Reflexive Verbs in Spanish Grammar

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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:
peinarseto brush/style your hair
bañarseto have a bath

The key thing about reflexive verbs is that the subject and object of the verb are one and the same.

Example:
Juan se afeita todos los días.Juan shaves every day.
literally: Juan shaves himself

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 exercises.

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.

Types of reflexive verbs

There are different types of reflexive verbs in Spanish:

1. Verbs that are always reflexive

Certain verbs are always reflexive; they can’t be used without the reflexive pronoun.

Common examples include: acurrucarse, adentrarse, adormilarse, adueñarse, amodorrarse, antojarse, arremolinarse, arrepentirse, desinteresarse, dignarse, suicidarse.

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.

2. Verbs that are sometimes reflexive

Some verbs are only reflexive when the subject and the object are one and the same.

When the subject and object are different (i.e. someone does something for someone else), we use an object pronoun, not a reflexive one.

Examples:
La abuela se tiñe el pelo.The grandma is dying her hair. (reflexive)
the grandma is dying her own hair
La abuela le tiñe el pelo a Lucía.The grandma is dying Lucía’s hair. (not reflexive)
the grandma is dying Lucía’s hair

3. Verbs that change their meaning when they are reflexive

Some verbs have a different meaning depending on whether they are reflexive or not.

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.

4. Reciprocal verbs

In addition to reflexive verbs, there are also reciprocal verbs (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

How to conjugate reflexive verbs in Spanish

Reflexive verbs indicate that someone is performing an action on or for themselves.

This means that the reflexive pronoun always matches the subject.

Examples:
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.
3rd person singular (ella) = reflexive pronoun se
Siempre me levanto a las seis.I always get up at 6 o’clock.
1st person singular (yo) = reflexive pronoun me

Word order and reflexive pronouns

We place reflexive pronouns:

  • before the conjugated verb (this is the standard position)
    Example:
    La abuela se peina.The grandmother combs her hair.
  • before a negative imperative but at the end of a positive imperative
    Example:
    ¡No te peines!Don’t comb your hair!
    ¡Péinate!Comb your hair!
  • before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive in a verbal periphrasis
    Example:
    Ella se va a peinar. ↔ Ella va a peinarse.She’s going to comb her hair.
  • before the conjugated verb or attached to the gerund in the progressive form
    Example:
    Ella se está peinando. ↔ Ella está peinándose.She is brushing her hair.