Reflexive verbs are essential for Spanish grammar and communication, as they help to indicate the action of the verb on the subject itself and are fundamental for the grammatically correct construction of Spanish sentences.
For example, in the sentence “I wash my hands” the verb “lavar” is reflexive because the reflexive pronoun “me” is before the verb and reflects that the subject “yo” is performing the action of washing on itself.
Examples of Reflexive Verbs
Here is a list of the most common reflexive verbs in Spanish and examples of how they are used in sentences:
Reflexive verbs in the present indicative:
| Pronombres | DESPERTARSE | VESTIRSE | IRSE |
| yo | me despierto | me visto | me voy |
| tú | te despiertas | te vistes | te vas |
| él / ella | se despierta | se viste | se va |
| nosotros/ -as | nos despertamos | nos vestimos | nos vamos |
| ellos/ -as | se despiertan | se visten | se van |
| ustedes | se despiertan | se visten | se van |
We cover this topic and many other in the Spanish Online Course for Beginners!
✏️ Sentence examples with reflexive pronouns:
Lavarse – “Me lavo las manos antes de comer.”
Bañarse – “Nos bañamos todas las mañanas.”
Vestirse – “Me visto rápido para no llegar tarde al trabajo.”
Ponerse – “Me pongo un vestido elegante para la fiesta.”
Peinarse – “Ella se peina sola antes de ir a la escuela.“
Ducharse – “¿Te duchas antes de dormir o a la mañana?“
Afeitarse – “Él se afeita todas las mañanas.“
Cepillarse – “Se cepilla los dientes después de cada comida.“
Despertarse – “Nos despertamos temprano todos los días.“
Acostarse – “¿Te acuestas temprano a la noche?“
It is worth mentioning that there are many more reflexive verbs in Spanish, these are just some common examples.
It is also important to note that some verbs can be reflexive or not depending on the context in which they are used. For example, the verb “sentir” can be reflexive in “Me siento cansado” (I feel tired) or non-reflexive in “Siento el olor a café” (I smell coffee)
Reflexive verbs in Spanish Practise
Match the photos with the verbs:
Choose the right phrase:
Here you have an interactive activity to practice reflexive verbs:
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