Reflexive verbs in Spanish: A Complete Guide

Reflexive verbs 😎 play an important role in daily conversations and understanding them will boost your fluency. In this post, we’ll explore what reflexive verbs are, how reflexive pronouns work, how they compare to English, and an overview of how many reflexive verbs exist in Spanish. Let’s dive in! 🌍

What Is a Reflexive Verb in Spanish? 🤔

Reflexive verbs in Spanish indicate that the subject of the sentence is performing an action on itself. This means the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. In other words, the subject does something to itself. These verbs are identified by the reflexive pronoun "se" ⭐ attached to the infinitive form.

For example:

Lavarse 🚿 (to wash oneself)

Peinarse 💇(to comb one’s hair)

Vestirse 👚(to get dressed)

In conjugation, ❗ the reflexive pronoun changes to match the subject:

Yo me lavo

Tú te lavas

Él/ella/usted se lava

Nosotros/ nosotras nos lavamos

Vosotros / vosotras os laváis

Ellos /ellas / ustedes se lavan

👂Lavarse

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What Are Reflexive Pronouns in Spanish? 🔍

Reflexive pronouns are essential to using reflexive verbs. They show that the subject and object are the same and must always agree with the subject of the sentence. Here are the reflexive pronouns:

Pronoun	Subject
Me	Yo (I)
Te	Tú (You, informal)
Se	Él/ella/usted (He/she/you, formal)
Nos	Nosotros/as (We)
Os	Vosotros/as (You all, informal, Spain)
Se	Ellos/ellas/ustedes (They/you all, formal)

 

Example:

Yo me despierto temprano. I wake myself up early.

Nosotros nos divertimos mucho.We enjoy ourselves a lot.

What Are Reflexive Verbs in English? 🇬🇧

In English, reflexive verbs are not as common as they are in Spanish, but they do exist. Reflexive actions are typically expressed with reflexive pronouns such as "myself," "yourself," "himself," etc. Here are a few examples:

I washed myself.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

They prepared themselves for the meeting.

However, Spanish often uses reflexive verbs in situations where English wouldn’t. For example:

Me ducho = I take a shower (literally, "I shower myself").

Se sienten felices = They feel happy.

Watch 👀 our daily routine video 👇 to see how much we use this type of structure and how it is conjugated in the present tense. 

How Many Reflexive Verbs Are There in Spanish? 📈

Spanish has a large number of reflexive verbs, and their usage is vital for fluency. While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact number, there are hundreds of reflexive verbs in Spanish. Some of the most commonly used ones include:

Levantarse (to get up)

Acostarse (to go to bed)

Maquillarse (to get  make oneself up)

Dormirse (to fall asleep)

Despertarse (to wake up)

Peinarse (to comb one’s hair)

Afeitarse (to shave)

Vestirse (to get dressed)

Tumbarse (to lie down)

Sentarse (to sit down)

Sentirse (to feel)

Enfadarse (to get angry)

Quedarse (to stay)

Divertirse (to have fun)

Mastering reflexive verbs in Spanish is a key step in achieving fluency. By understanding how they work and practicing regularly, you’ll be able to express yourself more naturally. Remember, reflexive verbs are not just about grammar—they’re about connecting actions to the subject in a meaningful way. Keep practicing 💪!

👇✍️ Now do these exercises to practice ✍️👇

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