Reflexive Verbs In Spanish: The Only Guide That You Need (2024)

Mastering reflexive verbs is an important step in becoming a competent Spanish speaker.

So, what is a reflexive verb in Spanish?

In simple terms, reflexive verbs in Spanish are used when a person performs an action to or for him/herself.

For example, I wake (myself) up, he gets (himself) dressed, she showered (herself), and so on.

In other words, the subject and direct object of the reflexive verb is the same.

This means that the subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, ella, nosotros, ustedes, ellos, ellas) will always be affected by the action.

So how do you identify a reflexive verb?

As we’ll cover later in this post, reflexive verbs come in many forms.

You can identify reflexive verbs by paying attention to the verb ending, which always include the reflexive pronoun “se” at the end of a verb when in the infinitive form (for example: Conocerse – to know each other).

Before we dive into the actual verbs, we must take a slight detour, and quickly review the importance of reflexive pronouns.

What is a Reflexive Pronoun?

The reflexive pronoun is key to identifying reflexive verbs.

Let’s take the verb “bañar”, which means “to bath”.

In the reflexive form, we add reflexive pronoun se, ie. “bañarse” and verb becomes “to bath oneself”.

We’ll cover more verbs like this later.

For now, let’s focus on the reflexive pronoun and how to use it:

What are the six reflexive pronouns?

Reflexive verbsneed reflexive pronouns in order to make the subject and the object of the verb the same figure (ie. the action is being performed on the subject itself)

Without the reflexive pronouns, the verb will mean something else, or worse – it won’t make any sense at all.

Below are the reflexive pronoun endings, according to each subject.

Where To Place Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are typically placed before conjugated verbs.

• Tú teafeitastodas las semanas – you shave (yourself) every week

• Yo medespiertoa las 6 de la mañana – I wake (myself) up at 6am

For negative commands, the reflexive pronoun is placed in between “no” and the conjugated verb.

• No sepreocupen, todo está bien – Don’t worry (guys), everything is fine

There are three exceptionswhen reflexive pronouns don’t have to be placed before the conjugated verbs.

a. Regular commands (Imperativo)

• Levántatetemprano mañana, es un día importante – Wake upearly tomorrow, it’s an important day

b. Progressive verbs (-ing)

• Estaba lavándomela cara, perdona – I was washing my face, sorry
• Meestaba duchando cuando me llamaste – I was getting a showerwhen you called

c. Infinitive forms of the verb

• No vas a salirtecon la tuya – You are not going to get away with it
• Nosevan a saludar – They won’t say hello to each other

Now that we nailed a basic explanation of reflexive verbs, we can examine their use in further detail.

We are going to split the use of reflexive verbs into three categories.

1. Reciprocal reflexives

Verbs used to describe an action being performed by two or more people at the same time, and normally on each other.

• Patricia y Ana se maquillanantes de salir – Patricia and Ana put makeup on each otherbefore going out

2. Non-reflexives

Verbs that have a different meaning when used with reflexive pronouns. For example, volver (to return) vs volverse(to become):

• Yo vuelvo a Asia la próxima semana – I returnto Asia next week
• Ellos se volvieronamigos después de unos años – They becamefriends after a couple of years

3. Natural Reflexives

There are verbs which are easily identified as reflexive verbs since the pronoun se is attached to the infinitive(dormirse, bañarse, arrepentirse).

• Me arrepiento de todo lo que hice – I regret (myself)for all I have done

How do you use reflexive Spanish verbs?

The answer to this question will depend on which type of reflexive verb you are using, of which there are three different categories.

1) Reciprocal Reflexive Verbs

As the name suggests, reciprocal reflexives are verbs that when used with plural reflexive pronouns, indicate that the action is being performed by two or more subjects at the same time.

Remember, since the action is reciprocal, it is performed by two or more subjects, on each other, which means it always includes the reflexive pronouns “nos” or “se“.

Below are some examples of the most common reciprocal reflexive verbs.

You’ll notice that the closest English translation for reciprocal reflexives is: action verb + each other.

In Spanish, there’s no need to add reciprocal phrases or words like: entre sí, el uno al otro (each other) etc at the end of the sentence, as reciprocal reflexives already tell us that the action is being performed by two subjects on each other.

The only reason you might use these words is toplaceemphasison who is receiving the action.

• Patricia y Damián se aman el uno al otro– They love each other

Even when you don’t add “each other”, the sentence is understood as a reciprocalaction.

• Joseph y yonossaludamosen la mañana – Joseph and Isaid hello to each otherin the morning.

Some verbs that aren’t typically reciprocal verbs can, in the right context, be used to indicate a reciprocal action when two or more subjects are involved.

• Franco y Bianca secomen a besos – Franco and Bianca eat each other up with kisses

• Mis amigos seadivinabanlos pensamientos – My friendsguessed each other’sthoughts.

2) Non-Reflexive Verbs

Verbs that can be used with or without reflexive pronouns are known as non-reflexive verbs.

These verbs are ones that can easily land you in trouble.

Because when we add reflexive pronouns to non-reflexive verbs, the subject affected by the action changes, and most of the time the original meaning is changed – sometimes drastically.

Without a reflexive pronoun, the action of the verb affects a different subject.

Look at what happens the verb levantar(to pick up/lift) when we add reflexive pronouns to make it levantarse (to get up).

