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Reflexive Verbs (Zvratná slovesa)

Reflexive verbs always come with a reflexive pronoun: se or si.

Visual Overview​

Reflexive Verbs Cheatsheet


SE (Accusative)​

Action reflects back to the subject ("oneself").

  • MĂ˝t se: To wash oneself. (Myji se.)
  • UÄŤit se: To learn (lit. "to teach oneself").
  • OblĂ©kat se: To dress oneself.

Reciprocal Meaning​

"Each other".

  • MilujĂ­ se. (They love each other.)
  • Potkali se. (They met each other.)

SI (Dative)​

Action is done for oneself or to one's own body part/possession.

  • MĂ˝t si ruce: To wash one's hands. (Not MĂ˝t se ruce!)
  • Koupit si: To buy (for) oneself. (KoupĂ­m si auto.)
  • Myslet si: To think (to oneself).

Reflexiva Tantum​

Verbs that only exist with se or si. Without it, they have no meaning.

  • Smát se: To laugh. (Smát doesn't exist.)
  • DĂ­vat se: To look/watch.
  • Bát se: To be afraid.
  • Ptát se: To ask.