What reflexive verbs are
A reflexive verb describes something the subject does to itself: levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to have a shower), llamarse (to be called). In the dictionary they end in -se.
When you conjugate them, -se becomes a pronoun that matches the subject and goes before the verb: me levanto, te levantas, se levanta.
Levantarse (to get up)
| Person | Pronoun | levantarse |
|---|---|---|
| yo | me | me levanto |
| tú | te | te levantas |
| él / ella / usted | se | se levanta |
| nosotros / nosotras | nos | nos levantamos |
| vosotros / vosotrasSpain | os | os levantáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | se | se levantan |
Common reflexive verbs
| Verb | Meaning | yo |
|---|---|---|
| llamarse | to be called | me llamo |
| despertarse | to wake up | me despierto |
| ducharse | to have a shower | me ducho |
| lavarse | to wash (oneself) | me lavo |
| vestirse | to get dressed | me visto |
| acostarse | to go to bed | me acuesto |
| sentarse | to sit down | me siento |
Where the pronoun goes
- Before a conjugated verb: Me ducho por la mañana.
- After no: No me levanto temprano.
- With an infinitive, attached to it or before the conjugated verb: Quiero ducharme = Me quiero duchar.
- With body parts and clothes, use the article, not a possessive: Me lavo las manos, not mis manos.
Examples
- Me llamo Olena.My name is Olena.
- ¿A qué hora te levantas?What time do you get up?
- ¿Cómo se llama usted?What is your name? (formal)
- Mi hermano se ducha por la noche.My brother has a shower in the evening.
- Los domingos nos acostamos tarde.On Sundays we go to bed late.
- Me lavo los dientes después de comer.I brush my teeth after eating.
- Mañana tengo que levantarme temprano.Tomorrow I have to get up early.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:
Yo llamo Ana.Right: ✓ Me llamo Ana.Without me it means “I call Ana”. - Wrong:
Nosotros se levantamos.Right: ✓ Nosotros nos levantamos.The pronoun matches the subject: nosotros → nos. - Wrong:
Quiero me duchar.Right: ✓ Quiero ducharme.Attach the pronoun to the infinitive or put it before quiero. - Wrong:
Me lavo mis manos.Right: ✓ Me lavo las manos.Me already says whose hands they are.