Reflexive verbs

A reflexive verb has -se at the end of the infinitive: levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower), llamarse (to be called). The action is done to oneself.

When conjugated, se changes with the person — me, te, se, nos, os, se — and goes before the verb.

How it works

Three models

Presente in use

• Me levanto a las siete.I get up at seven.
• ¿Cómo te llamas?What’s your name?
• Los viernes nos acostamos tarde.On Fridays we go to bed late.

Common reflexive verbs

“Each other”: in the plural, nos, os, se can show a mutual action: Nos vemos mañana. — “See you tomorrow”. Ana y Luis se quieren. — “Ana and Luis love each other”.

Switch the tense for each verb. In the Perfecto the pronoun goes before haber: me he levantado, and the participle does not change. In the Indefinido it goes before the verb as usual: me levanté.

Three tenses

Stem changes work just as with ordinary verbs: acostarse, dormirse (o → ue), despertarse, sentarse (e → ie), vestirse (e → i). The nosotros and vosotros forms keep the original stem: nos acostamos.

In different tenses

• Hoy me he levantado tarde.I got up late today.
• ¿Ya te has duchado?Have you had a shower yet?
• Los niños se han vestido solos.The children have got dressed by themselves.
• Anoche nos acostamos a las dos.Last night we went to bed at two.
• Mi abuelo se despierta muy temprano.My grandfather wakes up very early.

With a normal verb form, put it before the verb: Me ducho. No goes even earlier: No me levanto temprano.

With an infinitive, the pronoun can be attached to the end or placed before the whole phrase: Voy a ducharme = Me voy a duchar. It still matches the person: vamos a levantarnos.

Where the pronoun goes

Two places, one meaning

Position in use

• Voy a ducharme ahora.I’m going to have a shower now.
• No me levanto temprano los domingos.I don’t get up early on Sundays.
• ¿Te vas a quedar en casa esta noche?Are you going to stay at home tonight?
• No quiero enfadarme contigo.I don’t want to get angry with you.
• ¡Un momento! Estamos vistiéndonos.Just a moment! We’re getting dressed.

The same verb can be reflexive or not, and the meaning changes: lavar el coche (to wash the car) — lavarse las manos (to wash your hands); llamar a Ana (to call Ana) — llamarse Ana (to be called Ana).

With and without -se

With and without se

With body parts use the article, not “my”: Me lavo los dientes, not mis dientes. The same goes for clothes: Me pongo el abrigo.

Examples in pairs

• Me lavo los dientes después de comer.I brush my teeth after eating.
• Llamo a mi madre todos los días.I call my mother every day.
• El bebé duerme diez horas.The baby sleeps for ten hours.
• Anoche me dormí en el sofá.Last night I fell asleep on the sofa.
• ¿Quedamos a las siete en la plaza?Shall we meet at seven in the square?
• Hoy me quedo en casa.I’m staying at home today.
• Hace frío: ponte el abrigo.It’s cold: put your coat on.
• Mi hermana se parece mucho a mi padre.My sister looks a lot like my father.
• ¿Te acuerdas de mí?Do you remember me?

Daily routine

• Normalmente me despierto a las siete y me levanto a las siete y cuarto.I usually wake up at seven and get up at a quarter past.
• Mi marido se afeita todas las mañanas.My husband shaves every morning.
• ¿A qué hora os acostáis entre semana?What time do you go to bed on weekdays?

Feelings and changes

• Mis hijos se aburren en los museos.My children get bored in museums.
• No te preocupes, todo va a salir bien.Don’t worry, everything will be fine.
• Siempre me pongo nervioso en los exámenes.I always get nervous in exams.
• Mis amigos se casaron el verano pasado.My friends got married last summer.
• El año pasado nos mudamos a Málaga.Last year we moved to Málaga.

Travelling and visiting

• Es tarde, nos vamos.It’s late, we’re leaving.
• ¿Dónde os alojáis en Granada?Where are you staying in Granada?
• Siéntese, por favor.Please sit down.
• Marta y yo nos conocemos desde niños.Marta and I have known each other since we were children.