S'habiller means "to dress oneself" and is used when talking about getting dressed. Because it is a reflexive verb, it always involves reflexive pronouns that match the subject, and its meaning centers on the subject doing the action to themselves.
- Reflexive nature: The subject both performs and receives the action.
- Used for dressing (not just handing clothes to someone else).
Conjugation
Present Tense
| Subject | Pronoun | Conjugation | Full Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | Me | m'habille | Je m'habille | I get dressed |
| Tu | Te | t'habilles | Tu t'habilles | You get dressed (sing.) |
| Il/Elle/On | Se | s'habille | Il s'habille | He/She gets dressed |
| Nous | Nous | nous habillons | Nous... | We get dressed |
| Vous | Vous | vous habillez | Vous... | You get dressed (pl./form.) |
| Ils/Elles | Se | s'habillent | Ils... | They get dressed |
Note: The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject (me, te, se, nous, vous, se).
Passé Composé
- Auxiliary verb: être (because it's reflexive)
- Past participle: habillé(e)(s) (agrees with subject in gender/number)
- Reflexive pronoun + être + past participle
| Subject | Example |
|---|---|
| Je | Je me suis habillé(e) |
| Tu | Tu t'es habillé(e) |
| Il/Elle | Il/Elle s'est habillé(e) |
| Nous | Nous nous sommes habillés |
| Vous | Vous vous êtes habillé(e)(s) |
| Ils/Elles | Ils/Elles se sont habillés |
The auxiliary verb used is être.
Usage
- Always use reflexive pronouns with s'habiller: Je me ...; Tu te ...; Il/elle se ...; etc.
- In the negative, surround both the conjugated verb and reflexive pronoun: Je ne me couche pas.
- For commands (imperative), use reflexive pronouns too: Habille-toi! (Get dressed!)
The correct form is 'Nous nous habillons.'
Example Sentences
- Je m'habille rapidement le matin. (I get dressed quickly in the morning.)
- Tu t'habilles toujours avec style. (You always dress with style.)
- Ils se sont habillés pour la fête. (They got dressed for the party.)
Conclusion
S'habiller is a reflexive verb for getting dressed, requiring matching reflexive pronouns and special conjugation with être in the passé composé.
- Reflexive verb → needs reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, etc.)
- Conjugated like other -er verbs in the present, but with reflexive pronouns
- Uses être as auxiliary in passé composé, with agreement for habillé(e)(s)