se
pronoun
1. oneself, each other
reflexive or reciprocal pronoun
Common combinations
- lavarse las manos — wash one's hands
- mirarse en el espejo — look at oneself in the mirror
- abrazarse — hug each other
- Marta se lava las manos.Marta washes her hands.
- Los dos amigos se abrazaron.The two friends hugged each other.
- Carlos se miró en el espejo.Carlos looked at himself in the mirror.
2. to him, to her, to them + lo/la/los/las
indirect-object pronoun used before lo, la, los, las
Common combinations
- se lo di — I gave it to him
- se las enseñé — I showed them to her
- se los enviaremos — we will send them to them
- Se lo di a Ana.I gave it to Ana.
- No se las enseñes.Don't show them to him or her.
- Mañana se los enviaremos.We will send them to him, her, or them tomorrow.
3. one, people, they + verbo en 3.ª persona singular
impersonal construction
Common combinations
- se vive bien — people live well
- se trabaja mucho — people work a lot
- se busca — a waiter is wanted
- Se vive bien en este pueblo.People live well in this village.
- Aquí se trabaja mucho.People work a lot here.
- Se busca camarero.A waiter is wanted.
4. be, be sold or done + verbo en 3.ª persona; concordancia con el sujeto
reflexive passive construction
Common combinations
- se venden pisos — flats are for sale
- se alquila una habitación — a room is rented out
- se publican los resultados — the results are published
- Se venden pisos.Flats are for sale.
- Se alquila una habitación.A room is rented out.
- Se publicaron los resultados.The results were published.
5. oneself; pronominal verb marker
marker of a reflexive or pronominal verb
Common combinations
- irse temprano — leave early
- dormirse en el coche — fall asleep in the car
- arrepentirse de una decisión — regret a decision
- Mi hermano se fue temprano.My brother left early.
- El niño se durmió en el coche.The child fell asleep in the car.
- Ella se arrepintió de su decisión.She regretted her decision.
6. accidentally, unintentionally se + pronombre de persona
construction expressing an unintended event
Common combinations
- se me cayó — I accidentally dropped
- se le olvidó — he or she forgot
- se nos rompió — our table broke
- Se me cayó el vaso.I dropped the glass.
- Se le olvidó la cita.He or she forgot the appointment.
- Se nos rompió la mesa.Our table broke.