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Lesson 7 of 16

Daily Routine and Reflexive Verbs

Talk about your normal day in Italian: wake up, get up, wash, get dressed and go to bed. Master reflexive verbs with mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si, the -isc verbs capire, finire, preferire and pulire, and the everyday commands Alzati! and Sbrigati!

⏱ About 55 minutes 24 phrases 30 exercises

What you will learn

  • Use the reflexive pronouns mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si with present-tense verbs
  • Conjugate the core reflexive verbs: chiamarsi, svegliarsi, alzarsi, lavarsi, vestirsi, riposarsi, addormentarsi, innamorarsi, sposarsi
  • Describe a normal day in sequence with prima, poi and dopo
  • Say when you wake up and when you go to bed
  • Use the -isc verbs capire, finire, preferire and pulire in the present tense
  • Give two everyday commands: Alzati! and Sbrigati!

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

  • Parlo inglese. I speak English.
  • Dove abiti? Where do you live?
  • Non mangiamo carne. We do not eat meat.
  • Ho una domanda. I have a question.
  • Quando lavorate? When do you (all) work?
  • Ho parlato con il direttore. I spoke with the manager.

Theory

Reflexive verbs: the action comes back to you

Many everyday actions in Italian are reflexive: the person doing the action also receives it. In the dictionary these verbs end in -si: svegliarsi (to wake up), alzarsi (to get up), lavarsi (to wash).

In a sentence, remove -si and place the right reflexive pronoun directly before the verb: mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si. So alzarsi becomes mi alzo (I get up), ti alzi (you get up), si alza (he/she gets up), ci alziamo, vi alzate, si alzano. The verb itself follows the normal present-tense endings you already know.

When a reflexive verb stays in the infinitive after another verb, the pronoun attaches to the end and changes to match the subject: preferisco alzarmi presto (I prefer to get up early).

  • Mi sveglio alle sette. I wake up at seven.
  • Si alza tardi la domenica. He gets up late on Sundays.
  • Preferisco vestirmi subito. I prefer to get dressed straight away.
A woman stretching in front of a mirror illustrating alzarsi: mi alzo, ti alzi, si alza, ci alziamo, vi alzate, si alzano.

A day in order: prima, poi, dopo

To describe your routine, chain the actions with three small words: prima (first), poi (then) and dopo (afterwards). Di solito (usually) and sempre (always) tell the listener how often something happens.

Two fixed expressions carry the day: fare colazione (to have breakfast) and andare a letto (to go to bed). For times of day, use la mattina (in the morning) and la sera (in the evening).

  • Prima mi lavo, poi mi vesto. First I wash, then I get dressed.
  • Di solito faccio colazione alle otto. I usually have breakfast at eight.
  • La sera vado a letto presto. In the evening I go to bed early.
Timeline of a typical Italian day from mi sveglio at 7:00 to vado a letto at 23:00.

The -isc verbs: capisco, finisco, preferisco, pulisco

Four common -ire verbs insert -isc- between the stem and the ending in four of the six persons: io, tu, lui/lei and loro. So capire gives capisco, capisci, capisce, capiscono — but noi capiamo and voi capite stay regular.

The same pattern works for finire (finisco), preferire (preferisco) and pulire (pulisco). Learn the pattern once and all four verbs behave identically.

  • Capisco l'italiano, ma non parlo bene. I understand Italian, but I do not speak well.
  • Finisco di lavorare alle sei. I finish work at six.
  • Noi preferiamo il tè. We prefer tea.
Conjugation table of finire highlighting the -isc- infix in finisco, finisci, finisce and finiscono.

Two commands you will hear every day: Alzati! Sbrigati!

Italian commands to one person you know well (tu) put the reflexive pronoun after the verb, joined to it: alza + ti becomes Alzati! (Get up!) and sbriga + ti becomes Sbrigati! (Hurry up!).

Speaking to more than one person, use the voi form the same way: Alzatevi! Sbrigatevi! For this lesson, simply memorise the two singular commands as fixed phrases — you will hear them constantly in Italian homes.

  • Alzati! È tardi! Get up! It's late!
  • Sbrigati! Il caffè è pronto! Hurry up! The coffee's ready!
  • Alzatevi, ragazzi! Get up, kids!
A woman opening the curtains and telling a sleepy man Svegliati!, Alzati! and Sbrigati!
Reflexive verbs in the present: svegliarsi, alzarsi, vestirsi
svegliarsi alzarsi vestirsi
io mi sveglio mi alzo mi vesto
tu ti svegli ti alzi ti vesti
lui / lei si sveglia si alza si veste
noi ci svegliamo ci alziamo ci vestiamo
voi vi svegliate vi alzate vi vestite
loro si svegliano si alzano si vestono

The pronoun changes with the person; the verb keeps its normal endings. Vestirsi is an -ire verb: vesto, vesti, veste, vestiamo, vestite, vestono.

