How to use reflexive verbs in Spanish
Reflexive verbs are everywhere in Spanish. Learn what they are, how to conjugate them, and the most common ones you need to know.
Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject and the object are the same — the person is performing the action on themselves. In Spanish, they're identified by the se attached to the infinitive: levantarse (to get up), llamarse (to be called), ducharse (to shower).
How reflexive verbs work
Every reflexive verb uses a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. These are: me, te, se, nos, os, se. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb.
Take levantarse (to get up): Me levanto (I get up), te levantas (you get up), se levanta (he/she gets up), nos levantamos (we get up), os levantáis (you all get up), se levantan (they get up).
Daily routine — the most common reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs dominate daily life vocabulary. Here are the essential ones for describing your routine:
despertarse — to wake up: Me despierto a las siete. (I wake up at seven.)
levantarse — to get up: ¿A qué hora te levantas? (What time do you get up?)
ducharse / bañarse — to shower / to have a bath
vestirse — to get dressed (stem-changing e→i): Me visto rápidamente.
peinarse — to comb/style one's hair
acostarse — to go to bed (stem-changing o→ue): Me acuesto tarde los fines de semana.
dormirse — to fall asleep (stem-changing o→ue)
Reflexive verbs that change meaning
Many Spanish verbs have both a non-reflexive and a reflexive form with different meanings. Ir means "to go," but irse means "to leave/go away." Dormir means "to sleep," but dormirse means "to fall asleep." Llamar means "to call," but llamarse means "to be called/named."
Reflexive verbs with emotions
Spanish uses reflexive constructions for many emotional states that English expresses differently. Aburrirse — to get bored. Alegrarse — to be/become happy. Enfadarse — to get angry. Preocuparse — to worry. Enamorarse de — to fall in love with.
Placement of the reflexive pronoun
In a conjugated sentence, the pronoun goes immediately before the verb: Me ducho. With an infinitive, it can attach to the end: Quiero ducharme or go before the conjugated verb: Me quiero duchar. Both are correct. With a gerund: Estoy duchándome or Me estoy duchando.
Reciprocal use
Reflexive pronouns can also express reciprocal actions (each other). Nos llamamos todos los días — We call each other every day. Se quieren mucho — They love each other very much.