Reflexive verbs in Spanish: A comprehensive guide

Want to learn how to use reflexive verbs in Spanish like a pro? We’ve got you covered. This guide features clear explanations, practical tips, and real-world examples to improve your command of the most-spoken romance language in the world.

Ready to tackle this essential part of Spanish grammar to sound more fluent when conversing? Then let’s dive right in.

Reflexive verbs explained

Reflexive verbs are commonly used in Spanish speech, so they are often covered in beginner-level Spanish lessons online. But what exactly are reflexive verbs in Spanish? At their core, reflexive verbs refer to actions that one performs on oneself. These actions reflect back to the doer, hence the term “reflexive.”

From daily tasks like “peinarse” (combing one’s hair) to expressing feelings with “sentirse” (to feel), reflexive verbs are essential in everyday Spanish.

Understanding pronouns and their role

The magic of reflexive verbs in Spanish lies in the combination of the verb itself and the accompanying reflexive pronoun. These pronouns help indicate who is performing the action and upon whom the action is being done.

Here are the reflexive pronouns in Spanish:

How to conjugate reflexive verbs in Spanish

The process of conjugating reflexive verbs in Spanish depends on whether the verb is regular or irregular.

Regular reflexive verbs

Regular reflexive verbs obey the typical verb conjugation patterns of -ar, -er, and -ir endings. To form them:

1. Identify the reflexive verb’s infinitive form (e.g., “bañarse,” to bathe oneself).
2. Drop the reflexive ending “-se” and conjugate the verb according to its subject.
3. Place the appropriate reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb. For instance, “Yo me baño” (I bathe myself) or “Tú te bañas” (You bathe yourself).

Irregular reflexive verbs

As their name suggests, irregular verbs in Spanish don’t follow regular conjugation patterns. Despite these differences, the reflexive structure remains consistent with the addition of reflexive pronouns.

There are three primary types of stem-changing reflexive verbs:

1. E–ie stem-changing verbs: The “e” in the stem transforms into “ie”

Example: Sentirse (to feel):

• Yo me siento. (I feel.)
• Tú te sientes. (You feel.)
• Él/Ella/Usted se siente. (He/She feels, You [formal] feel.)
• Nosotros/Nosotras nos sentimos. (We feel.)
• Vosotros/Vosotras os sentís. (You all feel.)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes se sienten. (They/You all feel.)

2. E–i stem-changing verbs: The “e” in the stem becomes “i”

Example: Despedirse (to say goodbye):

• Yo me despido. (I say goodbye.)
• Tú te despides. (You say goodbye.)
• Él/Ella/Usted se despide. (He/She says goodbye, You [formal] say goodbye.)
• Nosotros/Nosotras nos despedimos. (We say goodbye.)
• Vosotros/Vosotras os despedís. (You all say goodbye.)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes se despiden. (They/You all say goodbye.)

3. O–ue stem-changing verbs: The “o” in the stem changes to “ue”

Example: Acostarse (to go to bed):

• Yo me acuesto. (I go to bed.)
• Tú te acuestas. (You go to bed.)
• Él/Ella/Usted se acuesta. (He/She goes to bed, You [formal] go to bed.)
• Nosotros/Nosotras nos acostamos. (We go to bed.)
• Vosotros/Vosotras os acostáis. (You all go to bed.)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes se acuestan. (They/You all go to bed.)

Demonstrative reflexive verbs: Expressing actions on specific objects

More than just indicating the action, demonstrative reflexive verbs provide insight into the final position or status of the object as a result of the action.

Check out the following examples:

• Ella se pone el vestido. (She puts on the dress.)

This literally translates as “She puts the dress on herself.” Here, the dress is the object being acted upon, and the verb indicates that it ends up being worn by the subject.

• Carlos se compra el coche rojo. (Carlos buys the red car.)

The literal translation is “Carlos buys for himself the red car.” In this case, the red car ends up being owned by Carlos as a result of the action.

In both scenarios, the verbs shed light on the action and where the object stands after the action, underlining the outcome or final position of the object.

Common reflexive verbs in Spanish

While there’s no shortage of reflexive verbs in Spanish, certain ones pop up frequently in everyday conversations:

• Despertarse (To wake up)

“Me despierto a las 7 de la mañana todos los días.” (I wake up at 7 in the morning every day.)

• Levantarse (To get up)

“Me levanto temprano a las 8 cada mañana.” (I get up at 8 every morning.)

• Vestirse (To get dressed)

“Él se viste rápidamente para el trabajo.” (He gets dressed quickly for work.)

• Sentarse (To sit down)

“Nos sentamos en la primera fila durante la conferencia.” (We sat in the first row during the conference.)

• Maquillarse (To put on makeup)

“Ella se maquilla antes de salir.” (She puts on makeup before going out.)

• Peinarse (To comb one’s hair)

“Antes de la entrevista, Juan se peina cuidadosamente.” (Before the interview, Juan combs his hair carefully.)

• Dolerse (To hurt oneself)

“Me duele la espalda.” (My back hurts.)

Reflexive verbs vs non-reflexive verbs

While both reflexive and non-reflexive verbs depict actions, reflexive verbs specifically indicate actions performed on oneself.

