Reflexive pronouns
Reflexive means that the action falls back on the actor. For example, if you comb your hair, you are not only acting, but are also directly affected by the action. Thus, you are both subject and object of the action.
| Singular | Plural | |
| 1. Person | me peino | nos peinamos |
| 2. Person | te peinas | os peináis |
| 3. Person | se peina | se peinan |
Typical reflexive verbs
| llamarse – be called | comerse – finish eating | |
| levantarse – stand up | ducharse – shower | |
| acostarse – go to sleep | bañarse – take a bath | |
| marcharse – walk away | caerse – fall down | |
| mudarse – move | beberse -finish drinking |
Many verbs are used both reflexive and non-reflexive, although the meaning of some verbs may or may not change.
Example:
hardly changed meaning:
El actor murió en 1980 – The actor died in 1980.
Hace cuatro meses se murió mi tía – My aunt died four months ago.
changed meaning
| dormir – sleep | dormirse – fall asleep | |
| romper – break | romperse – break apart | |
| quedar – be left over, date | quedarse – stay | |
| cambiar – change | cambiarse – change clothes | |
| parecer – seem | parecerse – look alike |