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Spanish grammar · Level A1–A2

Reflexive verbs: me levanto, te duchas

Reflexive verbs end in -se in the infinitive: llamarse, levantarse. The action is done to yourself: me lavo — I wash (myself). The pronoun changes with the person: me levanto, te levantas, se levanta — and usually goes before the verb.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Reflexive pronouns
  2. Daily routine
  3. Where the pronoun goes
  4. When -se changes the meaning
  5. Common mistakes
  6. Quiz
  7. FAQ

Reflexive pronouns

The verb conjugates as usual, with the matching pronoun before it. Levantarse conjugates like hablar; acostarse changes o → ue like poder.

Levantarse and acostarse in the present
Personlevantarseacostarse
yome levantome acuesto
túte levantaste acuestas
él / ella / ustedse levantase acuesta
nosotrosnos levantamosnos acostamos
vosotrosos levantáisos acostáis
ellos / ustedesse levantanse acuestan

Daily routine

Most daily-routine verbs are reflexive: despertarse (to wake up), levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower), lavarse (to wash), vestirse (to get dressed), peinarse (to comb your hair), acostarse (to go to bed), dormirse (to fall asleep).

  • Me despierto a las siete y me levanto a las siete y diez.I wake up at seven and get up at ten past.
  • Mi hijo se viste solo.My son gets dressed by himself.
  • Los sábados nos acostamos tarde.On Saturdays we go to bed late.

Where the pronoun goes

Before a conjugated verb: me ducho, me he duchado. With an infinitive or gerund — either before the whole phrase or attached at the end: Me voy a duchar = Voy a ducharme; Me estoy duchando = Estoy duchándome. In a positive command, only attached: ¡Dúchate!, ¡Levántaos!

  • Tengo que irme. / Me tengo que ir.I have to go.
  • ¡Siéntate, por favor!Sit down, please!
  • Estoy vistiéndome.I’m getting dressed.

Tip: When the pronoun is attached, the stress stays on the same syllable, so a written accent appears: levanta → levántate, duchando → duchándome.

When -se changes the meaning

Some verbs mean something else with -se: ir — to go, irse — to leave; dormir — to sleep, dormirse — to fall asleep; llamar — to call, llamarse — to be called; quedar — to arrange to meet, quedarse — to stay; poner — to put, ponerse — to put on.

  • Ya me voy, ¡hasta mañana!I’m off now, see you tomorrow!
  • Me quedo en casa hoy.I’m staying in today.
  • Me pongo el abrigo.I’m putting my coat on.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: Yo levanto a las siete.

    Right: Me levanto a las siete.

    Levantarse is reflexive: me is needed.

  • Wrong: Nosotros se acostamos.

    Right: Nosotros nos acostamos.

    Nosotros takes nos.

  • Wrong: Voy a me duchar.

    Right: Me voy a duchar. / Voy a ducharme.

    The pronoun goes before the whole phrase or after the infinitive.

  • Wrong: ¡Te levanta!

    Right: ¡Levántate!

    In a positive command the pronoun is attached.

  • Wrong: Me llamo es Ana.

    Right: Me llamo Ana.

    Me llamo already means “my name is”.

Reflexive verbs: me levanto

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    Yo _____ levanto a las siete.

  2. Question 2

    ¿A qué hora _____ acuestas?

  3. Question 3

    Mi hermano _____ ducha por la noche.

  4. Question 4

    Nosotros _____ vestimos rápido.

  5. Question 5

    Voy a _____ ahora.

  6. Question 6

    ¡_____, que llegamos tarde!

  7. Question 7

    ¿Cómo _____ llamas?

  8. Question 8

    Ellos _____ despiertan muy temprano.

  9. Question 9

    Ya es tarde, _____ voy a casa.

  10. Question 10

    ¿Vosotros _____ quedáis o venís?

Correct: 0 of 10

Read next

FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

Is -se always like a reflexive in English?

Often not: ducharse is just “to shower”, reírse “to laugh”. English rarely uses “myself” here, so learn each verb together with its -se.

Me voy a duchar or voy a ducharme — which is right?

Both are correct and equally common. Just never put the pronoun between the verbs: “voy a me duchar” is wrong.

How do reflexive verbs work in the past?

The pronoun goes before the whole verb: me levanté (preterite), me he levantado (perfect), me levantaba (imperfect). See the full tables on the levantarse and acostarse pages.

Other topics

All topicsSpanish verb conjugationSpanish irregular verbs

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