Reflexive Verbs in Spanish: A Deep Dive

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.

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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

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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!