Spanish reflexive Pronouns, everything you need to know

Spanish reflexive pronouns are personal pronouns that complement reflexive verbs and agree with the sentence’s subject in person and number. Reflexive pronouns add a specific meaning to verbs and always refer to the subject, indicating that the action that the subject performs falls on him/her at the same time.

Spanish reflexive pronouns, how they work

Reflexive verbs in Spanish must be used with a reflexive pronoun to indicate that the subject is acting as the verb upon itself. Reflexive verbs exist in English but are much more common in Spanish. For instance, reflexive verbs usually involve parts of the body, clothing, or one’s state of mind. Here are some common reflexive verbs:

Los niños se lavan las manos (The children wash their hands).

Me pongo la falda (I wear my skirt).

¿A que hora te levantas (At what time do you get up)?

Reflexive verbs list

Here you have a list of very common verbs that need to be used with reflexive pronouns in Spanish to get this specific meaning, but there are many more:

AburrirseTo get bored
AcercarseTo get closer
AcordarseTo remember
AcostarseTo go to bed
AcostumbrarseTo get used to
AfeitarseTo shave
AtreverseTo dare
CasarseTo get married
CuidarseTo get tired
DespedirseTo say good bye
DespertarseTo wake up
DormirseTo fall asleep
DucharseTo take a shower
EnamorarseTo fall in love
EncontrarseTo feel/come across
EnfadarseTo get upset
EnterarseTo find out
EquivocarseTo make a mistake
FijarseTo take notice
HacerseTo become
ImaginarseTo imagine
IrseTo leave
LavarseTo wash yourself up
LevantarseTo get up
LlamarseTo be named/called
MaquillarseTo put on make up
MeterseTo get into
ParecerseTo look like
PonerseTo put on
PreguntarseTo wonder
PreocuparseTo worry
QuedarseTo stay
QuejarseTo complain
ReírseTo laugh
SentarseTo sit down
SentirseTo feel

Reflexive pronouns to express reciprocity

We are going to use the reflexive pronouns plural (nosotros, vosotros, ellos, ustedes) to indicate that two or more people are equally acting on each other. The most common translation is that two or more people do something to or with «each other», learn more about reciprocal verbs :

Ellos se hablan mucho (They often talk to each other).

Nosotras nos ayudamos siempre (We always help each other).

Some common reciprocal verbs are:

abrazarse (to hug each other)conocerse (to know each other)mirarse (to see each other)
ayudarse (to help each other)despedirse (to say good-bye to each other)pelearse (to fight with each other)
besarse (to kiss each other)divorciarse (to divorce each other)reunirse (to get together)
casarse (to marry each other)estrellarse (to crash into each other)turnarse (to take turns)

 

Reflexive pronouns activities and quizzes

Now you can practice everything that you have learned with the exercises below. Remember to contact your tutor with any questions you have about Spanish reflexive pronouns. Don’t you have a Spanish personal tutor yet?

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