The rule, in plain English
A reflexive verb uses a pronoun that matches its subject: me, te, se, nos, os, se. With a conjugated verb, place the pronoun before it: me levanto. Attach it to an infinitive, gerund, or affirmative command: levantarme, levantándome, levántate. With an infinitive or gerund after a conjugated verb, both positions are possible: me voy a levantar or voy a levantarme. Some verbs describe a true action on oneself; others have a learned reflexive meaning, such as llamarse, quedarse, sentirse, and irse.
Why it's hard for English speakers
English often leaves the self idea unspoken—I get up—so the Spanish pronoun can feel unnecessary. It is essential, however, and sometimes changes the meaning: ir means to go, while irse means to leave; dormir means to sleep, while dormirse focuses on falling asleep.
Levantarse in the present
| Subject | Reflexive pronoun | Complete form |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | me | me levanto |
| Tú | te | te levantas |
| Él/Ella | se | se levanta |
| Usted | se | se levanta |
| Nosotros/as | nos | nos levantamos |
| Vosotros/as | os | os levantáis |
| Ellos/Ellas | se | se levantan |
| Ustedes | se | se levantan |
Where the reflexive pronoun goes
| Structure | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One conjugated verb | Before the verb | Me ducho. |
| Conjugated verb + infinitive | Before the first verb or attached to the infinitive | Me voy a duchar / Voy a ducharme. |
| Conjugated verb + gerund | Before the first verb or attached to the gerund | Me estoy duchando / Estoy duchándome. |
| Affirmative command | Attached to the command | ¡Dúchate! |
| Negative command | Before the command | ¡No te duches! |
The pronoun can change the meaning
| Without reflexive pronoun | With reflexive pronoun | Meaning contrast |
|---|---|---|
| levantar la maleta | levantarse | lift the suitcase / get up |
| dormir | dormirse | sleep / fall asleep |
| ir | irse | go / leave or go away |
| quedar | quedarse | arrange to meet / stay |
| llamar a Ana | llamarse Ana | call Ana / be called Ana |
Example sentence bank
Shuffling examples…
Common mistakes
- Levanto a las siete. (meaning ‘I get up’)Me levanto a las siete.Use levantarse for getting oneself up. Levantar without me normally needs a separate object.
- Voy a me levantar.Me voy a levantar / Voy a levantarme.Do not place the pronoun between a and the infinitive.
- Estoy me duchando.Me estoy duchando / Estoy duchándome.Put the pronoun before the conjugated verb or attach it to the gerund.
- Lavo mis manos.Me lavo las manos.For one's own body parts, Spanish normally uses the reflexive pronoun plus the definite article.
Practice
I get up early = ___ levanto temprano.
Ella ___ ducha.
We go to bed = ___ acostamos.
Voy a ___ (levantarse).
I get up at seven = ___ levanto a las siete.
Tú ___ acuestas tarde.
We wash our hands = Nos ___ las manos.
Choose the correct sentence.