Reflexive Verbs in Portuguese

Overview

Reflexive Verbs (Verbos Reflexivos) is a beginner (CEFR A1) topic in Portuguese grammar. Verbs with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, vos, se): chamar-se, levantar-se, deitar-se, vestir-se. Pronoun placement varies by sentence type.

Understanding reflexive verbs is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A1 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering reflexive verbs will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Reflexive verbs use pronouns that correspond to the subject:

Person	Pronoun	Example with levantar-se
eu	me	levanto-me
tu	te	levantas-te
ele/ela/voce	se	levanta-se
nos	nos	levantamo-nos
vos	vos	levantais-vos
eles/elas/voces	se	levantam-se

Note: in nos form, the final -s drops before -nos: levantamos + nos = levantamo-nos.

Common reflexive verbs: chamar-se (be called), levantar-se (get up), deitar-se (go to bed), vestir-se (get dressed), sentar-se (sit down), lembrar-se (remember), esquecer-se (forget), divertir-se (have fun).

Placement: European Portuguese: after verb (Levanto-me). Brazilian Portuguese: before verb (Me levanto). After negation, always before: Nao me levanto.

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Como te chamas?	What's your name?
Levanto-me às sete.	I get up at seven.
Ela deita-se tarde.	She goes to bed late.
Divertimo-nos muito.	We have a lot of fun.
Sento-me aqui.	I sit here.
Ela lembra-se de tudo.	She remembers everything.
Veste-se rapidamente.	He dresses quickly.
A que horas te deitas?	What time do you go to bed?
Divertem-se.	They have fun.

Common Mistakes

Applying wrong conjugation endings

• Wrong: Mixing up verb class endings (-AR/-ER/-IR)
• Right: Identify the verb class from the infinitive and apply the correct endings
• Why: Each verb class has distinct personal endings that must be kept separate.

Forgetting preposition requirements

• Wrong: Omitting required prepositions after certain verbs
• Right: Learn verbs together with their required prepositions
• Why: Many Portuguese verbs require specific prepositions that differ from English patterns.

Regularizing irregular forms

• Wrong: Applying regular patterns to an irregular verb
• Right: Check whether a verb is irregular before conjugating
• Why: Common verbs often have irregular forms that must be memorized.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A1 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, reflexive verbs is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice reflexive verbs with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using reflexive verbs and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular -AR Verbs -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for reflexive verbs