Italian for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

A reflexive verb is a verb where the subject and the object are the same. In other words, the person performing the action is also the person receiving the action.

In Italian, reflexive verbs are identified by the reflexive pronoun si attached to the infinitive form of the verb. For example:

Lavare (to wash) → Lavarsi (to wash oneself)

Svegliare (to wake) → Svegliarsi (to wake oneself up)

Vestire (to dress) → Vestirsi (to dress oneself)

Reflexive Pronouns: Pronomi Riflessivi

To conjugate a reflexive verb, you need to use the correct reflexive pronoun. Here are the reflexive pronouns:

Mi (myself)

Ti (yourself – informal)

Si (himself/herself/itself)

Ci (ourselves)

Vi (yourselves – plural/formal)

Si (themselves)

Conjugating Reflexive Verbs: Coniugare i Verbi Riflessivi

Here’s how to conjugate a reflexive verb in the present tense:

Place the reflexive pronoun before the verb.

Conjugate the verb in the present tense.

Let’s use the verb lavarsi (to wash oneself) as an example:

Io mi lavo – I wash myself.

Tu ti lavi – You wash yourself.

Lui/Lei si lava – He/She washes himself/herself.

Noi ci laviamo – We wash ourselves.

Voi vi lavate – You wash yourselves.

Loro si lavano – They wash themselves.

Common Reflexive Verbs: Verbi Riflessivi Comuni

Here are some other common reflexive verbs:

Svegliarsi (to wake up)

Alzarsi (to get up)

Vestirsi (to get dressed)

Pettinarsi (to comb one’s hair)

Truccarsi (to put on makeup)

Divertirsi (to have fun)

Chiamarsi (to be called – i.e., what is your name?)

Addormentarsi (to fall asleep)

Using Reflexive Verbs in the Passato Prossimo

When using reflexive verbs in the passato prossimo, you always use essere as the helping verb. Remember that the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject. Also, the reflexive pronoun goes before the helping verb.

Io mi sono lavato/a – I washed myself.

Tu ti sei svegliato/a – You woke up.

Lui si è vestito – He got dressed.

Lei si è vestita – She got dressed.

Noi ci siamo divertiti/e – We had fun.

Voi vi siete alzati/e – You got up.

Loro si sono addormentati/e – They fell asleep.

Cultural Note: The Importance of Appearance in Italy

Italians place a high value on personal appearance and take pride in looking their best. This includes paying attention to their clothing, grooming, and overall presentation. Taking care of oneself and presenting a polished image is seen as a sign of respect for oneself and for others.

Grammar Focus: Word Order with Reflexive Pronouns

In simple present tense sentences, the reflexive pronoun comes directly before the verb. However, in other constructions, the word order can change. For example, when using modal verbs:

Devo lavarmi. – I have to wash myself. (Reflexive pronoun attached to the infinitive)

Mi devo lavare. – I have to wash myself. (Reflexive pronoun before the modal verb)

Both word orders are correct, but the first one is generally more common.

Exercises

Reflexive Pronoun Practice: Fill in the blanks with the correct reflexive pronoun:

Io ____ lavo.

Tu ____ svegli.

Lui ____ veste.

Noi ____ divertiamo.

Voi ____ chiamate.

Loro ____ addormentano.

Reflexive Verbs in the Passato Prossimo: Write sentences in the passato prossimo using the following prompts:

Io / svegliarsi / tardi

Tu / vestirsi / elegante

Lei / truccarsi / per la festa

Noi / divertirsi / alla festa

Loro / addormentarsi / subito

Present Tense Conjugation: Conjugate the verb divertirsi in Present Tense.

True or false:

Reflexive verbs describe actions that the subject performs on themselves (true/false).

In Passato Prossimo you always have to use avere (true/false).

Translate:

I wake up at 7 AM.

She dressed up.

Answer Key:

mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si

Io mi sono svegliato/a tardi., Tu ti sei vestito/a elegante., Lei si è truccata per la festa., Noi ci siamo divertiti/e alla festa., Loro si sono addormentati/e subito.

Io mi diverto, Tu ti diverti, Lui/Lei si diverte, Noi ci divertiamo, Voi vi divertite, Loro si divertono

True, False

Mi sveglio alle sette, Lei si è vestita.