Brazilian Portuguese, like many Romance languages, has a feature of grammar known as reflexive verbs. Understanding how to use these verbs correctly is key to mastering the language, allowing you to express actions performed by the subject upon themselves, reciprocal actions between multiple subjects, and to convey other various nuances.

Reflexive verbs are verbs used with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, vos, se) that indicate the subject of the verb is performing the action upon themselves. Essentially, the subject and the object of the verb are the same.

For example, "Eu me chamo Maria" (My name is Maria, or literally, I call myself Maria). Here, the verb chamar (to call) is being used reflexively.

Another example would be, "Ela se olhou no espelho" (She looked at herself in the mirror). The verb olhar (to look) is used with the reflexive pronoun "se", referring back to the subject "ela" (she).

Reflexive verbs are often used when the subject of a sentence is performing the action upon itself. This is a common use in daily conversations.

When reflexive verbs are used with plural subjects, they denote a reciprocal action between two or more people.

Certain reflexive verbs can be used to show the intransitive action where the verb does not require an object to complete its meaning.

Expressing a change in emotional state is another common use of reflexive verbs.

Reflexive verbs are also used to describe changes in physical position. Common verbs used in this context include sentar-se (to sit down), ajoelhar-se (to kneel down), deitar-se (to lie down), and levantar-se (to get up, stand up).

The impersonal "se" is used when the actor is not specified, to express a general or passive action.

Brazilian Portuguese Reflexive Verbs Tutorial

Learn how to use reflexive verbs in Brazilian Portuguese.