A2 Italian GrammarReflexive Verbs
Master Italian reflexive verbs (verbi riflessivi) which use reflexive pronouns to indicate actions performed on oneself. These verbs are essential for daily routines and expressing emotions.
1Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive verbs in Italian use pronouns that refer back to the subject. The reflexive pronoun goes before the conjugated verb. In the infinitive form, reflexive verbs end in -si (lavarsi, vestirsi, svegliarsi).
Reflexive Pronouns
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| io | mi | myself |
| tu | ti | yourself |
| lui/lei/Lei | si | himself/herself/yourself (formal) |
| noi | ci | ourselves |
| voi | vi | yourselves |
| loro | si | themselves |
Examples
Mi lavo le mani.
I wash my hands.
mi before the verb
Ti svegli presto?
Do you wake up early?
ti for informal 'you'
Si prepara per la festa.
He/She is getting ready for the party.
si for third person
Ci divertiamo molto.
We are having a lot of fun.
ci for 'we'
2Common Reflexive Verbs
Many daily routine verbs are reflexive in Italian but not in English. The reflexive indicates the action affects the subject directly. These are among the most frequently used verbs in everyday Italian.
Daily Routine Reflexive Verbs
| Infinitive | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| svegliarsi | to wake up | Mi sveglio alle 7 |
| alzarsi | to get up | Ti alzi tardi |
| lavarsi | to wash oneself | Si lava la faccia |
| vestirsi | to get dressed | Ci vestiamo velocemente |
| pettinarsi | to comb one's hair | Mi pettino |
| addormentarsi | to fall asleep | Si addormenta subito |
Examples
Mi sveglio alle sei ogni mattina.
I wake up at six every morning.
svegliarsi - daily routine
Mia figlia si veste da sola.
My daughter gets dressed by herself.
vestirsi - independence
Ci prepariamo per uscire.
We're getting ready to go out.
prepararsi - preparation
I bambini si addormentano presto.
The children fall asleep early.
addormentarsi - third person plural
3Reflexive Verbs in Passato Prossimo
Reflexive verbs ALWAYS use essere as the auxiliary in passato prossimo. The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject. This is a key difference from non-reflexive verbs.
Svegliarsi in Passato Prossimo
| Subject | Passato Prossimo | English |
|---|---|---|
| io (m.) | mi sono svegliato | I woke up |
| io (f.) | mi sono svegliata | I woke up |
| tu (m.) | ti sei svegliato | you woke up |
| lui | si è svegliato | he woke up |
| lei | si è svegliata | she woke up |
| noi (m.) | ci siamo svegliati | we woke up |
| loro (f.) | si sono svegliate | they woke up |
Examples
Mi sono alzata tardi stamattina.
I got up late this morning.
feminine speaker - ends in -a
Ti sei divertito alla festa?
Did you have fun at the party?
masculine - ends in -o
Ci siamo conosciuti l'anno scorso.
We met each other last year.
reciprocal meaning - we met
Le ragazze si sono preparate in fretta.
The girls got ready quickly.
feminine plural - ends in -e
4Reflexive with Infinitives & Modal Verbs
When a reflexive verb follows a modal verb (potere, volere, dovere) or another verb, the reflexive pronoun can go before the modal OR attach to the infinitive. Both positions are correct and common.
Pronoun Positions
| Before Modal | Attached to Infinitive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mi devo alzare | Devo alzarmi | I have to get up |
| Ti vuoi lavare? | Vuoi lavarti? | Do you want to wash? |
| Si può vestire | Può vestirsi | He/She can get dressed |
| Ci vogliamo riposare | Vogliamo riposarci | We want to rest |
Examples
Devo svegliarmi presto domani.
I have to wake up early tomorrow.
pronoun attached to infinitive
Mi voglio riposare un po'.
I want to rest a bit.
pronoun before modal
Possiamo incontrarci alle tre?
Can we meet at three?
reciprocal - attached to infinitive
Non si possono sedere qui.
They can't sit here.
pronoun before modal - formal context