Spanish reflexive verbs are verbs in which the action falls back on the subject. This means that the subject is both the doer and the recipient of the action:
Me baño todas las mañanas.
I have a shower every morning.
Some of the most common everyday verbs in Spanish are reflexive, including despertarse (wake up), levantarse (get up), acostarse (go to bed), with the infinitive form always ending in -se.
All reflexive verbs take a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os), which comes before or after the verb, depending on the grammatical context: me lavo (I wash myself), se esconde (he hides), despiértate (wake up).
While reflexive verbs do exist in English (“hurt myself”, for example), it is important to note that a large number of verbs that are reflexive in Spanish are not in English. The broad classification of Spanish verbs that take a reflexive pronoun, encompassing reflexive verbs, is called verbos pronominales (pronominal verbs).
Reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are obligatorily used with reflexive verbs, with which they form a unity and complete their meaning. For every subject pronoun there is reflexive pronoun, which agrees in number and person:
| Subject pronoun | Reflexive pronoun | Example with levantarse |
|---|---|---|
| yo I | me myself | Yo me levanto. I get up |
| tú, vos you | te yourself | Tú te levantas. You get up. |
| él, ella, usted he, she, formal you | se himself, herself, yourself | Él se levanta. He gets up |
| nosotros, nosotras we | nos ourselves | Nosotros nos levantamos. We get up. |
| vosotros, vosotras you | os yourselves | Vosotros os levantáis. You get up. |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes they, you | se themselves, yourselves | Ellos se levantan. They get up. |
Some more examples of reflexive pronouns in context are:
Hoy me desperté tarde.
I woke up late today.
Siempre te pones un rico perfume.
You always wear a nice perfume.
Ella se peinó rápidamente y salió.
She combed her hair quickly and left.
Nos perdimos en el bosque.
We got lost in the forest.
No os apresuréis.
Don’t hurry.
Los niños se divierten en el parque.
The children have fun in the park.
Note: English has a large number of verbs that are reflexive in meaning but do not take a reflexive pronoun (for example shave, and not “shave oneself”). In Spanish, in contrast, reflexive pronouns cannot be omitted.
Most common Spanish reflexive verbs
Among the large number of Spanish reflexive verbs are some of the most common verbs in the language:
| despertarse wake up | levantarse get up | acostarse go to bed |
| dormirse fall asleep | peinarse comb one’s hair | lavarse wash oneself |
| vestirse get dressed | quedarse stay | reírse laugh |
| cansarse get tired | enojarse get angry | lastimarse hurt oneself |
| caerse fall down / off | preocuparse worry | mejorarse get better |
| asustarse get scared | maquillarse make up | parecerse look like |
| irse leave | sentarse sit down | pararse stand up |
| arrepentirse regret | disculparse apologize | ocuparse take care of |
María se parece a su madre.
María takes after her mother.No te preocupes.
Don’t worry.Pascual se fue temprano de la fiesta.
Pascual left the party early.
How to conjugate Spanish reflexive verbs
To conjugate reflexive verbs, the final -se of the infinitive is dropped, the verb is conjugated in the same way as the rest of verbs, and a reflexive pronoun is added. Reflexive pronoun placement (before or after the verb) depends on verb tense and mood.
Before the verb
Reflexive pronouns are usually placed before the main verb in all tenses:
Ella se ocupa de todo.
She takes care of everything. (present time)Me quedé dormido y falté al examen.
I overslept and was absent from the exam. (past time)Se quedará en un hotel lujoso en Londres.
He’ll stay at a luxury hotel in London. (future time)
With two-part verbs, the reflexive pronoun comes immediately before the auxiliary:
Me estoy muriendo de hambre.
I’m starving.Ya se había casado antes.
He had been married before.Nos vamos a mudar a Londres.
We’re moving to London.
When there is more than one pronoun, the reflexive pronoun comes first:
Me la compré.
I’ve bought it.Se lo ha ganado.
She has won it.Nos lo han dicho.
We’ve been told about it.
Likewise, in negative commands the reflexive pronoun comes before the verb, and after the word no:
No te asustes por todo.
Don’t be scared of everything.No se vayan ahora.
Don’t leave now.No te apures a entregar el examen.
Don’t hurry to hand in the exam.
After the verb
In affirmative commands (imperative), the reflexive pronoun is added to the end of the verb, forming one word:
Apresúrate o llegaremos tarde.
Hurry up or we’ll be late.Quédese aquí hasta que yo vuelva.
Stay here until I come back.¡Cállense ahora mismo!
Be quiet right now!
With progressive tenses, reflexive pronouns may be placed either before the auxiliary or after the main verb, as one word:
Se están durmiendo. / Están durmiéndose.
They are falling asleep.
