Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs (verbos reflexivos) are verbs where the subject performs an action on themselves. In Spanish, they are identified by the -se attached to the infinitive: levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower), vestirse (to get dressed). Reflexive verbs are far more common in Spanish than in English, and mastering them is essential for talking about daily routines and personal actions.

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What Makes a Verb Reflexive?

A verb is reflexive when the subject and the object of the action are the same person:

• Me lavo. — I wash myself. (I = subject, myself = object — same person)
• Lavo el coche. — I wash the car. (I = subject, the car = object — different things)

In the first sentence, lavar is used reflexively (lavarse). In the second, it is used normally. Many Spanish verbs can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively, sometimes with different meanings.

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Reflexive Pronouns

Every reflexive verb requires a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject:

Subject	Reflexive Pronoun	Example with levantarse
yo	me	me levanto
tu	te	te levantas
el / ella / usted	se	se levanta
nosotros / nosotras	nos	nos levantamos
vosotros / vosotras	os	os levantais
ellos / ellas / ustedes	se	se levantan

Important: The reflexive pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, not after it.

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Common Reflexive Verbs for Daily Routine

Learning reflexive verbs through the lens of a daily routine is one of the most effective approaches:

Infinitive	English	Example
despertarse (e→ie)	to wake up	Me despierto a las siete.
levantarse	to get up	Me levanto inmediatamente.
ducharse	to shower	Me ducho con agua caliente.
banarse	to bathe	Me bano por la noche.
lavarse	to wash (oneself)	Me lavo la cara.
cepillarse	to brush	Me cepillo los dientes.
peinarse	to comb one's hair	Me peino antes de salir.
vestirse (e→i)	to get dressed	Me visto rapidamente.
maquillarse	to put on makeup	Ella se maquilla por la manana.
afeitarse	to shave	El se afeita todos los dias.
sentarse (e→ie)	to sit down	Me siento en la silla.
acostarse (o→ue)	to go to bed	Me acuesto a las diez.
dormirse (o→ue)	to fall asleep	Me duermo rapidamente.

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A Sample Daily Routine

Here is a complete daily routine using reflexive verbs:

1. Me despierto a las seis y media. — I wake up at 6:30.
2. Me levanto a las siete menos cuarto. — I get up at 6:45.
3. Me ducho durante diez minutos. — I shower for ten minutes.
4. Me seco con una toalla. — I dry myself with a towel.
5. Me cepillo los dientes. — I brush my teeth.
6. Me peino. — I comb my hair.
7. Me visto. — I get dressed.
8. (After work) Me siento en el sofa. — I sit down on the sofa.
9. Me acuesto a las once. — I go to bed at eleven.
10. Me duermo rapidamente. — I fall asleep quickly.

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Reflexive Verbs with Body Parts and Clothing

In Spanish, when talking about actions performed on your own body parts or clothing, you use the reflexive pronoun + definite article (not a possessive adjective):

• Me lavo las manos. — I wash my hands. (NOT lavo mis manos)
• Te cepillas los dientes. — You brush your teeth.
• Se pone la chaqueta. — He puts on his jacket.
• Nos quitamos los zapatos. — We take off our shoes.

Tip: This is a key difference from English. Spanish says "I wash the hands to myself" rather than "I wash my hands."

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Verbs That Change Meaning with -se