Reflexive verbs in German: sich freuen, sich waschen
What reflexive verbs are, how to use the pronoun sich, and the accusative-vs-dative switch when a body part or object joins the sentence.
Reflexive verbs describe an action you do to yourself: ich wasche mich (I wash myself), ich freue mich (I am happy). German uses them far more than English, so they are essential for everyday talk about routines and feelings.
The reflexive pronouns
They match the subject: mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich. Ich erinnere mich, du erinnerst dich, er erinnert sich. The famous one is sich, used for he/she/it, they and the formal Sie.
Accusative or dative?
- If the reflexive pronoun is the only object, it is accusative: Ich wasche mich.
- If there is another (direct) object, the reflexive pronoun becomes dative: Ich wasche mir die Hände (I wash my hands).
- Only mich/dich change shape (→ mir/dir); sich, uns, euch look the same in both cases.
Word order
The reflexive pronoun usually comes right after the conjugated verb: Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende. In a question or after another element it follows the verb too: Freust du dich? Heute wasche ich mich schnell.
Learn the reflexive pronoun as part of the verb in your vocabulary: sich freuen über/auf, sich erinnern an. The verb, its reflexive pronoun and its preposition are one chunk — store them together.
Frequently asked questions
When is a German reflexive verb dative instead of accusative?
When the sentence has another direct object, the reflexive pronoun switches to dative: Ich putze mir die Zähne. With no other object it stays accusative: Ich dusche mich.
What does sich mean in German?
sich is the reflexive pronoun for he, she, it, they and formal Sie. It points the action back at the subject, as in sich freuen (to be happy) or sich setzen (to sit down).