Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns show that the person doing action is the person who the action is directed at. Indirect pronouns are in fact identical to reflexive ones, except that the recipient of the action is different from its performer.

Nonreflexive Form
Lavo la cabeza de mi hijo.
I wash my son's head.

Reflexive Form
Me lavo las manos.
I wash my hands.

The reflexive pronouns are listed in the table below:

Reflexive Pronouns sound strange to a native English speaker. The examples below should help you become accustomed to their use:

Yo me levanto a las siete.
I get up at seven. (Literally: I get myself up at seven)

Tú te levantas a las siete.
You get up at seven. (Literally: You get yourself up at seven)

Lorena se despierta a las siete.
Lorena wakes up at seven. (Literally: Lorena wakes herself up at seven)

Ellos se despiertan a las siete.
They wake up at seven. (Literally: They wake themselves up at seven)