Al terminar este módulo, podrás usar los pronombres con naturalidad, dar órdenes y distinguir cuándo una forma pronominal cambia el sentido del verbo. Empieza por Pronombres reflexivos y entra directamente en la primera unidad.

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Verbos pronominales carry a pronoun that changes according to the person: me, te, se, nos and os. The form of the verb and the pronoun work together: yo me lavo, tú te peinas, él se despierta, nosotros nos sentamos, vosotros os levantáis. In the third person, se is used for both singular and plural: ella se viste, ellos se visten. These pronouns appear with many verbs that express actions on the self, mutual actions or changes of state.

Verbos pronominales carry a pronoun that changes according to the person: me, te, se, nos and os. The form of the verb and the pronoun work together: yo me lavo, tú te peinas, él se despierta, nosotros nos sentamos, vosotros os levantáis. In the third person, se is used for both singular and plural: ella se viste, ellos se visten. These pronouns appear with many verbs that express actions on the self, mutual actions or changes of state.

Reflexive use of Verbos pronominales
Idea
🫧We use reflexive meaning when the person who performs the action also receives it.
🎩The pronoun se indicates that the action returns to the same subject in the third person.
☕With many everyday verbs, the reflexive meaning sounds natural in personal routines.

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With a pronominal infinitive, the pronoun can stick to the end of the verb: levantarse, dormirse, vestirse. The complete form remains a single verb in infinitive, and the pronoun indicates who performs the action. It is often used after another verb: quiero levantarme temprano, voy a dormirme, prefiere vestirse rápido. It can also appear with a preposition: sin lavarme, antes de sentarnos. When it attaches to the infinitive, the conjugation does not change; only the position of the pronoun changes.

Pronoun attached to the pronominal infinitive
Idea
🐓In the infinitive, the pronoun can go attached to the end of the verb.
🌧️If the infinitive ends in a vowel, adding the pronoun creates a single new word.
🚌The pronominal infinitive retains its meaning even when the written form changes.

The pronominal gerund attaches the pronoun at the end: levantándose, durmiéndose, vistiéndose. It is used mainly with estar + gerund and other periphrases: está levantándose, sigue durmiéndose, anda vistiéndose. The base is the same as the normal gerund, and the pronoun marks the person performing the action. If the gerund ends in -ndo, the pronoun is placed after it without changing the main idea of the verb.

SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
nosotroslevantarse
levantarse
vosotroslevantarse
elloslevantarse
éllevantarse
yolevantarse
Pronominal gerund with a final pronoun
SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
🛏️yo
levantarse
levantándome
🦸
levantarse
levantándote
🐱él
levantarse
levantándose
🎶nosotros
levantarse
levantándonos
🌞vosotros
levantarse
levantándoos
👋ellos
levantarse
levantándose

In the simple tenses, the verb is conjugated normally and the pronoun changes according to the person. The structure is pronoun + conjugated verb: me levanto, te acuerdas, se ríe, nos conocemos, os sentís. No special ending is added to the verb for being pronominal; the reflexive or reciprocal information is provided by the pronoun. In the past, present, or simple future, the place of the pronoun remains in front of the verb: me levanté, te vestirás, se bañaba.

SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
ellosbañarse
bañarse
vosotrosbañarse
élbañarse
nosotrosbañarse
yobañarse
Simple tenses with Verbos pronominales
SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
🐶yo
bañarse
me baño
⭐
bañarse
te bañas
🎵él
bañarse
se baña
🍲nosotros
bañarse
nos bañamos
🫧vosotros
bañarse
os bañáis
🧜ellos
bañarse
se bañan

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In the affirmative command, the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb: dime, siéntate, ponte, vámonos. If there is more than one pronoun, the order is preserved: dímelo, ponte la chaqueta, cuéntanoslo. When the verb carries an accent due to the pronoun attachment, the accent is kept or added to maintain the correct pronunciation: siéntate, vámonos. The affirmative imperative uses this joined form for all persons where there is a direct command.

SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
vosotrosirse
ustedponerse
ustedcallarse
sentarse
Affirmative command with an attached pronoun
SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
🍪
sentarse
siéntate
🪑usted
ponerse
póngase
🎉vosotros
irse
íos
🦜usted
callarse
cállese

In negative orders, the pronoun goes in front of the verb: no te sientes, no te pongas, no nos vayamos. The structure is no + pronoun + verb in the subjunctive form: no me hables, no se acerquen, no os levantéis. Here the verb does not carry the pronoun attached at the end. The difference with the affirmative is fixed: siéntate versus no te sientes.

SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
ustedponerse
ellosacostarse
sentarse
vosotrosirse
Negative commands with pronoun in front
SubjectInfinitiveConjugation
🎭
sentarse
no te sientes
🥖usted
ponerse
no se ponga
🍨vosotros
irse
no os vayáis
😄ellos
acostarse
no se acuesten

The reciprocal use appears when two or more people perform the action with each other. In mirarse, each one looks at the other; in hablarse, they communicate with each other; in ayudarse, they lend mutual help. The pronoun is plural or represents a group: nos miramos, se escriben, os entendéis. The action does not return to a single person, but circulates among several. This use is very common with verbs of contact, communication, and cooperation.

Reciprocal use among several people
Idea
🤗We use reciprocal meaning when two or more people perform the action toward one another.
👀The pronoun can indicate a mutual action among the participants.
🪴Many reciprocal verbs express cooperation, exchange, or affection.

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Some verbs change meaning when they become pronominal. Dormir and dormirse do not mean the same: dormir is to spend time sleeping or to make someone sleep, while dormirse is to start sleeping or to fall asleep. Ir and irse also separate: ir indicates movement toward a place, and irse expresses leaving or going away. Other verbs add a stronger or more complete idea in pronominal form, such as quedar and quedarse, caer and caerse. The pronoun does not always mark reflection; sometimes it changes the meaning of the verb.


Verbs that change when pronominal
WordDefinition
🍦quedarMeans to meet or stay in a place or situation.
✨quedarseMeans not to go or to keep something for oneself.
🌦️volverMeans to return to a place.
💃volverseMeans to transform or become in a certain way.
🛒irMeans to move toward another place.
🚪irseMeans to leave or depart from a place.
☕ponerMeans to place something somewhere.
🧣ponerseMeans to start wearing something or to change state.
📞llamarMeans to make a call or to name someone.
🐉llamarseMeans to have a name.

In some fixed expressions of everyday speech, the pronoun may vary or even be omitted depending on the region. You hear sentarse and also sentar in certain popular forms, though the pronominal form is the normal one in standard Spanish. In greetings, questions, or very common expressions, the choice may depend on the country: ¿cómo te va?, ¿cómo va?, ¿cómo se encuentra?. There are also verbs that in some areas sound more natural with the pronoun and in others without it. In standard use, the pronominal form is kept when the verb requires it.


Colloquial variation and fixed expressions
RegionVariantDefinitionExample
🔔Spainse me ha olvidadoUsed frequently in everyday speech to say that something was forgotten without assigning strong blame.
Se me ha olvidado la llave, así que toco el timbre con cara de triunfo.I have forgotten the key, so I ring the bell with a triumphant expression.
🎩Mexicoahorita me voyMay sound like an immediate or near departure depending on the colloquial context.
Ahorita me voy en cuanto encuentre mi sombrero.I am leaving right now as soon as I find my hat.
☕Argentiname voy yendoExpresses that the departure is already underway in a very natural tone.
Me voy yendo antes de que el café se enfríe de miedo.I am heading out before the coffee gets cold from fear.
✏️Colombiase me dioMay indicate that something turned out well in informal language.
Hoy se me dio el examen y hasta el lapicero aplaudió.Today, the exam worked out for me, and even the pen applauded.

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Ahora puedes reconocer y producir verbos pronominales en acciones reflexivas, recíprocas y expresiones con significado propio. Sigue practicando con Verbos Reflexivos y conecta estas formas con Gerundios Verbales y Participios Verbales.

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Last updated: Sat Aug 22, 2026, 5:27 PM