LanguageGuide: Spanish Grammar: Reflexive

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Reflexive

When something does something to itself, a reflexive pronoun is used. The reflexive pronouns are exactly like the direct object pronouns except for the third person singular and plural forms.

	Yo me lavo las manos.	I wash my hands
	Yo lavo los platos.	I wash the dishes.
	Él se peina el cabello.	He combs his hair.
	Ella peina el cabello de su hija.	She combs the hair of her daughter.
	Él se levanta.	He gets up.
	Él levanta las pesas.	He lifts the weights.

Reflexive pronouns are also used when a reflexive relationship doesn't truly exist. In these situations the pronouns serve to distinguish the verbs from the transitive forms.

	David se casa con Patricia.	David is marrying Patricia.
	El sacerdote casa a David y Patricia.	The priest is marrying David and Patricia.
	Ella se llama Matilde.	Her name is Matilda.
	Él llama a su madre.	He calls his mother.

Reflexive pronouns are also used when two entities do things to each others.

	Javier y Susana se quieren.	Javier and Susana love each other.
	Marta y Cristina se abrazan.	Marta and Cristina hug each other.

To make clear that the action is taking placed between two different entities, follow the verb with preposition + indirect pronouns.

Los tribus se pelean entre las mismas.

The tribes fight amoungst themsleves.