The -isc verbs: capire, finire, preferire
capire finire preferire
io capisco finisco preferisco
tu capisci finisci preferisci
lui / lei capisce finisce preferisce
noi capiamo finiamo preferiamo
voi capite finite preferite
loro capiscono finiscono preferiscono

-isc- appears everywhere except noi and voi. Pulire follows the same pattern: pulisco, puliamo.

Everyday commands with reflexive verbs
svegliarsi alzarsi sbrigarsi
tu Svegliati! Alzati! Sbrigati!
voi Svegliatevi! Alzatevi! Sbrigatevi!

In commands, the pronoun joins the end of the verb: alza + ti → alzati.

Vocabulary

Italian English Pronunciation Audio
chiamarsi to be called /kjaˈmarsi/ kyah-MAHR-see
svegliarsi to wake up /zveʎˈʎarsi/ zveh-LYAR-see
alzarsi to get up /alˈtsarsi/ ahl-TSAR-see
lavarsi to wash (oneself) /laˈvarsi/ lah-VAR-see
vestirsi to get dressed /vesˈtirsi/ vehs-TEER-see
riposarsi to rest /ripoˈzarsi/ ree-poh-ZAR-see
addormentarsi to fall asleep /addormenˈtarsi/ ahd-dohr-mehn-TAR-see
innamorarsi to fall in love /innamoˈrarsi/ een-nah-moh-RAR-see
sposarsi to get married /spoˈzarsi/ spoh-ZAR-see
sbrigarsi to hurry up /ˈzbriɡarsi/ ZBREE-gar-see
capire to understand /kaˈpire/ kah-PEE-reh
finire to finish /fiˈnire/ fee-NEE-reh
preferire to prefer /prefeˈrire/ preh-feh-REE-reh
pulire to clean /puˈlire/ poo-LEE-reh
la sveglia the alarm clock /la ˈzvɛʎʎa/ lah ZVEH-lyah
la mattina the morning /la matˈtina/ lah maht-TEE-nah
la sera the evening /la ˈsɛra/ lah SEH-rah
la giornata the day (whole day) /la dʒorˈnata/ lah johr-NAH-tah
la doccia the shower /la ˈdottʃa/ lah DOHT-chah
la colazione breakfast /la kolatˈtsjone/ lah koh-laht-TSYOH-neh
il letto the bed /il ˈlɛtto/ eel LEHT-toh
il marito husband /maˈrito/ mah-REE-toh
la moglie wife /ˈmɔʎʎe/ MOH-lyeh
presto early, soon /ˈprɛsto/ PREH-stoh
tardi late /ˈtardi/ TAR-dee
di solito usually /di ˈsɔlito/ dee SOH-lee-toh
sempre always /ˈsɛmpre/ SEHM-preh
prima first, before /ˈprima/ PREE-mah
poi then, afterwards /ˈpɔi/ POY
dopo afterwards, after /ˈdopo/ DOH-poh

Ready-to-use phrases

Come ti chiami?

What's your name?

IPA /ˈkome ti ˈkjami/

Say it KOH-meh tee KYAH-mee

Literally: how do you call yourself?

informal introductions reflexive

Mi chiamo Sofia.

My name is Sofia.

IPA /mi ˈkjamo soˈfia/

Say it mee KYAH-moh soh-FEE-ah

neutral introductions reflexive

Mi sveglio presto la mattina.

I wake up early in the morning.

IPA /mi ˈzvɛʎo ˈprɛsto la matˈtina/

Say it mee ZVEH-lyoh PREH-stoh lah maht-TEE-nah

neutral daily routine reflexive

Mi alzo alle sette.

I get up at seven.

IPA /mi ˈaltso ˈalle ˈsɛtte/

Say it mee AHL-tsoh AHL-leh SEHT-teh

alle + time: alle sette, alle otto.

neutral daily routine reflexive time

A che ora ti alzi?

What time do you get up?

IPA /a ke ˈɔra ti ˈaltsi/

Say it ah keh OH-rah tee AHL-tsee

informal questions daily routine

Faccio colazione alle otto.

I have breakfast at eight.

IPA /ˈfattʃo kolatˈtsjone ˈalle ˈɔtto/

Say it FAHT-choh koh-laht-TSYOH-neh AHL-leh OHT-toh

fare colazione = to have breakfast.

neutral daily routine food

Faccio la doccia la sera.

I have a shower in the evening.

