A reflexive verb is a verb that REFLECTS the person doing the action.

For example, the verb LAVAR means “to wash.”

I can say LAVO EL CARRO to say “I wash the car.”

But I would say ME LAVO LAS MANOS to say “I wash my hands.”

In this case, I'm washing my OWN hands. Notice that I don't say MIS MANOS for “my hands.”
That's what the REFLEXIVE takes care of!

The following are our REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS:

me (for "yo")

te (for "tú")

nos (for "nosotros")

se (for "él, ella, ud. ellos, ellas Y uds.)

For example, if I'm using the verb LAVARSE (and I can tell that it's REFLEXIVE by the “se” attached to the end), these are the steps I would follow to CONJUGATE.

1. Take the “se” off the end of the verb.

LAVARSE ---> LAVAR

(to wash oneself) ---> (to wash)

2. Choose the appropriate REFLEXIVE PRONOUN and put it in front of

the verb. If you are saying “I wash,” then you would choose ME. If you are saying “You wash,” then you would choose TE.

LAVAR ---> ME LAVAR

(to wash) ---> (to wash my...)

3. Conjugate the verb (LAVAR, in this case) to match the REFLEXIVE PRONOUN. If you are saying “I wash,” then you use the YO form: LAVO. If you are saying “You wash,” then use the Tú form: LAVAS. **Remember how to conjugate verbs!

ME LAVAR ---> ME LAVO

(to wash my... ) (I wash my...)

4. Finish the rest of the sentence, if necessary or just to make it more interesting.

ME LAVO LAS MANOS .

I wash my hands.