How to Conjugate Reflexive Verbs in Italian (And Sound More Natural)
Master Italian reflexive verbs and learn how to use them naturally in conversation. This guide is perfect for Bay Area Italian learners in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
When you’re learning Italian, it’s easy to get excited about ordering food, asking directions, or saying something sweet like ti amo. But then, somewhere around Chapter 5 of your textbook or your second week in class, you hit a strange construction: mi chiamo, ti svegli, ci vediamo. Wait, what are all these little words doing in front of verbs?
Welcome to reflexive verbs—the secret sauce of sounding natural in Italian.
Reflexive verbs may seem tricky at first, but once you get used to them, they’re incredibly logical and versatile. They allow you to describe daily routines, express emotions, and connect with others in a natural, idiomatic way. If you’ve been translating word-for-word from English, this is your chance to step into a more intuitive understanding of how Italians actually speak.
If you’re from the San Francisco Bay Area—maybe you live in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, or San Jose—and you're studying Italian for travel, family, or fun, this guide will help demystify reflexive verbs once and for all. They’re not only easy to use once you get the hang of them—they’re essential to sounding more fluent, polite, and expressive.
At Polyglottist Language Academy, our Italian students often say they finally felt like they were really speaking Italian once they got the reflexive rhythm down. In this article, we’ll show you what reflexive verbs are, how to conjugate them in the present tense, common verbs to know, and how to practice them in real-world contexts. We’ll even throw in a few tips for avoiding awkward translation errors.
Let’s dive in! 🌊
WHAT ARE REFLEXIVE VERBS IN ITALIAN?
Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject and the object are the same. In other words, the action "reflects back" on the person doing it. Instead of doing something to someone else, you’re doing something to yourself or for yourself. This can be physical (I wash myself), emotional (I calm myself down), or social (We see each other).
For example:
Mi sveglio – I wake myself up
Ti lavi – You wash yourself
Ci vediamo – We’ll see each other
In English, we often don’t use reflexive constructions as clearly—but in Italian, they’re everywhere. Understanding them will open up your ability to talk about everyday life with more precision and authenticity.
You’ll see reflexive verbs used for:
Daily routines: alzarsi (to get up), lavarsi (to wash), vestirsi (to get dressed)
Emotions: arrabbiarsi (to get angry), innamorarsi (to fall in love)
Reciprocal actions: abbracciarsi (to hug), vedersi (to see each other)
Describing habits and physical sensations: sentirsi bene (to feel good), muoversi (to move)
HOW TO IDENTIFY A REFLEXIVE VERB 🔍
In the dictionary, reflexive verbs are listed with "si" at the end. For example:
chiamare (to call) → chiamarsi (to call oneself)
lavare (to wash) → lavarsi (to wash oneself)
This -si is a clue that you’ll need a reflexive pronoun when you conjugate the verb.
Some verbs are always reflexive, while others can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively depending on the meaning. For instance:
lavare (to wash something) vs. lavarsi (to wash yourself)
mettere (to put) vs. mettersi (to put something on yourself)
Understanding the difference helps prevent confusion and awkward translations.
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS IN ITALIAN 💬
Here are the reflexive pronouns you’ll use:
SubjectPronounExampleiomimi svegliotutiti alzilui/leisisi lavanoicici vediamovoivivi sedetelorosisi chiamano
These pronouns come before the verb in regular present tense sentences:
Mi preparo – I get myself ready
Ti diverti? – Are you having fun?
They’re also used in commands, infinitives, and compound tenses:
Devo svegliarmi presto. – I have to wake myself up early.
Mi devo svegliare presto. – I have to wake up early.
HOW TO CONJUGATE REFLEXIVE VERBS: STEP BY STEP 🪄
Let’s take alzarsi (to get up) as an example.
Remove the "-si" and identify the base verb: alzare
Conjugate the verb as usual in the present tense
Add the correct reflexive pronoun in front
Conjugation of alzarsi:
io mi alzo – I get up
tu ti alzi – you get up
lui/lei si alza – he/she gets up
noi ci alziamo – we get up
voi vi alzate – you all get up
loro si alzano – they get up
Try conjugating other verbs like vestirsi, chiamarsi, or sedersi. Reflexive verbs follow the same rules as non-reflexive ones—just with that added pronoun.
