Verb + si

Reflexive Verbs with Si

Level 2

Si means for yourself or to your own body: Kúpim si kávu. (I'll buy myself a coffee.) Umyl som si ruky. (I washed my hands.) Some verbs normally come with it: Sadni si. (Sit down.)

How It Works

Three uses of si

  • For yourself: kúpiť si (buy for yourself), uvariť si (cook for yourself), objednať si (order for yourself): Objednám si polievku. (I'll order soup.)
  • Your own body or things: umyť si ruky (wash your hands), vyčistiť si zuby (brush your teeth), zlomiť si nohu (break your leg).
  • Verbs that normally come with si: sadnúť si (sit down), ľahnúť si (lie down), oddýchnuť si (rest), všimnúť si (notice), pamätať si (remember).

Si can change the meaning

  • požičať (lend) / požičať si (borrow)
  • myslieť (think about) / myslieť si (think, believe, have an opinion): Myslím si, že máš pravdu. (I think you're right.)
  • umyť sa (wash yourself) / umyť si ruky (wash your hands)

Where si goes

Like sa, si comes after the first stressed word or phrase and never starts a sentence: Zajtra si kúpim nový telefón. (Tomorrow I'll buy myself a new phone.) In a command it follows the verb: Sadni si! See Unstressed Words in Second Position.

Two different words spelled si

Si is also the ty form of byť (you are). In the past tense both can appear together: Kúpil si si kávu? (Did you buy yourself a coffee?) The first si means you (did), and the second means for yourself.

For the other reflexive word, see Reflexive Verbs With sa.

Examples (6)

  1. Kúpim si kávu.

    I'll buy myself a coffee.

    Word by Word: I-will-buy for-myself coffee.

    Si shows the coffee is for the speaker.

  2. Umyl som si ruky.

    I washed my hands.

    Word by Word: I-washed myself hands.

    With body parts, si shows whose they are, so no word for my is needed.

  3. Sadni si, prosím.

    Sit down, please.

    Sadnúť si, with si, is the usual way to say sit down.

  4. Myslím si, že máš pravdu.

    I think you're right.

    Myslieť si means to have an opinion.

  5. Musím si oddýchnuť.

    I need to rest.

    Oddýchnuť si always has si. It follows the first word, musím.

  6. Požičal som si od suseda rebrík.

    I borrowed a ladder from my neighbour.

    Požičať si means to borrow; požičať without si means to lend.

Common Mistakes

  • Using sa with a verb that needs si.

    Sadni sa.
    Sadni si.

    Sadnúť (sit down) is used with si, not sa. Learn each reflexive verb together with its little word.

  • Leaving out si when you mean borrow. The intended meaning is "I borrowed a book from him".

    Požičal som mu knihu.
    Požičal som si od neho knihu.

    Požičať without si means to lend, so the first sentence says I lent him a book. To borrow is požičať si od + genitive.

  • Starting the sentence with si.

    Si kúpim kávu.
    Kúpim si kávu.

    Si is unstressed and cannot stand first. Put it after the first stressed word or phrase.

How It Connects

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

Verb + siLevel 2Reflexive Verbs with Si

Learn This First

Before Reflexive Verbs With si, learn Reflexive Verbs With sa and Dative Pronouns. si works like sa but in a dative sense. si is the reflexive counterpart of the dative pronouns.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

sadnúť sivšimnúť si