Reflexive Verbs in Spanish Grammar
What is a reflexive verb in Spanish?
Reflexive verbs (los verbos reflexivos) are verbs that take a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se …).
In the infinitive, reflexive verbs end in -se.
- Example:
- levantarseto get up
- ducharseto take a shower
The key thing about reflexive verbs is that the subject and object of the verb are one and the same.
- Example:
- Me preparo un café.I make a coffee.
- literally: I make myself a coffee
In general, reflexive verbs are much more common in Spanish grammar than they are in English.
Keep reading for the deep dive on reflexive verbs in Spanish grammar, then practise everything in the interactive exercises.
Contents
Todos los días lo mismo: me levanto a las 7 y media, me lavo la cara, me preparo un café y leo el periódico en la cocina. Después me ducho, me visto para el trabajo y preparo la mochila del gimnasio.
Camino 15 minutos hasta la parada del tren. El tren siempre se retrasa unos minutos pero me entretengo escuchando un podcast.
Al llegar a la oficina, las compañeras y yo nos ponemos al día de las novedades. Me gusta enterarme de todos los cotilleos. Sobre las 12 vamos a tomarnos un café al bar de abajo.
Por la noche, cuando llego a casa, me relajo tomándome un té.
How to conjugate reflexive verbs in Spanish
Reflexive verbs always end in -se and are conjugated with a reflexive pronoun (un pronombre reflexivo).
This pronoun always matches the subject of the verb.
- Example:
- Me levanto a las 7 y media.I get up at 7.30.
- 1st person singular (yo) = reflexive pronoun me
Spanish reflexive pronouns
The Spanish reflexive pronouns are: me, te, se, nos, os, se.
| Person | Example verb: levantarse |
|---|---|
| yo | me levanto |
| tú | te levantas |
| él, ella, usted | se levanta |
| nosotros/-as | nos levantamos |
| vosotros/-as | os levantáis |
| ellos/-as, ustedes | se levantan |
Word order and reflexive pronouns
Spanish reflexive pronouns are placed:
- before the conjugated verb (this is the standard position);
- Example:
- Me levanto a las 7 y media de la mañana.I get up at half past seven in the morning.
- before a negative imperative but attached to the end of an affirmative imperative.
- Examples:
- ¡No te quedes atrás!Don’t get left behind!
- ¡Date prisa!Hurry up!
- before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive or gerund in a verbal periphrasis or with a modal verb
- Examples:
- Sobre las 12 nos vamos a tomar un café al bar de abajo. Sobre las 12, vamos a tomarnos un café al bar de abajo.Around 12 o’clock we go for a coffee at the bar downstairs. (verbal periphrasis)
- El viernes me debo levantar a las 6 para viajar a Londres. El viernes debo levantarme a las 6 para viajar a Londres.On Friday I have to get up at six to travel to London. (modal verb deber)
- at the end of an infinitive or gerund when they are not part of the predicate
- Examples:
- Me gusta enterarme de los cotilleos.I like to find out the gossip.
- Por la noche me relajo tomándome un té.At night I relax by drinking tea.
When to use reflexive verbs
Use reflexive verbs when the subject (the person or thing performing the verb) and the object (the person or thing receiving the verb) are one and the same.
- Example:
- Me preparo un café.
- literally: I make myself a coffee
Note that many verbs are reflexive in Spanish but not in English.
- Examples:
- Me lavo la cara.I wash my face.
- El tren siempre se retrasa unos minutos.The train is always a few minutes late.
- Las compañeras y yo nos ponemos al día de las novedades.My colleagues and I catch up on the latest news.
Types of reflexive verbs
There are different types of reflexive verbs in Spanish:
1. Verbs with two forms
In general, most verbs have a reflexive and a non-reflexive form.
Use the reflexive form when the subject and object are the same; use the standard form when they are different.
- Example:
- Me lavo la cara con jabón neutro.I wash my face with gentle soap. (reflexive)
- I wash my own face
- Lavo los platos a mano.I wash the dishes by hand. (non-reflexive)
- subject = yo; object = los platos
2. Verbs that change their meaning when they are reflexive
Some verbs have a different meaning depending on whether they are reflexive or not.
- Example:
- Hoy me encuentro muy cansada.Today I feel really tired. (reflexive)
- me encuentro = feel
- No encuentro mi cartera por ninguna party.I can’t find my wallet anywhere. (non-reflexive)
- encuentro = find
The table below shows the most common Spanish verbs that change their meaning in the reflexive form.
| Verb | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| encontrar(se) | reflexive | feel | Me encuentro un poco mareada.I’m feeling a bit dizzy |
| 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 students 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/deal with 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 to | 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. | |
3. Verbs that are always reflexive
Certain verbs are always reflexive; they can’t be used without the reflexive pronoun.
Common examples include: acurrucarseto curl up, adentrarseto go into, adormilarseto doze, adueñarseto take possession of, amodorrarseto fall asleep, antojarseto fancy/to feel like something, arremolinarseto crowd around/to swirl, arrepentirseto regret, desinteresarseto lose interest, dignarseto deign (to do something), suicidarseto commit suicide.
- Examples:
- 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.
4. Reciprocal verbs
In addition to reflexive verbs, there are also reciprocal verbs (los verbos recíprocos).
With these verbs, the reflexive pronoun means “each other”, meaning that 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 |
