Reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs are verbs which require an object, usually a pronoun object (myself, yourself, himself etc.).

In French there is no verb "to get", therefore you can’t say "I get washed". Instead you must think about who is being washed and so you must say "I wash myself". The words for "myself", "yourself" etc. are pronoun objects and as such must go before the verb in French.

e.g.     Je me lave             I get washed             (I wash myself)

            Tu te laves           You get washed       (you wash yourself)

            Il/elle se lave          He/She gets washed    (he washes himself)

            Nous nous lavons     We get washed         (we wash ourselves)

            Vous vous lavez        You get washed         (you wash yourself)

            Ils/elles se lavent     They get washed       (they wash themselves)

You must remember to add the correct ending to go with the person as usual, but you must also remember to put the correct reflexive or pronoun object before the verb (this must also agree with the person).

In the infinitive form (to be found in the dictionary) there will be a "se" before the infinitive form of the verb. Here this means "oneself".

Common reflexive verbs

se lever         to get up                 s’ennuyer       to be bored

se réveiller    to wake up             se coucher     to go to bed

se détendre   to relax                  s’habiller         to get dressed

se fâcher        to get angry           s’endormir     to fall asleep

Grammar links