Reflexive Verbs in Spanish: Rules, Conjugation & Top 100 Verbs

REFLEXIVE VERBS IN SPANISH

Reflexive verbs (verbos reflexivos) are essential in Spanish—they show that the subject is doing an action to themselves (e.g., I wash myself = Yo me lavo). These verbs are everywhere in daily conversations, so mastering them will boost your fluency fast!

In this guide, you’ll learn:
✔ What reflexive verbs are & how to use them
✔ Conjugation rules for all tenses
✔ 100+ common reflexive verbs (with examples)
✔ Practice tips for beginners to advanced learners

After learning all about the reflexive verbs in Spanish, You can Check your level of knowledge with our interactive Spanish Reflexive Verbs quiz!

Let’s dive in!

What Are Reflexive Verbs?

Reflexive verbs include a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that shows the action reflects back on the subject.

Example:

• Lavarse (to wash oneself) → Yo me lavo (I wash myself).

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How to Conjugate Reflexive Verbs

1. Remove “-se” from the infinitive (lavarse → lavar).
2. Conjugate the verb as usual (lavo).
3. Add the matching pronoun (yo me lavo).

Present Tense Conjugation Example:

Pronoun	Reflexive Pronoun	Lavarse (to wash)
Yo	me	me lavo
Tú	te	te lavas
Él/Ella	se	se lava
Nosotros	nos	nos lavamos
Vosotros	os	os laváis
Ellos	se	se lavan

(Repeat for other tenses: past, future, etc.)

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Rules for Using Reflexive Verbs

1. Pronoun Placement:
   • Before conjugated verb: Me levanto temprano.
   • Attached to infinitives/gerunds: Voy a levantarme / Estoy lavándome.
2. Common Uses:
   • Daily routines (despertarse, ducharse).
   • Emotions (enojarse, alegrarse).
   • Reciprocal actions (abrazarse, besarse).

Examples with English Translations:

1. Lavarse (to wash oneself)
   • Yo me lavo las manos. → I wash my hands.
   • Él se lava la cara. → He washes his face.
2. Vestirse (to dress oneself)
   • Tú te vistes rápido. → You dress quickly.
   • Nosotros nos vestimos elegantes. → We dress elegantly.
3. Dormirse (to fall asleep)
   • El bebé se duerme temprano. → The baby falls asleep early.

(Notice how the pronoun matches the subject!)

More Examples in Sentences

Daily Routine Reflexive Verbs

1. Despertarse (to wake up)
   • Me despierto a las 7. → I wake up at 7.
2. Cepillarse los dientes (to brush one’s teeth)
   • Tú te cepillas los dientes. → You brush your teeth.
3. Acostarse (to go to bed)
   • Ellos se acuestan tarde. → They go to bed late.

Emotions & Feelings

4. Enojarse (to get angry)
   • Mi mamá se enoja cuando llego tarde. → My mom gets angry when I’m late.
5. Alegrarse (to become happy)
   • Nosotros nos alegramos con las buenas noticias. → We become happy with good news.

Reciprocal Actions (Two People Doing Something to Each Other)

6. Abrazarse (to hug each other)
   • Mis hermanos se abrazan. → My brothers hug each other.
7. Saludarse (to greet each other)
   • Los estudiantes se saludan. → The students greet each other.

100+ Most Common Spanish Reflexive Verbs (with English Translations)

Daily Routine & Personal Care

1. Despertarse – to wake up
2. Levantarse – to get up
3. Lavarse – to wash (oneself)
4. Ducharse – to shower
5. Bañarse – to bathe
6. Cepillarse los dientes – to brush one’s teeth
7. Peinarse – to comb one’s hair
8. Afeitarse – to shave
9. Maquillarse – to put on makeup
10. Vestirse – to get dressed
11. Ponerse la ropa – to put on clothes
12. Quitarse la ropa – to take off clothes
13. Secarse – to dry off
14. Mirarse al espejo – to look at oneself in the mirror
15. Cortarse el pelo – to cut one’s hair

Health & Hygiene

16. Limpiarse – to clean oneself
17. Cuidarse – to take care of oneself
18. Relajarse – to relax
19. Estirarse – to stretch
20. Descansarse – to rest
21. Enfermarse – to get sick
22. Mejorarse – to get better
23. Protegerse – to protect oneself
24. Taparse – to cover oneself
25. Resfriarse – to catch a cold

Emotions & Feelings

26. Alegrarse – to become happy
27. Enojarse – to get angry
28. Preocuparse – to worry
29. Asustarse – to get scared
30. Sorprenderse – to be surprised
31. Calmarse – to calm down
32. Disgustarse – to get upset
33. Emocionarse – to get excited
34. Aburrirse – to get bored
35. Sentirse – to feel

Movement & Actions

36. Sentarse – to sit down
37. Pararse – to stand up
38. Acostarse – to lie down / go to bed
39. Dormirse – to fall asleep
40. Desvestirse – to undress
41. Moverse – to move (oneself)
42. Esconderse – to hide
43. Caerse – to fall down
44. Subirse – to climb up
45. Bajarse – to get down

