The Italian “verbi riflessivi”

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I verbi riflessivi: The reflexive verbs have the same conjugation of verbs in -are, -ere, -ire, but before the verb we must put a reflexive pronoun. Generally the pronoun means “myself, yourself …” or we use the reflexive verb instead of “my, your, … “ (but also the reflexive pronoun can express a generic relation with the subject or it can indicate a reciprocal value between people). [Mind: read the text]

 

Pronomi riflessivi	Reflexive pronouns
Mi	Myself
Ti	Yourself
Si (masculine – sing.)	Himself
Si (feminine -sing.)	Herself
Ci	Ourselves
Vi	Yourselves
Si	Themselves

…

Look out!  In Italian we say:

Lavare – non riflessivo

(Io) lavo

(Tu) lavi

(Lui/lei) lava

(Noi) laviamo

(Voi) lavate

(Loro) lavano

…

Lavare + si (generic reflexive pronoun) = Lavarsi

	Lavarsi – riflessivo
(Io)	mi lavo	I wash myself
(Tu)	ti lavi	you wash yourself
(Lui/Lei)	si lava	he/she/it washes himself/herself
(Noi)	ci laviamo	we wash ourselves
(Voi)	vi lavate	you wash yourselves
(Loro)	si lavano	they wash themselves

…

and also we say:

Chiamare – non riflessivo

(Io) chiamo = I call

(Tu) chiami = You call

(Lui/lei) chiama = He/She calls

(Noi) chiamiamo = …

(Voi) chiamate = …

(Loro) chiamano = …

 

Chiamare + si	Chiamarsi – riflessivo	=I call myself
(Io)	mi chiamo Monica	My name is Monica
(Tu)	ti chiami …	your name is …
(Lui/Lei)	si chiama …	…
(Noi)	ci chiamiamo …	…
(Voi)	vi chiamate …	…
(Loro)	si chiamano …	…

…

E devo dire ( = And I have to say):

	Literally
Mi pettino	( = I comb myself)	= I comb my hair
Mi lavo i denti	(= I wash my own teeth)	= I clean my teeth
Ci vediamo presto	(= I see you and you see me soon)	= I see you soon

…

Reflexive verbs are also:

Svegliarsi	To wake up
Alzarsi	To get up/ to stand up
Addommentarsi	To fall asleep
Arrabbiarsi	To get angry
Incontrarsi	To meet each others
Vedersi	To see each others
Mettersi	To Put on (a dress …)
Togliersi	To take off (a dress …)
Sedersi	To Sit down
Divertirsi	To amuse/to enjoy
Sentirsi bene/meglio	To feel well/better
Sentirsi	To be in touch

…

Now read this text [click here]

 

Be careful! There is a special situation: the verb “to ask” along with the verb “to wonder” is the Italian pair “chiedere/chiedersi”. If you use the verb “to ask” we use “chiedere” but if you say “to wonder” we say “chiedersi” (the reflexive of to ask).

 

e.g.

Lui si sta ancora chiedendo come ciò è/sia potuto accadere = He’s still wondering how that could have happened

 

Mi chiedo se è/sia malata = I wonder whether she is ill