COMMON REFLEXIVE VERBS TO MASTER ✅
Here are some must-know reflexive verbs to start using right away:
Daily Actions:
svegliarsi – to wake up
alzarsi – to get up
lavarsi – to wash oneself
pettinarsi – to comb one’s hair
vestirsi – to get dressed
truccarsi – to put on makeup
addormentarsi – to fall asleep
Emotions & States:
arrabbiarsi – to get angry
annoiarsi – to get bored
preoccuparsi – to worry
rilassarsi – to relax
innamorarsi – to fall in love
sentirsi – to feel
Social & Reciprocal:
abbracciarsi – to hug each other
incontrarsi – to meet each other
scriversi – to write to each other
telefonarsi – to call each other
chiamarsi – to be called (e.g., Mi chiamo Luca)
SOUNDING MORE NATURAL: AVOID THESE COMMON MISTAKES ❌
1. Don’t drop the pronoun!
“Alzo alle 7” ❌ sounds awkward. Always include the pronoun: “Mi alzo alle 7” ✅
2. Don’t translate literally from English.
“I call myself John” sounds odd in English, but “Mi chiamo John” is completely natural in Italian.
3. Know when NOT to use a reflexive.
Not all verbs need to be reflexive just because the subject is the same. Stick to verbs that are commonly reflexive in native usage.
USING REFLEXIVE VERBS IN QUESTIONS ❓
Reflexive verbs are great for casual questions:
Ti svegli presto? – Do you wake up early?
Quando vi vedete? – When do you see each other?
Ci incontriamo domani? – Shall we meet tomorrow?
They also make suggestions smoother:
Ci vediamo stasera! – See you tonight!
IN THE REAL WORLD: LISTEN FOR REFLEXIVES 🎧
Reflexive verbs are everywhere in real spoken Italian:
Come ti chiami? – What’s your name?
Non mi sento bene. – I don’t feel well.
Si dice che... – It is said that... (impersonal reflexive)
Watch Italian movies, listen to podcasts, or scroll Italian social media—reflexives show up constantly.
BAY AREA LEARNERS: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT 🏡
If you're based in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, or San Jose, you can take your Italian to the next level with us at Polyglottist Language Academy.
We offer:
Beginner-friendly Italian classes that cover reflexive verbs in context
Interactive practice: role-play, dialogues, travel scenarios
In-person and online options for maximum flexibility
Whether you’re traveling soon or simply passionate about the language, our expert instructors help you integrate reflexive verbs from day one.
READY TO SPEAK NATURALLY IN ITALIAN? 🎯
Join a class at Polyglottist Language Academy and feel confident using reflexive verbs in conversation, travel, and beyond. Whether you’re traveling to Italy or just love the language, we’ll help you speak like a local.
👉 Sign up today to get started with classes in Berkeley or online from anywhere in the Bay Area!
FAQs 📌
Q: Are reflexive verbs only used for daily routines?
A: No, they’re used for emotional states, social interactions, and more.
Q: Is "mi chiamo" the same as "my name is"?
A: Not exactly—it literally means “I call myself,” but it’s how you say your name in Italian.
Q: Can I skip the reflexive pronoun if I already know the subject?
A: No! The reflexive pronoun is essential to the verb’s meaning.
Q: Are reflexive verbs hard to learn?
A: Not at all! Once you understand the pattern, they’re simple and very common.
Q: Do your classes cover reflexive verbs early on?
A: Yes—we integrate them early so you speak more naturally from the beginning.
Q: Do Italians use reflexive verbs a lot?
A: Absolutely. They’re part of everyday speech and show up in many common phrases.
Q: Can I practice reflexive verbs in conversation classes?
A: Yes! We build in reflexive verbs through interactive dialogue and daily role-play.
Q: What’s the best way to master them?
A: Repetition, listening, and speaking. And of course—practice with real people!