How do you use se??

Question

I'm confused. What does it mean to put se before a verb. As in:

La mujer se está duchando.

Ella se encuentra su amiga.

And putting se at the end of a word?

Lavase sus manos.

Voy a bañarme.

I use Rosetta Stone and it doesn't explain that well. I understand the reflexive use but do not understand any of the other uses.

La mujer se está duchando.or la mujar está duchandose The woman she was washing herselff - warrenmarshall, Mar 24, 2012

Ella se encuentra su amiga.Her she met her friend(she met her friend) - warrenmarshall, Mar 24, 2012

Answer 1

That "se" and "me" means that person is performing the action to himself/herself. Otherwise, the sentence will let out who is "she or he" performing the action to. I.E.

• La mujer está duchando... (She is bathing, showering, who is?) You must need to add, "se" bafore "está" or after "duchando...se" The first one is more logical! = She is showering!
• Ella se encuentra a su amiga. = She bumped into her friend. If you take off "se", the sentence will say, "She found her friend"
• ¡Lávese las manos! = Wash your hands! Without the "se", will translate, = Wash the hands! (Who's hands?)
• **Remember, you cannot always translate word by word from language to language. It doesn't work quite like that! A lot of things you need to accept them the way they are just because. Memorization, this is true not only in Spanish, but in any language!
• The use of "se"
• Explanation for the use of "se"

I realize you can't translate word for word... but that's the problem! I don't understand how to use it. I understand that it can be reflexive but aren't there other uses? - MeLlamoWaverly, Mar 23, 2012

The first 3 bullets explain why. If it is not clear, then you have to memorize it. There is no other way! English has even more inconsistencies like these, than Spanish. You don't notice them because you grew up with the language. - farallon7, Mar 23, 2012

I just added two links that could offer more light to the subject! I hope they are helpful! - farallon7, Mar 23, 2012

Answer 2

se at the end is because its a reflexive verb i.e. things you do to yourself. like wash yourself, get yourself up, etc etc

Me baño, I wash myself. Second-person singular familiar te yourself Te bañas, you wash yourself.

se yourself, himself, herself, itself, oneself Ella se baña, she washes herself. First-person plural nos ourselves Nos bañamos, we wash ourselves. Second-person plural familiar os yourselves Os bañais, you wash yourselves. Second-person plural formal, third-person plural se yourselves, themselves Se bañan, they wash themselves.

look up the verbs and see the conjugations,this all takes time to learn its not a quick thing to go in,well it wasnt with me but soon makes sense

Answer 3

• Primeramente, sería mejor decir "La mujar está duchándose" Es porque los verbos como "ducharse" son verbos reflexivos - un poco como hacer algo a sí mismo.

• Firstly, it would be better to say "La mujer está duchádose" It is because verbs such as "bañarse" are what are called reflexive verbs - the reflexive make it a bit like doing the verb to oneself; The woman is showering herself.

Rosstimus, both versions are perfectly fine and correct! Spanish is very flexible! - farallon7, Mar 23, 2012

Very true! It's one of the great things about Spanish! It is a personal preference, best to use whichever you feel rolls off the tongue better. - Rosstimus, Mar 23, 2012

Answer 4

The following website explain all uses of SE:

http://www.appstate.edu/~fountainca/1050/unidad2/losusosdese.html

The site explain very well the uses of SE, but if you do not understand something, please let me know.

Thanks :) - MeLlamoWaverly, Mar 23, 2012

I understand the reflexive use but i don't understand any of the others. Can someone explain? - MeLlamoWaverly, Mar 23, 2012