In the belownon-reflexiveexample, Andrea’s action is affecting the books.

• Andrea levantalos libros – Andrea picks upthe books.

But in the belowreflexiveexample, Andrea’s action is affecting herself directly.

• Andrea se levantatemprano – Andrea gets upearly.

Below is a list of “non-reflexive” verbs with and withoutreflexive pronouns.

As you can see from above table, many verbs have a completely different meaning when used with reflexive pronouns.

This naturally causes a lot of confusion when you mistakenly misuse reflexive pronouns.

Imagine that you agreed to meet a friend at the park. Before leaving your house, you send him a message to say that you’re on the way.

So you write: yo voy a irme del parque.

Your friend would probably be confused since you just told him that you areleavingthe park – and he hasn’t even arrived.

Of course, you should have said:yo voy a ir al parque.

That’s a simple example of how misusing “non-reflexives” can land you in an embarrassing or confusing situation.

Let’s compare this to using a non-reflexive correctly.

For example, ocupar(to occupy, fill, take up) vs ocuparse (to take care of something).

• Ese mueble ocupamucho espacio en la sala de estar – That piece of furniture takes too much space in the living room
• Yo voy a ocuparmede sacarlo de aquí – I will take care of getting it out of here

3) Natural Reflexives

And finally, we are going to cover Spanish verbs that the most commonly used for reflexive actions.

Many of these can be classed asroutine verbs,since you’ll use them when speaking about daily actions, routines and personal care.

These verbs are easy to identify, since they will always include the reflexive pronoun sein the infinitive form

By nature, these verbs are reflexive since the verbs describe an action being performedon the subject(yo, tú, él,ella,nosotros,ustedes,ellos,ellas).

When used in a non-reflexive form, they often keep their original meaning but refer to a different subject ie. when you perform an action on somebody else.

For example, below we use the reflexive formto indicate that the subject (person) is doing the action for themselves.

• Yo me afeitoen la mañana – I shave (myself)in the morning

When we use the same verb withoutthereflexive pronoun, we indicate that the subject (person) receiving the action of the verb is somebody else.

• Yo afeitola barba de mi abuelo – I shavemy grandfather’s beard

Now, let’s review the most common reflexive verbs for speaking about daily actions.

Daily Actions

Here are a few examples of how to use these verbs.

• Siempre me ha gustado cepillarmeantes debañarme– I have always liked brushingbefore taking a bath

• Ve a vestirtepara salir temprano – Go and getdressedso that we can leave early

• Tepuedesacostarallí, yo voy a dormirmeya – You can laythere,I’m going to sleepnow

Emotions and moods:

You’ll also use these verbs to describe personal feelings and moods.

These will work similarly if not identically, shown here:

• Mealegramucho que vengas – It makes me happythat you come

• Él sesientemal, lleva así desde la tarde – He’s feeling bad, and has been like that since the afternoon

• Siéntateacá, ya vuelvo – Sit here, I’ll be right back

The final group of verbs that we are going to mentioncan only be usedwith the reflexive pronouns.

For that reason, they are trulyNatural Reflexives.

Unlike the last section, these verbs don’t change meaning when used without reflexive pronouns but instead, they often won’t make any sense.

Below are two examples of how these verbs are used:

• Estabasadormilándoteen el viaje hacia acá – You were getting sleepyon the way here)

• Debes estar arrepintiendotede perder tanto tiempo en eso – You must be regrettingwasting so much time in that

Practice: Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Complete the sentences with the reflexive verbs:

1.Todos los días luego de _________ (Levantarse), _________ (Lavarse) la cara

Every day after waking up, I wash my face

2. Recuerda _________ (Lavarse) los dientes antes de salir.

Remember to brush your teeth before going out

3. Mis familiares _________ (Reunirse) todos los años en esta fecha.

My family members gather every year around this time.

4. _________ (Asustarse) cuando vieron todo el trabajo que tenían que hacer.

They got scared after seeing how much work they had to do.

5. Luego de vivir solo, Carlos _________ (Volverse) una persona mucho más responsable.

After living alone, Carlos became much more responsible person.

6. _________ (Perderse) del partido por llegar tarde!

You missed on the game for being late!

7.Es una niña pequeña así que _________ (Aburrirse) muy fácil.

She’s a little girl so she gets bored easily.

8. _________ (Arrepentirse)por muchas de las cosas que había hecho.

He regretted many of the things he had done.

9. Ayer _________ (Dormirse)muy temprano.

We fell asleep early yesterday

10.-_________ (Doler) un poco la cabeza, ¿Puedes bajar el volumen?

I have a bit of a headache, could you lower the volume.

Answers:

1. Todos los días luego de levantarme, me lavo la cara.

2.Recuerda lavarte los dientes antes de salir.

3. Mis familiares se reúnen todos los años en esta fecha.

4. Se asustaron cuando vieron todo el trabajo que tenían que hacer.

5. Luego de vivir solo, Carlos se volvió una persona mucho más responsable.

6. ¡Te perdiste del partido por llegar tarde!

7. Es una niña pequeña así que se aburre muy fácil.

8. Se arrepintió por muchas de las cosas que había hecho.

9. Ayer nos dormimos muy temprano.

10.Me duele un poco la cabeza, ¿Puedes bajar el volumen?.