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Meaning of verbs used reflexively

Many Italian verbs may be used reflexively in the plural to express reciprocal action.

Vi amate? – “Do you love each other?” (This could, theoretically, also be translated as ‘Do you love yourselves?’)

Ci vediamo spesso. – “We see each other often.”

Loro si ammirano. – “They admire each other.”

Si parlano? – “Do they speak to each other?”

The reflexive is often used for the passive (especially when inanimate objects are involved).

Le medicine si vendono all farmacia. – “Medicines are sold at the drugstore.”

Questi libri si pubblicano in Italia. – “These books are published in Italy.”

Come si pronunzia questa parola? – “How is this word pronounced?”

The reflexive may render the impersonal idea of “one,” “they,” “people,” “we,” “you.”

Come si dice “good morning” in italiano? – “How do you (does one) say good morning in Italian?”

Si dice che è molto ricca. – “They say she is very rich.” (=”It is said….”)

Quando si studia, s’impara. – “When one studies, one learns.”

The reflexive may mean “oneself” (“myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” etc.).

Mi lavo. – “I wash myself.”

The reflexive pronoun often need not or cannot be translated.

Si divertono. – “They have a good time (amuse themselves).”

Mi alzo. – “I get up.”

Come si chiama questo signore? — “What is this man’s name?”

As may be seen in the above examples, the reflexive pronoun precedes the verb in most cases. One exception to this has already been mentioned: it is attached to the end of the infinitive. A second exception is the imperative, where the reflexive pronoun is also attached to the end of the verb” Divertitevi! (“Have fun!“or “Have a good time!”), Alziamoci (“Let’s get up”), etc.

¹ In present-day Italian, quello che or ciò che would be usual here.

VOCABULARY