Reflexive verbs
A reflexive verb is used when the subject and object of the action are the same person (like saying "I wash myself"). You will recognize them by the reflexive pronoun right before the verb.
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| je | me (m') |
| tu | te (t') |
| il / elle / on | se (s') |
| nous | nous |
| vous | vous |
| ils / elles | se (s') |
Routine actions, like waking up or getting up, are often reflexive in French. Notice how the pronoun changes to match the subject.
| At what time do you wake up? | À quelle heure est-ce que tu te réveilles ? |
| I wake up early, but I get up late. | Je me réveille tôt, mais je me lève tard. |
Reflexive pronouns with infinitives
When a reflexive verb is in the infinitive form (for example, after devoir, préférer, or pour), you must still change the reflexive pronoun to match the subject. The pronoun stays right in front of the infinitive.
| We have to get up early tomorrow morning. | Nous devons nous lever tôt demain matin. |
| I prefer to shower this evening. | Je préfère me doucher ce soir. |
Body parts and hygiene
When talking about doing something to a body part (like washing your face or brushing your teeth), French does not use possessive adjectives like "my" or "your".
Instead, you use a reflexive verb to show who is affected, and a definite article (le, la, l', les) before the body part.
| She washes her face with cold water. | Elle se lave le visage avec de l'eau froide. |
| You brush your teeth in the morning. | Vous vous brossez les dents le matin. |
| I brush my hair and I look for a towel. | Je me brosse les cheveux et je cherche une serviette. |
