German Reflexive Pronouns: Saying 'I Hurt Myself' and More
Learn German reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch) for actions where the subject and object are the same, and see how they differ from object pronouns.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In German, when you do something to yourself, you often need a reflexive pronoun. Compare 'Ich sehe den Hund' (I see the dog) with 'Ich sehe mich' (I see myself). The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject: ich wasche mich, du wäschst dich, er wäscht sich. This lesson teaches the five main reflexive pronouns, shows how they differ from object pronouns, and gives you phrases for daily situations like getting dressed, hurting yourself, or introducing yourself.
By the end, you can…
- use the German reflexive pronouns mich, dich, sich, uns, euch correctly with common verbs.
- tell the difference between a reflexive pronoun and a regular object pronoun in a sentence.
- talk about daily routines using reflexive verbs like sich waschen and sich anziehen.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich wasche mich.
I wash myself.
ikh VAH-she mikh
Use when you wash yourself. The pronoun mich matches the subject ich.
Du ziehst dich an.
You get dressed.
doo tseest dikh AHN
The reflexive pronoun dich matches du. The verb anziehen is separable: an goes to the end.
Er verletzt sich.
He hurts himself.
air fair-LETST zikh
Use sich for er, sie (she), es, and also for sie (they) and Sie (formal you).
Wir treffen uns um acht.
We meet (each other) at eight.
veer TREF-en uns oom AKHT
With plural subjects, uns can mean 'each other' or 'ourselves'. Context makes it clear.
Beeilt euch!
Hurry up! (plural you)
buh-ILT oikh
Use euch for ihr (you plural). This is a common command to a group.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Reflexive pronouns change with the subject: ich -> mich, du -> dich, er/sie/es -> sich, wir -> uns, ihr -> euch, sie/Sie -> sich. They appear right after the conjugated verb in a main clause: 'Ich wasche mich.' 'Du kämmst dich.' 'Er setzt sich.' With separable verbs like anziehen, the reflexive pronoun stays after the verb and the prefix goes to the end: 'Ich ziehe mich an.' For most verbs, the reflexive pronoun is in the accusative case. A few verbs take a dative reflexive pronoun (e.g., 'Ich wasche mir die Hände' – I wash my hands), but at this level, learn the accusative forms first.
When to use it
Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same person or thing. Compare 'Ich sehe dich' (I see you) with 'Ich sehe mich' (I see myself). If the object is different, use a normal object pronoun: 'Er hilft mir' (He helps me), not 'Er hilft sich' unless he helps himself. Some German verbs are always reflexive, like sich beeilen (to hurry) or sich freuen (to be glad). In those cases, you must use the reflexive pronoun even if English does not: 'Ich freue mich' = I am glad. Note: In colloquial southern German, Austrian, and Swiss usage, you may occasionally hear 'sich' where standard German has 'uns' (e.g., 'Wir treffen sich'), but this is nonstandard; in writing, use 'Wir treffen uns'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Morgen! Hast du dich schon gewaschen?
Good morning! Have you already washed yourself?GOO-ten MOR-gen! hast doo dikh shohn guh-VAH-shen?Ja, ich habe mich gewaschen. Aber ich habe mich nicht angezogen.
Yes, I washed myself. But I haven't gotten dressed.yah, ikh HAH-be mikh guh-VAH-shen. AH-ber ikh HAH-be mikh nikht AHN-guh-tsoh-gen.Beeil dich! Wir treffen uns um neun mit Anna.
Hurry up! We're meeting Anna at nine.buh-IL dikh! veer TREF-en uns oom noyn mit AH-nah.Keine Sorge, ich ziehe mich schnell an.
Don't worry, I'll get dressed quickly.KHY-ne ZOR-ge, ikh TSEE-e mikh shnel AHN.A little context goes a long way
In German, reflexive pronouns are used more often than in English, especially with verbs like sich freuen (to be glad) or sich erinnern (to remember). In formal situations, use the polite Sie form with sich: 'Beeilen Sie sich!' (Hurry up!). In casual speech among friends, du with dich is standard. In colloquial southern German, Austrian, and Swiss usage, you may occasionally hear 'sich' where standard German has 'uns' in some reflexive constructions, but this is nonstandard and not used in writing.
One thing to watch for
Using a regular object pronoun instead of a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same, e.g., 'Ich wasche mir' instead of 'Ich wasche mich'.
Try this instead: Use the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject: 'Ich wasche mich' (I wash myself). The dative 'mir' would only appear in a sentence like 'Ich wasche mir die Hände' (I wash my hands), where the object is a body part, not the whole person.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Complete: 'Du kämmst ____.' (You comb yourself.)
Show a sample answer
dich
The subject is du, so the reflexive pronoun is dich. 'Du kämmst dich' is correct. You might also hear 'Du kämmst dir die Haare' (You comb your hair), which uses dative dir because the direct object is die Haare.
2Which pronoun is missing? 'Wir freuen ____ auf den Urlaub.' (We are looking forward to the vacation.)
Show a sample answer
uns
The subject is wir, so the reflexive pronoun is uns. 'Wir freuen uns' is the standard form. In some southern regions, people might say 'Wir freuen sich', but that is nonstandard in writing.
3Translate: 'He is hurrying.' Use the reflexive verb sich beeilen.
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Er beeilt sich.
The subject er takes the reflexive pronoun sich. The verb beeilen is conjugated as beeilt for er. 'Er beeilt sich' is correct. You could also say 'Er hat es eilig', but that is a different expression.
Reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch) are used when the subject and object are the same. Learn them with common verbs like sich waschen, sich anziehen, and sich freuen, and remember that they change with the subject.
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