Reflexive verbs: first steps

The rule

A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject: ich → mich, du → dich. Learn the pronoun with the verb; some later patterns require dative forms.

ich → mich · du → dich · er/sie/es → sich · wir → uns · ihr → euch · sie/Sie → sich

Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object refer to the same person or people: Ich wasche mich. The verb agrees with the subject; the reflexive pronoun identifies who receives the action.

The A1 accusative reflexive forms are mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, and sich. Third-person singular, third-person plural, and formal Sie all use sich.

With a pronoun subject in a neutral statement, the order is subject + verb + reflexive pronoun: Ich beeile mich. In a question: Beeilst du dich? After a time phrase: Heute beeile ich mich.

Accusative reflexive pronouns

Common A1 reflexive verbs

Word-order patterns

German examples with English meanings

Ich wasche mich jeden Morgen.

I wash every morning.

Mia zieht sich schnell an.

Mia gets dressed quickly.

Wir freuen uns auf das Wochenende.

We are looking forward to the weekend.

Musst du dich beeilen?

Do you have to hurry?

Ich beeile mich.

I hurry.

Du beeilst dich.

You hurry.

Wir beeilen uns.

We hurry.

Beeilt ihr euch?

Are you hurrying?

Ich wasche mich.

I wash myself.

Ich wasche das Auto.

I wash the car.

Wir treffen uns vor dem Kino.

We meet each other in front of the cinema.

Wann ziehst du dich an?

When are you getting dressed?

Heute muss ich mich beeilen.

Today I have to hurry.

Setzen Sie sich bitte!

Please sit down!

Common mistakes

Details and useful distinctions

With a noun subject after the verb, the short reflexive pronoun normally comes first: Heute freut sich Mia. This keeps short pronouns near the conjugated verb.

Separable reflexive verbs create a bracket: Ich ziehe mich an. After a modal, the pronoun follows the modal and the full infinitive stays at the end: Ich muss mich anziehen.

Some verbs can be reflexive or non-reflexive depending on meaning: Ich wasche mich versus Ich wasche das Auto. Others are normally learned with sich, such as sich beeilen, sich freuen, and sich interessieren.

Do not select a reflexive pronoun from the English translation alone. Point back to the German subject: ich requires mich, du requires dich, wir requires uns, and ihr requires euch.

Practise the chain aloud with one stable verb: Ich wasche mich, du wäschst dich, er wäscht sich, wir waschen uns, ihr wascht euch, sie waschen sich.

Ask whether the object is the same person as the subject. If yes, use a matching reflexive pronoun. If the action affects another person or thing, use the ordinary noun or pronoun instead.

With plural subjects, a reflexive form can also express each other: Wir treffen uns means we meet each other. The same form can therefore be reflexive or reciprocal depending on the verb and situation.

Reflexive pronouns interact with questions, time-first word order, separable verbs, modals, and imperatives. The earlier rules remain active; the pronoun simply occupies its short-object position.

For the imperative, match both forms to the listener: Setz dich!, Setzt euch!, Setzen Sie sich! This is an efficient review of audience and reflexive agreement together.

Practise this grammar

Draw an arrow from the action back to its subject. Then say the fixed pair aloud: ich–mich, du–dich, er/sie/es–sich, wir–uns, ihr–euch, sie/Sie–sich.

Open Reflexive verbs: first steps exercises →

For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.