Czech Reflexive se / si
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- 16. 11.
- Minut čtení: 4
Aktualizováno: před 7 dny
Reflexive pronouns se and si are extremely common in Czech and can perform several different functions. They never refer to someone else – always to the subject of the sentence.
Czech has two forms:
1. se – reflexive in the accusative
Used when the reflexive pronoun would answer the questions koho/co?→ similar to English myself, yourself, himself… (but often without translation).
2. si – reflexive in the dative
Used when the reflexive pronoun would answer komu/čemu?→ similar to English for myself, to myself.
I. Basic meaning: true reflexive (the subject acts on itself)
With se (accusative)
The subject performs the action on itself.
Myju se. – I'm washing myself.
Holím se. – I'm shaving.
Koukám se do zrcadla. – I'm looking at myself in the mirror.
With si (dative)
The subject does something for itself.
Kupuju si kávu. – I’m buying myself a coffee.
Dělám si poznámky. – I'm making notes for myself.
Vaříš si čaj? – Are you making (yourself) tea?
II. Reflexive verbs (fixed collocations)
Many Czech verbs always take se or si, even though they are not reflexive in meaning. You must learn these as fixed verbs.
Verbs with se
(≈ no “self” meaning; part of the verb)
smát se – to laugh
Směju se tomu. – I’m laughing at that.
bát se – to be afraid
Bojím se tmy.
ptát se – to ask (someone)
Ptám se učitelky.
dívat se – to watch/look
Díváme se na film.
Verbs with si
(often expressing advantage/benefit to the subject)
stěžovat si – to complain
Stěžuju si na hluk.
představovat si – to imagine
Představuju si budoucnost.
užívat si – to enjoy
Užíváme si dovolenou.
brát si – to take for oneself / to marry
Beru si kousek koláče. / Berou se příští rok.
III. Reflexive passive (reflexivní pasivum)
The form “se + 3rd person verb” can express that something gets done. Often translates like English passive, but with a general meaning.
Tady se staví nový dům. – A new house is being built here.
Na Vánoce se peče cukroví. – Christmas cookies are baked.
Tohle se nedělá! – This is not done! / You don’t do that!
IV. Reflexive impersonal (nevyjádřený podmět)
Used to express general statements without specifying who performs the action.
V Česku se dobře žije. – Life is good in Czechia.
Říká se, že… – It is said that…
Ve městě se špatně parkuje. – It’s difficult to park in the city.
Word order:
Reflexive pronouns are unstressed clitics, so they follow special rules.They never carry stress, so they attach to other words.
General rule: they stand in the 2nd position of the sentence
Examples:
Já se bojím.
Zítra si koupím nové boty.
Už se učím.
What counts as “first position”?
Often the first stressed element: a word, a phrase, sometimes even a conjunction.
Já si nerada stěžuju.
Když se učím, neslyším telefon.
With modal or compound verbs
They come right in the 2nd position, usually before the main verb:
Chci se zeptat.
Musíme si pospíšit.
Můžu se dívat?
In negatives
The particle ne- does not count as a separate position; se/si still comes after the first word:
Nechci se hádat.
On se nečeše.
In questions
Again, 2nd position:
Kam se díváš?
Proč si stěžuješ?
ses/sis
You can also see these two forms. They appear in the 2nd person singular - TY with reflexive verbs in the past tense.
Ty ses koukal na filmy celý den?
Musela sis to užít.
List of reflexive verbs
A1
mýt se – to wash oneself
česat se – to comb one’s hair
oblékat se – to dress
svlékat se – to undress
koupat se – to bathe
holit se – to shave
dívat se – to watch / look
smát se – to laugh
bát se – to be afraid
posadit se – to sit down
postavit se – to stand up
učit se – to learn
čistit si (zuby) – to brush teeth
mýt si (vlasy) – to wash hair
vařit si – to cook for oneself
A2
hádat se – to argue
omlouvat se – to apologize
pamatovat si – to remember
představit se – to introduce oneself
stěhovat se – to move (house)
schovat se – to hide
modlit se – to pray
představovat si – to imagine
stěžovat si – to complain
užívat si – to enjoy
ztratit se – to get lost
všímat si – to notice
dělat si starosti – to worry
B1
uvědomovat si – to realize
soudit se – to sue / take legal action
rozčílit se – to get upset
rozesmát se – to start laughing
zasmát se – to laugh briefly
zlepšit se – to get better
zhoršit se – to get worse
zavřít se – to close (by itself)
otevřít se – to open (by itself)
pohnout se – to move
líbit se – to like
brát si – to marry sb / take for oneself
Reflexive passive
říká se – it is said
píše se – it is written
prodává se – is sold
staví se – is being built
peče se – is baked
Mini cvičení
Choose se or si:
Každý den ___ vařím polévku.
Nemůžu ___ představit ten film.
Kam ___ díváš?
Petr ___ koupil nový telefon. (for himself)
Tady ___ pracuje jen do pěti.
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