Reflexive Verbs in Italian: Mi Alzo, Mi Chiamo, Mi Sono Alzato
How reflexive verbs work in Italian, from daily routine verbs to 'mi chiamo', with the pronouns, the passato prossimo and the reciprocal use.
Reflexive verbs describe an action you do to yourself. Italian uses more of them than English, especially for the daily routine.
The reflexive pronouns
| Person | Pronoun |
|---|---|
| io | mi |
| tu | ti |
| lui / lei | si |
| noi | ci |
| voi | vi |
| loro | si |
The infinitive ends in -si: alzarsi, lavarsi, vestirsi.
Common reflexive verbs
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| svegliarsi | to wake up |
| alzarsi | to get up |
| lavarsi | to wash (oneself) |
| vestirsi | to get dressed |
| chiamarsi | to be called |
| sentirsi | to feel |
| divertirsi | to have fun |
| addormentarsi | to fall asleep |
| riposarsi | to rest |
Present tense
| alzarsi | |
|---|---|
| io | mi alzo |
| tu | ti alzi |
| lui / lei | si alza |
| noi | ci alziamo |
| voi | vi alzate |
| loro | si alzano |
Examples:
- Mi chiamo Anna. — My name is Anna (I call myself Anna).
- Mi sveglio alle sette. — I wake up at seven.
- Ci divertiamo molto. — We have a lot of fun.
Passato prossimo
Reflexive verbs use essere, so the participle agrees with the subject:
- Mi sono alzato presto. — I got up early. (m.)
- Mi sono alzata presto. (f.)
- Ci siamo divertiti. — We had fun. (m. or mixed)
With modal verbs
The pronoun can come before the modal or attach to the infinitive:
- Devo alzarmi presto. or Mi devo alzare presto. — I have to get up early.
Reciprocal use
The plural forms can mean "each other":
- Ci vediamo domani. — See you tomorrow (we see each other).
- Si amano. — They love each other.
- Ci sentiamo presto. — We'll talk soon.
A daily routine
Mi sveglio alle sette, mi alzo, mi lavo e mi vesto. Poi faccio colazione e vado al lavoro.
Tips
- Learn the six pronouns.
- Learn ten routine verbs.
- Use the dictionary to check reflexive forms.
English Italian Dictionary
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