Reflexive Verbs
The first reflexive verb we usually use is llamarse– to call oneself / to be called. So we’re already fairly familiar with the concept.
In use, the ‘se’ at the end of the full form of the verb is taken off & moved around to the front (usually) & changed to ‘fit’ the person – & the rest of the verb is then conjugated in the usual way.
llamarse
(Yo) me llamo I call myself
(Tú) te llamas you call yourself (informal)
(Él) se llama he calls himself
(Ella) se llama she calls herself
(Usted) se llama you call yourself (formal)
(Nosotros) nos llamamos we call ourselves
(Vosotros) os llamáis you call yourselves (informal)
(Ellos/Ellas) se llaman they call themselves
(Ustedes) se llaman you call yourselves (formal)
¿Cómo te llamas? = What do you call yourself? (we would probably say ‘what’s your name?’, although that isn’t the precise translation.)
Me llamo Carlos. = I call myself Carlos (or I’m called Carlos/my name’s Carlos – again not precise translations)
Here are some more reflexive verbs
| aburrirse (de) (to get bored with) | despertarse (to wake up) | enojarse (con) (to get mad about) | quitarse (to take off) |
| acordarse (de) (to remember) | destaparse (to uncover) | irse (to leave) | reponerse (to get better) |
| acostarse (to go to bed) | desvestirse (to get undressed) | limarse (las uñas) (to file) | secarse (to dry off) |
| afeitarse (to shave) | disgustarse (de) (to become upset about) | maquillarse (to put on makeup) | sentarse (to sit down) |
| alegrarse (de) (to be glad about) | distraerse (to distract oneself) | mirarse (to look at oneself) | sostenerse (to support) |
| bañarse (to bathe) | divertirse (con) (to enjoy oneself with) | olvidarse (de) (to forget about) | subirse (to get up) |
| cepillarse (to brush) | dormirse (to go to sleep) | peinarse (to comb one’s hair) | taparse (to cover up oneself) |
| convertirse (en) (to become) | ducharse (to shower) | pintarse (los labios) (to put on lipstick) | torcerse (to twist) |
| desayunarse (to eat breakfast) | enfermarse (to become ill) | probarse (to try on) | vestirse (to get dressed) |
| despedirse (to say good-bye) | enloquecerse (to go crazy) | ponerse (to put on) | volverse (to become) |
…and some which change their meaning
| abonar | to pay money | abonarse | to subscribe to (a magazine, newspaper, etc.) |
| abrir | to open | abrirse | to open up (confide in someone) |
| acordar | to agree/to decide | acordarse | to remember |
| acusar | to accuse | acusarse | to confess |
| callar | to be quiet | callarse | to become quiet |
| cerrar | to close | cerrarse | to close oneself off emotionally |
| combinar | to combine | combinarse | to take turns |
| dormir | to sleep | dormirse | to fall asleep |
| ir | to go | irse | to go away |
| llevar | to carry | llevarse | to take away |
| poner | to put | ponerse | to put on/to wear |
| salir | to leave | salirse | to leave unexpectedly/to leak |
