Portuguese Reflexive Verbs

Learn how to conjugate reflexive verbs in Portuguese

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27. Portuguese Reflexive Verbs

The subject and the object refer to the same person with reflexive verbs - the subject acts upon itself.  A reflexive verb in Portuguese will be marked with -se attached to the end of the infinitive.  These verbs are conjugated like regular verbs, except the reflexive pronoun agrees with case and gender and precedes the verb when not used in the infinitive form.  Reciprocal verbs are the same as reflexive except the action passes from one person to another.  It can only be used in the first and third person plural forms. Reflexive verbs sometimes use the "-self" forms in English, while the reciprocal verbs use "each other."

Some common reflexive verbs:

deitar-se - to go to bed
banhar-se - to bathe oneself
casar-se - to get married
despedir-se - to farewell
levantar-se - to rise
sentar-se - to sit down
vestir-se - to dress oneself
atrever-se - to dare
queixar-se - to complain