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Reflexives -What They Are and How to Use Them Naturally

  • Writer: Bilingua Spanish Academy
    Bilingua Spanish Academy
  • 2 days ago
  • 3 min read

Updated: 24 hours ago



If you've been learning Spanish, you've probably come across verbs like levantarse, ducharse, or llamarse. At first, that little -se at the end can seem confusing, but once you understand reflexive pronouns, you'll be able to talk much more naturally about your daily routine, personal care, emotions, and many everyday actions. Let's break it down.




Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the verb are the same person. In other words, the person doing the action is also receiving it.


English: I wash myself.

Spanish: Yo me lavo.


Instead of saying "myself," Spanish uses a reflexive pronoun (in this case “me”) before the conjugated verb (“lavo”)




Subject

Reflexive Pronoun

Yo

me

Tú

te

Él / Ella / Usted

se

Nosotros/as

nos

Vosotros/as

os

Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes

se




Reflexive Verb

Meaning

Example

levantarse

to get up

Me levanto a las siete de la mañana. 

(I get up at seven in the morning.)

despertarse

to wake up

Nos despertamos temprano los fines de semana. 

(We wake up early on weekends.)

ducharse

to take a shower

Ella se ducha después del gimnasio. 

(She takes a shower after the gym.)

vestirse

to get dressed

¿Te vistes rápido por las mañanas? 

(Do you get dressed quickly in the mornings?)

peinarse

to comb one's hair

Mi hija se peina antes de salir de casa. 

(My daughter combs her hair before leaving home.)

acostarse

to go to bed

Nos acostamos a las diez todas las noches. 

(We go to bed at ten every night.)

sentarse

to sit down

Siéntate aquí, por favor. 

(Sit here, please.)

llamarse

to be called

(name oneself)

Me llamo Sofía. 

(My name is Sofía.)

maquillarse

to put on makeup

Ella se maquilla para la fiesta. 

(She puts on makeup for the party.)

relajarse

to relax

Después del trabajo, me relajo leyendo un libro. 

(After work, I relax by reading a book.)





*The verb is conjugated normally and the reflexive pronoun changes depending on the subject.

Subject

Spanish

English

Yo

me levanto

I get up

Tú

te levantas

You get up

Él, ella

se levanta

He gets up

Nosotros, nosotras

nos levantamos

We get up

Ellos, ellas

se levantan

They get up



  1. Reflexive pronouns do not translate literally to Spanish. It’s better to just memorize the verbs that use these pronouns. 


  2. The pronoun always comes before the conjugated verb.


  3. These verbs are especially common when talking about your routine. Examples: Me despierto a las seis de la mañana. Nos duchamos después de hacer ejercicio.


  4. Not Every Verb Is Reflexive; however, some verbs can be both reflexive and non-reflexive, with different meanings. Example:

    Dormir

    • Duermo ocho horas. (I sleep eight hours.)

    Dormirse

    • Me duermo en el sofá. (I fall asleep on the couch.)


  5. Usually, the pronoun goes before the conjugated verb: Me levanto temprano.


  6. With infinitives, you have two options.

    • Voy a levantarme.

    • Me voy a levantar.


  7. With affirmative commands, attach the pronoun to the end.

    • Levántate.

    • Siéntense.


  8. With negative commands, place it before the verb.

    • No te levantes.

    • No se preocupen.




Exercise 1

Write the reflexive verb for each picture. Use the words in the word bank.




Exercise 2

Complete each sentence with the correct reflexive pronoun.


  1. Yo ____ despierto a las siete.

  2. Nosotros ____ acostamos tarde los viernes.

  3. ¿Tú ____ llamas Carlos?

  4. Ellas ____ maquillan antes de salir.

  5. Usted ____ sienta aquí.

  6. Ustedes____ duchan por la mañana.

  7. Él ____ peina después de desayunar.

  8. Nosotros ____ relajamos los fines de semana.

  9. ¿Ustedes ____ levantan temprano?

  10. Tú ____ acuestas muy tarde.


Exercise 3

Write each sentence in Spanish using the correct reflexive verb.



Example:

I get dressed quickly.

→ Me visto rápidamente.


  1. We wake up at 6:00. ________________________________________________

  2. She goes to bed at midnight. ________________________________________________

  3. They relax after work. ________________________________________________

  4. My name is Daniel. ________________________________________________

  5. I take a shower every morning. ________________________________________________

  6. You (informal) sit next to me. ________________________________________________

  7. We comb our hair before leaving. ________________________________________________

  8. He falls asleep during the movie. ________________________________________________

  9. They leave the office at five. ________________________________________________

  10. Do you remember my birthday? ________________________________________________



Final Tips




Reflexive verbs are everywhere in Spanish. They appear in conversations about:

  • Daily routines

  • Personal care

  • Feelings and emotions

  • Changes of state

  • Movement

  • Social interactions


The best way to master them isn't by memorizing long lists—it's by using them in real conversations. The more you speak, the more natural they'll become.





Ready to Practice Reflexive Verbs in Real Conversations?


Understanding the grammar is the first step but using reflexive verbs while speaking is what leads to real fluency.


Book our Reflexive Verbs Master Class and practice these structures through guided conversations, role-plays, interactive activities, and real-life situations. You'll receive personalized feedback to help you sound more natural and speak with confidence.


Book your master class today!

Start using reflexive verbs as a native speakers!






 
 
 
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