Reflexive pronouns in Spanish will be familiar to you if you have read our article on Spanish reflexive verbs. But if you still don't know what they are, how to use this type of pronoun, or when to use them, this post from don Quijote will tell you everything you need to know. Take the plunge into the language and start learning Spanish in Spain now!

Plus, you can change the language of this article on reflexive pronouns to Spanish, French, Italian or German.

What are Spanish reflexive pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns in Spanish are particles that accompany reflexive verbs and indicate that the action falls on the subject itself. In Spanish, this type of pronoun is used to express that someone is performing an action on themselves.

There are six different pronouns, and depending on the subject, one or the other will be used:

• Me: for the subject I
• Te: for the subject you
• Se: for the subject he/she/you
• Nos: for the subject we
• Os: for the subject you
• Se: for the subject they

When to use reflexive pronouns in Spanish?

Although the use of Spanish reflexive pronouns may seem complicated, don't worry, it's easier than it looks, and don Quijote is here to help you understand. Remember that Spanish reflexive pronouns are used when the action of the verb falls on the person speaking. Furthermore, reflexive pronouns are very common in Spanish, so you'll find them easy to identify.

If you want to know how to use this type of pronoun in Spanish, you simply have to place the correct reflexive pronoun according to the verb form. There are two ways to use reflexive pronouns in Spanish:

1. Placed before the conjugated verb. The reflexive pronoun in Spanish appears before the verb in the subject of the sentence. For example: “Me lavo los dientes todas las noches” (I brush my teeth every night).

2. Attached to the end of an infinitive, gerund, or imperative. It may also be the case that when the verb is in the infinitive, gerund, or imperative form, the reflexive pronoun is placed at the end. For example:

• Infinitive: “Voy a peinarme” (I'm going to comb my hair)
• Gerund: “Estoy bañándome” (I'm bathing)
• Imperative: “Levántate pronto” (Get up early)

Another feature to keep in mind is that, in English, reflexive actions are usually expressed without using a pronoun, unlike in Spanish. However, the context shows that the action is performed on oneself. For example: I wake up or She sits down. Thus, the most correct translation into English of the reflexive pronouns in Spanish are myself, yourself, or herself, which are used to emphasize that the subject performs the action on itself.

Although all this may seem complicated, here are some extra tips to help you fully understand the use of reflexive pronouns:

• Practice daily. Read in Spanish and pay attention to the conversations around you to better understand the use of these pronouns. You can also practice by writing and forming sentences that require their use.
• Pay attention to the context. If you are unsure whether a pronoun is reflexive, ask yourself whether the person is performing the action on themselves or on someone else.
• Remember the correct order. Place the pronoun before the verb or at the end of the infinitive, gerund, or imperative to use this type of Spanish reflexive pronoun correctly.

Examples of Spanish reflexive pronouns

Here are some examples of sentences showing how and where reflexive pronouns in Spanish are used.

• Voy a lavarme las manos antes de comer (I'm going to wash my hands before eating)
• Me levanto temprano todos los días para hacer ejercicio (I get up early every day to exercise)
• Se peina antes de salir de casa todos los días (She combs her hair before leaving the house every day)
• Están vistiéndose para la fiesta en la habitación de arriba (They are getting dressed for the party in the upstairs bedroom)
• Quiero acostarme temprano, que mañana madrugo (I want to go to bed early because I must get up early tomorrow)
• Se despiertan a las seis de la mañana para ir a escalar (They wake up at six in the morning to go climbing)
• Dúchate rápido, por favor, que llegamos tarde (Take a shower quickly, please, we're going to be late)
• Péinate antes de salir (Comb your hair before you go out)
• Vamos a sentarnos aquí (Let's sit down here)
• Sigue preparándote para el examen de mañana (Keep getting ready for tomorrow's exam)
• ¿Te duchas después de hacer ejercicio? (Do you shower after exercising?)
• Nos acostamos tarde el fin de semana tras la boda (We went to bed late on the weekend after the wedding)
• Se enfadan cuando las cosas no salen bien (They get angry when things don't go well)
• Te arrepientes de no haber ido al cine, ¿verdad? (You regret not going to the movies, don't you?)
• Me lavo los dientes después de cada comida (I brush my teeth after every meal)

But if you want to practice using reflexive pronouns in Spanish, these 10 exercises will help you put everything you've learned in this article into practice. We'll leave the correct answers at the end!

• Cada mañana, Juan ______ cepilla los dientes.
• Nosotros ______ preparamos el desayuno los domingos.
• ¿Tú ______ acuerdas de lo que dijo el profesor?
• Yo ______ pongo nervioso antes de hablar en público.
• Mis hermanos ______ bañan después de jugar al fútbol.
• ¿Vosotros ______ levantáis tarde los sábados?
• Tú y yo siempre ______ saludamos con un abrazo.
• Yo no ______ siento bien hoy.
• Ellos nunca ______ quejan del clima.
• ¿Ustedes ______ divierten en las fiestas?

