German Reflexive Verbs – The Complete Guide for Learners

These are reflexive verbs – and they’re a core part of everyday German.

If you’ve been learning German for a while, you’ve probably noticed some verbs come with an extra little word: sich.

Ich wasche mich.

Er freut sich.

Wir treffen uns.

These are reflexive verbs – and they’re a core part of everyday German. Used correctly, they make your German sound natural and fluent. Used incorrectly, they can cause confusion or completely change the meaning of your sentence.

This guide will answer every common question students have about reflexive verbs – with examples, explanations, and tips from GermanMind Method.

What Are Reflexive Verbs in German?

A reflexive verb is one where the action of the verb refers back to the subject – the subject and object are the same person or thing.

English example:I wash myself. (subject = “I”, object = “myself”)

In German, you always include the reflexive pronoun – even when it feels obvious in English: Ich wasche mich.

The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject:ich michdu dicher/sie/es sichwir unsihr euchsie/Sie sich

Always Reflexive vs. Sometimes Reflexive

Always reflexive

Some verbs are always used with a reflexive pronoun:sich beeilen – Ich beeile mich. (I hurry.)

You can’t say Ich beeile – the pronoun is part of the verb.

Sometimes reflexive

Other verbs can be reflexive or not, depending on meaning:

Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)

Ich wasche das Auto. (I wash the car – no reflexive pronoun.)

Reflexive Verbs with Prepositions

Many reflexive verbs are followed by a specific preposition – and that preposition determines the case of the noun:

sich freuen auf (+ accusative): Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende.

sich interessieren für (+ accusative): Er interessiert sich für Sport.

sich erinnern an (+ accusative): Erinnerst du dich an den Film?

sich kümmern um (+ accusative): Sie kümmert sich um ihre Katze.

Tip: Learn reflexive verbs together with their prepositions – changing the preposition can change the meaning.

Accusative vs. Dative

Most reflexive verbs take the accusative pronoun:Ich erinnere mich an den Termin.

If there’s another object in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun switches to dative: Ich wasche mir die Hände. (mir = dative, die Hände = accusative)

Separable Reflexive Verbs

Some reflexive verbs are also separable:

sich ausruhen – Ich ruhe mich aus.sich

umziehen – Er zieht sich um.

sich vorstellen – Wir stellen uns vor.

In main clauses, the prefix moves to the end, but the pronoun stays directly after the conjugated verb.

Reflexive Verbs in the Perfect Tense

Reflexive verbs in the perfect tense are formed with haben + past participle, and the pronoun stays in place: Ich habe mich gefreut.Wir haben uns getroffen.

Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative

The reflexive pronoun changes in the imperative form:

Beeil dich! (du)

Beeilen Sie sich! (Sie)

Beeilt euch! (ihr)

Common Reflexive Verbs You Should Know

sich freuen auf – to look forward to

sich erinnern an – to remember

sich vorstellen – to introduce oneself / to imagine

sich setzen – to sit down

sich anziehen – to get dressed

sich interessieren für – to be interested in

sich entspannen – to relax

sich fühlen – to feel

sich treffen – to meet

sich kümmern um – to take care of

Common Mistakes Learners Make

Forgetting the pronoun: Ich freue auf… → Ich freue mich auf…

Wrong case: Ich wasche mich die Hände → Ich wasche mir die Hände.

Wrong position: The reflexive pronoun usually comes right after the verb in main clauses.

Quick Reference

Main clause word order: Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende.

Subordinate clause word order: …weil ich mich auf das Wochenende freue.

Perfect tense: Ich habe mich gefreut.

Imperative: Beeil dich!

Why Reflexive Verbs Matter

Mastering reflexive verbs will make your German sound more natural, improve comprehension of native speakers, and help you express everyday actions more precisely.

How GermanMind Method Helps You Master Them

On germanmind-method.ie you’ll find:

• Step-by-step explanations in plain English

• Reflexive verbs sorted by frequency and level

• Interactive exercises for accusative and dative

• Separable reflexive verb practice

• Real-life dialogues and audio examples

• Progress tracking so you can measure improvement

  
  

Combine this with live Germanlessons at GermanMind GermanLanguage School to practise speaking reflexive verbs naturally, get instant feedback, and feel confident using them in conversation.

Ready to make German reflexive verbs second nature?

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