Daily routine verbs
French uses reflexive verbs for almost everything related to your daily schedule, from waking up to going to bed. Remember to always use the correct reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) to match the subject of the sentence.
If the verb begins with a vowel or a silent h, the singular pronouns drop their e to become m', t', and s'.
When describing a sequence of actions in your routine, use ensuite (then / afterwards) to connect your steps.
| I wake up at seven o'clock, then I get up. | Je me réveille à sept heures, ensuite je me lève. |
| The child is getting dressed and putting on warm clothes. | L'enfant s'habille et met des vêtements chauds. |
| I shower, then I put on my pajamas. | Je me douche, ensuite je mets mon pyjama. |
Grooming and rushing
Grooming activities like shaving and putting on makeup are also reflexive. If your morning routine is taking too long, you might also need to use se dépêcher (to hurry).
| The man is shaving in front of the mirror. | L'homme se rase devant le miroir. |
| They are putting on makeup in front of a mirror. | Elles se maquillent devant un miroir. |
| We are in a hurry, we are getting dressed now! | Nous nous dépêchons, nous nous habillons maintenant ! |
Going to sleep
At the end of the day, you will use se coucher to say you are getting into bed. To talk about the actual moment of falling asleep, use the verb s'endormir.
| I am sleepy, I am going to bed early tonight. | J'ai sommeil, je me couche tôt ce soir. |
| When do you fall asleep? | Quand est-ce que tu t'endors ? |
