Dutch Reflexive Verbs

Learn how to conjugate reflexive verbs in Dutch

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Dutch Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs express an action that reciprocates back to the subject. In other words, whoever is speaking is doing an action to himself. Examples in English would be: I wash myself, he hurts himself, we hate ourselves. The reflexive pronouns always follow the subject and verb.

Reflexive Pronouns

me je / u zich	ons je zich

The reflexive pronoun u is often replaced by zich to avoid the double occurrence of u.

Verbs that are always reflexive:

zich afvragen zich bevinden zich ergeren zich gedragen zich generen zich haasten zich herinneren zich herstellen zich schamen voor zich vergissen in zich verheugen op zich verslapen zich voorstellen	ask oneself find oneself get annoyed by behave be embarrassed hurry remember recover be ashamed of be mistaken about look forward to oversleep imagine, introduce oneself

Verbs that can be reflexive or used with other direct objects

aankleden amuseren bewegen ergeren opwinden scheren snijden uitkleden verbazen verdedigen verkleden verontschuldigen verschuilen vervelen voelen wassen	get dressed enjoy oneself move make angry get excited shave (oneself) cut oneself undress (oneself) be amazed defend oneself change clothes excuse oneself/apologize hide (oneself) to be bored feel wash (oneself)

Emphatic Forms

mezelf jezelf zichzelf	onszelf jezelf zichzelf

The emphatic forms of the reflexive pronouns can only be used with the verbs that can be reflexive or used with other direct objects, and never with verbs that are always reflexive.

Elkaar is used when there is a reciprocal meaning of "each other" in English.

Dutch Phrases, Vocabulary and Grammar with free audio