IPA /ˈfattʃo la ˈdottʃa la ˈsɛra/

Say it FAHT-choh lah DOHT-chah lah SEH-rah

fare la doccia = to have a shower.

neutral daily routine

Prima mi lavo, poi mi vesto.

First I wash, then I get dressed.

IPA /ˈprima mi ˈlavo ˈpɔi mi ˈvɛsto/

Say it PREE-mah mee LAH-voh POY mee VEH-stoh

neutral daily routine sequence reflexive

Vado a letto tardi.

I go to bed late.

IPA /ˈvado a ˈlɛtto ˈtardi/

Say it VAH-doh ah LEHT-toh TAR-dee

andare a letto = to go to bed.

neutral daily routine time

A che ora vai a letto?

What time do you go to bed?

IPA /a ke ˈɔra ˈvai a ˈlɛtto/

Say it ah keh OH-rah VYE ah LEHT-toh

informal questions daily routine

Mi addormento subito.

I fall asleep straight away.

IPA /mi addorˈmento ˈsubito/

Say it mee ahd-dohr-MEHN-toh SOO-bee-toh

neutral daily routine reflexive

Di solito mi riposo dopo pranzo.

I usually rest after lunch.

IPA /di ˈsɔlito mi riˈpozo ˈdopo ˈprandzo/

Say it dee SOH-lee-toh mee ree-POH-zoh DOH-poh PRAHN-dzoh

neutral daily routine frequency

Alzati! È tardi!

Get up! It's late!

IPA /alˈtsati ɛ ˈtardi/

Say it ahl-TSAH-tee eh TAR-dee

In commands the pronoun joins the verb: alza + ti.

informal commands reflexive

Sbrigati! Il caffè è pronto!

Hurry up! The coffee's ready!

IPA /ˈzbriɡati il kafˈfɛ ɛ ˈpronto/

Say it ZBREE-gah-tee eel kahf-FEH eh PROHN-toh

informal commands reflexive

Capisco l'italiano, ma non parlo bene.

I understand Italian, but I don't speak well.

IPA /kaˈpisko litaˈljano ma non ˈparlo ˈbɛne/

Say it kah-PEE-skoh lee-tah-LYAH-noh mah nohn PAR-loh BEH-neh

neutral languages -isc verbs

Non capisco.

I don't understand.

IPA /non kaˈpisko/

Say it nohn kah-PEE-skoh

One of the most useful phrases in any conversation.

neutral classroom -isc verbs

Finisco di lavorare alle sei.

I finish work at six.

IPA /fiˈnisko di lavoˈrare ˈalle ˈsɛi/

Say it fee-NEE-skoh dee lah-voh-RAH-reh AHL-leh SAY

finire di + infinitive = to finish doing something.

neutral work -isc verbs time

Preferisco il tè.

I prefer tea.

IPA /prefeˈrisko il ˈtɛ/

Say it preh-feh-REE-skoh eel TEH

neutral preferences -isc verbs

Preferisco alzarmi presto.

I prefer to get up early.

IPA /prefeˈrisko alˈtsarmi ˈprɛsto/

Say it preh-feh-REE-skoh ahl-TSAR-mee PREH-stoh

With an infinitive the pronoun attaches to the end: alzarsi → alzarmi.

neutral preferences reflexive

Pulisco la casa il sabato.

I clean the house on Saturdays.

IPA /puˈlisko la ˈkaza il ˈsabato/

Say it poo-LEE-skoh lah KAH-zah eel SAH-bah-toh

il sabato can mean every Saturday.

neutral house -isc verbs

Ci svegliamo tardi la domenica.

We wake up late on Sundays.

IPA /tʃi zveʎˈʎamo ˈtardi la doˈmenika/

Say it chee zveh-LYAH-moh TAR-dee lah doh-MEH-nee-kah

neutral daily routine reflexive

Vi alzate presto voi due?

Do you two get up early?

IPA /vi alˈtsate ˈprɛsto voi ˈdue/

Say it vee ahl-TSAH-teh PREH-stoh VOY DOO-eh

vi is the reflexive pronoun for voi.

informal questions reflexive

Mario si alza prima di me.

Mario gets up before me.

IPA /ˈmario si ˈaltsa ˈprima di ˈme/

Say it MAH-ree-oh see AHL-tsah PREE-mah dee MEH

neutral daily routine reflexive

Si sposano a giugno.

They're getting married in June.

IPA /si ˈspozano a ˈdʒuɲɲo/

Say it see SPOH-zah-noh ah JOON-nyoh

neutral family reflexive

Dialogues

Monday morning at home

Giulia tries to get her flatmate Marco out of bed before work.

  1. Giulia

    Marco, alzati! Sono le otto!

    Marco, get up! It's eight o'clock!

  2. Marco

    Cinque minuti... Mi sveglio sempre tardi il lunedì.

