German Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs (reflexive Verben) are verbs where the action reflects back onto the subject. They always use a reflexive pronoun — in the infinitive form, this is sich: sich waschen (to wash oneself), sich freuen (to be happy).

Reflexive Pronouns

The reflexive pronoun changes based on the subject. For accusative reflexive: ich → mich, du → dich, er/sie/es → sich, wir → uns, ihr → euch, sie/Sie → sich. For dative reflexive: ich → mir, du → dir, er/sie/es → sich, wir → uns, ihr → euch, sie/Sie → sich. Note: only the ich and du forms differ between accusative and dative.

Accusative vs. Dative Reflexive

If the reflexive pronoun is the only object, it is accusative: Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.) If there is another accusative object, the reflexive pronoun becomes dative: Ich wasche mir die Hände. (I wash my hands — literally: I wash to-myself the hands.)

True vs. Apparent Reflexive Verbs

True reflexive verbs can only be used reflexively: sich beeilen (to hurry), sich erkundigen (to inquire), sich weigern (to refuse). Apparent reflexive verbs can be used with other objects too: sich waschen (to wash oneself) — but also das Auto waschen (to wash the car).

Common Reflexive Verbs

Many German verbs are reflexive where English equivalents are not: sich freuen (to be happy), sich erinnern (to remember), sich vorstellen (to imagine/introduce oneself), sich fühlen (to feel), sich setzen (to sit down), sich interessieren für (to be interested in), sich entscheiden (to decide).

Word Order

The reflexive pronoun typically comes as early as possible — right after the conjugated verb in main clauses: Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub. In subordinate clauses or with inversion, it comes right after the subject: Morgen freue ich mich.