For example:

Lavar (to wash) vs Lavarse (to wash oneself)

• Ella lava el coche. (She washes the car.)
• Ella se lava. (She washes herself.)

Romper (to break) vs Romperse (to break oneself/break apart)

• Juan rompe el brazo de Pedro. (Juan breaks Pedro’s arm.)
• Juan se rompe el brazo. (Juan breaks his own arm.)

Vestir (to dress someone else) vs Vestirse (to dress oneself)

• Luis viste al bebé. (Luis dresses the baby.)
• Luis se viste. (Luis dresses himself.)

Be aware that a small number of Spanish verbs are always reflexive, including “quejarse de” (to complain about), “darse cuenta de” (to realize), and “arrepentirse” (to repent).

Diverse applications of reflexive verbs in Spanish

Spanish reflexive verbs are versatile and permeate various tenses and moods, allowing for rich expression in diverse contexts.

Let’s quickly touch on these applications:

Past tenses

Whether you’re using the preterite or imperfect tense, reflexive pronouns remain integral:

• Me lavé. (I washed myself [preterite].)
• Me lavaba. (I was washing myself [imperfect].)

Future and conditional tenses

Reflexive verbs also extend to future and conditional contexts:

• Me lavaré. (I will wash myself [future].)
• Me lavaría. (I would wash myself [conditional].)

Commands and imperatives

When giving orders or requests, reflexive verbs come into play. Whether you’re addressing someone formally or informally, reflexive constructions adapt accordingly:

• Informal (tú form): ¡Lávate las manos! (Wash your hands!)
• Formal (usted form): ¡Lávese las manos! (Wash your hands!)

Passive voice

Reflexive verbs can take a passive form, highlighting the action more than the doer. For example, “Se vendió el coche” (The car was sold). In contrast, the active voice emphasizes the subject performing the action, as in “Marcos vendió el coche” (Marcos sold the car).

Subjunctive mood

Reflexive verbs are not left out in the realm of the subjunctive – a mood that expresses doubt, wishes, or hypotheticals. For example, “Espero que te relajes” (I hope you relax). In this case, “relajarse” is the reflexive verb and “te” is the reflexive pronoun for the second-person singular, showing that the action reflects back on the subject.

Reflexive verbs in routine actions

Our daily routines are replete with actions we perform on ourselves. From the moment we wake up to the moment we retire for the night, we’re in a continual dance with reflexive verbs. Take, for instance, our morning rituals:

• “Me cepillo los dientes cada mañana.” (I brush my teeth every morning.)
• “Nos vestimos para ir al trabajo.” (We get dressed to go to work.)

Expressing emotions and feelings

Reflexive verbs in Spanish offer a meaningful way to articulate feelings:

• “Me siento feliz hoy.” (I feel happy today.)
• “Nos enfadamos cuando perdemos el juego.” (We get angry when we lose the game.)

Health and well-being

Health and well-being, intrinsically personal subjects, also lean heavily on reflexive verbs in Spanish:

• “Me siento cansado.” (I feel tired.)
• “Se enfermó durante las vacaciones.” (He/She got sick during the holidays.)

Reflexive verbs: Common mistakes and top tips

Learning how to use reflexive verbs in Spanish can be tricky. Let’s pinpoint some typical pitfalls and ways to steer clear of them:

• Using unnecessary reflexive pronouns with direct objects: One might mistakenly say, “Yo me baño a mi perro,” thinking they’re correctly conveying “I wash my dog.” However, the correct form is “Yo baño a mi perro.” The reflexive pronoun “me” is not needed here since the action is not performed on oneself but on another entity, the dog.
• Overgeneralizing reflexiveness: Not all verbs that exist in a reflexive form should be used reflexively every time. Saying “Me veo el cine” (I see myself the movie) instead of “Veo el cine” (I see the movie) is one such instance.
• Skipping the reflexive aspect: Omitting the reflexive pronoun, like saying “Levanto a las 7” instead of “Me levanto a las 7,” misses the self-directed action.

How to become a pro at using reflexive verbs in Spanish

Now that you know which common errors to avoid, here are some extra tips to help you master this part of Spanish grammar:

• Practice and repeat: The key to internalizing any linguistic element is consistent repetition. Make sure you study reflexive verbs using flashcards, language apps, and in tutor-led online Spanish classes.
• Get talking: Actively participating in conversations enhances retention. Also, renowned language-learning expert Benny Lewis emphasizes that making mistakes is the only way to learn a language. So, dive into Spanish conversations without hesitation and embrace every error.
• Immerse yourself in Spanish: Listen to podcasts, read books, and watch Spanish movies on Netflix to expose yourself to reflexive verbs in the wild.

Reflexive verbs in Spanish: Final thoughts

Delving into reflexive verbs in Spanish unlocks a deeper layer of expression and authenticity in your conversations.

Yet, understanding reflexive verbs is just one aspect of mastering Spanish. To make serious progress in the language, hands-on practice and expert guidance are key. That’s where platforms like Preply shine. By connecting you with online Spanish tutors, Preply ensures tailored learning experiences that align with your unique objectives and learning pace.

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