Reciprocal Actions (Two People Doing Something to Each Other)

46. Abrazarse – to hug each other
47. Besarse – to kiss each other
48. Saludarse – to greet each other
49. Ayudarse – to help each other
50. Conocerse – to meet each other
51. Quererse – to love each other
52. Mirarse – to look at each other
53. Pelearse – to fight each other
54. Reunirse – to get together
55. Separarse – to separate from each other

Mental & Cognitive Actions

56. Acordarse (de) – to remember
57. Olvidarse (de) – to forget
58. Darse cuenta (de) – to realize
59. Imaginarse – to imagine
60. Preguntarse – to wonder

Verbs with Multiple Meanings

61. Irse – to leave / go away
62. Volverse – to become (sudden change)
63. Quedarse – to stay / remain
64. Convertirse en – to become (transformation)
65. Casarse – to get married

Less Common but Useful Reflexive Verbs

66. Atreverse – to dare
67. Quejarse – to complain
68. Arrepentirse – to regret
69. Burlarse (de) – to mock/make fun of (someone/something)

Less Common but Useful Reflexive Verbs

70. Divertirse – to have fun
71. Portarse bien/mal – to behave well/badly
72. Equivocarse – to make a mistake
73. Lastimarse – to hurt oneself
74. Mudarse – to move (change residence)
75. Desmayarse – to faint
76. Apurarse – to hurry up
77. Despedirse – to say goodbye
78. Enterarse – to find out
79. Fijarse – to notice/pay attention
80. Marearse – to get dizzy
81. Ocuparse – to take care of (a matter)
82. Prepararse – to prepare oneself
83. Quedarse sorprendido – to be surprised
84. Recuperarse – to recover
85. Referirse – to refer to
86. Reírse – to laugh
87. Resbalarse – to slip
88. Romperse – to break (something on oneself)
89. Sentarse – to sit down
90. Subirse – to get on/into (a vehicle)
91. Tranquilizarse – to calm down
92. Tratarse de – to be about
93. Venirse – to come (toward speaker)
94. Volverse – to turn around/become
95. Zambullirse – to dive in

Advanced/Idiomatic Reflexive Verbs

96. Animarse – to cheer up/get encouraged
97. Apoderarse de – to take possession of
98. Burlarse de – to mock/make fun of
99. Comportarse – to behave
100. Confundirse – to get confused
101. Dedicarse a – to dedicate oneself to
102. Desesperarse – to despair
103. Disculparse – to apologize
104. Empeñarse en – to insist on
105. Enorgullecerse – to be proud of
106. Enternecerse – to be moved/touched
107. Esforzarse – to make an effort
108. Fiarse de – to trust in
109. Jactarse de – to boast about
110. Quebrarse – to break (bone)
111. Rebelarse – to rebel
112. Resignarse – to resign oneself
113. Suicidarse – to commit suicide
114. Suplicarse – to beg
115. Vanagloriarse – to boast

Special Cases and Notes

• Some verbs change meaning when reflexive:
  • Ir (to go) vs. Irse (to leave)
  • Llevar (to carry) vs. Llevarse (to take away)
  • Poner (to put) vs. Ponerse (to become/wear)
• Many reflexive verbs describe emotional states or changes:
  • Enojarse (to get angry)
  • Alegrarse (to become happy)
• Some are always reflexive:
  • Arrepentirse (to regret)
  • Atreverse (to dare)

5 Key Rules to Remember About reflexive Verbs in Spanish

1. Pronoun Placement Rules

• Before conjugated verbs:
  “Siempre me levanto temprano.” (I always get up early)
• Attached to infinitives/gerunds:
  “Voy a lavarme“ (I’m going to wash up) / “Está cepillándose“ (He’s brushing his hair)

Exception: In commands, pronouns attach to affirmatives (“Lávate”) but precede negatives (“No te laves”).

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2. Non-Reflexive vs. Reflexive Meanings

Some verbs change meaning when reflexive:

• Dormir (to sleep) → Dormirse (to fall asleep)
• Ir (to go) → Irse (to leave)
• Llevar (to carry) → Llevarse (to take away)

Example:
“Llevo el libro” (I carry the book) vs. “Me llevo el libro” (I’m taking the book with me).

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3. Body Parts & Clothing Don’t Need Possessives

With reflexive verbs, use definite articles (not mi/tu/su):
✅ “Me lavo las manos” (I wash my hands)
❌ “Lavo mis manos” (sounds unnatural).

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4. Reciprocal Actions = Same Pronouns

Use nos/se when subjects act on each other:
“Nos abrazamos” (We hug each other)
“Se escriben emails” (They email each other).

Clarify with context: “Ellos se miran” could mean “They look at themselves” (mirror) or “They look at each other.”

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5. Some Verbs Are Always Reflexive

These can’t be used without pronouns:

• Arrepentirse (to regret)
• Atreverse (to dare)
• Quejarse (to complain)

Example:
❌ “Ella queja del frío” → ✅ “Ella se queja del frío.”