Reflexive Spanish Verbs Guide for Learners: With Charts & Explanations

If you have ever studied Spanish, even if just a little bit, I’m sure you’ve come across the reflexive verbs. The reflexive verbs are key to mastering the Spanish language and yet, they can be a bit confusing. Today, I bring you a comprehensive Spanish reflexive verbs chart and comprehensive guide that you can always come back to when confusion strikes. 

But first… let’s go over what reflexive verbs and reflexive pronouns are. 

What is an Example of a Reflexive Verb?

A reflexive verb is one in which the subject and object are the same. In Spanish, reflexive verbs are conjugated by adding -se to the end of the infinitive form of the verb. The following is a list of common reflexive verbs in Spanish:

• ar verbs: despertarse (to wake up)lavarse (to wash oneself), ducharse (to take a shower)
• er verbs: acostarse (to go to bed), levantarse (to get up), ponerse (to put on) 
• ir verbs: sentarse (to sit down), aburrirse (to get bored), divertirse (to have fun)

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What Are Reflexive Spanish Verbs?

What is a reflexive verb in Spanish?

Put it simply, a reflexive verb is a verb where the subject and the direct object are the same. In other words, reflexive verbs indicate that the person (or subject) that performs an action is also the receiver of this action.

Here are some examples of reflexive Spanish verbs.

Let’s take for example, the verb “lavar” (to wash). The verb lavar, on its own, is not a reflexive verb. In a sentence such asPedro lava su carro(Pedro washes his car), Pedro (the subject) does the action of washing but the car is “the receiver” of this action.

However, if you add the reflexive pronoun (se) to the verb “lavar”, this verb turns into a reflexive verb. In this case, the verb islavarse(to wash oneself). So, in a sentence likePedro se lava la cara(Pedro washes his face), Pedro again does the action of washing but this time, he is the receiver of this action. 

Think of it like this:

Pedro se lava la cara.

What are Reflexive Pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns are always alongside the reflexive verbs. They are used to indicate that the subject and the direct object are the same. Let’s go back to our friend Pedro. In the sentence, Pedro se lava la cara, Pedro and se represent the same person. 

You can identify reflexive verbs because they will always have the pronoun se attached to the infinitive form. Infinitive forms in Spanish end in ar, er, ir. so when a verb is in a reflexive form,  the pronoun se will appear at the end. As in: levantarse (to get up), lavarse (to wash oneself), bañarse (to shower oneself), ponerse (to put on one’s clothing), etc. 

Reflexive pronouns will always match the subject of the sentence because, as we said before, subject and reflexive pronoun mean the same person.

Here is a chart to guide you:

Now, let’s look into the types of reflexive verbs:

Natural Reflexive Spanish Verbs

These are verbs that we use to talk about our daily routines, daily actions and personal care actions. Here the idea of the subject executing and receiving the action is very clear. Just like looking at yourself in the mirror.

So… if you were to speak about your daily routines, your sentences would sound something like: 

Todas las mañanas…

Me levanto a las 7 a.m.

Me lavo la cara

Me cepillo los dientes

Me pongo la ropa. 

Notice how the reflexive noun always goes before the verb.

With these kinds of verbs, the sentences will always be in plural form because it will require more than one subject, in other words, the subject will always be either nosotros (we) o ellos (they). 

Pseudo-Reflexive Spanish Verbs (or verbs of emotion):

These are the tricky ones. These are verbs that act like reflexive verbs but there are not. Meaning there is no action done by the subject, but rather the subject is the one affected the action expressed by the verb. There is usually an external cause. These verbs usually express an emotion, and when translated into English, they are verbs with get (get angry, get upset, get excited).

Alegrarse (to get happy)          Me alegra verte.

Enojarse  (to get angry)           Me enojo cuando pierdo el tren.

Asustarse (to get scared)         Me asusté cuando vi The Ring.

Ofenderse (to get offended)     Me ofendí con su comentario.

Aburrirse (to get bored)            Me aburro en casa.

How Do You Know if a Verb is Reflexive in Spanish?

Spanish verbs can be a bit tricky to conjugate, but one of the most confusing things about them is figuring out when to use reflexive verbs. In English, we have reflexive verbs too, but they don’t follow the same rules as Spanish reflexive verbs. So how can you tell if a verb is reflexive in Spanish? Here are a few tips:

First, consider the meaning of the verb. If it’s an action that someone does to themselves, it’s probably reflexive. For example, the verb despertarse (to wake up) is almost always used reflexively because you’re doing the action of waking up to yourself. Other common reflexive verbs include bañarse (to take a bath), ducharse (to shower), and vestirse (to get dressed).

