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Russian Reflexive Verbs

Russian reflexive verbs end in "ся" in their infinitive form.

In old Russian "ся" meant себя́ (pronoun) which is similar to English "-self".

It's the special group of Russian verbs where the object and subject are the same person/thing.

Let's analyze the verb одева́ться

This is a combination of the verb одева́ть (to dress) and ending "ся" (self)

The meaning of this combination is to dress oneself.

Note: Not all reflexive verbs can be made by combining a verb with ending "cя". You have to memorize them.

Russian Reflexive Verbs: Conjugation Rules

Russian reflexive verbs are conjugated according to Present Tense rules + ending "сь" or "ся".

If the verb conjugation ends in vowel + сь.
If the verb conjugation does not end in vowel + ся.

Usage of Russian Reflexive Verbs

1. Subject and object are the same person/thing.

REGULAR	REFLEXIVE
одева́ть (to dress)	одева́ться (to dress oneself)
Ма́ша одева́ет сви́тер Masha dresses a sweater	Ма́ша одева́ется Masha dresses herself

2. Interaction between two subjects that do the same action

REGULAR	REFLEXIVE
встреча́ть (to meet)	встреча́ться (to meet together)
Ма́ша встреча́ет А́нну Masha meets Anna	Ма́ша и А́нна встреча́ются в кино Masha and Anna meet (each other) at cinema

3. Intransitive verbs (verbs that have only subject, but no object)

REFLEXIVE
улыба́ться (to smile)		смея́ться (to laugh)	начина́ться (to be started)
Ма́ша улыба́ется (Masha smiles)	Ма́ша мне улыба́ется (Masha smiles at me)	Ма́ша смеётся над соба́кой (Masha is laughing at a dog)	Фильм начина́ется (The film starts)

Note: Reflexive verbs can be used with reflexive pronouns or prepositions

4. Expressing mood, condition or passion

REFLEXIVE
улыба́ться (to smile)	Ма́ша улыба́ется	Masha smiles
горди́ться (to be proud)	Ма́ма горди́тся Ма́шей (Insturmental)	Mother is proud of Masha
интересова́ться (to be interested in)	Ма́ша интересу́ется му́зыкой (Insturmental)	Masha is interested in music
по́льзоваться (to be using)	Ма́ша по́льзуется компью́тером (Insturmental)	Masha is using a computer
увлека́ться (to be passionated)	Ма́ша увлека́ется гото́вкой (Insturmental)	Masha is passionate about cooking
серди́ться (to be angry)	Ма́ша се́рдится на соба́ку (Accusative)	Masha is angry with a dog
нра́виться (to like)	Ма́ше (Dative) нра́вится Москва́	Masha likes Moscow

Related:

Russian Pronouns