Likewise, with infinitive verbs, reflexive pronouns may be placed before the auxiliary or after the verb:
Nos vamos a casar el mes que viene. / Vamos a casarnos el mes que viene.
We’re getting married next month.
When to use reflexive verbs in Spanish
Reflexive verbs are used when the action done by the subject falls back on itself. Depending on the grammatical context, different types of reflexive verbs exist:
Always reflexive
Some verbs are reflexive by definition. This means that they only exist in their reflexive form and always take a reflexive pronoun. Examples of always reflexive verbs include: arrepentirse (regret), acurrucarse (curl up), dignarse (deign), adueñarse (take over), antojarse (feel like).
El gato se acurrucó delante de la chimenea.
The cat curled up in front of the fireplace.No me arrepiento de nada.
I don’t regret anything.Se adueñaron de la propiedad sin permiso.
They took over the property without permission.No se le antoja hacer nada.
He doesn’t feel like doing anything.
Motion
Many Spanish verbs denoting motion are reflexive. Among the most common are: irse (leave), sentarse (sit), pararse (stand), caerse (fall), moverse (move).
Ya es tarde; me voy.
It’s late; I’m leaving.Me acosté muy tarde anoche.
I went to bed very late last night.Cuando entre la directora, párense.
When the headmistress enters, stand up.Te moviste cuando saqué la foto.
You moved when I took the photo.
Routine
Some of the most basic Spanish verbs associated with routine and self-care are reflexive. Among the most common are: despertarse (wake up), peinarse (comb), lavarse (wash), cepillarse (brush), bañarse (bathe), vestirse (get dressed).
Me cepillo los dientes después de cada comida.
I brush my teeth after every meal.No se ha peinado.
He hasn’t combed his hair.Ella se viste muy bien.
She dresses quite nicely.¿A qué hora te levantas por la mañana?
What time do you get up in the morning?
Emotions
All the verbs indicating emotions can be reflexive, including: aburrirse (get bored), preocuparse (worry), sorprenderse (be surprised), enojarse (get angry), alegrarse (be happy).
Te has enojado por nada.
You have gotten angry over nothing.El final de la película me sorprendió.
I was surprised by the movie ending.Siempre se preocupa por los demás.
She worries about other people all the time.Me siento solo.
I feel lonely.
Reciprocals
Reciprocal verbs are verbs in which two or more people perform an action on each other. Reciprocal verbs usually take the plural form, with examples including: abrazarse (hug), amarse (love), conocerse (know), encontrarse (meet), casarse (get married), entenderse (understand), pelearse (fight), hablarse (talk).
Nos casaremos el año próximo.
We’re getting married next year.Creo que se han peleado porque no se hablan.
I think they have broken off because they’re not talking to each other.¿Nos conocemos de algún lugar?
Have we met before?Me encontré con Pedro en la panadería.
I bumped into Pedro at the bakery.
Reflexive verbs with a change in meaning
Most Spanish verbs can be either reflexive or non-reflexive depending on the context. However, some change their meaning depending on whether they are used as reflexive or non-reflexive verbs. The most common verbs with a change in meaning are:
| Verb | Reflexive / Non-reflexive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hacer | hacerse (reflexive) become, get |
Se ha hecho de noche. It has gotten dark. |
| hacer (non-reflexive) do |
Debo hacer mi tarea. I have to do my homework. |
|
| ir | irse (reflexive) leave |
Vete de aquí ahora mismo. Leave this place right now. |
| ir (non-reflexive) go |
Andrea fue al parque. Andrea went to the park. |
|
| llamar | llamarse (reflexive) to be called |
Me llamo Carlos. My name is Carlos. |
| llamar (non-reflexive) call |
Llamaré a Juana esta noche. I’ll call Juana tonight. |
|
| meter | meterse (reflexive) get into |
Siempre se mete en problemas. He always gets into trouble. |
| meter (non-reflexive) put |
Niños, metan el juego en su caja. Children, put the game back in its box. |
|
| poner | ponerse (reflexive) turn, get |
Juan se ha puesto colorado. Juan’s face has turned red. |
| poner (non-reflexive) put |
Pon tu carpeta en el cajón. Put your folder in the drawer. |
|
| reunir | reunirse (reflexive) meet |
Me reúno con mis amigos todas las semanas. I meet my friends every week. |
| reunir (non-reflexive) fulfill, gather, meet |
Esa candidata reúne las condiciones necesarias. That candidate meets all the necessary requirements. |
|
| retirar | retirarse (reflexive) leave |
Nos vamos a retirar. We’re leaving. |
| retirar (non-reflexive) take out |
Retiré dinero del cajero. I took out money from the ATM. |
|
| ocupar | ocuparse (reflexive) take care of |
Eva se ocupa de todo. Eva takes care of everything. |
| ocupar (non-reflexive) take up |
