Spanish Reflexive Verbs - Types, Forms & Usage
A reflexive verb is one where the subject performing the action also receives it. Spanish uses these verbs constantly, often in contexts where English does not, and dictionaries mark them with -se attached to the infinitive (lavarse, levantarse, llamarse).
- Non-reflexive: Lavo el coche. → I wash the car (the action is done to an object).
- Reflexive: Me lavo. → I wash myself (the action turns back onto the subject).
Reflexive Pronouns and Placement
Each subject takes its own reflexive pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. The pronoun's position depends on the verb form:
- Before a conjugated verb: Me levanto a las siete. (I get up at seven.)
- Attached to the end of an infinitive: Quiero levantarme temprano. (I want to get up early.)
- Attached to the end of a gerund: Estoy levantándome. (I am getting up.)
- Attached to an affirmative command: ¡Levántate! (Get up!)
- Before a negative command: No te levantes. (Don't get up.)
Common Reflexive Categories
Reflexive verbs cluster into recognisable groups. Daily routines include despertarse (to wake up), levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower), vestirse (to get dressed) and acostarse (to go to bed). A key rule applies here: with body parts and clothing, Spanish uses the definite article rather than a possessive, as in Me lavo las manos (I wash my hands) and Se pone el abrigo (He puts on his coat).
Emotional states also take reflexive forms, such as sentirse (to feel), alegrarse (to be glad), enfadarse (to get angry), preocuparse (to worry) and divertirse (to have fun).
Verbs That Change Meaning
Some verbs change meaning entirely when made reflexive:
- ir (to go) versus irse (to leave)
- llamar (to call) versus llamarse (to be called)
- poner (to put) versus ponerse (to put on)
- dormir (to sleep) versus dormirse (to fall asleep)
Others are inherently reflexive and must simply be memorised with their pronouns, including quejarse de (to complain about), arrepentirse de (to regret), atreverse a (to dare) and darse cuenta de (to realise).
The Accidental Se
Spanish uses a distinctive accidental se to describe unplanned events, shifting responsibility away from the person:
- Se me cayó el vaso. → I dropped the glass (literally, the glass fell itself to me).
- Se me olvidó la cita. → I forgot the appointment.
Related reflexive verbs express changes of state that English hides behind "get" or "become": ponerse for a sudden change (Se puso rojo, he blushed), volverse for a deeper change (Se volvió famoso, he became famous), hacerse for gradual change through effort (Se hizo médico, he became a doctor) and quedarse for a resulting state (Se quedó solo, he ended up alone).