In German, reflexive verbs are verbs accompanied by a reflexive pronoun that refers back to the subject. These verbs describe actions where the subject is both the doer and the receiver, such as sich waschen (“to wash oneself”) or sich erinnern (“to remember”).
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns change depending on the subject and case. Here are the nominative (subject) and accusative/dative forms used with reflexive verbs:
| Subject Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun (Accusative) | Reflexive Pronoun (Dative) |
|---|---|---|
| ich | mich | mir |
| du | dich | dir |
| er/sie/es | sich | sich |
| wir | uns | uns |
| ihr | euch | euch |
| sie/Sie | sich | sich |
Accusative reflexive pronouns are more common, but some verbs require dative reflexive pronouns, especially when there is another direct object.
Identifying Reflexive Verbs
Many reflexive verbs have the reflexive pronoun sich in the infinitive form:
- sich waschen* (to wash oneself)
- sich ärgern* (to get annoyed)
- sich erinnern* (to remember)
- sich vorbereiten* (to prepare oneself)
- sich freuen* (to be happy/excited)
These verbs always appear with a reflexive pronoun in a conjugated sentence.
Common Reflexive Verbs
Here are some frequently used reflexive verbs in German:
| German Verb | English Meaning | Example Sentence | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| sich waschen | to wash oneself | Ich wasche mich. | I wash myself. |
| sich anziehen | to dress oneself | Du ziehst dich an. | You get dressed. |
| sich erinnern | to remember | Sie erinnert sich an den Urlaub. | She remembers the vacation. |
| sich freuen | to be happy/excited | Wir freuen uns auf morgen. | We are excited for tomorrow. |
| sich setzen | to sit down | Setz dich bitte! | Please sit down! |
| sich ärgern | to get annoyed | Er ärgert sich oft. | He often gets annoyed. |
| sich entspannen | to relax | Ich entspanne mich am Strand. | I relax on the beach. |
| sich vorbereiten | to prepare oneself | Bereitet euch auf die Prüfung vor! | Prepare yourselves for the exam! |
| sich treffen | to meet (each other) | Wir treffen uns um 18 Uhr. | We meet at 6 p.m. |
| sich verlieben | to fall in love | Sie hat sich verliebt. | She has fallen in love. |
Reflexive Verbs with Accusative Reflexive Pronouns
Most reflexive verbs take accusative pronouns:
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich wasche mich. | I wash myself. |
| Du ziehst dich an. | You get dressed. |
| Er erinnert sich an die Prüfung. | He remembers the exam. |
| Wir freuen uns auf den Urlaub. | We are excited for the vacation. |
| Setzt euch bitte! | Please sit down! |
Complete the sentence: Setzt _____ bitte!
euch
"Sich setzen" is reflexive. For "ihr," the reflexive pronoun is "euch."
Reflexive Verbs with Dative Reflexive Pronouns
Some verbs use a dative reflexive pronoun because there is another direct object in the sentence:
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich kämme mir die Haare. | I comb my hair. |
| Du kaufst dir ein Buch. | You buy yourself a book. |
| Sie wäscht sich die Hände. | She washes her hands. |
| Er nimmt sich eine Auszeit. | He takes a break for himself. |
Note: In these cases, the reflexive pronoun is dative (mir, dir, sich), while the other object is in the accusative.
Conjugation Patterns
Reflexive verbs follow regular conjugation patterns, but always include the reflexive pronoun in the correct case and position.
Example: sich waschen (to wash oneself)
| Person | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| ich | Ich wasche mich. | I wash myself. |
| du | Du wäscht dich. | You wash yourself. |
| er/sie/es | Sie wäscht sich. | She washes herself. |
| wir | Wir waschen uns. | We wash ourselves. |
| ihr | Ihr wascht euch. | You (pl.) wash yourselves. |
| sie/Sie | Sie waschen sich. | They/You (formal) wash themselves/yourself. |
The verb is conjugated normally, and the reflexive pronoun always follows the verb.
Form the sentence "We wash ourselves." in German using "sich waschen."
Wir waschen uns.
"Wir" takes the verb form "waschen," and the reflexive pronoun is "uns."
Word Order in Sentences
In main clauses, the reflexive pronoun typically comes immediately after the verb:
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich wasche mich jetzt. | I am washing myself now. |
| Er zieht sich schnell an. | He gets dressed quickly. |
| Wir freuen uns auf morgen. | We are excited for tomorrow. |
In subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end, and the reflexive pronoun precedes any other objects:
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| ..., weil ich mich wasche. | ..., because I wash myself. |
| ..., dass sie sich erinnert. | ..., that she remembers. |
Separable Reflexive Verbs
Some reflexive verbs are formed with separable prefixes. The reflexive pronoun remains in the sentence, and the verb prefix separates as usual:
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich ziehe mich an. | I get dressed. |
| Du bereitest dich vor. | You prepare yourself. |
| Wir melden uns an. | We register ourselves. |
The reflexive pronoun stays next to the verb stem, while the prefix moves to the end.
Reflexive Verbs That Are Not Always Reflexive
Some German verbs can be used reflexively or non-reflexively, depending on the meaning:
| Verb | Reflexive Meaning | Non-Reflexive Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| sich setzen | to sit down (oneself) | setzen (transitive): to set/put something down |
| sich erinnern | to remember | erinnern + acc.: to remind someone |
| sich beschäftigen | to occupy oneself | beschäftigen + acc.: to employ someone |
| sich freuen | to be happy/excited | freuen (rarely non-reflexive) |
Reflexive usage usually indicates the subject is acting on itself or experiencing something personally.
Idiomatic Expressions with Reflexive Verbs
Many fixed expressions in German use reflexive verbs:
| German Expression | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| sich Mühe geben | to make an effort |
| sich die Hände reichen | to shake hands |
| sich die Zähne putzen | to brush one’s teeth |
| sich Sorgen machen | to worry |
| sich auf den Weg machen | to set off |
These are common in everyday conversation.
Practice Tips
- Learn reflexive verbs together with their reflexive pronouns.
- Pay attention to whether the verb takes accusative or dative reflexive pronouns.
- Practice using reflexive verbs in context (e.g., talking about daily routines).
- Remember that reflexive pronouns always refer back to the subject.
Summary
- Reflexive verbs describe actions the subject does to or for itself.
- They always use reflexive pronouns: mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich.
- Most reflexive verbs use accusative pronouns; some use dative.
- Conjugate the verb normally and include the pronoun immediately after the verb.
- Some verbs change meaning depending on whether they are used reflexively.
- Reflexive verbs are common in German daily speech and routines.
Flashcards (1 of 38)
- Example Sentence: Ich wasche mich.
- English Meaning: to wash oneself
- English Example: I wash myself.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
