If you’ve been learning Dutch for a while, you’ve probably noticed sentences like:
- Ik vergis me.
- Ze haast zich.
- Wij maken ons zorgen.
Those little words like me, zich or ons may seem puzzling at first. Why are they there? Couldn’t you just say ik vergis or ze haast? The answer is no. These are reflexive verbs, and in Dutch they are a normal, everyday part of how people express themselves.
Reflexive verbs show up in contexts ranging from daily routines (ik was me – I wash myself) to emotions (ik schaam me – I’m ashamed) and even fixed expressions (we verheugen ons op… – we look forward to…). They’re not an extra layer of grammar but part of the core system of the language.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- what reflexive verbs are and why they exist in Dutch
- how reflexive pronouns like me, je, zich, ons work
- the most common verbs you’ll encounter
- how Dutch reflexives compare to English
- what to watch for in word order
- and idiomatic expressions that make your Dutch sound natural
By the end, you’ll see how reflexive verbs fit neatly into Dutch grammar and you’ll have a clearer sense of how to use them with confidence.
What Are Reflexive Verbs?
A reflexive verb is a verb where the action reflects back on the subject. In English, you sometimes see this with myself, yourself, himself:
- I hurt myself.
- She taught herself Spanish.
But often English simply leaves the reflexive out, while Dutch keeps it in:
- Dutch: Ik scheer me.
- English: I shave.
This leads us to the first important point: Dutch uses reflexive verbs much more often than English does, and in some cases the reflexive is not optional but required.
Why does Dutch use reflexives?
In many cases, reflexive verbs signal that the subject is both doing and receiving the action. That’s why you often find them in:
- Daily routines and the body: ik was me (I wash myself), ik scheer me (I shave).
- Emotions and mental states: ik vergis me (I’m mistaken), zij schaamt zich (she is ashamed), wij ergeren ons (we get annoyed).
- Preparation and change of state: we haasten ons (we hurry), zij kleedt zich aan (she gets dressed).
Over time, some verbs simply became reflexive by convention, even if the logic is less obvious (ik herinner me – I remember, we bevinden ons – we are located). These must be learned as fixed expressions, but the more you see them in context, the more natural they become.
Is there a system?
While you can’t always predict which verbs are reflexive, learners usually notice two big patterns:
- Physical actions you do to yourself → washing, shaving, dressing, etc.
- Inner states and emotions → feelings, attitudes, reactions.
By keeping these patterns in mind, you’ll gradually develop an instinct for when a verb uses a reflexive pronoun.
Reflexive Pronouns in Dutch
Reflexive verbs always need a reflexive pronoun, and that pronoun changes depending on the subject. Here’s the full set:
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun | Example |
| ik | me | Ik was me. |
| jij/je | je | Was jij je handen? |
| u | zich | U vergist zich. |
| hij/zij/het | zich | Hij vergist zich. |
| wij | ons | Wij haasten ons. |
| jullie | je | Jullie vergissen je. |
| zij (plural) | zich | Zij vergissen zich. |
Note:
- u (formal “you”) always uses zich, also in singular.
- For jullie, everyday Dutch almost always uses the short form je.
Short form vs. -zelf form
You might also see reflexives with -zelf (mezelf, jezelf, zichzelf, onszelf, etc.). These forms are not just longer versions. Instead, they have a slightly different role:
- Short forms (me, je, zich, ons):
Used with verbs that are reflexive by nature, where the reflexive pronoun is simply part of the verb.- Ik vergis me. (I’m mistaken.)
- Wij haasten ons. (We hurry.)
- -zelf forms (mezelf, jezelf, zichzelf…):
Used for emphasis or when it’s important to show clearly that the subject does something to themselves (and not to someone else).- Ik zag mezelf in de spiegel. (I saw myself in the mirror.)
- Ze heeft zichzelf leren zwemmen. (She taught herself to swim.)
- Jullie moeten jezelf verdedigen. (You must defend yourselves.)
Learner tip:
If the verb is inherently reflexive (zich vergissen, zich herinneren, zich haasten), use the short form. If you want to highlight or emphasize that the subject and object are the same person, use the -zelf form.
Common Reflexive Verbs in Dutch
Here are some reflexive verbs you’ll meet all the time:
- zich wassen → to wash (oneself)
- zich vergissen → to be mistaken
- zich haasten → to hurry
- zich voelen → to feel
- zich herinneren → to remember
- zich voorstellen → to imagine / to introduce oneself
- zich schamen → to be ashamed
- zich aanmelden → to sign up / register
Examples in sentences:
- Ik was me elke ochtend. → I wash myself every morning.
- Ik vergis me vaak in namen. → I often get names wrong.
- Zij haast zich naar school. → She hurries to school.
- Wij voelen ons moe na het werk. → We feel tired after work.
- Hij herinnert zich dat goed. → He remembers that well.
- Mag ik me even voorstellen? Ik ben Simon. → May I introduce myself? I’m Simon.
- Ze schaamt zich voor haar gedrag. → She is ashamed of her behavior.
