Definition
A reflexive verb is a verb that has an object which is the same as the subject of the verb ==> the action of the reflexive verb is something one is doing to or for oneself. Some verbs are reflexive all or most of the time, others are only reflexive when used in certain ways. Here are some examples to illustrate what is meant by this definition. Where the infinitive is listed with a reflexive pronoun in the table below, the verb is reflexive all or most of the time; in many cases, the corresponding English verb is not reflexive. This is discussed in more detail below.
| sich erkälten | Er erkältetsich. | He catches a cold. [literally: he “colds” himself ==> he is the subject, and he is also the object] |
| sich anziehen | Sie ziehtsich an. | She gets dressed. [literally: she dresses herself ==> she is the subject, and she is also the object]
The only way for this verb not to be reflexive is if someone dresses someone else. |
| sich amüsieren | Ich habemich auf dem Nagelbett amüsiert. | I enjoyed myself on the bed of nails. [==> I am the subject, and I am also the object]
The only way for this verb not to be reflexive is if someone amuses someone else. |
| machen | Er machtsich einen Teller Käsespätzle. | He makes himself a plate of cheese Spätzle. [==> He is the subject, and he is doing this for himself, so he is also the (indirect) object (the Spätzle being the direct object in this case)] |
| lieben | Erst muss man sichselbst lieben. Dann kann man Deutsch lieben. | First one must love oneself. Then one can love German. [In the first sentence one is loving oneself, i.e. one is the subject and the object, and the sentence is reflexive. In the second sentence, one is the subject and German is the object; these are different, so the second sentence is not reflexive.] |
| weh tun | Er hat sichauf dem Nagelbett weh getan. Ich habe ihm nicht weh getan. | He hurt himself on the bed of nails. I did not hurt him. [In the first sentence he is the subject, and he is also the object and the sentence is reflexive. In the second sentence, I am and he is the object; these are different, so the second sentence is not reflexive.] |
Table of Reflexive Pronouns
The reflexive pronouns are similar to the regular accusative and dative pronouns, but in the 3rd person singular and plural, there is only one form of the reflexive pronoun for all genders and both accusative and dative: sich:
| Person | Accusative Reflexive Pronoun | Dative Reflexive Pronoun |
| ich | mich | mir |
| du | dich | dir |
| er/sie/es | sich | sich |
| wir | uns | uns |
| ihr | euch | euch |
| sie/Sie | sich | sich |
| Person | Accusative Pronoun | Dative Pronoun |
| ich | mich | mir |
| du | dich | dir |
| er/sie/es | ihn/sie/es | ihm/ihr/ihm |
| wir | uns | uns |
| ihr | euch | euch |
| sie/ |
Obligatory Reflexives
Languages differ in what actions they consider to be reflexive. Some verbs will always be accompanied by a reflexive pronoun, e.g. Germans always think of sich kämmen, sich waschen, sich beeilen [=to hurry up] and even sich erkälten [=to catch a cold] as something one is doing to oneself. In general, the reflexive is obligatory for many more verbs in German than in English; a representative list of such reflexive verbs is provided in the last section; here is an exceprt from that list related to grooming and one’s daily routine:
| Deutsch | Englisch | Beispiel |
| sich (+Akk) baden | to take a bath | Ich bade mich gern jeden Sonntag. |
| sich (+Akk) duschen | to shower | Es ist gesund, sichmanchmal kalt zu duschen. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) waschen, du wäschst, wusch, hat gewaschen | to wash (oneself) | Niemand liebt mich. Ich muss mir den Rücken alleine waschen. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) kämmen | to comb oneself | Ihr seid cool, weil ihr euchnie die Haare kämmt. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) rasieren | to shave | Niemand rasiert sichgern den Rücken. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) an•ziehen, zog an, hat angezogen | to get dressed | Zieh dirdie Lederhosen an! |
| sich (+Akk) beeilen | to hurry | Wir müssen unsbeeilen! |
| sich (+Akk) verfahren, verfuhr, hat verfahren | to lose one’s way (by car) | Habt ihr euchwieder verfahren? |
| sich (+Akk) verlaufen, verlief, hat verlaufen | to lose one’s way (on foot) | Nein, wir haben unsverlaufen. |
| sich (+Akk) verspäten | to be late | Deshalb haben wir unsverspätet. |
| sich (+Akk) aus•ruhen | to rest | Es ist OK. Ruht euchjetzt aus. |
| sich (+Akk) setzen | to sit down | Darf ich mich auf dein antikes Sofa setzen? |
| sich (+Akk) hin•legen | to lie down | Leg dichlieber hin. |
Reflexives with other Transitive Verbs when Subject and Object are the same