Different uses of Se in Spanish

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA

on 16 March, 2022

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"Se" is a very short Spanish word that has different functions. Here are the main ones.

Reflexive pronoun

Reflexive pronouns in Spanish are:

me, te, se, nos, os, se

We use these reflexive pronouns with certain verbs where the action is performed upon the subject.

"Se" is the reflexive pronoun used here to refer to either he, she, you ["usted" or "ustedes" form] or they. Here are some examples:

Ella se ducha.She takes a shower. [She showers herself.]

Él se afeita.He shaves [himself].

Usted se ha lavado.You have washed yourself.

Los niños se peinaron solos.The children combed [their hair] by themselves.

Ustedes tienen que vestirse ahora.You must get dressed now.

See Conjugate reflexive verbs in the present tense in Spanish (El Presente)

Reciprocal pronoun

"Se" is also a reciprocal pronoun in Spanish. There are actions that we perform to/on each other. In this case we use the reflexive pronouns for the plural subjects: nos for nosotros, os for vosotros and se for ellos or ustedes. Here are some examples:

Miguel y Antonio se quieren.Miguel and Antonio love each other.

Ustedes se pelean a menudo.You argue with each other often.

To learn more about reciprocal actions see Reciprocal verbs in Spanish and position of the reflexive pronoun

Indirect object pronoun (se = le/les)

When we have indirect object pronouns le or les followed by a direct object pronoun lo, la, los, las, the indirect object pronoun becomes “se”:

Le lo dije =

Se lo dije.I told him. [I told it to him.]

Les la di =

Se la di.I gave it to him/her/them/you ["usted" form].

Le los regalo =

Se los regalo.I give them to him/her/them/you ["usted" form].

Les las encendí =

Se las encendí.I lit them for him/her/them/you ["usted" form].

Using le/les instead of se in these cases is incorrect.

For more information about this use of se see Spanish pronouns le / les become se when used with lo, la, los, las (indirect with direct pronouns)

Pronominal verbs

Some verbs are used pronominally, using a reflexive pronoun. The pronoun is part of the verbal structure and gives the verb a specific meaning: some pronominal verbs are for example:

Enfadarse = to get cross

Jubilarse = to retire

Divertirse = to have fun

Using the reflexive pronoun or not using it changes the meaning of the verb.

Se aspectual

To reinforce the action of a verb we use the reflexive pronouns; this way we reflect the more intense involvement of the subject in that action, or we express the completion of that action too. Typical verbs using this “se aspectual” are comer and beber:

Se comió la pizza entera.He ate up the whole pizza. (finished it up)

Se bebió 4 cervezas en media hora.He drank 4 beers in half an hour.

Also typically used with “ir”, not when going to a place but when “leaving” a place.

Se fue porque tenía muchas cosas que hacer.He left because he had lots of things to do.

Se ha ido sin decir nada a nadie.He just left without saying anything to anyone.

Here is more information about this see The Spanish Se aspectual

Se pasiva refleja

"Se" is used as a more "relaxed" way to create a passive sentence, it is more common than the passive with ser. We use "se" with a conjugated verb in the tense that we need each time (without ser), for example:

Cada día se construyen más casas en mi pueblo.Each day more houses are built in my town.

Se llevaron todas las cajas al almacén.All boxes were taken to the store room.

For more details about the passive this way, see Forming the Spanish passive with se (la pasiva refleja)

Se impersonal

One way to form an impersonal sentence is by usind "se" with verbs that are intransitive. Here are some examples:

Se come bien en este restaurante.One eats well in this restaurant.

Se duerme estupendamente en esta cama.One sleeps well on this bed.

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