What Are Reflexive Verbs?
Reflexive verbs describe actions that a person does to themselves.
Examples:
Yo me levanto.
I get up.
Ella se lava las manos.
She washes her hands.
Nosotros nos acostamos tarde.
We go to bed late.
Reflexive verbs usually end with -se in the infinitive.
Examples:
levantarse
lavarse
ducharse
acostarse
vestirse
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive verbs use reflexive pronouns before the verb.
| Subject | Pronoun |
|---|---|
| yo | me |
| tú | te |
| él / ella | se |
| nosotros | nos |
| vosotros | os |
| ellos | se |
Examples:
Yo me levanto temprano.
Tú te duchas por la mañana.
Ella se peina.
Nosotros nos lavamos las manos.
Common Reflexive Verbs
These verbs are used very often in Spanish daily routines.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| levantarse | to get up |
| ducharse | to shower |
| lavarse | to wash |
| peinarse | to comb one’s hair |
| vestirse | to get dressed |
| acostarse | to go to bed |
| sentarse | to sit down |
| despertarse | to wake up |
Examples:
Yo me ducho por la mañana.
I shower in the morning.
Ella se viste rápido.
She gets dressed quickly.
Nosotros nos acostamos tarde.
We go to bed late.
Common Mistakes
Spanish learners often make these mistakes:
❌ Yo levanto temprano
✔️ Yo me levanto temprano
❌ Yo ducho por la mañana
✔️ Yo me ducho por la mañana
❌ Nosotros lavamos las manos
✔️ Nosotros nos lavamos las manos
❌ Ella peina
✔️ Ella se peina
Remember:
Reflexive verbs need reflexive pronouns.
LET'S PRACTICE!
Practice Reflexive Verbs in Spanish – FREE Exercises
Improve your Spanish grammar by practicing reflexive verbs and daily routines.
Exercise 1: Multiple Choice
How do you say "I get up" in Spanish?
Exercise 2: Write the reflexive pronoun
Yo ______ ducho.
Exercise 3: Complete the sentence
Ella ______ peina.
Exercise 4: Translate to Spanish
We go to bed late.
Exercise 5: Correct the Mistake
Yo levanto temprano.
