ReflexivpronomenReflexive pronouns

A situation is reflexive when a subject and the object of the action are the same.

Beispiel # 1: Ich wasche das Auto. (subject and object of action are not the same)

Beispiel # 2: Ich wasche mich. (subject and object of the action are the same)

In such instances there is a need for reflexive pronouns

ReflexivpronomenReflexive poronouns

Nominative Accusative Dative

Ich (I) mich (myself – direct object)

mir (myself – indirect object)

Du (you) dich (yourself – direct object)

dir (yourself – indirect object)

Er/Sie/Es (He / she / It) sich (himself, herself, itself) sich (himself, herself, itself)

Wir (we) uns (ourselves) uns (ourselves)

Ihr (you all) euch (yourselves) euch (yourselves)

Sie/sie (You / They) sich (yourself – formal / themselves)

Sich (yourself – formal / themselves)

Use the accusative reflexive pronoun when the reflexive object receives the action directly.

Beispiel # 1: Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself)

Beispiel # 2: Ich rasiere mich. (I shave myself)

Use the dative reflexive pronoun when the reflexive object receives the action indirectly (or when it is used as an indirect object)

Beispiel # 1: Ich wasche mir mein Gesicht. ( I am washing my face myself) - face receives the action directly / myself is the beneficiary of the action.

Beispiel # 2: Ich rasiere mir mein Gesicht. (I am shaving my face myself)

The reflexive pronouns are mainly needed for the 3rd person singular. This is why they are different there.

Consider these two sentences

Er rasiert sich. (He shaves himself)

Er rasiert ihn. (He shaves him)

Now compare these two sentences.

Sie kauft sich ein Buch. (She buys herself a book.)

Sie kauft ihr ein Buch. (She buys her a book.)

In order to emphasize that someone has done something themselves in German, you use selbst.

Consider these sentences.

Er kann es selbst machen. (He can do it himself.)

Sie muss das selbst lernen. (She has to learn it herself)

This is similar to the difference between self and oneself in English.

So you can have sentences like….

Ich kann mich selbst waschen. (I can wash myself myself). In this sentence….selbst has the meaning of oneself and mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun.

Additionally, there are a number of verbs that automatically require a reflexive pronoun.

sich annehmenannehmen (non-refl.)

to look after/take care ofto assume

sich anziehenanziehen (non-refl.)

to get dressedto wear

sich ärgern to be angry, upset

sich badenbaden (non-refl.)

to bathe, take a bathto swim, go swimming

sich bedienen to serve yourself

sich beeilen* to hurry, be in a rush

sich befinden* to be located, find oneself (somewhere)

sich bewegen to move

sich duschen* to shower, take a shower

sich eignen* to be suited, suitable

sich entscheiden to decide, make up one's mind

sich erholen* to recover, get better

sich erinnernerinnern (non-refl.)

to rememberto remind

sich erkälten* to catch cold

sich freuen* to be glad

sich gewöhnen an* to get used to

sich handeln umhandeln (non-refl.)

to be aboutto act, trade, deal

sich interessieren für to be interested in

sich rasieren* to shave

sich setzensetzen (non-refl.)

to sit downto put, place

sich waschen to wash (oneself)