Using French Reflexive Verbs

Se brosser les dents.

While at first French reflexive verbs might seem complicated, they are really not once you understand some basics in using them.

French Reflexive Verbs

The technical definition of a French reflexive verb, is a verb whose object and subject are the same. For example, Il se leve means he (the subject) gets himself (the object) up. This is an excellent way to think of reflexive verbs because while there are many verbs that are reflexive unto themselves, there are also a slew of verbs that mean one thing without the reflexive pronoun. . .and then something entirely different with the reflexive pronoun.

Common Reflexive Verbs

Most of the commonly used reflexive verbs have to do with one's body, one's clothing, or one's own personal circumstances. Some of the most common reflexive verbs have to do with daily routine:

se baigner-to bathe; can also mean to swim when followed by dans la mer
se brosser-to brush; always followed by les dents (teeth) or les cheveux (hair)
se coiffer-to do your hair (never followed by les cheveux since you do not coiffer anything besides hair
se coucher-to go to bed
se déshabiller-to get undressed
se doucher-to take a shower
s'habiller-to get dressed
se laver-to wash (one's hands, one's face)
se lever-to get up
se maquiller-to put on makeup
se peigner-to comb one's hair
se raser-to shave
se réveiller-to wake up

Other common reflexive verbs have to do with things you can do to your body:

se casser-to break; generally followed by a body part (la jambe, le pied, etc.)
se couper-to cut oneself (often followed by a body part)
se fâcher-to get angry
se marier-to get married; always followed by avec
se promener-to take a walk
se reposer-to rest
se souvenir de-to remember

Conjugating Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are generally easy to conjugate. First, change the reflexive pronoun to match the subject:je me
tu te
il/elle/on se
nous nous
vous vous
ils/elles se

Secondly, you conjugate the verb appropriately with its -er, -ir or -re ending. One other important note when conjugating reflexive verbs is that in past tenses where the verb requires an auxiliary verb such as passé composé, reflexive verbs always take être.

Other Grammar Complexities

Once you have the general conjugation down, there are a few things to keep in mind when working with reflexive verbs.

Objects

In genera l, you do not use objective pronouns because you are using reflexive pronouns instead. For example, it would be considered redundant to say:

Je me casse ma jambe.(I broke my leg.)

By using the reflexive prounoun me before the verb, you are already implying that it is your leg that you are breaking!

Verbs That Have Both a Reflexive and Non-Reflexive Use

Many reflexive verbs have a non-reflexive use. For example:

Je me lave les mains. (I wash my hands.)
and
Je lave le chien. (I wash the dog.)

Je me coupe le doigt.(I cut my finger.)
and
Je coupe les legumes.(I cut the vegetables.)

Reciprocal Verbs

Reciprocal verbs are the same as reflexive verbs in all grammatical aspects however, instead of the subject and object being the same, there are two subjects. The translation would generally include "each other." For example:

Ils s'aiment--They love each other
Ils se disent--They tell each other
Ils se disputent--They argue (with each other).

Ils se voyent--They see each other.

Many verbs that are not commonly reflexive can be used in a reciprocal sense in lieu of "each other." You would never see these verbs used with the singular objects je, tu, or il/elle.

Idiomatic Reflexive Verbs

Idiomatic reflexive verbs are verbs that take on a different meaning with the addition of a reflexive pronoun. These are some of the most commonly used reflexive verbs when you're not talking about getting ready in the morning!

**Idiomatic Reflexive Verb Chart**
Idiomatic Verb	Meaning	Meaning Without Reflexive Pronoun
s'en aller	to go away	to go
s'amuser	to have a good time	to amuse
s'appeler	to be named	to call
s'arrêter	to stop (oneself)	to stop someone or something else)
s'attendre (à)	to expect	to wait for
se demander	to wonder	to ask
se dépêcher	to hurry	to send quickly
s'endormir	to fall asleep	to put to sleep
s'ennuyer	to be bored	to bother
s'entendre	to get along	to hear
s'habituer à	to get used to	to get in the habit of
s'inquiéter	to worry	to alarm
se mettre à	to begin to	to place, put
se perdre	to get lost	to lose
se rendre compte de	to realize	to account for
se réunir	to meet, get together	to gather, collect
se tromper	to be mistaken	to deceive
se trouver	to be located	to find

Reflexive verbs are essential to expressing yourself effectively in the French language. Practice a little each day and you'll have it in no time.