Italian reflexive verbs

Today we study a group of verbs called “verbi riflessivi” (reflexive verbs). We already know the reflexive verb “chiamarsi” which is one of the first verbs the students learn in a Italian course. This verb, in fact, is used to introduce ourselves or to ask someone’s name. The expressions: “io mi chiamo ...”, “tu ti chiami ...” literally can be translated literally with “I call myself ...”, “you call yourself ...”.

A verb is reflexive when the action carried out by the subject has an effect on the same subject. To better understand let’s see some examples.

• Sara si lava i capelli tutti i giorni. (Sara washes her hair every day)
• I bambini si alzano alle 7.00 ogni mattina per andare a scuola. (The children get up at 7 am every morning to go to school)
• Oggi mi metto la giacca rossa con i pantaloni di seta. (Today I put on the red jacket with the silk trousers)
• Come vi sentite? Ci sentiamo piuttosto depressi. (How do you feel? We feel pretty depressed)

Sometimes the action can affect only a part of the subject like in the following examples.

• Si lavano le mani con un sapone idratante. (They wash their hands with a moisturizing soap)
• Mi asciugo i capelli con il fon. (I dry my hair with the hairdryer)

You can understand that a verb is reflexive by the ending "si" attached to the infinitive (chiamarsi, lavarsi, alzarsi).

To form the present tense of these verbs we drop the infinitive ending -ARSI, -ERSI, -IRSI and add for each subject pronoun the same final endings we use for the present tense of regular verbs. The only difference is that we need to remember to put before the verb the following reflexive pronouns:

MI = myself

TI = youuself

SI = himself, herself

CI = ourselves

VI = yourselves

SI = themselves

In Italian many verbs used to express emotions are reflexive. Here is a list of the most common:

Annoiarsi (to get bored)

Arrabbiarsi (to get angry)

Deprimersi (to get depressed)

Divertirsi (to have fun)

Innervosirsi (to get nervous)

Lamentarsi (to complain)

Preoccuparsi (to worry)

Spaventarsi (to be scared)

Sentirsi (to feel)

• Mi spavento quando vedo un cane. (I get scared when I see a dog)
• Ci sentiamo un po’ tristi perché dobbiamo partire. (We feel a little sad because we have to leave)
• Durante il fine settimana ho sempre tante cose da fare. Non mi rilasso mai. (I always have so much to do on weekends. I never relax)