Reflexive/pronominal verbs (e.g.: Eu deito-me)

An Overview of Reflexive/Pronominal Verbs (Verbos Pronominais)

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.

---

Reflexive Pronouns (Present tense example)

Using divertir-se:

Subject	Form	Translation
eu	divirto-mo	I have nun
tu	divertes-te	you have fun
ele/ela/você	diverte-se	he/she has fun
nós	divertimo-nos	we have fun
vocês/eles	divertem-se	they have fun

---

Common Reflexive/Pronominal Verbs

• 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

---

Body parts (important difference)

Like Spanish, Portuguese often uses reflexive structures instead of possessives:

• Lavo as mãos. / Lavo-me as mãos. (not as minhas mãos)

• Pinta as unhas.

---

Reflexive vs non-reflexive meaning

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

---

Placement of reflexive pronouns

1. Before the verb (most common)

• Não me deito cedo.

• Eu me levanto cedo. (EP often prefers levanto-me)

---

2. Attached to the verb

• Infinitive

  • Quero deitar-me / Quero me deitar

• Progressive

  • Estou a maquilhar-me

• Affirmative commands

  • Levanta-te!

👉 Accents may be required:

• Levanta-te!

• Diz-me!

---

🔑 Key point

• Pronoun must match the subject

• Placement depends on structure (negation, infinitive, command, etc.)

• Some verbs are always pronominal, others are not