Reflexive
pronouns are pronouns that indicate that the subject
relates the action described on him- (respectively)
herself. In English the reflexive pronouns are: myself, yourself, himself,
herself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
In Spanish there are certain verbs
that are reflexive, meaning that they always refer (back)
to the subject. One of them is lavarse
(to wash oneself). Reflexive verbs can be recognised
by the suffix -se. This suffix se
has nothing to do with the changed indirect pronoun
- it just looks the same.
a summary
of the reflexives
reflexive
pronoun
reflexive
pronoun
I wash myself.
myself
Yo me lavo
me
You wash yourself.
yourself
Tú te lavas
te
He washes himself.
himself
Él se lava
se
She washes herself.
herself
Ella se lava
se
We wash ourselves.
ourselves
Nosotros / Nosotras nos lavamos
nos
You wash yourselves
yourselves
Vosotros / Vosotras os laváis
os
They wash themselves.
themselves
Ellos / Ellas se lavan
se
One thing that is quite useful to
know is that the Spanish say: I call myself Smith (for
My name is Smith).
Me
llamo señor Müller.
My name is Müller.
Yo me llamo
Müller.
Your name is Müller.
Tú te llamas Müller.
His / Her name is Müller.
Él / Ella se llama Müller.
Our name is Müller.
Nosotros nos llamamos
Müller.
Your name is Müller.
Vosotros os llamáis
Müller.
Their name is Müller.
Ellos se llaman Müller.
Furthermore it is useful to know
that the reflexive pronoun is also used for forming
the passive voice.
