Reflexive pronouns show when the subject does something to itself, and they are essential for reflexive verbs that appear in everyday German.
German Reflexive Pronouns
The German reflexive pronouns match the subject and appear in either the accusative or dative case depending on the verb.
| Person | Accusative | Dative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | mich | mir | |
| du | dich | dir | |
| er/sie/es | sich | sich | |
| wir | uns | uns | |
| ihr | euch | euch | |
| sie/Sie | sich | sich |
Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs require a reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject, and they often appear with common daily actions.
Dative vs. Accusative
Some reflexive verbs take the pronoun in the dative case when there is also an accusative object, so the pronoun changes meaning accordingly.
Examples
Non-Reflexive Uses
Some verbs change meaning when used reflexively versus non-reflexively, so paying attention to the pronoun can affect the sentence's sense.
I see myself in the mirror.
Summary
Reflexive pronouns consistently reflect the subject and appear in either accusative or dative case depending on the verb, making them key for natural expression in German.
Reflexive Verbs
Dative vs. Accusative
Examples
Non-Reflexive Uses
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025