Tus zapatos ocupan mucho lugar en la maleta. Your shoes take up a lot of space in the suitcase. |
|
| volver | volverse (reflexive) turn, become, get |
María se ha vuelto muy miedosa últimamente. María has become easily scared lately. |
| volver (non-reflexive) go back |
Volveré a París algún día. I’ll go back to Paris someday. |
150+ reflexive verbs in Spanish
| aburrirse get bored | acercarse approach | acicalarse groom oneself |
| acordarse remember | acostarse lie down | acostumbrarse get used to |
| acurrucarse curl up | adaptarse adapt oneself | admirarse admire oneself |
| afeitarse shave oneself | ahorcarse hang oneself | ahogarse get drowned |
| aislarse cut oneself off from | alegrarse be happy | alejarse get away from |
| animarse bring oneself to do (sth) | apresurarse hurry up | aprovecharse take advantage of (sb) |
| apurarse hurry up | arrepentirse regret | arrodillarse kneel down |
| asegurarse make sure | asociarse join | asustarse get scared |
| atarse tie up | atreverse dare | avergonzarse be embarrassed |
| bajarse go down | bañarse take a shower, bathe | burlarse mock |
| caerse fall down / off | callarse be quiet | calmarse calm down |
| cambiarse change | cansarse get tired | casarse get married |
| cepillarse brush (one’s teeth) | cerrarse lock (oneself) up | colocarse put oneself |
| comprometerse get engaged / commit to | concentrarse concentrate | conectarse connect |
| conformarse be satisfied with | confundirse get confused | congelarse freeze |
| conocerse know, be acquainted | contagiarse contract (a disease) | contracturarse get a kink |
| convertirse become | cortarse cut oneself | curarse heal |
| dedicarse dedicate oneself | deprimirse become depressed | desmayarse faint |
| despedirse say goodbye | despertarse wake up | destacarse stand out |
| desvestirse get undressed | dirigirse address | disculparse apologize |
| distraerse get distracted | divertirse have fun | divorciarse get divorced |
| dormirse fall asleep | ducharse take a shower | enamorarse fall in love |
| encargarse take care of | encontrarse meet | enfermarse get sick |
| enfurecerse get furious | enloquecerse go mad | enojarse get angry |
| enorgullecerse be proud | enriquecerse become rich | enterarse find out, hear |
| entristecerse get sad | entrometerse meddle | equivocarse make a mistake |
| esconderse hide | esforzarse make an effort | estirarse stretch |
| exponerse expose oneself | fijarse notice | fundirse melt |
| graduarse graduate | hacerse turn, become | imaginarse imagine |
| incendiarse burn down | incorporarse sit up, join | informarse find out |
| inscribirse register | instalarse settle down | interesarse be interested in |
| inundarse be flooded | involucrarse get involved | irse leave |
| jactarse boast | largarse leave | lastimarse hurt oneself |
| lavarse wash oneself | levantarse get up | limitarse limit oneself |
| maquillarse make up | marearse feel dizzy | merecerse deserve |
| meterse go into | mirarse look at oneself | mojarse get wet |
| motivarse get motivated | moverse move | mudarse move (change houses) |
| negarse refuse | obsesionarse get obsessed | ocuparse take care of |
| odiarse hate each other | olvidarse forget | parecerse look like, take after |
| peinarse comb one’s hair | pelearse argue | perderse get lost |
| pintarse make up | ponerse put on | preguntarse ask oneself |
| preocuparse worry | prepararse get ready | probarse try on |
| quebrarse break | quedarse stay | quejarse complain |
| quemarse burn oneself | quitarse take off | reírse laugh |
| relajarse relax | resfriarse catch a cold | resignarse resign oneself |
| reunirse get together | romperse break | secarse get dry |
| sentarse sit down | sentirse feel | servirse help oneself to (sth) |
| sorprenderse be surprised | subirse climb | sumergirse dive |
| suicidarse commit suicide | taparse cover | tirarse jump off |
| tranquilizarse calm down | tratarse mix with (sb) | tropezar stumble |
| verse see (sb) | vestirse get dressed | volverse turn, become |
Related articles:
References
- Real Academia Española, Nueva gramática de la lengua española, s.v. “Los pronombres reflexivos”, accessed June 18, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Real Academia Española, Nueva gramática de la lengua española, s.v. “Los verbos pronominales”, accessed June 18, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Real Academia Española, Glosario de términos gramaticales, s.v. “Verbo pronominal,” accessed June 18, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Oxford Spanish Dictionary, 3rd edition on CD-ROM, Oxford University Press, accessed June 18, 2024, 2024
- Wordreference.com, accessed June 18, 2024, https://www.wordreference.com/
- Merriam-Webster.com, accessed June 18, 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/
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