Portuguese grammar · Beginner (A1)

Reflexive verbs: me chamo, me levanto

Verbs used with me, te, se and nos, where these pronouns go in Brazil, in writing and in Portugal, and se for “each other”.

What reflexive verbs are

A “reflexive verb” is used with a pronoun that refers back to the subject: is “to lift, to raise”, and is “to get up” (literally “to raise yourself”). In dictionaries these verbs are listed with -se: , , .

The verb has its normal endings. The pronoun changes with the person: , , , . , and use .

Person	Pronoun		Meaning
			I get up
			you get up
/ /			you get up
			we get up
			we get up
/ /			they get up

Where the pronoun goes

In Brazilian speech the pronoun goes before the verb, even at the start of a sentence: (My name is Ana.) With two verbs, it goes before the infinitive: (I'm going to get up early.)

In Portugal, and in formal Brazilian writing, a sentence doesn't start with the pronoun. It goes after the verb, joined with a hyphen: You'll see this in books, emails and signs, but it sounds formal in Brazilian speech.

After , question words and , the pronoun goes before the verb everywhere: (I don't remember.) (What's your name?)

Me chamo Rafael. E você, como se chama?My name is Rafael. And you, what's your name?
Eu me levanto às seis e meia.I get up at half past six.
Chamo-me Beatriz Lima.My name is Beatriz Lima. · formal writing, and Portugal
Ela não se sente bem hoje.She doesn't feel well today.

Common reflexive verbs

Some verbs are reflexive in Portuguese but not in English. In relaxed speech, Brazilians often leave out the pronoun with some of them: Both versions are correct in speech, but use the pronoun when you write.

Verb	Meaning	Example	Meaning of example
	to be called		His name is Diego.
	to get up		Do you get up early?
	to lie down, to go to bed		I go to bed at eleven.
	to sit down		You can sit down.
	to feel		I feel tired.
	to remember		Do you remember him?
	to forget		I forgot the key.
	to worry about		Don't worry.
	to move (house)		We moved in May.
	to get married		They got married in Rio.
	to have fun		We had a lot of fun.

Se for “each other”

With a plural subject, and can also mean “each other”. This is called “reciprocal” use: (They know each other.) Context usually makes it clear whether it means “themselves” or “each other”.

(literally “we see each other”) and (“we talk to each other”) are very common ways to say goodbye: “see you”, “talk soon”.

A Camila e o Thiago se conhecem há muito tempo.Camila and Thiago have known each other for a long time.
Nós nos falamos todos os dias.We talk to each other every day.
Tchau, a gente se vê amanhã.Bye, see you tomorrow.
Eles se amam muito.They love each other very much.