Reciprocal se
Each Other: Reciprocal Se
With a plural subject, nos, vos and se can mean "each other": Quérense moito (they love each other very much), Vímonos onte (we saw each other yesterday).
How It Works
The forms.
- nós → nos: Coñecémonos en Vigo (we met in Vigo).
- vós → vos: Coñecédesvos? (do you all know each other?)
- eles, elas, vostedes → se: Axúdanse cos deberes (they help each other with their homework).
The nós form. As with reflexive verbs, the ending -mos loses its -s before nos: vimos + nos → vímonos, escribimos + nos → escribímonos.
Position. The pronoun follows the usual rules. It goes after the verb in a plain statement (enclisis), and before it after non, question words and other triggers: Non se falan desde o verán (they have not spoken to each other since the summer), Onde vos coñecestes?
Making it clear. To show that you mean "each other", add a phrase that matches the people: un ao outro (two men, or a man and a woman), unha á outra (two women), uns aos outros or unhas ás outras for bigger groups. Mutuamente and entre si also work.
Examples (6)
- Quérense moito.
They love each other very much.
Word by Word: Love-each-other much.
- Vímonos onte no concerto.
We saw each other at the concert yesterday.
Word by Word: Saw-we-each-other yesterday at-the concert.
- Coñecémonos na universidade.
We met at university.
Word by Word: Met-we-each-other at-the university.
- Os dous irmáns non se falan.
The two brothers don't speak to each other.
Word by Word: The two brothers not each-other speak.
Non pulls se in front of the verb.
- Axúdanse uns aos outros cos deberes.
They help one another with their homework.
Word by Word: Help-each-other ones to-the others with-the homework.
- Onde vos coñecestes?
Where did you two meet?
Word by Word: Where each-other met-you?
Common Mistakes
Keeping the -s of -mos before nos.
Vímosnos onte.Vímonos onte.Before the pronoun nos, the verb ending -mos loses its s: vimos + nos = vímonos.
Starting the sentence with the pronoun, as in Spanish.
Nos vimos onte.Vímonos onte.With no trigger word before the verb, the pronoun follows the verb and joins it.
Not matching un ao outro to the people.
As dúas amigas axúdanse un ao outro.As dúas amigas axúdanse unha á outra.For two women, the phrase is feminine: unha á outra.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The reflexive pronoun series can also express reciprocal action.
Related Patterns
- Pronouns After the Verb
Explains where the pronoun goes and how the accents fall.
Level 2 - Pronouns Before the Verb After Negatives
After non, the reciprocal pronoun moves in front: non se falan.
Level 2 - Pronominal and Non-Pronominal Verbs
Some verbs always carry a pronoun without any reciprocal meaning.
Level 3 - os dous / ambosBoth: Os Dous and Ambos
Often used to name the two people who do something to each other.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reciprocal se in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Galician lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
