Reflexive verbs are used to describe actions that the subject is performing on himself/herself. In English they are used with the words such as 'myself' or 'himself', for example I wash myself. In Italian they are used with reflexive pronouns. Study the reflexive pronouns below.
Singular
Plural
mi
myself
ci
ourselves
ti
yourself
vi
yourselves
si
himself, herself, itself, yourself (polite)
si
themselves, yourselves (polite)
The infinitive form of reflexive verbs ends in -si. For example:
alzarsi
vedersi
divertirsi
How reflexive verbs are formed
They follow the normal patterns of regular -are, -ere and -ire verbs.
Remove the -arsi, -ersi and -irsi at the end of the verb. (The endings that precede the -si indicate whether they are -are, -ere or -ire verbs.)
Include the appropriate reflexive pronoun before the verb.
Look at the following tables to see how this is done. The verbs are conjugated in the present tense.
ALZARSI
iomi alzo
I stand/get up
tuti alzi
you stand/get up
luisi alza
he stands/gets up
leisi alza
she stands/gets up
noici alziamo
we stand/get up
voivi alzate
you (plural) stand/get up
lorosi alzano
they stand/get up
Formal
Leisi alza
you stand up/ get up
Lorosi alzano
you (plural) stand/get up
VEDERSI
iomi vedo
I see myself
tuti vedi
you see yourself
luisi vede
he sees himself
leisi vede
she sees herself
noici vediamo
we see each other
voivi vedete
you (plural) see each other
lorosi vedono
they see each other
Formal
Leisi vede
you see yourself
Lorosi vedono
you (plural) see yourselves
DIVERTIRSI
iomi diverto
I enjoy myself
tuti diverti
you enjoy yourself
luisi diverte
he enjoys himself
leisi diverte
she enjoys herself
noici divertiamo
we enjoy ourselves
voivi divertite
you (plural) enjoy yourselves
lorosi divertono
they enjoy themselves
Formal
Leisi diverte
you enjoy yourself
Lorosi divertono
you (plural) enjoy yourselves
Notice that the addition of the reflexive pronouns is the only thing that is new. The verb endings remain the same.
Some other common reflexive verbs are listed below.
accorgersi - to realize
alzarsi - to stand / to get up
annoiarsi - to be bored
arrabbiarsi - to become angry
chiamarsi - to be named
dimenticarsi - to forget
diplomarsi - to graduate high school
fermarsi - to stop
innamorarsi- to fall in love
laurearsi - to graduate (university)
lavarsi - to wash (oneself)
ricordarsi - to remember
sentirsi - to feel (about oneself / healthwise)
stancarsi - to get tired
svegliarsi - to wake up
vestirsi - to dress oneself
Many verbs can have both the normal and the reflexive form. For example:
chiamarsi - Si chiama Enrico The action is reflected back on the subject.
chiamare"I call (telephone) Enrico to invite him to the party.">Chiamo Enrico per invitarlo alla festa.. In this case the subject is io (I), who is calling Enrico.
The past tense of reflexive verbs
When conjugating reflexive verbs in the passato prossimo, the auxiliary verb essere is always used. Look at the example.
