Dutch reflexive verbs: zich, me, je and zichzelf
Learn Dutch reflexive verbs like zich vergissen and zich voelen, the zich forms, word order, when to use zichzelf, and 20 verbs to know.
Ik voel me goed. Ik heb me vergist. Ik verheug me op het weekend. That little me in each sentence is a reflexive pronoun, and it shows up in Dutch far more often than "myself" does in English. Many everyday verbs, from getting dressed to remembering and hurrying, need one. Once you know the forms and where they go, these verbs are easy.
The zich forms
A reflexive verb is listed in the dictionary with zich: zich wassen (to wash oneself). When you use it, zich changes to match the subject.
| Subject | Reflexive pronoun | zich wassen |
|---|---|---|
| ik | me | ik was me |
| jij / je | je | jij wast je |
| u | u / zich | u wast u / u wast zich |
| hij / zij / het | zich | hij wast zich |
| wij | ons | wij wassen ons |
| jullie | je | jullie wassen je |
| zij | zich | zij wassen zich |
A few notes:
- For ik, me is normal. Mij is possible but only for emphasis.
- With u, both u and zich are correct: Heeft u zich vergist? or Heeft u u vergist? — Were you mistaken? Many people find u u awkward and prefer zich.
- Watch out for je je: Voel je je beter? — Do you feel better? That's not a typo: the first je is the subject, the second is reflexive.
Always reflexive vs optionally reflexive
Some verbs only exist with a reflexive pronoun. You can't leave it out, and English usually has no "myself":
- Ik vergis me. — I'm mistaken.
- Ik heb me verslapen. — I overslept.
- We moeten ons haasten. — We have to hurry.
- Hij schaamt zich. — He's ashamed.
- Ik vraag me af of ze komt. — I wonder if she's coming.
Other verbs can be used with or without a reflexive pronoun. With it, the action is done to yourself. Without it, it's done to something or someone else:
- Ik was me. — I'm washing (myself). / Ik was de auto. — I'm washing the car.
- Ze kleedt zich aan. — She's getting dressed. / Ze kleedt de kinderen aan. — She's dressing the children.
- Ik voel me moe. — I feel tired. / Ik voel de wind. — I feel the wind.
Sometimes the meaning changes quite a bit:
- Ik verveel me. — I'm bored. / Je verveelt me. — You're boring me.
- Ik herinner me die dag. — I remember that day. / Herinner me eraan. — Remind me (of it).
- Mag ik me even voorstellen? — May I introduce myself? / Ik stel voor om te gaan. — I suggest we go.
Also: Ik kan me dat voorstellen. — I can imagine that.
Where the reflexive pronoun goes
The reflexive pronoun stays close to the subject and the conjugated verb.
Main clause: right after the conjugated verb.
- Ik voel me niet goed. — I don't feel well.
- Ik moet me haasten. — I have to hurry.
Inversion: right after the subject.
- Morgen scheer ik me. — Tomorrow I'll shave.
- Verveel je je? — Are you bored?
Subordinate clause: right after the subject, with the verbs at the end.
- Ik denk dat hij zich vergist. — I think he's mistaken.
- Ze zegt dat ze zich niet lekker voelt. — She says she doesn't feel well.
Perfect tense: reflexive verbs take hebben, and the pronoun goes after the auxiliary.
- Ik heb me vergist. — I was wrong.
- We hebben ons goed vermaakt. — We had a great time.
Separable verbs: the prefix still goes to the end.
- Ik kleed me aan. — I'm getting dressed.
- Ik heb me snel aangekleed. — I got dressed quickly.
The reflexive pronoun normally comes before niet and before most other words in the middle of the sentence. More on positions in Dutch word order.
Zichzelf: for emphasis and contrast
Add -zelf to the reflexive pronoun when you want to stress "myself, yourself, himself":
| Subject | Emphatic form |
|---|---|
| ik | mezelf / mijzelf |
| jij, jullie | jezelf |
| u | uzelf / zichzelf |
| hij, zij, het, zij (plural) | zichzelf |
| wij | onszelf |
Use the -zelf form:
- For contrast: Hij wast zichzelf, niet zijn broertje. — He's washing himself, not his little brother.
- After a preposition: Ze denkt alleen aan zichzelf. — She only thinks of herself. Hij praat tegen zichzelf. — He's talking to himself.
- With verbs that aren't normally reflexive: Ik zag mezelf in de spiegel. — I saw myself in the mirror. Ken jezelf. — Know yourself.
Don't use -zelf with always-reflexive verbs: Ik vergis me, never Ik vergis mezelf.
20 common reflexive verbs
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| zich aankleden | to get dressed |
| zich afvragen | to wonder |
| zich amuseren | to enjoy oneself |
| zich bemoeien met | to interfere with |
| zich concentreren op | to concentrate on |
| zich ergeren aan | to be annoyed by |
| zich gedragen | to behave |
| zich haasten | to hurry |
| zich herinneren | to remember |
| zich interesseren voor | to be interested in |
| zich schamen | to be ashamed |
| zich scheren | to shave |
| zich verheugen op | to look forward to |
| zich verslapen | to oversleep |
| zich vervelen | to be bored |
| zich vergissen | to be mistaken |
| zich verontschuldigen | to apologise |
| zich voelen | to feel |
| zich voorstellen | to introduce oneself; to imagine |
| zich zorgen maken over | to worry about |
Some examples:
- Ik maak me zorgen over mijn examen. — I'm worried about my exam.
- Gedraag je! — Behave yourself!
- We verheugen ons op de vakantie. — We're looking forward to the holiday.
- Ze ergert zich aan het lawaai. — She's annoyed by the noise.
Notice how many of these come with a fixed preposition. See verbs with prepositions for more.
Tip: Don't translate "myself" word for word. English "I feel" and "I remember" have no "myself", but Dutch says Ik voel me and Ik herinner me. Learn each verb with zich attached.
Quick summary
- Reflexive pronouns: me, je, u/zich, zich, ons, je, zich.
- Some verbs are always reflexive (zich vergissen, zich haasten); others are optional (zich wassen vs de auto wassen).
- The pronoun goes after the conjugated verb, or after the subject in inversion and subordinate clauses.
- Reflexive verbs use hebben in the perfect: Ik heb me vergist.
- Use zichzelf, mezelf etc. for emphasis, after prepositions, and with normally non-reflexive verbs.
- Learn each verb with zich, and with its preposition.
Practise it
Get to grips with all the forms in Reflexive verbs, describe your morning (ik kleed me aan, ik scheer me) in Daily routine, and say how you feel in Feelings.