Without a doubt, with lots of practice, reading and writing in Spanish, you will master Spanish reflexive pronouns in no time. Still have questions? Well, now is your chance to sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses to clear up all your doubts with our qualified teachers, who will help you understand and practice pronouns. Don't think twice and start your Spanish adventure now!

One of the peculiarities of Spanish is the large number of homophones words in Spanish it has. One of the most confusing for students of Spanish as a second language is distinguishing between ahí, hay, and ay. Since they are pronounced the same, it is often difficult to know which one to use when writing, especially in the early stages of learning.

How to differentiate between ahí, hay, and ay can be quite a challenge, in this article from don Quijote, you will discover the keys to learning and how to distinguish them. Learn when to use ahí, hay, and ay, what type of word each one is, and practical examples.

Keep reading so you don't miss a thing, and you can also change the language of this article to Spanish, Italian, French, German, or Dutch.

Hay in Spanish

The first word you are going to learn is “hay”. “Hay” is an impersonal form of the present tense of the Spanish verb haber. It is used to indicate the existence of something or someone. It is a peculiar form because it does not change from singular to plural.

For example:

• Hay muchas fresas en la nevera (There are many strawberries in the fridge)
• Hay un gato en el alféizar de la ventana (There is a cat on the windowsill)
• No hay mucho espacio en el armario para guardar la ropa (There isn't much space in the wardrobe to put the clothes away)

A tip that can help you if your mother tongue is English is that if you can say “there is” or “there are”, then you should use “hay”.

Ahí in Spanish

“Ahí” is an adverb of place used to indicate a nearby location, but it is not as precise as when using “aquí”. Here are some examples:

• Siéntate ahí, por favor (Sit down there, please)
• No dejes los libros ahí olvidados (Don't leave the books there)
• Nos vemos ahí, en el restaurante, a las 14h (See you there, at the restaurant, at 2pm)

Ay in Spanish

Finally, “ay” is an interjection. This word expresses emotion or feeling, usually pain, surprise, fear, or joy. For example:

• Ay, que guapo es tu sobrino (Oh, your nephew is so handsome!)
• ¡Ay! Me he cortado con el papel (Oh! I cut myself on the paper)

What is the difference between hay, ahí and ay?

It is much easier to distinguish between hay, ahí and ay than you might think. The key to distinguishing between them when writing is simple. When you want to express pain or an emotion, you should use “ay.” However, if you want to indicate that you have or that something exists, you should use “hay.” Finally, to indicate a place, for example, where an object is located, you should use “ahí.”

In the following examples, you can see how each of these words is used:

• Mi mochila está ahí, al lado del sofá (My backpack is there, next to the sofa)
• ¡Ay! Que susto me has dado (Oh! You scared me)
• Hay muchas estrellas esta noche (There are many stars tonight)

A trick to remember when to use “ahí” is to imagine that you are pointing at something, so you will know that you should write “ahí”. And to use “ay”, think about whether it is an emotional expression. Finally, if you need to indicate quantity, use “hay” from the verb haber.

Exercises with hay, ahí, and ay in Spanish

Below are some exercises for you to practice using hay, ahí, and ay in Spanish. Can you figure out the correct answer? We've provided the answers below the exercises.

• ¡___! Me torcí el tobillo bajando las escaleras.
• No pongas eso ___, se puede caer.
• ¿___ clases hoy por la tarde?
• ___, qué dolor de cabeza.
• Deja tu chaqueta ___, en el perchero.
• ___ muchos libros en la biblioteca.
• ___, se me ha olvidado la cartera.
• El restaurante está justo ___.
• ___ una mosca en mi sopa.
• ¡___, qué susto me diste!
• Me dejé las llaves ____, encima de la cocina
• ___ muchos animales en el zoo

How many of the phrases were you able to figure out? Here are the correct answers: ay, ahí, hay, ay, ahí, hay, ay, ahí, hay, ay, ahí, hay.

Although it may be tricky at first, knowing how to distinguish between ahí, hay, and ay is not that difficult. You just must practice and do grammar exercises, write and read in Spanish, or sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses.

Soon it will be very easy to know when to use these words, and you will see that the differences between ahí, hay, and ay in Spanish are very easy for you! With practice and attention, it will come naturally. Here is one last reminder: “ahí” is for place; “hay” is for existence; and “ay” is for emotions.

Good luck on your adventure of learning Spanish in Spain!