Reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nous, vous

What a “reflexive verb” is (verbe pronominal)

In French, some everyday actions are expressed with a reflexive pronoun + verb.

• Je me réveille = I wake up (literally: I wake myself up)
• Tu te douches = you shower
• Il se rase = he shaves

Typical topic: routine, self-care, daily schedule.

The key word order (this is what you must automate)

In the present tense, the order is always:

Subject + reflexive pronoun + verb

• Je + me + réveille
• Nous + nous + réveillons

Common mistake to avoid:

• Je réveille me ❌
• Je me réveille ✅

Choose the correct reflexive pronoun (match the subject)

Self-check: if you change je to nous, you must change me → nous.

Infinitive form: why you see “se …” in vocabulary lists

When the verb is not conjugated (dictionary / vocabulary), French uses:

• se + infinitive: se réveiller, se coucher, se doucher

But in a real sentence, se changes to match the subject:

• Je me réveille.
• Tu te réveilles.

Elision (the apostrophe): when me/te/se become m’/t’/s’

Before a verb that starts with a vowel or a silent h (h muet):

• me → m’
• te → t’
• se → s’

Quick self-check: if you can hear two vowel sounds in a row, French usually prefers the apostrophe: m’/t’/s’.

Meaning check: reflexive vs non-reflexive (why it matters)

Some verbs change meaning when they become reflexive.

Practical tip: if the action is clearly “on yourself” (wake up, get dressed, go to bed), it is often reflexive in French.

30-second checklist before you answer

1. Did I choose the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject? (je→me, nous→nous, etc.)
2. Is the word order correct? subject + pronoun + verb
3. Does the verb start with a vowel or silent h? If yes: m’ / t’ / s’