Reflexive Verbs in Spanish Grammar
Introduction
Reflexive verbs are verbs that take a reflexive pronoun, they are formed with se in the infinitive e.g bañarse (to bathe oneself/take a bath). We use reflexive verbs in Spanish when the subject and object of a verb are the same. In general, reflexive verbs are more common in Spanish grammar than they are in English grammar and it’s important to remember that a Spanish reflexive verb may not always be translated reflexively in English.
Learn the rules for the correct conjugation and usage of reflexive verbs in Spanish. In the exercises, you can practise what you have learnt.
Example

La abuela de Lucía se tiñe el pelo en casa una vez al mes. Cada semana se corta las puntas y a diario se peina como una verdadera profesional. Siempre se mira en el espejo mientras utiliza el secador y sabe realmente cómo conseguir el mejor resultado con su cabello.
Conjugation of Reflexive Verbs in Spanish Grammar
We conjugate the verb normally and use the appropriate reflexive pronoun (pronombre reflexivo).
peinarse | comb one’s hair | |
---|---|---|
yo | me peino | I comb my hair |
tú | te peinas | you comb your hair |
él/ella/usted | se peina | he/she/it combs his/her/its hair |
nosotros | nos peinamos | we comb our hair |
vosotros | os peináis | you (pl. inf.) comb your hair |
ellos/ustedes | se peinan | they/you (formal) comb their/your hair |
Placement of reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are placed:
- before the conjugated verb
- Example:
- La abuela se peina.The grandmother combs her hair.
- before the negative imperative (but directly after the positive imperative)
- Example:
- ¡No te peines!Don’t comb your hair!
- ¡Péinate!Comb your hair!
- directly after the infinitive
- Example:
- Ella va a peinarse.She’s going to comb her hair.
- directly after the gerund (in the progressive tense (estar + gerundio), the pronoun can come before or after the verb)
- Example:
- Ella está peinándose./Ella se está peinando.She is brushing her hair.
Usage
Reflexive verbs indicate that someone is performing an action on or for themselves. Therefore, the reflexive pronoun always agrees with the subject.
- Example:
- La abuela de Lucía se tiñe el pelo en casa una vez al mes.Lucía’s grandmother dyes her hair once a month at home.
- Cada semana se corta las puntas.Every week she trims the tips.
- A diario se peina como una verdadera profesional.Every day she combs her hair like a professional.
- Siempre se mira en el espejo mientras utiliza el secador.She always looks at herself in the mirror while she uses the hairdryer.
Pronominal Verbs
Some verbs can only be reflexive. Some of the most frequent are acurrucarse, adentrarse, adormilarse, adueñarse, amodorrarse, antojarse, arremolinarse, arrepentirse, desinteresarse, dignarse, suicidarse.
- Ejemplo:
- El gato se acurruca al sol en el balcón.The cat curled itself up in the sun on the balcony.
- Las hojas secas se arremolinan en las aceras.The dried leaves swirl around the pavement.
Reflexive/Non-Reflexive Verbs
When verbs are used without reflexive pronouns, it means the action is being performed on or for someone else. In this case, we have to use a direct or indirect personal pronoun before the verb.
- Example:
- La abuela se tiñe el pelo. (reflexive) The grandma is dying her hair (herself).
- La abuela le tiñe el pelo a Lucía. (not reflexive)The grandma is dying Lucía’s hair.
Some verbs can be used either in their reflexive or their non-reflexive forms. By adding the reflexive pronoun, the verb receives a more particular meaning or even a completely different meaning from the non-reflexive verb.
verb | meaning | example | |
---|---|---|---|
encontrar(se) | reflexive |
feel |
Me encuentro un poco mareada.I’m feeling a bit sick |
not reflexive | find/encounter | No encuentro mi paraguas.I can’t find my umbrella. | |
ir(se) | reflexive | leave | Nos vamos inmediatamente.We are leaving immediately. |
not reflexive | go | Vamos de vacaciones a Perú.We are going on holiday in Peru. | |
levantar(se) | reflexive | stand up/get up | Siempre me levanto a la misma hora.I always get up at the same time. |
not reflexive | lift | Levanta la alfombra mientras paso la fregona.Lift up the rug while I mop. | |
llamar(se) | reflexive | be called/be named | Me llamo Guillermo del Toro.My name is Guillermo del Toro. |
not reflexive | call/name | No llamarán hasta las seis.They won’t call until 6. | |
meter(se) | reflexive | annoy | Sus primos se meten con todo el mundo.Their cousins annoy everyone. |
not reflexive | put | Mete las tijeras en el cajón, por favor.Put the scissors in the drawer, please. | |
negar(se) | reflexive | refuse | Los alumnos se niegan a ir al colegio los sábados.The pupils refuse to go to school on Saturday. |
not reflexive | deny | El testigo negó todo lo ocurrido.The witness denied everything that happened. | |
ocupar(se) | reflexive | take care of sth | Nuestro equipo se ocupa de las ventas internacionales.Our team takes care of international sales. |
not reflexive | take up/fill up | La ropa de invierno ocupa todo el armario.Winter clothes take up the whole wardrobe. | |
perder(se) | reflexive | get lost | Nos perdimos en el bosque durante varias horas.We got lost in the forest for several hours. |
not reflexive | lose | Yo perdí una vez las llaves de la oficina.once, I lost the keys to the office. | |
poner(se) | reflexive | put sth on | Carla se puso su mejor traje.Carla put on her best suit. |
not reflexive | put | Pon el vaso e en el armario.Put the glass in the cupboard. | |
referir(se) | reflexive | refer | Este libro se refiere a la guerra civil.The book refers to the civil war. |
not reflexive | give/provide | Nadie refirió ejemplos concretos.No one provided concrete examples. | |
retirar(se) | reflexive | leave(formal) | Los invitados se retiraron después de la cena.The guests left after dinner. |
not reflexive | put sth away | Retiraron ese producto del mercado hace meses.They put that product from the market away months ago. | |
reunir(se) | reflexive | meet | La Junta Directiva se reúne en el salón de actos.The board of directors meet in the conference hall. |
not reflexive | meet/fulfil | Este candidato no reúne las cualificaciones necesarias.This candidate does not fulfil the necessary requirements. | |
sentar(se) | reflexive | sit | Siéntate y abróchate el cinturón.Sit and fasten your seatbelt. |
not reflexive | (not) sit well | Le sentó mal el batido de frutas.The fruit milkshake made him feel ill. (literally: The fruit milkshake didn’t sit well with him.) | |
volver(se) | reflexive | become | Después del accidente, Alberto se volvió muy cauteloso.After the accident, Alberto became very cautious. |
not reflexive | return | Volvemos a casa el martes por la noche.We return home on Tuesday night. |
Reciprocal Verbs
In addition to reflexive verbs, there are also reciprocal verbs (verbos reflexivos recíprocos). These are used to communicate the idea of “each other”, which means they only appear in the plural.
- Example:
- Lucía y su abuela se entienden a la perfección.Lucía and her grandma get along with each other very well.
Spanish | English |
---|---|
ayudarse | help each other |
conocerse | know each other/get to know each other |
pelearse | fight/scuffle with each other |
reñirse | argue/bicker with each other |
separarse | separate from each other |
telefonearse | call each other/phone each other |