Reflexive Verbs

I Verbi Riflessivi

Reflexive verbs describe actions that the subject performs on themselves. In the infinitive, they are identified by the ending '-si' (e.g., lavarsi - to wash oneself).

The Reflexive Pronouns

To conjugate a reflexive verb, you must use a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. These pronouns almost always come BEFORE the verb.

Subject	Pronoun	Example: Lavarsi (To wash)
io	mi	mi lavo (I wash myself)
tu	ti	ti lavi (you wash yourself)
lui/lei/Lei	si	si lava (he/she washes him/herself)
noi	ci	ci laviamo (we wash ourselves)
voi	vi	vi lavate (you all wash yourselves)
loro	si	si lavano (they wash themselves)

Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive

Many verbs can be both. The reflexive form often changes the meaning slightly to focus on the self.

Svegliare (to wake someone else) vs. Svegliarsi (to wake up).
Alzare (to lift) vs. Alzarsi (to get up/stand up).
Vestire (to dress someone) vs. Vestirsi (to get dressed).

Daily Routine Verbs

Reflexive verbs are most common when talking about your daily schedule and personal care.

Infinitive	Meaning	Example (io)
Chiamarsi	To be named	Mi chiamo...
Sentirsi	To feel	Mi sento bene
Divertirsi	To have fun	Mi diverto molto
Riposarsi	To rest	Mi riposo un po'

The Auxiliary Rule (Crucial!)

In compound tenses like the Passato Prossimo, reflexive verbs ALWAYS use **Essere** as the helper verb.

Tense	Example	Note
Present	Mi lavo	-
Past	Mi sono lavato/a	Must agree in gender!
Plural Past	Ci siamo divertiti/e	Must agree in number!

Checklist

When using a reflexive verb, check these three points:

1. Is the action being done to the self (e.g., shaving oneself)?
2. Have I placed the correct pronoun (mi, ti, si...) before the verb?
3. If it's plural, is it a 'each other' situation?

Reflexives and Modal Verbs

When using 'Potere', 'Volere', or 'Dovere', the pronoun can either go before the modal or attach to the end of the infinitive.

Structure	Example	Meaning
Before the verb	Mi devo lavare	I must wash myself
Attached to end	Devo lavarmi	I must wash myself
Plural Before	Ci vogliamo divertire	We want to have fun
Plural Attached	Vogliamo divertirci	We want to have fun

Practice Sentences

Come ti chiami?What is your name? (Lit: How do you call yourself?)

Mi sveglio alle sette ogni mattina.I wake up at seven every morning.

Vi dovete vestire velocemente!You all must get dressed quickly!

Si sentono molto stanchi dopo il lavoro.They feel very tired after work.

Reciprocal Reflexives

Reflexive forms are also used to express 'each other' for plural subjects.

Ci incontriamo al bar. (We meet each other at the bar.)noun: Incontrarsi · type: Reciprocal

Romeo e Giulietta si amano. (They love each other.)noun: Amarsi · type: Reciprocal

Ci vediamo! (See you! / We'll see each other!)noun: Vvedersi · type: Reciprocal