Reflexive Verbs
The short answer
Spanish reflexive verbs express actions the subject performs on or for itself, using reflexive pronouns that agree with the subject: me (yo), te (tú), se (él/ella/usted), nos (nosotros), os (vosotros), and se (ellos/ustedes). Common examples include levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower), and llamarse (to be called). The pronoun is placed before a conjugated verb — "Me levanto a las siete" (I get up at seven) — or attached to an infinitive or gerund: "Voy a levantarme temprano" (I'm going to get up early).
Reflexive verbs are especially common in Spanish because the language uses them to describe daily routines, changes of state, and emotional reactions — things English often expresses without a reflexive structure. Once you see the pattern, they appear everywhere.
What you'll cover
3 lessons · CEFR A2 · Elementary
- 1
Understanding reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) and how to attach them to infinitives or place them before conjugated verbs.
- 2
Using reflexive verbs to describe daily routine actions such as levantarse, ducharse, and acostarse.
- 3
Using reflexive constructions reciprocally to express actions done to each other, with verbs like llamarse and escribirse.
Examples
Me llamo Ana.
My name is Ana.
llamarse — to be called
Me levanto a las siete.
I get up at seven.
levantarse — to get up
¿A qué hora te acuestas?
What time do you go to bed?
acostarse — to go to bed
Se visten antes de desayunar.
They get dressed before eating breakfast.
vestirse — to get dressed
Voy a ducharme después.
I'm going to shower afterwards.
Pronoun attached to the infinitive
Common questions
What makes a Spanish verb reflexive?
A verb is reflexive when the subject and the object are the same — the subject performs the action on itself. The reflexive pronoun signals this: "Me lavo" (I wash myself) versus "Lavo el coche" (I wash the car). Many daily routine verbs in Spanish are inherently reflexive.
Where do reflexive pronouns go in a sentence?
Reflexive pronouns go immediately before a conjugated verb: "Me ducho por la mañana." When there is an infinitive or gerund, the pronoun can either precede the conjugated verb or attach to the end of the infinitive/gerund: "Voy a ducharme" or "Me voy a duchar" — both correct.
Are all reflexive verbs used to describe daily routines?
No. While many daily routine verbs are reflexive (ducharse, vestirse, peinarse), reflexive constructions also express emotions (alegrarse, preocuparse), reciprocal actions between people (llamarse, verse), and changes of state (dormirse — to fall asleep, cansarse — to get tired).
How do I use llamarse to introduce myself?
Llamarse literally means "to call oneself." Use the form matching the subject: "Me llamo Ana" (My name is Ana), "¿Cómo te llamas?" (What's your name?), "Se llama Juan" (His/her name is Juan). It is one of the first reflexive verbs learned because it is essential for introductions.
What is the difference between dormir and dormirse?
Dormir (non-reflexive) means to sleep in a general sense: "Duermo ocho horas" (I sleep eight hours). Dormirse (reflexive) means to fall asleep — the process of going from awake to asleep: "Me dormí en el sofá" (I fell asleep on the sofa). Many Spanish verbs have reflexive counterparts that add a nuance of change or personal involvement.
Related grammar topics
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