se lever is a French reflexive verb meaning "to get up" or "to rise." It is used to describe the action of getting oneself up, emphasizing the subject's involvement in the action. Because it's reflexive, it requires reflexive pronouns and is conjugated with être in compound tenses.
*se lever* means 'to get up' or 'to rise.'
*se lever* is a reflexive verb.
*se lever* uses être as the auxiliary verb.
Definition and Usage
Se lever expresses the action of getting up, standing up, or rising, typically from bed or a seated position. It is always used reflexively when referring to the subject performing the action on themselves.
- Infinitive: se lever
- Meaning: to get up, to rise
- Type: Reflexive verb (verbe pronominal)
Usage Notes
- Because it is reflexive, the verb requires reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous, se).
- In compound tenses, se lever uses être as the auxiliary, and the past participle agrees with the subject.
- It can be used literally (getting out of bed) or figuratively (rising, standing up for an idea).
*se lever* is used to express getting up (oneself), not making someone else get up.
The reflexive pronouns are me, te, se, nous, vous, se.
Conjugation: Present Tense
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun | Se lever | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | me | lève | I get up |
| Tu | te | lèves | You get up |
| Il/Elle | se | lève | He/She gets up |
| Nous | nous | levons | We get up |
| Vous | vous | levez | You get up |
| Ils/Elles | se | lèvent | They get up |
Note: The stem changes from lev- to lèv- for all but nous and vous.
It's 'nous nous levons' (no accent on the stem for nous/vous).
The stem changes for je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles.
Conjugation: Passé Composé
- Auxiliary: être
- Past Participle: levé (agrees with subject in gender/number)
- Structure: Subject + reflexive pronoun + être (conjugated) + levé(e)(s)
| Subject | Passé Composé | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | Je me suis levé(e) | I got up |
| Tu | Tu t'es levé(e) | You got up |
| Il/Elle | Il s'est levé / Elle s'est levée | He/She got up |
| Nous | Nous nous sommes levé(e)s | We got up |
| Vous | Vous vous êtes levé(e)(s) | You got up |
| Ils/Elles | Ils se sont levés / Elles se sont levées | They got up |
être is used as the auxiliary for se lever.
Correct forms are 'Ils se sont levés' and 'Elles se sont levées.'
Example Sentences
| Tense | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Je me lève à 7 heures. | I get up at 7 o'clock. |
| Present (Nous) | Nous nous levons tôt le matin. | We get up early in the morning. |
| Passé Composé | Elle s'est levée tard samedi. | She got up late on Saturday. |
| Passé Composé | Ils se sont levés rapidement. | They got up quickly. |
It means, 'We get up at noon.'
Correct: Je me lève à 6h; Tu te lèves tôt; Ils se lèvent pour travailler.
Elle s'est levée tôt.
Conclusion
Se lever is a key reflexive verb for describing daily routines and self-directed actions of rising or getting up. Remember its reflexive nature, stem changes, and use of être for smooth and correct usage.
- se lever means "to get up" and is used reflexively.
- Use reflexive pronouns and conjugate with être in compound tenses.
- Watch for stem changes in the present tense (lève/lèvent).