Reflexive Verb Conjugation

A reflexive verb is one where the subject performs the action on itself. In Spanish, reflexive verbs are marked by a reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject. In the infinitive, the pronoun -se is attached to the end: lavarse ("to wash oneself"), levantarse ("to get up"), llamarse ("to be called").

The reflexive pronouns

There are five reflexive pronouns, one for each person. They always come before the conjugated verb (or attach to an infinitive or gerund).

Notice that se is used for all third-person forms — singular and plural, masculine and feminine, formal and informal. The pronoun always matches the subject.

How to conjugate a reflexive verb

The process has three steps:

1. Drop the -se from the infinitive.
2. Conjugate the verb normally as an -ar, -er, or -ir verb.
3. Add the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject, placing it before the verb.

Full conjugation of lavarse in the present tense:

Common reflexive verbs

Many everyday actions are expressed with reflexive verbs in Spanish, even when the English translation doesn't sound reflexive.

Literally llamarse is "to call oneself," which is how Spanish expresses having a name.

Reflexive verbs in -er and -ir classes

The process is identical for all three verb classes. You conjugate the verb normally and add the reflexive pronoun.

Ponerse is an -er verb. The conjugation is normal (pongo) with the reflexive pronoun me added before it.

Divertirse is an -ir verb with a stem change. The pronoun se still sits before the conjugated form divierten.

Pronoun placement with infinitives and gerunds

When a reflexive verb appears in the infinitive or gerund form, the pronoun can either come before the conjugated verb or attach to the end of the infinitive/gerund.

Both word orders are correct and mean the same thing. You'll hear both constantly.

When you attach the pronoun to the end of a gerund, Spanish often adds a written accent (bañándome) to preserve the original stress.

Reflexive meanings beyond "oneself"

Not every reflexive verb is literally about doing something to yourself. Spanish uses reflexive forms for several extended meanings:

Here vernos is reciprocal — we see each other. In the plural, reflexive pronouns often mean "each other."

This is a passive use of se, common in signs and advertisements. It's technically reflexive but has no "oneself" meaning at all.

Reflexive vs non-reflexive: same verb, different meaning

Many verbs exist in both reflexive and non-reflexive forms, with distinct meanings. The presence of the reflexive pronoun shifts the verb's focus.

The difference is subtle but important. Voy expresses movement toward a destination; me voy expresses departure from the current place.

Reflexive verbs are one of Spanish's most flexible tools. Once you internalize the pronoun-plus-verb structure, you'll recognize reflexive constructions throughout the language — from reflexive, to reciprocal, to impersonal and passive uses.