Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Overview

Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject performs an action on themselves. In Spanish, they are identified by the -se ending attached to the infinitive: llamarse (to call oneself), levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower). At the A1 level, reflexive verbs are essential because many daily routine actions are expressed reflexively in Spanish, even when English does not use a reflexive structure.

When you conjugate a reflexive verb, you need two things: the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that matches the subject, and the correctly conjugated verb form. The pronoun typically goes immediately before the conjugated verb. This might feel unusual at first, but after practicing daily routines, it will become natural.

Many verbs in Spanish can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively, often with a change in meaning. For example, llamar means "to call (someone)," while llamarse means "to be called / to call oneself."

How It Works

Reflexive pronouns

Subject	Reflexive pronoun	Example with levantarse
yo	me	me levanto
tú	te	te levantas
él / ella / usted	se	se levanta
nosotros/as	nos	nos levantamos
vosotros/as	os	os levantáis
ellos / ellas / ustedes	se	se levantan

Pronoun placement

In most cases, the reflexive pronoun goes before the conjugated verb:

• Me levanto a las siete. (I get up at seven.)
• ¿Te duchas por la mañana? (Do you shower in the morning?)

With infinitives and gerunds, the pronoun can attach to the end:

• Voy a ducharme. or Me voy a duchar. (I'm going to shower.)
• Estoy vistiéndome. or Me estoy vistiendo. (I'm getting dressed.)

Common reflexive verbs for daily routines

Verb	Meaning
llamarse	to be called
levantarse	to get up
acostarse (o → ue)	to go to bed
ducharse	to shower
bañarse	to bathe
vestirse (e → i)	to get dressed
lavarse	to wash (oneself)
peinarse	to comb one's hair
cepillarse	to brush (teeth/hair)
sentarse (e → ie)	to sit down
despertarse (e → ie)	to wake up
divertirse (e → ie)	to have fun
irse	to leave, to go away
quedarse	to stay

Reflexive vs. non-reflexive

Non-reflexive	Meaning	Reflexive	Meaning
llamar	to call (someone)	llamarse	to be called
levantar	to lift	levantarse	to get up
dormir	to sleep	dormirse	to fall asleep
ir	to go	irse	to leave, go away
poner	to put	ponerse	to put on (clothing)

Examples in Context

Spanish	English	Note
¿Cómo te llamas?	What's your name?	Most common reflexive question
Me levanto a las siete.	I get up at seven.	Daily routine
Se acuesta tarde.	He/She goes to bed late.	Stem change o → ue
Nos divertimos mucho.	We have a lot of fun.	Stem change e → ie
¿Te duchas por la mañana o por la noche?	Do you shower in the morning or at night?	Routine
Me lavo las manos.	I wash my hands.	Body part with article
Se viste rápido.	He/She gets dressed quickly.	Stem change e → i
Nos sentamos aquí.	We sit down here.	Stem change e → ie
Me voy.	I'm leaving.	irse = to leave
Se despierta sin alarma.	He/She wakes up without an alarm.	Stem change e → ie

Common Mistakes

Forgetting the reflexive pronoun

• Wrong: Levanto a las siete.
• Right: Me levanto a las siete.
• Why: Without me, the sentence means "I lift (something) at seven" instead of "I get up at seven."

Using the wrong reflexive pronoun

• Wrong: Yo se levanto temprano.
• Right: Yo me levanto temprano.
• Why: The reflexive pronoun must match the subject: yo → me, tú → te, él/ella → se.

Using possessives instead of articles with body parts

• Wrong: Me lavo mis manos.
• Right: Me lavo las manos.
• Why: In Spanish, the reflexive pronoun already indicates whose body part it is. Use the definite article, not a possessive adjective.

Not recognizing reflexive verbs in the dictionary

• Wrong: Looking up levanto and not finding it
• Right: Look up levantarse
• Why: Reflexive verbs are listed in the dictionary with -se attached to the infinitive. The -se tells you it is reflexive.

Practice Tips

• Narrate your morning routine. Walk through your mornings using reflexive verbs: Me despierto, me levanto, me ducho, me visto, me peino, me cepillo los dientes.
• Ask and answer "¿Cómo te llamas?" This is often the first reflexive verb learners encounter. Practice introducing yourself and others.
• Compare reflexive and non-reflexive pairs. Write sentences with both forms to see the meaning difference: Llamo a mi madre vs. Me llamo Ana.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular -AR Verbs
• Next steps: Verbs of Becoming