1. Reflexive Verbs Verbos Reflexivos
Una explicación
Reflexive Verbs Verbos Reflexivos

2. What is a reflexive verb?
A verb is reflexive when the subject and the object are the same.
This means that the person doing the action also receives the action.
When people do something to or for themselves, a reflexive verb is required in Spanish.

3. The same verb can be both reflexive and non-reflexive.
lavarse – to wash oneself
La mujer se lava la cara.
The woman washes her face.
lavar – to wash
La mujer lava el carro.
The woman washes the car.

4. Otro ejemplo…another example
REFLEXIVE
NON-REFLEXIVE
mirarse – to look at oneself
El bebé se mira en el espejo.
The baby looks at himself in the mirror.
mirar – to look at, watch
El bebé mira la televisión.
The baby watches TV.

5. Characteristics of a reflexive verb
These verbs end with a reflexive pronoun (se) in the infinitive form
bañarse = to bathe oneself
afeitarse = to shave oneself
maquillarse = to put makeup on oneself
They are commonly (but not always) used when an action is performed to the body
secarse el pelo = to dry one's hair
lavarse las manos = to wash one's hands
pintarse las uñas = to paint one's nails

6. How do they translate in English?
Sometimes they translate well into English and you will see the reflexive pronoun in the sentence.
Yo me miro en el espejo. = I look at myself in the mirror.
Sometimes they do NOT translate well into English and the reflexive pronoun is not used in the translation (although it still appears in Spanish).
Yo me cepillo los dientes. = I brush my teeth.
*Notice I didn’t say, “I brush myself my teeth.” In English the reflexive pronoun is often implied.

7. ¡Hablemos de la conjugación! Let’s talk about conjugation!
levantarse – to get oneself up
Pretend the se is not there for a moment and look at the verb in the infinitive form = levantar. Conjugate that verb.
levantarse – to get oneself up yo
nosotros tú
vosotros
él, ella, Ud.
ellos, ellas, Uds.
levanto
levantamos
levantas
levantáis
levanta
levantan

8. ¡Hablemos de la conjugación! Let’s talk about conjugation!
levantarse – to get oneself up
Now go back and add the reflexive pronoun in BEFORE the conjugated verb. The reflexive pronoun will need to change to match the subject.
levantarse – to get oneself up yo
nosotros tú
vosotros
él, ella, Ud.
ellos, ellas, Uds. me
levanto
nos
levantamos te
levantas os
levantáis se
levanta se
levantan

9. levantarse – to get oneself up
What does that reflexive pronoun mean? *It shows who is receiving the action
me = myself
te = yourself
se = himself, herself, itself
nos = ourselves
os = yourselves
se = themselves, yourselves
levantarse – to get oneself up yo
nosotros tú
vosotros
él, ella, Ud.
ellos, ellas, Uds. me
levanto
nos
levantamos te
levantas os
levantáis se
levanta se
levantan

10. levantarse – to get oneself up
In context…
levantarse – to get oneself up yo
nosotros tú
vosotros
él, ella, Ud.
ellos, ellas, Uds.
levanto
levantas
levanta me te se
levantamos
levantáis
levantan
nos os se
Yo me levanto a las seis.
I get (myself) up at six.
Tú te levantas a las seis.
You get (yourself) up at six.
Pablo se levanta a las seis.
Pablo gets (himself) up at six.
Nosotros nos levantamos a las seis.
We get (ourselves) up at six.
Vosotros os levantáis a las seis.
You all get (yourselves) up at six.
Ellos se levantan a las seis.
They gets (themselves) up at six.