Reflexive pronouns in Spanish

By Marta Díaz on Thursday, November 14, 2024

Have you read our post about Spanish reflexive verbs, but still don't understand the pronouns? Reflexive pronouns in Spanish are a fundamental part of expressing actions and being able to use the verbs with the same name, those in which the subject performs and receives the action.

In this Enforex article, you will learn what Spanish reflexive pronouns are, when and how they are used, and how they work in practical examples so that you can continue to improve and learning Spanish in Spain is a piece of cake for you.

What are reflexive pronouns in Spanish?

Reflexive pronouns in Spanish are words that accompany reflexive verbs to indicate that the action is on the subject itself. We use them to express that someone is doing an action on themselves and there are six different pronouns, depending on the subject.

List of reflexive pronouns in Spanish:

• Me - I
• Te - You
• Se - He/She/It
• Nos - We
• Os - You
• Se – They

How to use Spanish reflexive pronouns?

Using Spanish reflexive pronouns is easier than it seems, you just must place them correctly according to the verb form. You can differentiate:

In front of the conjugated verb. The reflexive pronoun appears before the verb in most sentences. Example: “Me despierto temprano” (I wake myself up early).

Attached to the end of an infinitive, gerund or imperative. When the verb is in the infinitive, gerund or imperative, the pronoun can be placed at the end.

• Example with infinitive: “Voy a bañarme” (I'm going to bathe myself)
• Example with gerund: “Estoy peinándome” (I'm combing my hair)
• Example with imperative: “Levántate ya” (Get yourself up now)

In English, most of the time, reflexive actions are expressed without using a special pronoun, although the context shows that the action is about oneself (e.g. I wake up or He sits down). In some specific expressions, a pronoun such as myself, yourself, himself or herself may be added to emphasize that the subject performs the action on himself.

Sometimes, when a verb is reflexive in Spanish, it is not necessarily so in English, and vice versa. It is useful to remember that, in Spanish, reflexive pronouns are more frequent.

Examples of the use of reflexive pronouns in Spanish

Below, you will find some examples of sentences where these reflexive pronouns are used to make it easier for you to understand them:

• Me arreglo antes de salir (I get ready before I go out)
• Te escondes cuando tienes miedo (You hide when you are afraid)
• Se enamoraron durante el verano (They fell in love over the summer)
• Nos despedimos de nuestros amigos después de la fiesta (We say goodbye to our friends after the party)
• Os olvidáis de hacer la cama todos los días (You forget to make your bed every day)
• Se sientan en el sofá después de un día largo (You sit on the couch after a long day)
• Me preparo un café todas las mañanas (I make myself coffee every morning)
• ¿Te imaginas viviendo en otro país? (Can you imagine living in another country?)
• Se cayó al tropezar con una piedra (He fell when he tripped over a stone)
• Nos concentramos mejor cuando hay silencio (We concentrate better when it's quiet)

Also, you can take advantage of these tips to remember the use of reflexive pronouns in Spanish:

• Watch out the context. Ask yourself if the person is doing the action on himself or on someone else. If it is about himself, it is a reflexive pronoun.
• Practice daily. Think about your daily activities and try to make sentences with them. E.g. despertarse (wake up), lavarse (I wash myself), vestirse (get dressed), etc.
• Remember the order of the pronouns. Place the pronoun before the conjugated verb or at the end of an infinitive, gerund or imperative.

With daily practice or a Spanish course in Spain, reflexive pronouns will integrate into your Spanish naturally and smoothly. Keep practicing or join the Enforex Spanish school to master Spanish in no time!