How it works

Reflexive Verbs: The Mirror Effect 🪞

Some actions you do to others (kicking a ball, calling a friend). But some actions you do to yourself (washing, shaving, preparing).

In Dutch, when you do an action to yourself, you often need a special "Mirror Word" (Reflexive Pronoun).

The Logic

In English, we sometimes say "I wash myself," but often we just say "I wash." Dutch is more precise. You must specify who is being washed.

Ik was. -> This implies you are washing clothes or a car. Ik was me. -> This means you are washing yourself.

The Mirror Pronouns

| Subject | Reflexive (The Mirror) | Example | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Ik | me (myself) | Ik verveel me. (I am bored.) | | Jij | je (yourself) | Jij wast je. | | Hij/Zij/Het | zich (him/her/itself) | Hij scheert zich. | | U (Formal) | zich (yourself) | U vergist zich. | | Wij | ons (ourselves) | Wij bereiden ons voor. | | Jullie | je (yourselves) | Jullie wassen je. | | Zij (Plural) | zich (themselves) | Zij herinneren zich. |

Common Reflexive Verbs

Some verbs are always reflexive in Dutch, even if they aren't in English:

1. Zich herinneren (To remember) -> Lit: "To remind oneself"
   • Ik herinner me dat. (I remember that.)
2. Zich voelen (To feel)
   • Ik voel me goed. (I feel good.)
3. Zich haasten (To hurry)
   • Wij haasten ons. (We hurry.)
4. Zich vergissen (To be mistaken) -> Lit: "To mistake oneself"
   • Hij vergist zich. (He is mistaken.)

Word Order Rule

The Reflexive Pronoun (me, je, zich) loves the Subject. It usually wants to sit as close to the Subject as possible, usually right after the finite verb.

Subject + [Verb] + Reflexive + ...

• Ik voel me vandaag goed.
• Hij herinnert zich het verhaal.

Pro Tip 💡

Watch out for Hij/Zij/Het! They all use zich. It's a special Dutch word purely for this grammar.

• Hij wast hem. -> He washes him (another guy!). 😮
• Hij wast zich. -> He washes himself. 🛁