflexively, but with reflexive pronouns the meaning is bound back to the subject.

FormForm	PersonPerson	BeispielExample
michmich	1. Person Singular1st person singular	Ich wasche mich.I wash myself.
dichdich	2. Person Singular2nd person singular	Du erinnerst dich.You remember yourself.
sichsich	3. Person Singular3rd person singular	Er freut sich.He is pleased.
unsuns	1. Person Plural1st person plural	Wir setzen uns.We sit down.
eucheuch	2. Person Plural2nd person plural	Ihr beeilt euch.You hurry yourselves.
sichsich	3. Person Plural3rd person plural	Sie schämen sich.They are ashamed of themselves.

The dative appears with reflexive verbs when the verb expresses a different internal involvement than in the accusative. It is often about an action for the benefit or detriment of the own person, especially in body care and similar activities. The difference between accusative and dative can change the meaning, for example between mich waschen and mir die Hände waschen, as well as in connection with Prepositions.

FormForm	PersonPerson	BeispielExample
mirmir	1. Person Singular1st person singular	Ich wasche mir die Hände.I wash my hands.
dirdir	2. Person Singular2nd person singular	Du bürstest dir die Zähne.You brush your teeth.
sichsich	3. Person Singular3rd person singular	Sie kämmt sich die Haare.She combs her hair.
unsuns	1. Person Plural1st person plural	Wir ziehen uns die Jacken an.We put on our jackets.
eucheuch	2. Person Plural2nd person plural	Ihr trocknet euch die Hände.You dry your hands.
sichsich	3. Person Plural3rd person plural	Sie putzen sich die Schuhe.They clean their shoes.

Reflexive pronouns stand in the object position and follow the usual rules of the sentence bracket and sentence element order. When there are several objects, the reflexive pronoun often precedes another object, especially when it is unstressed. In subordinate clauses and with separable verbs, the position remains tied to the normal object order.

IdeeIdea	BeispielExample
Reflexivpronomen steht als Objekt.Reflexive pronoun stands as an object.	Er hat sich gestern verletzt.He injured himself yesterday.
Unbetonte Formen stehen früh im Objektbereich.Unstressed forms appear early in the object domain.	Ich habe mir ein Buch gekauft.I bought myself a book.
Bei mehreren Objekten ordnet sich das Reflexivpronomen ein.With multiple objects the reflexive pronoun positions itself.	Sie gibt sich Mühe.She makes an effort.

Some verbs require a reflexive pronoun together with a preposition, and the preposition then determines the case of the following sentence element. This creates fixed constructions whose meaning cannot be explained by the verb alone. Particularly common are constructions like sich freuen auf, sich interessieren für and sich kümmern um.

IdeeIdea	BeispielExample
Reflexivpronomen kann mit einer Präposition stehen.Reflexive pronoun can stand with a preposition.	Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub.I look forward to the vacation.
Die Präposition bestimmt den Kasus.The preposition determines the case.	Sie interessiert sich für Musik.She is interested in music.
Die Verbindung ist oft fest.The construction is often fixed.	Wir kümmern uns um das Projekt.We take care of the project.

Not every verb is always reflexive, and some verbs have different meanings with and without reflexive pronouns. The reflexive pronoun can refer an action back to the subject or create an idiomatic meaning. Additionally, there are fixed impersonal constructions with sich that function differently, for example It is a misunderstanding.

IdeeIdea	BeispielExample
Ein Verb kann reflexiv oder nicht reflexiv sein.A verb can be reflexive or not reflexive.	Ich wasche mich.I wash myself.
Der Kasus kann die Bedeutung verändern.The case can change the meaning.	Ich wasche mir die Hände.I wash my hands.
Es gibt feste unpersönliche Wendungen.There are fixed impersonal expressions.	Es handelt sich um ein Missverständnis.It is a misunderstanding.

In the imperative, the reflexive pronoun appears directly with the verb when giving an instruction and follows the person being addressed. With you singular (du) it usually comes after the verb, with we (wir) after the verb form, and with you plural (ihr) after the verb form; in polite commands the reflexive form is integrated accordingly. This keeps the reference back to the subject clear even in a command.

IdeeIdea	BeispielExample
Bei du folgt das Pronomen dem Imperativ.With du, the pronoun follows the imperative.	Setz dich!Sit down!
Bei wir steht das Pronomen mit der Verbform.With wir, the pronoun is attached to the verb form.	Setzen wir uns!Let’s sit down!
Bei ihr steht das Pronomen mit der Verbform.With ihr, the pronoun is attached to the verb form.	Wascht euch!Wash yourselves!

Reflexive verbs can also occur in infinitive constructions with zu, when the reflexive pronoun belongs to the verb. The pronoun then stands before the infinitive and stays connected to the verb, for example in constructions like sich zu erinnern or zu versuchen, sich zu konzentrieren. Here too the pronoun shows who the action refers back to.

IdeeIdea	BeispielExample
Das Reflexivpronomen steht vor dem Infinitiv mit zu.The reflexive pronoun stands before the infinitive with zu.	sich zu erinnernto remember oneself
Das Pronomen bleibt mit dem Verb verbunden.The pronoun remains attached to the verb.	zu versuchen, sich zu konzentrierento try to concentrate oneself
Die Rückbeziehung bleibt im Infinitiv sichtbar.The back-reference remains visible in the infinitive.	sich zu beeilento hurry oneself

Reflexive verbs form the perfect usually with haben. The reflexive pronoun remains in the sentence structure and also stays at its usual position in the compound tense. Thus, the reflexive relationship remains clearly identifiable in past tenses.

IdeeIdea	BeispielExample
Das Perfekt wird meist mit haben gebildet.The perfect is usually formed with haben.	Sie hat sich gewaschen.She has washed herself.
Das Reflexivpronomen bleibt erhalten.The reflexive pronoun remains.	Wir haben uns getroffen.We have met each other.
Die Form folgt der normalen Perfektstellung.The form follows the normal perfect position.	Er hat sich erinnert.He has remembered himself.

Reflexive pronouns denote the back-reference to the subject and appear in the forms of the accusative and the dative. Their case, their position, and their connection with the verb determine the exact meaning, especially in body care, perception, interest, movement and fixed expressions. Whoever pays attention to the form of the verb, the position in the sentence, and the difference between accusative and dative will use reflexive structures confidently and recognize them also in the imperative, infinitive and perfect.