Reflexive Verbs With си

Level 2Sounds Like vʺzvratni glagoli sʺs si

The short word си means "for myself, to myself": Купих си обувки (I bought myself shoes). With body parts it replaces "my": Мия си ръцете (I wash my hands).

How It Works

1. Се or си? Се means "myself" as the object: Мия се (I wash myself). Си means "for myself" or "my own", so the object is something else: Мия си ръцете (I wash my hands).

2. Doing something for yourself. Купих си нова кола (I bought myself a new car), Направи си чай (Make yourself some tea).

3. Your own body or belongings. Bulgarian uses си and the article on the noun instead of "my": Мия си зъбите (I brush my teeth), Сложи си шапката (Put your hat on).

4. Verbs that usually take си.

  • спомням си (remember), представям си (imagine). You may hear спомням се in casual speech, but the standard form is спомням си.
  • почивам си (rest, relax). Without си, почивам often means "have time off": Днес почивам (I am off work today).
  • лягам си (go to bed) versus лягам (lie down); тръгвам си and отивам си (leave, go home)

5. Placement. Like the other short dative pronouns, си is never first: Спомням си. Аз си спомням. Не си спомням. Искам да си почина.

Do not confuse this си with си meaning "you are" from съм.

Examples (6)

  1. Мия си ръцете.

    I am washing my hands.

    Си plus the article on ръцете replaces "my".

  2. Спомням си първия ден в училище.

    I remember my first day at school.

  3. В неделя си почивам.

    On Sundays I rest.

    Something comes before the verb, so си goes before почивам.

  4. Купих си нови обувки.

    I bought myself new shoes.

    The verb comes first, so си follows it.

  5. Лягам си в единайсет.

    I go to bed at eleven.

  6. Не си спомням името му.

    I don't remember his name.

    After не, си goes before the verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Using се instead of си with a body part.

    Мия се ръцете.
    Мия си ръцете.

    Се means "myself" and already fills the object slot. When the object is ръцете, use си.

  • Starting a sentence with си.

    Си купих книга.
    Купих си книга.

    Си is unstressed and can never come first. When the verb starts the sentence, си follows it.

  • Putting си after the verb when не comes first.

    Не спомням си името му.
    Не си спомням името му.

    After не, the short word си goes between не and the verb, just like се.

How It Connects

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Reflexive Verbs With сиLevel 2

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Reflexive verbs with си follow those with се.

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Words in This Pattern

спомням сипочивам си