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Verbos recíprocos
Reciprocal verbs are a type of pronominal verb, meaning they have both a subject pronoun and a reflexive pronoun. In the case of reciprocal verbs, the reflexive pronoun indicates that the action of the verb is exchanged between two or more subjects acting upon each other.
Por ejemplo…
Se aman. | They love each other. | |
Nos escribimos todos los días. | We write to each other every day. | |
¿Vosotros os entendéis? | Do you understand each other? | |
¿Uds. se hablan a menudo? | Do you talk to each other often? |
Most common Spanish reciprocal verbs
abrazarse | to hug each other | |
amarse | to love each other | |
animarse | to cheer each other up | |
ayudarse | to help each other | |
besarse | to kiss each other | |
conocerse | to know each other | |
despedirse | to say goodbye to each other | |
enojarse | to get angry at each other | |
entenderse | to understand each other | |
escribirse | to write to each other | |
hablarse | to talk to each other | |
lastimarse | to hurt each other | |
llamarse | to call each other | |
matarse | to kill each other | |
mirarse | to look at each other | |
odiarse | to hate each other | |
pelearse | to fight with each other | |
prometerse | to promise each other | |
sonreírse | to smile at each other | |
sorprenderse | to surprise each other | |
verse | to see each other |
Note that most of these verbs can also be reflexive. To stress the reciprocal nature of the verb, you can include something like
- el uno al otro – each other
- uno a otro – each other
- entre sí – each other
- mutuamente – mutually
- recíprocamente – reciprocally
- entre nosotros/vosotros/ellos – between us/you/them
All of the above verbs require a reflexive pronoun when they indicate that the subjects are acting upon each other. But remember than they can also be used non-reflexively, to express the verb’s action directed at someone or something else (or nothing, in the case of intransitive verbs).
En comparación…
Se están mirando. | vs | Están mirando la tele. |
They’re looking at each other. |
They’re looking at the TV. |
|
Os sonreís. | vs | Sonreís. |
You’re smiling at each other. | You’re smiling. |
When you want to say "each other" but the preposition is not a, the reciprocal construction is not used; instead, the verb is used without a reflexive pronoun and the appropriate preposition replaces a in the expressions el uno al otro / uno a otro.
Ellos hablan bien el uno del otro. | They speak well of each other. | |
¿Uds. pueden estudiar el uno sin el otro? | Can you study without each other? |
Reciprocal verbs are just one type of pronominal verb. See the main lesson on pronominal verbs for details on using reciprocal verbs in different tenses and moods.
Related lessons
- Introduction to pronominal verbs
- Reflexive verbs
- Reciprocal verbs
- Idiomatic pronominal verbs
- Reflexive se with unplanned occurrences
- Reflexive pronouns
- Reflexive prepositional pronouns
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