Italian Reflexive Pronouns: Saying 'I Hurt Myself' with mi, ti, si, ci, vi
Learn Italian reflexive pronouns (mi, ti, si, ci, vi) for actions where the subject and object are the same person, and see how they differ from object pronouns.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Italian, when the person doing an action is also the person receiving it, you use a reflexive pronoun: mi lavo means 'I wash myself.' These pronouns look similar to direct object pronouns, but they carry a different meaning: the action turns back on the subject. This lesson teaches the reflexive forms mi, ti, si, ci, vi and the third-person si, with common everyday verbs like lavarsi, farsi male, and sentirsi. You will also learn where the pronoun goes in a sentence and how to avoid a common confusion with non-reflexive object pronouns.
By the end, you can…
- name the Italian reflexive pronouns for each person.
- use reflexive verbs to say that I do something to myself.
- tell the difference between a reflexive pronoun and a direct object pronoun.
- place reflexive pronouns correctly in simple present-tense sentences.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Mi lavo.
I wash myself.
mee LAH-voh
The pronoun mi refers back to io; the action affects the speaker.
Ti fai male?
Are you hurting yourself?
tee fah-ee MAH-leh
Common question when someone risks injury; farsi male means 'to hurt oneself.'
Si sveglia alle sette.
He/She wakes up at seven.
see ZVEH-lyah AHL-leh SEHT-teh
Third-person singular si is used for both lui and lei.
Ci vediamo domani.
We see each other tomorrow. / See you tomorrow.
chee veh-DYAH-moh doh-MAH-nee
Reciprocal use of ci: each person sees the other.
Vi divertite?
Are you (plural) having fun?
vee dee-vehr-TEE-teh
Vi is the reflexive pronoun for voi, used in many regions for plural 'you.'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Reflexive pronouns match the subject: io > mi, tu > ti, lui/lei > si, noi > ci, voi > vi, loro > si. They usually go before the conjugated verb: Mi lavo le mani. 'I wash my hands.' With an infinitive, the pronoun can attach to the end: Voglio lavarmi. 'I want to wash myself.' The pronoun is not optional when the verb is truly reflexive, because it signals that the subject and object are the same.
When to use it
Use a reflexive pronoun when the action returns to the doer: Mi sento stanco. 'I feel tired.' Si chiama Marco. 'His name is Marco' (literally, 'he calls himself Marco'). Compare with a direct object pronoun, which points to a different person or thing: Mi vede. 'He sees me.' Here mi is the object, not a reflexive marker, because the subject is lui, not io. The key question is: who does the action, and who receives it?
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno! Ti sei svegliato presto oggi?
Good morning! Did you wake up early today?bwohn-JOHR-noh tee say zveh-LYAH-toh PREH-stoh OH-jeeSì, mi sono svegliato alle sei. Mi sono fatto male al ginocchio.
Yes, I woke up at six. I hurt my knee.see mee SOH-noh zveh-LYAH-toh AHL-leh SAY mee SOH-noh FAHT-toh MAH-leh ahl jee-NOHK-kyohMi dispiace! Ti sei fatto male correndo?
I'm sorry! Did you hurt yourself running?mee dee-SPYAH-cheh tee say FAHT-toh MAH-leh kohr-REHN-dohSì, ma adesso mi sento meglio. Ci vediamo domani!
Yes, but now I feel better. See you tomorrow!see mah ah-DEHS-soh mee SEHN-toh MEH-lyoh chee veh-DYAH-moh doh-MAH-neeA little context goes a long way
In standard Italian, reflexive pronouns are required with verbs like lavarsi, sentirsi, and chiamarsi. In informal speech in parts of central and southern Italy, voi is sometimes replaced by loro for plural 'you,' but the reflexive pronoun still follows the subject: Loro si divertono. In writing and formal contexts, use voi with vi.
One thing to watch for
Using a direct object pronoun instead of a reflexive pronoun: *Mi vede* when you mean 'I see myself.'
Try this instead: Use the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. For 'I see myself,' say Mi vedo. Mi vede means 'He/She sees me,' because the subject is different from the object. Check who performs the action and who receives it.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'You (singular) wash yourself' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Ti lavi.
Ti is the reflexive pronoun for tu, and lavi is the present-tense form of lavarsi. Ti lavi works for a male or female addressee.
2What is the difference between Mi guarda and Mi guardo?
Show a sample answer
Mi guarda means 'He/She looks at me'; Mi guardo means 'I look at myself.'
In Mi guarda, the subject is lui/lei and mi is a direct object pronoun. In Mi guardo, the subject is io and mi is reflexive, so the action returns to the speaker.
3Complete with the correct reflexive pronoun: Noi ___ divertiamo molto.
Show a sample answer
Ci divertiamo molto.
The reflexive pronoun for noi is ci. Ci divertiamo means 'We have fun' or literally 'We enjoy ourselves.'
Use mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si when the subject and object are the same person; place the pronoun before the conjugated verb, or attach it to an infinitive.
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