The verb that turns back on the subject: A reflexive verb (un verbo riflessivo) is a verb where the subject does the action to itself: I wash myself, I get up, I'm called…. In Italian you spot it by the -si on the infinitive — alzarsi (to get up), lavarsi (to wash), chiamarsi (to be called). To use it you swap -si for a reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si) that agrees with the subject and normally sits before the verb: alzarsi → mi alzo (I get up).
- il verbo riflessivo
- the reflexive verb — the action falls back on the subject
- il pronome riflessivo
- the reflexive pronoun — mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si
- -si (l'infinito)
- the -si ending marks a verb as reflexive: alzarsi, lavarsi, chiamarsi
- alzarsi
- to get up (alzare = to lift; alzarsi = to lift oneself / get up)
- svegliarsi
- to wake up
- chiamarsi
- to be called (literally 'to call oneself'): mi chiamo… = my name is…
Why it carries the marks: Reflexive verbs run through every daily-routine text at SL — the oral, a blog about your day, a reading on habits. Dropping the pronoun («alzo alle sette» instead of «mi alzo…») is an instant Criterion A (Language) error. Learn the six pronouns once and you unlock dozens of everyday verbs.
Free preview
Reading it is one thing — hearing it is another
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- Audio on every wordTap any vocabulary word or example to hear it read aloud in natural Italian.
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
Start Studying Free Full access to Aimnova Pro · cancel anytime
Two moving parts: pronoun + verb: Conjugate a reflexive verb in two steps. 1. Drop -si and conjugate the verb like any normal present-tense verb. 2. Put the matching reflexive pronoun in front: mi (io), ti (tu), si (lui/lei), ci (noi), vi (voi), si (loro). So alzarsi → mi alzo, ti alzi, si alza, ci alziamo, vi alzate, si alzano. The pronoun and the ending must both agree with the subject.
| Persona | alzarsi (get up) | lavarsi (wash) | divertirsi (have fun) |
|---|---|---|---|
| io | mi alzo | mi lavo | mi diverto |
| tu | ti alzi | ti lavi | ti diverti |
| lui / lei | si alza | si lava | si diverte |
| noi | ci alziamo | ci laviamo | ci divertiamo |
| voi | vi alzate | vi lavate | vi divertite |
| loro | si alzano | si lavano | si divertono |
Notice the two «si»: Both lui/lei (he/she) and loro (they) use the pronoun si — the verb ending tells them apart: si alza (he/she gets up) vs si alzano (they get up). The pronoun normally goes before the verb, but after a modal + infinitive it can attach to the end: «mi devo alzare» or «devo alzarmi» both mean I have to get up.
Feeling unprepared for exams?
Get a clear study plan, practice with real questions, and know exactly where you stand before exam day. No more guessing.
Get Exam Ready FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
More than just «washing yourself»: Reflexive verbs cover far more than personal care. Use them for the daily routine (svegliarsi, alzarsi, vestirsi, prepararsi, addormentarsi), for feelings and states (annoiarsi — to get bored, arrabbiarsi — to get angry, sentirsi — to feel), and for the very common chiamarsi (to be called). In the passato prossimo they take essere with agreement: «mi sono alzato / alzata».
Common reflexive verbs by use
- La routine — «Mi sveglio, mi alzo, mi lavo e mi vesto.» (I wake up, get up, wash and get dressed.)
- I sentimenti — «Mi annoio in classe.» / «Si arrabbia facilmente.» (I get bored in class. / He gets angry easily.)
- Il nome — «Come ti chiami?» — «Mi chiamo Luca.» (What's your name? — My name is Luca.)
- Riposo e tempo libero — «Ci rilassiamo il fine settimana.» / «I bambini si divertono.» (We relax at weekends. / The children have fun.)
- Al passato (essere + accordo) — «Ieri mi sono svegliata tardi.» (Yesterday I woke up late.)
Reflexive vs non-reflexive: The same verb can exist with and without the pronoun, and the meaning shifts: «alzo la mano» (I raise my hand — a thing) vs «mi alzo» (I get myself up). «Lavo i piatti» (I wash the dishes) vs «mi lavo» (I wash myself). If the subject acts on itself, use the reflexive pronoun.
A morning told with reflexive verbs: Here is a short everyday paragraph built one sentence at a time. Each sentence uses reflexive verbs — watch the pronoun change with the subject (mi sveglio, mi alzo, ci prepariamo, si divertono, mi addormento). Read it once for meaning, then tap Mostra traduzione for the English or the audio button to hear it.
IB-style task — i verbi riflessivi in azione
Una giornata, frase dopo frase
- Mi chiamo Sofia e ogni mattina mi sveglio alle sette.
- Mi alzo subito, mi lavo e poi mi vesto in fretta.
- Mia sorella e io ci prepariamo insieme e facciamo colazione.
- A scuola i miei amici si divertono durante la ricreazione, e anche noi ci rilassiamo un po'.
- La sera mi riposo, mi metto il pigiama e mi addormento presto.
Steal this for your routine: Notice how few patterns you need: pick high-frequency reflexives (svegliarsi, alzarsi, lavarsi, vestirsi, prepararsi, divertirsi, riposarsi, addormentarsi), match the pronoun to the subject, and you can describe a whole day. Swap in your own activities and you have a ready-made paragraph for the oral or a writing task.
Memorize terms 3x faster
Smart flashcards show you cards right before you forget them. Perfect for definitions and key concepts.
Try Flashcards FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
The slips to watch for: Three mistakes dominate: dropping the pronoun («alzo alle sette» instead of mi alzo…), using the wrong pronoun for the subject («noi si alziamo» instead of noi ci alziamo), and in the past forgetting the essere agreement (a girl writing «mi sono alzato» instead of mi sono alzata). Compare the right version with the typical mistake and the fix becomes clear.
Corretto
- Mi alzo alle sette ogni giorno.
- Noi ci divertiamo alla festa.
- Ieri Marta si è svegliata tardi.
Errore comune
- Alzo alle sette ogni giorno.
- Noi si divertiamo alla festa.
- Ieri Marta si è svegliato tardi.
Ask: whose action, and is it in the past?: Before you write a reflexive verb, do two quick checks. 1. Match the pronoun to the subject (mi io, ti tu, si lui/lei, ci noi, vi voi, si loro) and put it before the verb. 2. In the passato prossimo use essere and make the past participle agree (mi sono alzato / alzata, ci siamo alzati / alzate).