Reflexive Verbs in Spanish: Levantarse and the Daily Routine
How reflexive verbs work, with reflexive pronouns and the verbs you need to describe your day.
A reflexive verb shows that the subject acts on itself. It is used a lot for daily routines.
Reflexive pronouns
| Subject | Pronoun |
|---|---|
| yo | me |
| tú | te |
| él / ella / usted | se |
| nosotros | nos |
| vosotros | os |
| ellos / ustedes | se |
Levantarse (to get up)
- me levanto
- te levantas
- se levanta
- nos levantamos
- os levantáis
- se levantan
Common reflexive verbs
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| despertarse | to wake up |
| ducharse | to take a shower |
| vestirse | to get dressed |
| peinarse | to comb one's hair |
| acostarse | to go to bed |
| sentarse | to sit down |
| llamarse | to be called |
A day in Spanish
Me despierto a las siete. Me levanto, me ducho y me visto. Desayuno y salgo de casa a las ocho. Por la noche, me acuesto a las once.
Position
The pronoun goes before a conjugated verb, or can attach to an infinitive:
- Me voy a duchar. or Voy a ducharme. I'm going to take a shower.
- Quiero sentarme. I want to sit down.
Body parts and clothes
Spanish uses the definite article with body parts, not a possessive:
- Me lavo las manos. I wash my hands.
- Se pone el abrigo. He puts on his coat.
Reflexive or not
Some verbs change meaning:
- dormir (to sleep) and dormirse (to fall asleep)
- ir (to go) and irse (to leave)
Tips
- Learn the pronouns with the verb.
- Use for daily routines.
- Use the dictionary to check reflexive forms.
English Spanish Dictionary
Offline English–Spanish dictionary with gender and accents handled properly
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