Italian reflexive verbs (verbi riflessivi) are verbs often used when the subject performs an action on themselves, such as washing or dressing. Other verbs use the reflexive form to express personal activities or conditions, such as getting up or waking up. They are especially common when talking about daily routines, personal care, and everyday activities. In Italian, these verbs are used with a reflexive pronoun that refers back to the subject. For example, lavare means to wash, while lavarsi means to wash oneself. The ending -si identifies the reflexive form of a verb in the infinitive. Many common Italian verbs are used this way, including alzarsi (to get up), lavarsi (to wash oneself), vestirsi (to get dressed), and chiamarsi (to be called).
How Reflexive Verbs Work
Reflexive verbs follow the same basic conjugation patterns as other Italian verbs, but they also require a reflexive pronoun. In the present tense, the pronoun normally comes before the conjugated verb and changes according to the subject: mi with io, ti with tu, si with lui, lei, and formal Lei, ci with noi, vi with voi, and si with loro. These pronouns are not always translated with English words such as myself or yourself. To conjugate a reflexive verb, remove -si from the infinitive, conjugate the remaining verb, and place the correct reflexive pronoun before it. For example, lavarsi → mi lavo means I wash myself. The reflexive pronoun is chosen according to the person and number of the subject, while the verb is conjugated in the usual way. As with other Italian verbs, the subject pronoun is usually omitted when the meaning is clear.
Mi lavo ogni mattina. — I wash myself every morning.
Ti alzi presto. — You get up early.
Si veste rapidamente. — He or she gets dressed quickly.
Ci prepariamo per uscire. — We get ready to go out.
Common Uses of Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs are especially frequent in expressions describing daily routines. For example, svegliarsi means to wake up, alzarsi means to get up, and addormentarsi means to fall asleep. Not all Italian reflexive verbs are translated with myself, yourself, or similar words in English. For example, mi chiamo Marco means my name is Marco. This is why it is useful to learn each reflexive verb together with its meaning rather than translate it word for word. Some verbs can also be used with or without a reflexive pronoun, depending on whether the action is directed toward the subject or another person or thing. For example, lavo la macchina means I wash the car, while mi lavo means I wash myself.
Mi chiamo Anna. — My name is Anna.
Ci svegliamo alle sette. — We wake up at seven.
Summary of Reflexive Pronouns with Lavarsi
| Subject | Reflexive pronoun | Present tense of lavarsi | English meaning |
| io | mi | mi lavo | I wash myself |
| tu | ti | ti lavi | you wash yourself |
| lui / lei / Lei | si | si lava | he / she washes; you wash (formal) |
| noi | ci | ci laviamo | we wash ourselves |
| voi | vi | vi lavate | you wash yourselves |
| loro | si | si lavano | they wash themselves |