No te ofendas, no te insultes

Question

Just checking to make sure that insultar can do the same thing as ofender, which is to switch from "to offend" with se to "to take offense". So no te ofendas = don't take offense, and no te insultes = don't be insulted? Gracias.

Answer 1

They are not the same... No te ofendas is correct.... but the verb "insultar" cannot be used that way...

Answer 2

The question actually makes perfect sense. Why does it work with "ofender", but not with "insultar"? In these cases only a good dictionary can be used to confirm these usages without a native to help.

Answer 3

Only "No te ofendas"->No te ofendas por cosas(o insultos) que te digan los demás.

"No te insultes" -> no te ofendas tú mismo.

Es posible : no te ofendas = no te insultes, pero es muy raro usarlo con ese sentido,

Answer 4

De hecho lo he oido usar así en Méjico.

People who use this verb pronominally are actually making the language more regular and consistent. - lazarus1907, Jan 2, 2011

Answer 5

I asked the same question some time ago to a close mexican friend, professor in the University. He told me, that the verb "insultar" implies an action that can not be done to oneself.

"No te insultes" when speaking to another, means "do not insult yourself". You should say: "no te sientas insultado" (do not feel insulted).