Reflexive (pronominal) verbs include a pronoun as part of the infinitive and are listed in dictionaries with it, e.g.: levantar-se, deitar-se. They typically express actions done to or for oneself.
The pronoun must agree with the subject, i.e., refer to the same person who performs and receives the action:
Eu lavo-me.
Tu deitas-te cedo.
Nós sentimo-nos bem.
Using divertir-se:
lembrar-se (de) – to remember
deitar-se – to go to bed
apressar-se – to hurry
arrepender-se – to regret
atrever-se – to dare
banhar-se – to bathe
casar-se – to get married
dar-se conta (de) – to realize
acordar / acordar-se – to wake (up)
adormecer / adormecer-se – to fall asleep
tomar banho / banhar-se – to bathe
zangar-se – to get angry
ir-se – to leave
chamar-se – to be called
lavar-se – to wash oneself
levantar-se – to get up
maquilhar-se – to put on makeup
pentear-se – to do one’s hair
queixar-se (de) – to complain
sentar-se – to sit down
sentir-se – to feel
Like Spanish, Portuguese often uses reflexive structures instead of possessives:
Lavo as mãos. / Lavo-me as mãos. (not as minhas mãos)
Pinta as unhas.
Some verbs can be used both ways:
Ele veste-se. (he gets dressed)
A mãe veste a criança. (she dresses the child)
But some verbs are always pronominal:
arrepender-se
atrever-se
queixar-se
Não me deito cedo.
Eu me levanto cedo. (EP often prefers levanto-me)
Infinitive
Quero deitar-me / Quero me deitar
Progressive
Estou a maquilhar-me
Affirmative commands
Levanta-te!
👉 Accents may be required:
Diz-me!
Pronoun must match the subject
Placement depends on structure (negation, infinitive, command, etc.)
Some verbs are always pronominal, others are not
Q: Why is it Eu lembro-me and NOT Eu lembro (to mean "I remember")? Lembrar-se is a pronominal verb meaning “to remember.” The non-pronominal lembrar has a different structure (it usually takes an object: Lembro o nome is less common; EP prefers Lembro-me do nome).
Q: Why is it Tu lavas-te and NOT Tu se lavas? The reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject:
eu → me
tu → te
ele/ela → se
So: tu lavas-te (not se).
Q: Why is it Eles lavam as mãos / Eles lavam-se as mãos and NOT Eles lavam as suas mãos? With body parts, Portuguese typically avoids possessives and uses:
a definite article (as mãos)
often a pronominal construction (lavam-se)
Q: Why is it Eu zango-me and not Eu zango to mean “I get angry”? Zangar-se is a pronominal verb meaning “to get angry.” Without the pronoun, zangar is transitive:
Eu zango-me. (I get angry)
Eu zango o meu irmão. (I make my brother angry)
Q: Why is it Arrependo-me de ter ido lá and NOT Arrependo de ter ido lá? Arrepender-se is a verb that is always pronominal, so it must include the reflexive pronoun:
Arrependo-me… (correct)
❌ Arrependo… (incorrect)
Some verbs are always pronominal (arrepender-se, queixar-se)
Others change meaning depending on whether they are pronominal
The pronoun must always match the subject
Give the correct present tense form of the verb:
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Complete the following translations:
Give the preterite (pretérito perfeito):
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