Spanish grammar by topic › Spanish reflexive verbs, explained

Spanish reflexive verbs, explained

Reflexive verbs come with a pronoun that matches the subject: me levanto, te duchas, se acuesta. Many describe the daily routine, where the action is done to yourself.

Later, the pronoun also changes meaning (ir “to go”, irse “to leave”), expresses becoming (ponerse nervioso) and blames nobody for accidents (se me cayó).

The essentials

The pronouns are me, te, se, nos, os, se: me levanto, nos levantamos.
They go before a conjugated verb, or on the end of an infinitive or gerund: me voy a duchar or voy a ducharme.
Some verbs change meaning with se: dormir / dormirse (fall asleep), llamar / llamarse (be called), ir / irse (leave).
Becoming: ponerse (a change of mood or state), volverse (a lasting change), hacerse (through effort), quedarse (a result).
Accidents: se me olvidó, se le cayó el vaso: the thing is the subject, the person an indirect object.

Every lesson on this topic

Each lesson has a full explanation, examples you can listen to, and exercises with answers.

A1 (the A1 course)

Reflexive verbs for the daily routine (levantarse): Me levanto, me ducho, me acuesto: verbs with me, te, se…

A2 (the A2 course)

Reflexive or not: ir/irse, dormir/dormirse, llamar/llamarse: Voy / me voy, duermo / me duermo, llamo / me llamo

B1 (the B1 course)

Becoming: ponerse, volverse, hacerse, quedarse: Spanish has no single verb for 'become'. Choose by the kind of change.
Accidents with se: se me olvidó, se me cayó: Talk about things that happen to you by accident, without blaming yourself.

In the app, these lessons are taught one idea at a time with audio, practised with questions that explain the rule when you slip, and brought back for review on later days.

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