1. Los verbos
reflexivos
By Jami Sipe
Reflexive Verbs

2. A verb is reflexive when the subject and the direct object
receiving the action are the same.
Ejemplo:
I wash myself.
Subject: I
Verb: wash
Object: myself
Since the subject and the object are the same,
the verb is reflexive.

3. Ejemplo NOT reflexive: I wash the car.
Subject: I
Verb: wash
Object: the car
Since the subject and the object are different, the verb is not reflexive.

4. Other Examples: He bathes himself.
Since the subject and the object are the same, the verb is reflexive.
I bathe the dog.
Since the subject and the object are different, the verb is NOT reflexive.

5. When a verb is reflexive in Spanish, the infinitive
ends with “se.”
lavar =
lavarse =
bañar =
bañarse =
to wash (not reflexive)
to wash oneself (reflexive)
to bathe (not reflexive)
to bathe oneself (reflexive)

6. A verb you’ve been using since the beginning that is reflexive:
llamarse = to call oneself
Me llamo Josefina.
Él se llama Juanito.
Ella se llama Marta.
Ellos se llaman Gutiérrez.

7. You need to know a different set of pronouns for reflexives.
The “se” is dropped from the end of the
infinitive. The verb is conjugated as a regular
verb and you add a reflexive pronoun
before the verb.
lavarse – to wash oneself
Me lavo. – I wash myself.

8. se – yourself (formal)/ himself/herself
Reflexive Pronouns
me – myself
nos – ourselves
te – yourself
(familiar)
os – yourselves
(familiar - Spain)
se – yourself (formal)/ himself/herself
se – yourselves/ themselves

9. Present Tense: verbo “lavarse”
me lavo
nos lavamos
te lavas
os laváis
se lava
se lavan

10. The purpose of the reflexive pronoun is to show that the action of the verb remains with the subject.
Juan se lava la cara.
= (Juan washes his face.)
Juan lava su carro.
= (Juan washes his car.)
(reflexive)
(not reflexive)

11. Note:
Nearly all verbs can be made reflexive (when the action remains with the subject).
Conocer
Conocerse
(To know)
(To know oneself)
Bañar
Bañarse
(To bathe)
(To bathe oneself)

12. When used with another verb such as “ir”
Yo voy a bañarme.
Nosotros vamos a bañarnos.
Ellos se van a bañar.
Josefina se va a bañar.
When you have another verb first, you attach the
correct pronoun to the end of the infinitive form of the
reflexive verb or put it before the first verb.

13. Common reflexive verbs:
irse
lavarse
vestirse
levantarse
despertarse
maquillarse
peinarse
afeitarse
= to go away
= to wash oneself
= to dress oneself
= to get up
= to wake up
= to put on makeup
= to comb one’s hair
= to shave oneself

14. Special-use reflexive verbs:
ponerse
quitarse
romperse
quemarse
+ article of clothing – to put on
+ article of clothing – to take off
+ article of clothing – to tear
+ part of body – to break
+ part of body – to burn

15. Más ejemplos: bañarse = to take a bath secarse = to dry oneself
ducharse = to take a shower
abrocharse los cordones = to tie one’s
shoelaces
cepillarse los dientes = to brush one’s teeth
cortarse el pelo = to cut one’s hair
desabrocharse los cordones = to untie
one’s shoes

16. Y más: acostarse (ue) = to go to bed dormirse (ue) = to fall asleep
lastimarse el dedo = to hurt one’s finger
lavarse la cabeza = to wash one’s hair
limarse las uñas = to file one’s nails

17. Y los últimos: limpiarse los dientes = to brush one’s teeth
pintarse los labios = to put lipstick on
torcerse el tobillo (ue) = to twist one’s ankle

18. Check Your Knowledge! I wash my face. Me lavo la cara. He goes away.
We put on makeup.
They get up.
I burnt my finger.
All of you get dressed.
You put on your jacket.
Me lavo la cara.
Se va.
Nos maquillamos.
Se levantan.
Me quemé el dedo.
Ustedes se visten.
Te pones la chaqueta.

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