A reflexive verb is one where the subject does the action to itself. In the dictionary it appears with -se: lavarse (to wash oneself), llamarse (to be called).
Los verbos reflexivos: llamarse, despertarse, levantarse, lavarse, afeitarse, ducharse, vestirse, acostarse.
| Pronoun | lavarse | despertarse (e → ie) | vestirse (e → i) | acostarse (o → ue) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me lavo | me despierto | me visto | me acuesto |
| tú | te lavas | te despiertas | te vistes | te acuestas |
| él/ella/Ud. | se lava | se despierta | se viste | se acuesta |
| nosotros | nos lavamos | nos despertamos | nos vestimos | nos acostamos |
| vosotros | os laváis | os despertáis | os vestís | os acostáis |
| ellos/Uds. | se lavan | se despiertan | se visten | se acuestan |
Position of the pronoun
- Before a conjugated verb: Me levanto a las seis.
- Attached to an infinitive, gerund or affirmative command: Voy a levantarme. Estoy duchándome. ¡Levántate!
- With infinitive or gerund, both positions are correct: Me voy a duchar = Voy a ducharme; Los niños se están lavando los dientes = Los niños están lavándose los dientes.
Hoy he levantado tarde → Hoy me he levantado tarde. Levantarse is reflexive: without me, it would mean "I have lifted (something)".
Body parts and clothes: article, not possessive
Me lavo las manos. Me cepillo los dientes. Me pongo la chaqueta. The pronoun me already shows whose hands they are, so me lavo mis manos is wrong.
Verbs with and without se
Many verbs change meaning when they become reflexive:
| Without se | With se |
|---|---|
| llamar — to call | llamarse — to be called: Me llamo Omar. |
| acostar — to put (someone) to bed | acostarse — to go to bed |
| dormir — to sleep | dormirse — to fall asleep |
| ir — to go | irse — to leave: ¡No te vayas! |
| poner — to put | ponerse — to put on (clothes); to become (Unit 46) |
| quedar — to arrange to meet; to remain | quedarse — to stay: Me quedo en casa. |
| parecer — to seem | parecerse a — to look like: Me parezco a mi padre. |
| llevar — to carry, wear | llevarse bien/mal con — to get on well/badly with |
| casar — to marry (a couple, as a priest/imam does) | casarse (con) — to get married (to) |
Duermo a mis hermanos → Acuesto a mis hermanos (I put my brothers to bed) or Hago dormir a mis hermanos. Dormir is not used with a direct object in this sense.
Reciprocal se: "each other"
In the plural, the same pronouns can mean "each other": Juan y yo nos queremos mucho. Mis padres se escriben cada semana.