Reflexive Verbs in Spanish: A Deep Dive

Bodhi Ramos5 min
Created: Sep 23, 2024Last updated: Oct 2, 2024
Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Although reflexive verbs Spanish are an integral part of the language, they might initially seem confusing, especially if you’re just starting to learn Spanish. No need to worry! In today’s article, we’ll explore this part of the grammar and do our best to explain it to you. So buckle up, and let’s dive right in!

What Are Reflexive Verbs?

As the name suggests, reflexive verbs are the ones where the action of the verb is both done by and received by the same person. In simple terms, the subject of the sentence is doing something to themselves.

For example, think of the word lavarese [laβaˈɾse], which means “to wash oneself.” In this case, the person doing the action (washing) is receiving it at the same time (being washed). Here are some examples:

  • Yo me lavo – I wash myself.
  • Tú te lavas – You wash yourself.
  • Él/ella se lava – He/she washes him/herself.

The key difference between regular and reflexive verbs in Spanish is that the latter always comes with a reflexive pronoun, which matches the subject and shows that the action is happening to the same person doing it.

Understanding Reflexive Pronouns

The main thing about reflexive pronouns is that without them, reflexive Spanish verbs become regular words and lose their initial meaning. In the table below, you can find Spanish reflexive pronouns and the ways you can use them in sentences.

SubjectReflexive PronounExampleTranslation
Yo (I)meYo me lavoI wash myself
(You – informal)teTú te lavasYou wash yourself
Él / Ella / Usted (He / She / You – formal)seÉl se lavaHe washes himself / She washes herself / You wash yourself (formal)
Nosotros/as (We)nosNosotros nos lavamosWe wash ourselves
Vosotros/as (You all – informal, Spain)osVosotros os laváisYou all wash yourselves
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes (They / You all – formal)seEllos se lavanThey wash themselves / You all wash yourselves

1

Reflexive Verbs Spanish Conjugation: Explained

When it comes to conjugation, reflexive verbs don’t differ much from the regular ones. The only difference is that you need to add a reflexive pronoun. Here’s a short breakdown of reflexive verbs conjugation to make this process easier for you.

  • Identify the reflexive verb. Most of them end in -se (e.g., lavarse, levantarse, vestirse).
  • Remove the reflexive ending from the infinitive form (e.g., lavar).
  • Conjugate the verb as you would normally, based on the tense and subject.
  • Add the appropriate reflexive pronoun in front of the conjugated verb (e.g., me, te, se, nos, os, se).

That’s it! Now you not only know what is a reflexive verb in Spanish but also how to conjugate it! Those simple steps work for most reflexive verbs, so once you memorize them, it will be easier for you to conjugate them.

Common Reflexive Verbs and Their Uses

So, let’s solidify your knowledge: what is a reflexive verb? In simple words, it’s a verb where the subject performs the action on themselves. In the list below, we’ve collected some of the most common examples of reflexive verbs and the ways of using them in simple Spanish phrases.

  • Levantarse – [leβanˈtaɾ.se] – To get up.

Yo me levanto a las siete de la mañana. (I get up at seven in the morning.)

  • Lavarse – [laˈβaɾ.se] – To wash oneself.

Nosotros nos lavamos las manos antes de cenar. (We wash our hands before dinner.)

  • Ducharse – [duˈt͡ʃaɾ.se] – To shower.

Tú te duchas todas las mañanas. (You shower every morning.)

  • Peinarse – [pejˈnaɾ.se] – To comb one’s hair.

Ella se peina antes de salir. (She combs her hair before going out.)

  • Secarse – [seˈkaɾ.se] – To dry oneself.

Yo me seco con una toalla después de ducharme. (I dry myself with a towel after showering.)

  • Afeitarse – [afejˈtaɾ.se] – To shave.

Él se afeita todas las mañanas. (He shaves every morning.)

  • Cepillarse – [t͡se.piˈʝaɾ.se] – To brush (one’s teeth/hair).

Yo me cepillo los dientes tres veces al día. (I brush my teeth three times a day.)

  • Relajarse – [re.laˈxaɾ.se] – To relax.

Nosotros nos relajamos después del trabajo. (We relax after work.)

Exploring Spanish Reflexive Verbs with Promova

If your goal is to learn Spanish or any other foreign language, you need to understand that grammar is an integral part of it. The earlier you’ll understand basic principles, the easier it will become for you to master other skills. With the convenient Promova application, you can find all the materials you need to do so! Within the app, you can:

  • access tons of useful materials and engaging interactive lessons created by language enthusiasts;
  • track your progress to stay motivated;
  • enjoy bite-sized learning to never feel overwhelmed by tons of unnecessary information;
  • practice reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills;
  • learn English, Spanish, Korean, French, and multiple other languages.

The app is available for iOS and Android devices, allowing you to access it anywhere and anytime. And the best part is that it’s suitable for learners of different proficiency levels. So whether you’re just starting your learning by memorizing the Spanish alphabet or need to improve some skills to level up, don’t hesitate to install Promova!

Conclusion

All in all, while the reflexive verbs topic might look complicated at first glance, it’s not as difficult as it seems. Once you understand what they are, what pronouns are used with them, and memorize some common reflexive verbs Spanish examples, you’re all set! We hope this article was useful, and we’re looking forward to meeting you in the next one!

FAQ

Can a verb be both reflexive and non-reflexive in Spanish?

Absolutely; it all depends on the context. The key difference is whether the action is done to oneself (reflexive) or to someone/something else (non-reflexive). Make sure to check the sentence for reflexive pronouns, and you’ll be able to determine which type of verb has been used.

Do all verbs in Spanish have a reflexive form?

It’s quite obvious that not all the actions we do we can perform on ourselves. Therefore, not all Spanish verbs have a reflexive form. For instance, verbs like correr (to run) or saber (to know) don’t typically have reflexive forms because these actions are not commonly performed by and on oneself. 

How important is it to know reflexive verbs for achieving fluency in Spanish?

If your goal is to become proficient in Spanish, understanding basic grammar concepts, including reflexive verbs, is essential. These verbs are very widespread in daily situations because they are used to describe common actions. You may struggle to understand or express basic actions in conversation if you don’t know reflexive verbs. So, we would say that mastering them is important for fluency.

What are some tips for mastering reflexive verbs in conversational Spanish?

Start by memorizing key reflexive pronouns. This way, you can determine whether the reflective or non-reflective verb was used in a sentence. Practice regularly by describing familiar actions, like your daily routine, using reflexive verbs. You can also watch Spanish TV shows, listen to podcasts, or engage in conversations where reflexive verbs are frequently used. Repeat what you hear to get used to the patterns and pronunciation.

Comments