Reflexive verbs describe actions that someone does to themselves, and they use special pronouns to show that.
Formation
A reflexive verb is marked by the pronoun se attached to the infinitive, and you match the reflexive pronoun to the subject when you conjugate.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns tell who is doing the action to themselves, and they change to agree with the subject of the sentence.
| Person | Spanish Reflexive Pronoun | English Pronoun | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me | myself | |
| tú | te | yourself | |
| él/ella/usted | se | himself/herself/yourself | |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos | ourselves | |
| vosotros/vosotras | os | yourselves | |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se | themselves/yourselves |
Examples
Common Reflexive Verbs
Common reflexive verbs describe daily routines and personal care, like getting up, washing, and dressing.
| Spanish Verb | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| levantarse | to get up | |
| ducharse | to shower | |
| vestirse | to get dressed | |
| afeitarse | to shave | |
| cepillarse | to brush (hair/teeth) |
Non-Reflexive Uses
Some verbs can be reflexive or not depending on whether the action is done to oneself or to someone else; switching the pronoun changes the meaning.
Double Object Pronouns
When a sentence has both an indirect and a reflexive pronoun, you sometimes change se to le or les to keep the sentence clear and natural.
Summary
Reflexive verbs show actions done to oneself through matching pronouns, and they are key for talking about personal routines and self-care.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025