Verbes pronominaux réfléchis
For reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun indicates that the subject of the verb is performing the action on him/her/itself, rather than on someone or something else. The majority of reflexive verbs have to do with one’s body, clothing, relationships, or one’s state of mind.
Par exemple…
Elle se regarde et se sourit. |
|
She’s looking at herself and smiling at herself. |
Je me couche à minuit. |
|
I go to bed at midnight. |
Tu t’habilles trop lentement. |
|
You’re dressing too slowly. |
Most common French reflexive verbs
s’adjoindre | | to take on, appoint |
s’adresser à | | to address, speak to |
s’apprêter | | to get ready |
s’approcher de | | to approach |
s’arrêter | | to stop oneself |
s’asseoir | | to sit down |
se baigner | | to bathe, swim |
se brosser (les cheveux, les dents) | | to brush (one’s hair, one’s teeth) |
se casser (la jambe, le bras) | | to break (one’s leg, one’s arm) |
se coiffer | | to fix one’s hair |
se coucher | | to go to bed |
se couper | | to cut oneself, to cut (something) for oneself |
se dépêcher | | to hurry |
se déshabiller | | to get undressed |
se disperser | | to disperse, break up (a meeting, group) |
se doucher | | to take a shower |
s’effrayer | | to be frightened |
s’éloigner | | to move (oneself) away |
s’endormir | | to fall asleep |
s’énerver | | to get annoyed |
s’enrhumer | | to catch a cold |
se fâcher | | to get angry |
se faire (un café, un sandwich…) | | to make (a coffee, sandwich…) for oneself |
se fatiguer | | to get tired |
se fier | | to trust |
s’habiller | | to get dressed |
s’habituer à | | to get used to |
s’imaginer | | to imagine |
s’informer | | to ask, find out; to inform oneself |
s’inquiéter | | to worry |
s’inscrire | | to enroll, register |
s’intéresser à | | to be interested in |
se laver (les mains, la figure) | | to wash oneself (one’s hands, one’s face) |
se lever | | to get up |
se maquiller | | to put on makeup |
se marier (avec) | | to get married (to) |
se moucher | | to blow one’s nose |
se noyer | | to drown |
se nuire | | to harm oneself |
se peigner | | to comb one’s hair |
se précipiter | | to rush, quicken; to hurl oneself, jump |
se promener | | to take a walk |
se raser | | to shave |
se rassembler | | to gather, assemble (as a group) |
se refroidir | | to cool down, get cold |
se régaler | | to enjoy oneself, have a delicious meal |
se regarder | | to look at oneself |
se relaxer | | to relax |
se reposer | | to rest |
se réserver | | to keep for oneself |
se réveiller | | to wake up |
se soûler | | to get drunk |
se sourire | | to smile at/to oneself |
se suffire | | to be self-sufficient |
se suicider | | to commit suicide |
se taire | | to be quiet |
Note that many of these verbs can also be
reciprocal.
All of the above verbs require a reflexive pronoun when they indicate that the subject is doing something to itself. But they can also be used non-reflexively, indicating that the action of the verb is directed at someone or something else.
En comparaison…
Je me réveille à 6h00. |
vs |
Je la réveille à 6h00. |
I wake up at 6am.
|
|
I wake her up at 6am.
|
Il se rase le menton. |
vs |
Il rase le menton de son fils. |
He’s shaving his (own) chin. |
|
He’s shaving his son’s chin. |
When talking about
parts of the body, the
reflexive pronoun and a
definite article indicate the owner of that part of the body, rather than the
possessive adjective that is used in English.
Je me lave le visage. |
|
Je lave mon visage. |
I’m washing my face.
|
|
|
Il se brosse les cheveux. |
|
Il brosse ses cheveux. |
He’s brushing his hair. |
|
|
Reflexive verbs are just one type of pronominal verb. See the main lesson on
pronominal verbs for details on using reflexive verbs in different tenses and moods.
Related lessons
French lesson plan
En español
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