Spanish reflexive Pronouns (A1)
Spanish reflexive pronouns are personal pronouns that complement reflexive verbs and agree with the subject of the sentence in person and number. Reflexive pronouns add a certain meaning to verbs and always refer to the subject, indicating that the action that the subject performs falls on him at the same time.
Spanish reflexive pronouns, how they work
Reflexive verbs in Spanish must be used with a reflexive pronoun in order to indicate that the subject is performing the action of the verb upon itself. Reflexive verbs exist in English, but they are much more common in Spanish. For instant reflexive verbs usually have to do with 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).
Me estoy aburriendo (I am getting bored).
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 performing an action 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 question you have about Spanish reflexive pronouns. Don’t you have a Spanish personal tutor yet?