Another way to tell if a verb is reflexive is to look at the ending. Many reflexive verbs in Spanish end in -se, like despertarse and vestirse. However, not all verbs that end in -se are reflexive. For example, the verb comenzar (to begin) also ends in -se but isn’t used reflexively. The best way to know for sure is to consult a good Spanish dictionary or reference guide.

Finally, keep in mind that not all actions done to oneself are considered reflexive in Spanish. For example, the verb caer (to fall) can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively depending on the context. If you’re talking about falling asleep, you would use caerse (the reflexive form), but if you’re talking about simply tripping and falling, you would use caer (the non-reflexive form). Again, consulting a reference guide can help clear up any confusion.

What Are Reciprocal Reflexive Verbs in Spanish?

In Spanish, reciprocal reflexive verbs are used to describe actions that two or more people do to each other. For example, the verb “lavarse” (to wash oneself) can become “lavarse la cara” (to wash one’s face). In this sentence, both people are washing their own faces. Similarly, the verb “peinarse” (to comb one’s hair) can become “peinarse los cabellos” (to comb one’s hair). In this sentence, both people are combing their own hair.

Reciprocal reflexive verbs are often used in Spanish to describe activities that people do together, such as dancing or cooking. The verb “bailar” (to dance) can become “bailar juntos” (to dance together). The verb “cocinar” (to cook) can become “cocinar para los dos” (to cook for two). These verbs describe actions that two people do together, so they are reciprocals.

If you want to indicate that someone is doing something alone, you can use the reflexive form of the verb without the reciprocal pronoun. For example, the sentence “Me lavo la cara” (I wash my face) indicates that the speaker is only washing their own face. The sentence “Bailo solo” (I dance alone) indicates that the speaker is only dancing by themselves.

Reciprocal reflexive verbs can be used in various tenses, including the present, past, and future tenses. They can also be used in conjunction with other verbs to create different meaning. For example, the verb “conocerse” (to meet each other) can be combined with the verb “ya” (already) to create the phrase “Ya nos conocemos” (We already know each other). This phrase indicates that the speaker and the person they are talking to have already met each other before. 

How to Conjugate Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Spanish verbs can be tricky to conjugate, but reflexive verbs add an extra level of complexity. In English, we typically use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object of a sentence are the same person or thing. 

For example, “I washed myself” or “We fed the dog.” Reflexive verbs work in a similar way in Spanish, but they are conjugated differently. To conjugate a reflexive verb in Spanish, start by finding the infinitive form of the verb.

For example, the reflexive verb for “to wash” is “lavarse.” 

Then, conjugate the verb as you would any other verb, using the subject pronoun as your guide. 

For example, “I wash myself” would be “Me lavo” and “We wash ourselves” would be “Nos lavamos.” With a little practice, you’ll be conjugating reflexive verbs like a pro!

How to Use Reflexive Verbs in Spanish: Helpful Tips

Spanish reflexive verbs are often used in different ways than their English counterparts. The following tips will help you use reflexive verbs correctly in Spanish.

One important thing to remember is that reflexive verbs must agree with the subject in gender and number. That means that if the subject is a woman (la mujer), you would use the feminine form of the verb (lavarse); if the subject is a group of people (las personas), you would use the plural form of the verb (lavarse). 

Another thing to keep in mind is that many reflexive verbs have irregular conjugations. For example, the verb ” despertarse” (to wake up) changes to “me despierto” (I wake up), “te despiertas” (you [informal] wake up), and so on. These irregular conjugations must be memorized in order to use them correctly.

Finally, it’s important to know when to use a reflexive verb and when to use a regular verb. In general, reflexive verbs are used when talking about actions that someone does to themselves, such as getting dressed or taking a shower. They are also used when two people are doing something together, such as cooking dinner or watching a movie. Regular verbs are used for everything else. 

With these tips in mind, you’ll be using reflexive verbs like a native speaker in no time!

Spanish Reflexive Verbs Practice

Now, here are a few exercises you can do to practice this: Write about your daily routine using natural reflexives, talk about an experience with your friends or coworkers using reciprocal verbs or describe an emotional experience you had using the pseudo reflexive verbs or verbs of emotion. And of course, it’s helpful to keep this Spanish reflexive verbs chart & guide on hand. Feel free to paste your writing in the comments section!

Happy writing – and don’t be afraid to ask your Spanish teacher for help if you need it!