A2 (Elementary)Lesson 3: Reflexive Pronouns & Daily Routines
Reflexive verbs pair a verb with a reflexive pronoun (me, se, nos). Some describe an action you do to yourself (me machuquei), some mean people doing something to each other (nós nos encontramos), and a few simply can't exist without the pronoun (me apaixonei).
A reflexive verb = pronoun (me/se/nos) + verb, matched to the subject
True reflexive: the action returns to you — Ela se machucou. (She hurt herself.)
Reciprocal: "each other" — Nós nos encontramos. (We met each other.)
Always pronominal: some verbs only exist with se — me apaixonei, ele se queixou
Match the pronoun to the subject: eu me, você/ele/ela se, nós nos, eles se
Works in the past too (pretérito perfeito): me diverti, se machucou, nos encontramos
In Brazil, the pronoun sits before the verb
reflexive pronoun (me / se / nos) + verb, conjugated for the subject — true reflexive (to yourself), reciprocal (each other), or inherently pronominal (only with se)
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Reflexive verbs are all over daily life — introducing yourself (me chamo), your feelings (me sinto), little accidents (me machuquei), and getting together with people (a gente se encontra). And the moment you can say two people do something to each other — eles se abraçaram (they hugged), nós nos falamos (we talk to each other) — you unlock a whole layer of natural Brazilian conversation that a flat "he hugged, she hugged" just can't reach.
A reflexive verb swaps its pronoun to match who's doing the action. Take sentir-se (to feel):
| Subject | Reflexive verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eu | me sinto | I feel |
| Você/Ele/Ela | se sente | you/he/she feels |
| Nós | nos sentimos | we feel |
| Vocês/Eles/Elas | se sentem | you all/they feel |
The verb conjugates as usual; only the little pronoun in front changes to match the subject.
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ela se cortou com a faca. | She cut herself with the knife. |
| A criança já se veste sozinha. | The kid already dresses herself. |
| Ele se olhou no espelho. | He looked at himself in the mirror. |
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Eles se cumprimentaram. | They greeted each other. |
| A gente se ajuda sempre. | We always help each other. |
"Each other" only works with two or more people:
✅ Eles se cumprimentaram. (They greeted each other.)
One person can't do something to "each other" — a singular subject can only be true-reflexive.
The same se verb can be true-reflexive OR reciprocal — context decides:
Eles se olharam. = They looked at themselves or (more often) at each other.
With verbs like apaixonar-se or queixar-se, dropping the pronoun leaves a non-word:
✅ Ela se apaixonou. · ❌ Ela apaixonou.
One reflexive verb captures a whole Brazilian mindset: virar-se. Literally "to turn yourself around," se virar means to figure it out, improvise, and get by on your own — as in "Cada um que se vire!" ("Everyone fend for themselves!"). It's a close cousin of the famous jeitinho: that knack for finding a way when there doesn't seem to be one.
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