Reflexive Verbs...

A reflexive construction is one in which the direct or indirect object of the verb refers to or represents the same person or thing as the subject. 

Reflexive

Alicia se mira.

Alicia is looking at herself.

Me veo en el espejo.

I see myself in the mirror.

Non-reflexive

Alicia los mira.

Alicia is looking at them.

Te veo en el espejo.

I see you in the mirror.

The chart that follows shows two Spanish verbs used reflexively, the first in the present and the second in the preterit (simple past).  Note that the reflexive pronouns me, te, nos and os are identical to the direct and indirect object pronouns.  Only the third person singular and plural reflexive forms, se, are different.

 

Llamarse

Divertirse

yo

Me llamo

Me divertí

Tú

Te llamas

Te divertiste

Ud. él, ella

Se llama

Se divittió

nosotros

Nos llamamos

Nos divertimos

vosotros

Os llamáis

Os divertisteis

Uds. ellos ellas

Se llaman

Se divirtieron

The reflexive object pronouns follow the same rules of position as non-reflexive object pronouns.  Note that the reflexive pronoun se appears in dictionaries and vocabulary lists attached to the infinitive (llamarse, divertirse) to indicate usage of the verb. 

The following verbs are frequently used reflexively in Spanish. 

Acordarse de (ue)

To remember

Lavarse

To wash oneself

Acostarse (ue)

To go to bed

Levantarse

To get up

Afeitarse

To shave

Llamarse

To be called

Arrepentirse

To repent, to be sorry

Negarse (ie) a

To refuse to

Bañarse

To take a shower, bathe

Peinarse

To comb one’s hair

Decidirse (a)

To make up one’s mind

Ponerse

To put on (clothing)

Despertarse (ie)

To wake up

Preocuparse

To worry (about)

Divertirse (ie)

To have a good time, enjoy oneself

Quejarse (de)

To complain (about)

Dormirse

To fall asleep

Quitarse

To take off (clothing)

Enamorarse (de)

To fall in love (with)

Reírse

To laugh (about)

Enfermarse

To become sick

Sentarse (ie)

To sit down

Enojarse

To get mad (about)

To get angry (about)

Sentirse

To feel

Equivocarse

To make a mistake

Vestirse (i)

To get dressed

Imaginarse

To imagine

 

Irse

To go away

 

Reflexive constructions are much more common in Spanish than they are in English.  Often a verb that is used reflexively is Spanish is not used reflexively in English.  A few Spanish verbs are always used reflexively but many may be used in both non-reflexive and reflexive constructions, depending on the situation. 

Me imagino que son similares.

I imagine that they are similar.

Me llamo Eduardo.

My name is Eduardo.

Llamo a Bernardo.

I’m calling Bernardo tonight.  

Poner (to put) and quitar (to take away) are used in their reflexive forms with articles of clothing to mean “to put on” or “to take off”. When used with a reflexive construction, the definite article, not the possessive adjective, is used in Spanish with articles of clothing. 

¿Qué te pones cuando hace frío?

What do you put on when it’s cold?

Me pongo el abrigo.

I put on my coat.

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