- Wij melden ons morgen aan voor de cursus. → We’ll sign up for the course tomorrow.
Dutch vs. English: Don’t Translate Literally
This is where learners often stumble. Some verbs that are reflexive in Dutch are not reflexive in English:
- Ik vergis me. → “I’m mistaken.” (not I mistake myself).
- Ze haast zich. → “She hurries.” (not She hurries herself).
- Hij herinnert zich dat. → “He remembers that.” (not He remembers himself that).
And sometimes the opposite happens: English uses a reflexive where Dutch typically doesn’t:
- English: She taught herself French.
- Dutch: Ze leerde Frans. (herself is not needed here).
Tip: Don’t try to translate word-for-word. Instead, learn common reflexive verbs as “chunks” (verb + reflexive pronoun). That way, it will be easier to remember and you’ll know instinctively when Dutch expects a reflexive pronoun.
Word Order with Reflexive Pronouns
One of the trickiest parts for learners is not the reflexive pronoun itself, but where to place it in the sentence.
1. Main clause, normal word order
The reflexive pronoun comes directly after the finite verb (that’s the verbs that’s conjugated).
- Ik was me elke ochtend. → I wash myself every morning.
- Wij vergissen ons vaak in namen. → We often get names wrong.
2. Yes/no questions or inversion
When the subject and verb switch places, the reflexive pronoun still sticks to the verb. That’s why it often appears right after the subject, but remember: it’s really the verb it belongs to.
Examples:
- Was jij je handen? → Did you wash your hands?
- Morgen vergis ik me niet. → Tomorrow I won’t be mistaken.
3. Subordinate clauses (verb to the end)
In subordinate clauses (introduced by words like omdat, dat, als), the conjugated verb and sometimes other verbs move to the end of the clause. The reflexive pronoun always stays in front of this verb group.
Side note: what’s a verb group?
A verb group is the collection of verbs that belong together in a sentence: for example, the auxiliary (hebben/zijn) plus a past participle, or a modal verb (willen, moeten, kunnen) plus an infinitive.
Examples:
- Ik ga vroeg naar bed, omdat ik me morgen moet haasten.
(I’m going to bed early because I have to hurry tomorrow.)
→ Verb group = moet haasten, reflexive sits right before it. - Ze zei dat zij zich vaak vergist.
(She said that she often makes mistakes.)
→ Verb group = vergist, reflexive sits right before it. - We weten dat hij zich goed heeft voorbereid.
(We know that he prepared himself well.)
→ Verb group = heeft voorbereid, reflexive sits before it.
Tip: Reflexives always stick to the verb group. If the verb moves to the end of the clause, the reflexive moves with it but it always stays in front of the verbs.
4. With compound verbs (modal + infinitive, perfect tense)
With multiple verbs, the reflexive usually appears right after the first verb (finite auxiliary or modal).
- Ik wil me vergissen. → I want to be mistaken.
- Ik heb me vergist. → I made a mistake.
- Ze heeft zich haastig gewassen. → She washed herself quickly.
In the perfect tense, the reflexive almost always comes right after the auxiliary (hebben/zijn). With modals (kunnen, willen, moeten), it typically comes after the modal: Ik wil me vergissen, not Ik wil vergissen me.
Idiomatic Expressions with Reflexive Verbs
Some reflexive verbs go beyond grammar. Instead, they’re part of daily idioms:
- zich zorgen maken (om/over) → to worry
- Ik maak me zorgen over het examen.
- (I’m worried about the exam.)
- zich interesseren voor → to be interested in
- Hij interesseert zich voor kunst.
- (He’s interested in art.)
- zich schamen voor → to be ashamed
- Ze schaamt zich voor haar gedrag.
- (She’s ashamed of her behaviour.)
- zich verheugen op → to look forward to
- Wij verheugen ons op de vakantie.
- (We’re looking forward to the vacation.)
- zich aanmelden voor
- We melden ons aan voor de cursus.
- (We are signing up for the course.)
These are worth memorizing, because you’ll hear them everywhere.
Conclusion: Reflexive Verbs as Part of Everyday Dutch
Reflexive verbs are not an extra complication; they’re part of the natural rhythm of Dutch. By learning the common reflexive pronouns and recognizing the patterns (daily routines, emotions, change of state), you’ll quickly see how often they appear in everyday speech. The key is to treat them as fixed pairs: verb + reflexive pronoun. Once you do, word order falls into place, and many idiomatic expressions start to feel natural.
As a teacher, I often see learners hesitate with reflexives, but the truth is: they’re one of the easiest ways to make your Dutch sound authentic. The sooner you start using them actively, the more natural your sentences will become. And with practice, reflexive pronouns won’t feel like “extra words” anymore, but simply part of how Dutch works.
Free PDF: Reflexive Verbs Cheat Sheet
Want a handy overview of the most common reflexive verbs in Dutch, with clear examples in English and Dutch?
Download my Reflexive Verbs Cheat Sheet from the Free Downloads page and keep it next to your notes. Perfect for quick reference and practice!