What is a reflexive verb in Spanish?

A reflexive verb expresses an action the subject performs on itself. Marked with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) matching the subject. Me lavo = I wash myself. Te despiertas = You wake yourself up.

When do I need to use a reflexive verb in Spanish?

Use reflexive when (1) the subject acts on itself (Me lavo = I wash myself), (2) for daily routines (levantarse, ducharse), (3) for emotions (alegrarse, enojarse), (4) for becoming (ponerse, volverse), (5) for reciprocal action (nos vemos = we see each other).

Where do reflexive pronouns go in Spanish?

Before the conjugated verb (Me lavo). Attached to infinitive or gerund (lavarme, lavándome). Before main verb when not attached (me voy a lavar). After negative commands (no te laves), attached to affirmative commands (lávate).

What's the difference between dormir and dormirse?

Dormir = to sleep (ongoing). Dormirse = to fall asleep (the moment of starting to sleep). Many Spanish verbs have a non-reflexive and reflexive form with different meanings: ir (go) / irse (leave), llamar (call) / llamarse (be named).

How can I master reflexive verbs?

Memorize the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se). Drill daily routines (me levanto, me ducho, me visto). Notice meaning shifts (ir / irse). Parrot's videos surface natural reflexive usage in real conversation.

Spanish grammar · Beginner

How to Use Reflexive Verbs in Spanish: The Complete Guide

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Use reflexive verbs when the subject performs an action on itself. Spanish marks reflexivity with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) placed before the conjugated verb. Common with daily routines (levantarse, ducharse), emotions (alegrarse), and become (ponerse).

Me lavo las manos.

I wash my hands. (lit: I wash myself the hands)

What it is

Reflexive verbs in Spanish express actions the subject does to itself. They're marked with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that match the subject. Most common with daily routines (me levanto), emotions (me alegro), and becoming (me pongo nervioso).

In Me lavo las manos (I wash my hands), me is the reflexive pronoun (matches yo), lavo is the conjugated verb. Literal Spanish: I wash myself the hands. English uses a possessive (my); Spanish uses the reflexive.

How to spot it

Look for the infinitive ending in -se: levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower), llamarse (to be called). When conjugated, the -se attaches as me / te / se / nos / os / se before the verb.

Me ducho cada mañana. — I shower every morning.
Se llama Juan. — His name is Juan. (lit: he calls himself Juan)
Nos vemos pronto. — See you soon. (reciprocal)

Reflexive ≠ passive. Reflexive = subject does action to itself. Passive = subject receives action from someone else.

How to Use Reflexive Verbs in Spanish Quick Reference

Reflexive pronouns by subject

Subject	Reflexive Pronoun	Example
yo	me	Me lavo.
tú	te	Te lavas.
él/ella/Ud.	se	Se lava.
nosotros	nos	Nos lavamos.
vosotros	os	Os laváis.
ellos/ellas/Uds.	se	Se lavan.

Common How to Use Reflexive Verbs in Spanish Examples in Spanish

Reflexive verbs in real contexts:

Daily Routines

Me levanto a las siete.: I get up at seven.
Te duchas por la mañana.: You shower in the morning.
Se viste rápidamente.: She gets dressed quickly.
Nos peinamos antes de salir.: We comb our hair before leaving.
Se cepillan los dientes.: They brush their teeth.

Daily routines almost always use reflexive: levantarse, ducharse, vestirse, peinarse, cepillarse, acostarse.

Emotions and Reactions

Me alegro de verte.: I'm glad to see you.
Se enoja fácilmente.: He gets angry easily.
Nos divertimos en la fiesta.: We had fun at the party.
Se asustaron con la noticia.: They got scared by the news.
Me preocupo por ti.: I worry about you.

Emotions / reactions: alegrarse, enojarse, divertirse, asustarse, preocuparse.

Become / Get (Ponerse, Volverse, Hacerse)

Me pongo nervioso.: I get nervous.
Se ha vuelto serio.: He has become serious.
Me he hecho médico.: I have become a doctor.
Se quedó dormido.: He fell asleep.
Te convertiste en un buen líder.: You became a good leader.

