What are Reflexive Verbs?
In German, reflexive verbs are used when the **subject and the object are the same**, meaning the action reflects back on the subject. These verbs are always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun such as mich (myself), dich (yourself), sich (himself/herself), and so on.
Common Reflexive Verbs in German
| German Verb |
English Translation |
| sich beeilen | to hurry |
| sich freuen (auf) | to look forward to |
| sich ärgern (über) | to be annoyed about |
| sich duschen | to take a shower |
| sich waschen | to wash oneself |
| sich setzen | to sit down |
| sich entspannen | to relax |
| sich vorstellen | to introduce oneself |
| sich entschuldigen | to apologize |
| sich verlieben (in) | to fall in love (with) |
Reflexive Pronouns
| Pronoun |
Reflexive Pronoun (Akkusativ) |
English Translation |
| ich (I) | mich | myself |
| du (you) | dich | yourself |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) | sich | himself/herself/itself |
| wir (we) | uns | ourselves |
| ihr (you all) | euch | yourselves |
| sie/Sie (they/you formal) | sich | themselves/yourself |
Example Sentences with Reflexive Verbs
1. Ich beeile mich. (I hurry.)
2. Er ärgert sich über das Wetter. (He is annoyed about the weather.)
3. Wir freuen uns auf den Urlaub. (We are looking forward to the vacation.)
4. Du setzt dich auf den Stuhl. (You sit down on the chair.)
5. Sie entschuldigt sich bei ihm. (She apologizes to him.)
Additional Notes
Remember: Reflexive verbs always require a **reflexive pronoun** that matches the subject. Some verbs are always reflexive, while others can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively depending on the context.