Beginner grammar guide
Reflexive verbs: where the action lands
Track the person connected to the verb—not just the infinitive’s final letters.
A reflexive pronoun connects the action to the subject: I get myself ready, she brushes her own hair. Spanish uses the same small set of pronouns in several constructions, so not every verb that ends in -se describes a literal action done to oneself.
Building everyday vocabulary too? Explore the free vocabulary guides.
The idea
Understand the choice, not just the label.
The pronouns are me, te, se, nos, os, se. With levantarse, for example, the forms are me levanto, te levantas, se levanta, nos levantamos, os levantáis, se levantan. The pronoun agrees with the subject, not with an object.
Some verbs commonly occur reflexively for everyday actions (ducharse, vestirse); others can change meaning when the pronoun is added: ir means to go, while irse often means to leave. Verbs such as quejarse (“to complain”) are pronominal but do not describe an action literally performed on oneself.
Place the pronoun before a conjugated verb: Me estoy vistiendo. With an infinitive or gerund, it can attach to the end: Estoy vistiéndome; voy a vestirme. In affirmative commands it attaches (¡Siéntate!); in negative commands it comes before the verb (No te sientes).
| Form / pattern | Use it when… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before a finite verb | pronoun precedes the conjugated verb | Nos acostamos tarde. — We go to bed late. |
| With infinitive | pronoun may attach to the infinitive | Voy a peinarme. — I’m going to comb my hair. |
| With progressive | pronoun may precede estar or attach to gerund | Se está preparando / Está preparándose. — She’s getting ready. |
Hear it in a sentence
Examples in everyday Spanish
Me despierto a las siete, pero me levanto diez minutos después.
I wake up at seven, but get up ten minutes later.
¿Os vais ya o esperáis al resto?
Are you all leaving now or waiting for the others?
In Spain, os is the familiar plural pronoun.
Mi abuelo se queja del ruido de la calle.
My grandfather complains about the street noise.
Quejarse is pronominal, not literally “complain oneself.”
Look out for
Common mistakes, made clearer
Avoid
Yo me levanto y me desayuno.
Use / understand
Yo me levanto y desayuno.
Desayunar is not normally reflexive; having breakfast is not an action done to oneself.
Avoid
Se lava las manos a sí misma (unnecessarily emphatic in ordinary context).
Use / understand
Se lava las manos.
Spanish commonly uses the reflexive pronoun with body parts, while the definite article identifies the body part.
Avoid
No siéntate aquí.
Use / understand
No te sientes aquí.
Negative tú commands place the pronoun before the subjunctive-form command.
Out in the world
Everyday use
Me pongo el abrigo porque hace frío.
I’m putting on my coat because it’s cold.
Después del trabajo, se relaja leyendo.
After work, she relaxes by reading.
Five quick checks
Try it before you peek.
- 01
Complete: Mis amigos ___ (despertarse) temprano.
Reveal answer and explanation
se despiertan
The subject is ellos; the pronoun is se and despertar has e → ie in stressed forms.
- 02
Complete: Yo ___ (ducharse) por la noche.
Reveal answer and explanation
me ducho
The first-person reflexive pronoun me comes before the conjugated verb.
- 03
Choose a natural version: “We’re getting dressed.”
Reveal answer and explanation
Nos estamos vistiendo. / Estamos vistiéndonos.
With estar + gerund, the pronoun can go before the conjugated verb or attach to the gerund.
- 04
Complete the negative tú command: ___ (sentarse) aquí.
Reveal answer and explanation
No te sientes
Negative tú commands use the present subjunctive form and put the pronoun before the verb.
- 05
Translate: “They leave at eight.”
Reveal answer and explanation
Se van a las ocho.
Irse commonly means to leave; the pronoun is part of this verb’s meaning.
Still wondering
Questions about reflexive verbs: where the action lands
Does every verb ending in -se mean the action is reflexive?
No. Some are naturally reflexive, some are pronominal with a shifted meaning, and some (like quejarse) do not describe an action on oneself.
Should I say “me lavo mis manos”?
Normally say Me lavo las manos. Spanish commonly uses the definite article with body parts in this construction.