Reflexive Pronouns  


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

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

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


Long Explanation:

The reflexive pronouns are listed in the table below:

me myself
te yourself (informal)
se himself, herself, itself
se yourself (formal)
se themselves, each other (formal)
se yourselves (formal)
nos ourselves, each other
os each other, yourselves (informal)
Note: the reflexive pronouns are always linked to a reflexive verb.
Reflexive Pronouns sound strange to a native English speaker.
The examples below should help you become used to their usage:

    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)




Popular Phrase: masculine singular   | Medical Spanish