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
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).
How to Conjugate Reflexive Verbs
- Remove “-se” from the infinitive (lavarse → lavar).
- Conjugate the verb as usual (lavo).
- 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.)
Rules for Using Reflexive Verbs
- Pronoun Placement:
- Before conjugated verb: Me levanto temprano.
- Attached to infinitives/gerunds: Voy a levantarme / Estoy lavándome.
- Common Uses:
- Daily routines (despertarse, ducharse).
- Emotions (enojarse, alegrarse).
- Reciprocal actions (abrazarse, besarse).
Examples with English Translations:
- Lavarse (to wash oneself)
- Yo me lavo las manos. → I wash my hands.
- Él se lava la cara. → He washes his face.
- Vestirse (to dress oneself)
- Tú te vistes rápido. → You dress quickly.
- Nosotros nos vestimos elegantes. → We dress elegantly.
- 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
- Despertarse (to wake up)
- Me despierto a las 7. → I wake up at 7.
- Cepillarse los dientes (to brush one’s teeth)
- Tú te cepillas los dientes. → You brush your teeth.
- Acostarse (to go to bed)
- Ellos se acuestan tarde. → They go to bed late.
Emotions & Feelings
- Enojarse (to get angry)
- Mi mamá se enoja cuando llego tarde. → My mom gets angry when I’m late.
- 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)
- Abrazarse (to hug each other)
- Mis hermanos se abrazan. → My brothers hug each other.
- 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
- Despertarse – to wake up
- Levantarse – to get up
- Lavarse – to wash (oneself)
- Ducharse – to shower
- Bañarse – to bathe
- Cepillarse los dientes – to brush one’s teeth
- Peinarse – to comb one’s hair
- Afeitarse – to shave
- Maquillarse – to put on makeup
- Vestirse – to get dressed
- Ponerse la ropa – to put on clothes
- Quitarse la ropa – to take off clothes
- Secarse – to dry off
- Mirarse al espejo – to look at oneself in the mirror
- Cortarse el pelo – to cut one’s hair
Health & Hygiene
- Limpiarse – to clean oneself
- Cuidarse – to take care of oneself
- Relajarse – to relax
- Estirarse – to stretch
- Descansarse – to rest
- Enfermarse – to get sick
- Mejorarse – to get better
- Protegerse – to protect oneself
- Taparse – to cover oneself
- Resfriarse – to catch a cold
Emotions & Feelings
- Alegrarse – to become happy
- Enojarse – to get angry
- Preocuparse – to worry
- Asustarse – to get scared
- Sorprenderse – to be surprised
- Calmarse – to calm down
- Disgustarse – to get upset
- Emocionarse – to get excited
- Aburrirse – to get bored
- Sentirse – to feel
Movement & Actions
- Sentarse – to sit down
- Pararse – to stand up
- Acostarse – to lie down / go to bed
- Dormirse – to fall asleep
- Desvestirse – to undress
- Moverse – to move (oneself)
- Esconderse – to hide
- Caerse – to fall down
- Subirse – to climb up
- Bajarse – to get down
Reciprocal Actions (Two People Doing Something to Each Other)
- Abrazarse – to hug each other
- Besarse – to kiss each other
- Saludarse – to greet each other
- Ayudarse – to help each other
- Conocerse – to meet each other
- Quererse – to love each other
- Mirarse – to look at each other
- Pelearse – to fight each other
- Reunirse – to get together
- Separarse – to separate from each other
Mental & Cognitive Actions
- Acordarse (de) – to remember
- Olvidarse (de) – to forget
- Darse cuenta (de) – to realize
- Imaginarse – to imagine
- Preguntarse – to wonder
Verbs with Multiple Meanings
- Irse – to leave / go away
- Volverse – to become (sudden change)
- Quedarse – to stay / remain
- Convertirse en – to become (transformation)
- Casarse – to get married
Less Common but Useful Reflexive Verbs
- Atreverse – to dare
- Quejarse – to complain
- Arrepentirse – to regret
- Burlarse (de) – to mock/make fun of (someone/something)
Less Common but Useful Reflexive Verbs
- Divertirse – to have fun
- Portarse bien/mal – to behave well/badly
- Equivocarse – to make a mistake
- Lastimarse – to hurt oneself
- Mudarse – to move (change residence)
- Desmayarse – to faint
- Apurarse – to hurry up
- Despedirse – to say goodbye
- Enterarse – to find out
- Fijarse – to notice/pay attention
- Marearse – to get dizzy
- Ocuparse – to take care of (a matter)
- Prepararse – to prepare oneself
- Quedarse sorprendido – to be surprised
- Recuperarse – to recover
- Referirse – to refer to
- Reírse – to laugh
- Resbalarse – to slip
- Romperse – to break (something on oneself)
- Sentarse – to sit down
- Subirse – to get on/into (a vehicle)
- Tranquilizarse – to calm down
- Tratarse de – to be about
- Venirse – to come (toward speaker)
- Volverse – to turn around/become
- Zambullirse – to dive in
Advanced/Idiomatic Reflexive Verbs
- Animarse – to cheer up/get encouraged
- Apoderarse de – to take possession of
- Burlarse de – to mock/make fun of
- Comportarse – to behave
- Confundirse – to get confused
- Dedicarse a – to dedicate oneself to
- Desesperarse – to despair
- Disculparse – to apologize
- Empeñarse en – to insist on
- Enorgullecerse – to be proud of
- Enternecerse – to be moved/touched
- Esforzarse – to make an effort
- Fiarse de – to trust in
- Jactarse de – to boast about
- Quebrarse – to break (bone)
- Rebelarse – to rebel
- Resignarse – to resign oneself
- Suicidarse – to commit suicide
- Suplicarse – to beg
- 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”).
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).
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).
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.”
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.”