Become in Spanish has multiple reflexive verbs: ponerse (temporary state), volverse (gradual change), hacerse (profession / identity).

Reciprocal (Each Other)

Nos vemos mañana.: We'll see each other tomorrow.
Se quieren mucho.: They love each other a lot.
Nos abrazamos.: We hugged each other.
Se hablan por teléfono.: They talk to each other on the phone.
Os conocéis.: You all know each other.

Nos / os / se can mean each other in plural contexts. Context tells you if it's reflexive (selves) or reciprocal (each other).

How to Use Reflexive Verbs

Match Pronoun to Subject

Reflexive pronouns must match the subject: yo→me, tú→te, él/ella/Ud.→se, nosotros→nos, vosotros→os, ellos/ellas/Uds.→se. Always paired with conjugated verb.

Me lavo. Te lavas. Se lava.

Subject + matching pronoun + verb.

Pronoun matches subject.

Pronoun Placement

Before conjugated verb: Me lavo. With infinitive or gerund: attached or before main verb. Voy a lavarme = me voy a lavar. Estoy lavándome = me estoy lavando.

Me lavo / voy a lavarme / lavándome.

Three positions.

Before conjugated. Attached to inf./ger.

Same Verb, Different Meanings

Adding -se can change a verb's meaning: dormir (to sleep) vs. dormirse (to fall asleep). Ir (to go) vs. irse (to leave). Llamar (to call) vs. llamarse (to be named).

Dormir / dormirse. Ir / irse.

-se changes meaning.

Reflexive can shift meaning.

Commands with Reflexive Pronouns

Affirmative commands: pronoun attaches. Levántate (Get up). Negative commands: pronoun precedes. No te levantes (Don't get up).

Levántate / no te levantes.

Attached in affirmative. Before in negative.

Pronoun placement flips by polarity.

Common Mistakes with How to Use Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Incorrect: Yo lavo las manos. — I wash my hands.

Correct: Me lavo las manos. — I wash my hands.

Without the reflexive me, the sentence means I wash hands (someone else's? abstract?). The reflexive me indicates the action is on myself.

Incorrect: Me se lavo. — I wash myself.

Correct: Me lavo. — I wash myself.

Use only ONE reflexive pronoun per subject. Yo uses me, not *me se. Se is for él/ella/Ud./ellos/ellas/Uds.

Incorrect: Yo te lavo mis manos. (with body part) — I wash my hands.

Correct: Yo me lavo las manos. — I wash my hands.

For body parts in reflexive contexts, use the definite article (las manos), not the possessive (mis manos). The reflexive pronoun (me) makes possession clear.

How to Use Reflexive Verbs in Spanish FAQs

What is a reflexive verb in Spanish?: A reflexive verb expresses an action the subject performs on itself. Marked with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) matching the subject. Me lavo = I wash myself. Te despiertas = You wake yourself up.
When do I need to use a reflexive verb in Spanish?: Use reflexive when (1) the subject acts on itself (Me lavo = I wash myself), (2) for daily routines (levantarse, ducharse), (3) for emotions (alegrarse, enojarse), (4) for becoming (ponerse, volverse), (5) for reciprocal action (nos vemos = we see each other).
Where do reflexive pronouns go in Spanish?: Before the conjugated verb (Me lavo). Attached to infinitive or gerund (lavarme, lavándome). Before main verb when not attached (me voy a lavar). After negative commands (no te laves), attached to affirmative commands (lávate).
What's the difference between dormir and dormirse?: Dormir = to sleep (ongoing). Dormirse = to fall asleep (the moment of starting to sleep). Many Spanish verbs have a non-reflexive and reflexive form with different meanings: ir (go) / irse (leave), llamar (call) / llamarse (be named).
How can I master reflexive verbs?: Memorize the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se). Drill daily routines (me levanto, me ducho, me visto). Notice meaning shifts (ir / irse). Parrot's videos surface natural reflexive usage in real conversation.