French reflexive verbs, also called pronominal verbs, are used when the subject of a sentence is also the object – when someone does something to themselves. These verbs are very common in everyday French and often describe actions related to daily routines, personal care, emotions, and social interactions.

Many have both reflexive and non-reflexive forms, depending on who or what receives the action. While English sometimes uses reflexive pronouns like “myself” or “yourself,” French uses reflexive structures much more regularly.

The Structure of Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are always used with a reflexive pronoun. These pronouns change depending on the subject:

• je me
• tu te
• il/elle/on se
• nous nous
• vous vous
• ils/elles se

The reflexive pronoun comes before the verb:

• Je me lave – I wash myself
• Tu te réveilles – You wake up
• Elle se repose – She is resting
• Nous nous habillons – We are getting dressed
• Vous vous couchez – You go to bed
• Ils se disputent – They argue

Reflexive Verbs and Their Non-Reflexive Forms

Many reflexive verbs in French also exist in non-reflexive, transitive forms. The reflexive form is used when the subject performs the action on themselves. The non-reflexive form is used when the action is performed on someone or something else.

Here are some common examples:

• Laver (to wash):
  • Je me lave – I wash (myself)
  • Je lave la voiture – I wash the car
• Habiller (to dress):
  • Elle s’habille – She gets dressed
  • Elle habille son fils – She dresses her son
• Réveiller (to wake):
  • Tu te réveilles – You wake up
  • Tu réveilles ton frère – You wake your brother
• Rappeler (to remind, to call back):
  • Je me rappelle son nom – I remember his name
  • Je rappelle mon ami – I call my friend back

This dual nature is common. In most cases, the reflexive version is intransitive, while the non-reflexive version is transitive.

Reflexive Verbs and Body Parts

French often uses reflexive verbs when describing actions that involve parts of the body. Instead of saying “I brush my teeth” like in English, French uses a reflexive structure and definite articles:

• Je me brosse les dents – I brush the teeth (literally)
• Elle se lave les mains – She washes the hands
• Tu te peignes les cheveux – You comb the hair

Note that French uses “les” rather than “mes”, because the reflexive pronoun already indicates whose body part is involved. The definite article (le, la, les) is used instead of the possessive.

Compare this with English:

• English: I brush my teeth
• French: Je me brosse les dents

This is one area where English and French reflexive constructions differ clearly.

Reflexive Verbs and English Equivalents

French uses reflexive verbs more frequently than English. In English, we often say “I wash,” “she gets up,” or “they argue,” without needing a reflexive pronoun. But in French, these actions are often expressed reflexively:

• Je me lève – I get up
• Il se repose – He rests
• Nous nous disputons – We argue

While English reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, etc.) exist, they are used much less frequently and mostly for emphasis or clarity, such as “I hurt myself” or “He blamed himself.”

French, on the other hand, uses reflexive forms for many routine actions, especially related to daily life, hygiene, emotions, and social interactions.

Common Reflexive Verbs

Here are some frequently used reflexive verbs:

• se lever – to get up
• se demander – to wonder
• se coucher – to go to bed
• s’endormir – to fall asleep
• se réveiller – to wake up
• se laver – to wash oneself
• se brosser – to brush (teeth, hair)
• s’habiller – to get dressed
• se maquiller – to put on makeup
• se raser – to shave
• se dépêcher – to hurry
• s’ennuyer – to be bored
• se souvenir – to remember
• se sentir – to feel

Some of these verbs have slightly different meanings in reflexive form. For example:

• Sentir means “to smell” or “to feel”
  • Je sens quelque chose de brûlé – I smell something burning
  • Elle sent le bébé bouger – She feels the baby moving
• Se sentir means “to feel” (in a personal or emotional sense):
  • Je me sens fatigué – I feel tired