es (recíproc)

Each Other with Es

Level 2

Plural es can describe people acting on one another.

How It Works

Es coneixen can mean they know each other. The plural subject supplies more than one participant, while es marks the reciprocal relationship. With nosaltres or vosaltres, use ens or us: ens coneixem, us escriviu.

Es can also be reflexive, so context matters. Es renten may mean they each wash themselves, while es miren may mean they look at each other. Add l'un a l'altre, l'una a l'altra or entre ells when the intended reciprocal reading needs clarification and the verb's construction permits it.

Do not infer reciprocity from every plural pronominal verb: es lleven normally means they get up, not they get each other up. Learn the verb's meaning and use the surrounding sentence to identify who acts on whom.

Examples (3)

  1. La Júlia i la Marta es coneixen bé.

    Júlia and Marta know each other well.

  2. Ens escrivim cada setmana.

    We write to each other every week.

  3. Els dos veïns es saluden.

    The two neighbors greet each other.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

es (recíproc)Level 2Each Other with Es

Learn This First

Identify the multiple participants in a reciprocal action.

Words in This Pattern