    Five more minutes... I always wake up late on Mondays.

  3. Giulia

    Sbrigati! Il caffè è pronto e io esco alle otto e mezza.

    Hurry up! The coffee's ready and I leave at half past eight.

  4. Marco

    Va bene, mi alzo. Fai la doccia tu per prima?

    All right, I'm getting up. Are you having a shower first?

  5. Giulia

    Sì, poi mi vesto e faccio colazione. Tu a che ora finisci oggi?

    Yes, then I get dressed and have breakfast. What time do you finish today?

  6. Marco

    Finisco di lavorare alle sei. E tu?

    I finish work at six. And you?

  7. Giulia

    Alle cinque. Ci vediamo a casa stasera!

    At five. See you at home tonight!

  8. Marco

    Perfetto. Stasera mi riposo: non esco.

    Perfect. Tonight I'm resting: I'm not going out.

Comparing routines at the coffee machine

Colleagues Sara and Davide chat about their daily habits during a break.

  1. Sara

    A che ora ti svegli la mattina, Davide?

    What time do you wake up in the morning, Davide?

  2. Davide

    Mi sveglio alle sei e mezza, ma mi alzo alle sette.

    I wake up at half past six, but I get up at seven.

  3. Sara

    Prestissimo! Io mi sveglio alle otto.

    Very early! I wake up at eight.

  4. Davide

    E fai colazione a casa?

    And do you have breakfast at home?

  5. Sara

    No, di solito faccio colazione al bar.

    No, I usually have breakfast at the café.

  6. Davide

    Anch'io. Preferisco il caffè del bar sotto l'ufficio.

    Me too. I prefer the coffee from the café under the office.

  7. Sara

    Capisco. E la sera vai a letto presto?

    I see. And in the evening do you go to bed early?

  8. Davide

    Sì, mi addormento subito. E tu?

    Yes, I fall asleep straight away. And you?

  9. Sara

    Tardi! Guardo un film e poi dormo.

    Late! I watch a film and then I sleep.

Planning a lazy Sunday

Elena and Paolo decide how to spend their free Sunday together.

  1. Elena

    Domani è domenica. Ci svegliamo tardi?

    Tomorrow is Sunday. Shall we wake up late?

  2. Paolo

    Sì! Non lavoriamo. Ci alziamo alle dieci?

    Yes! We're not working. Shall we get up at ten?

  3. Elena

    Perfetto. Poi facciamo colazione insieme.

    Perfect. Then we'll have breakfast together.

  4. Paolo

    E il pomeriggio ci riposiamo. Sei d'accordo?

    And in the afternoon we'll rest. Do you agree?

  5. Elena

    D'accordo. La sera guardiamo un film.

    Agreed. In the evening we'll watch a film.

  6. Paolo

    È una domenica perfetta.

    It's a perfect Sunday.

  7. Elena

    Sì, noi due ci capiamo sempre!

    Yes, the two of us always understand each other!

Exercises

Multiple Choice Exercise 1

Choose the correct reflexive form.

Io ___ alle sette. (svegliarsi)
Multiple Choice Exercise 2

Choose the correct reflexive form.

Marco ___ tardi la domenica. (alzarsi)
Multiple Choice Exercise 3

Choose the correct command: Get up!

___! Il caffè è pronto!
Multiple Choice Exercise 4

Choose the correct form of capire.

Noi non ___ questo film. (capire)
Conjugation Exercise 5

Write the full reflexive form.

svegliarsi — tu (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 6

Write the full reflexive form.

vestirsi — noi (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 7

Write the correct form.

capire — io (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 8

Write the correct form.

finire — loro (present tense)
Pronoun Choice Exercise 9

Choose the correct reflexive pronoun.

Loro ___ sposano a giugno.
Pronoun Choice Exercise 10

Choose the correct reflexive pronoun.

Voi ___ svegliate alle sei?
Fill Gap Exercise 11

Fill the gap with the correct verb form.

Mi ___ alle sei e mezza. (alzarsi)
Fill Gap Exercise 12

Fill the gap with the correct form of fare.

Di solito ___ la doccia la sera. (fare, io)
Fill Gap Exercise 13

Fill the gap with the full reflexive form.

I bambini ___ subito la sera. (addormentarsi)
Fill Gap Exercise 14

Fill the gap with the reflexive infinitive for io.

Preferisco ___ presto la mattina. (alzarsi, infinitive)
Translate To Italian Exercise 15

Translate into Italian.

I wake up at seven.
Translate To Italian Exercise 16

Translate into Italian (informal you).

What time do you go to bed?
Translate To Italian Exercise 17

Translate into Italian.

We get up late on Sundays.
Translate To Italian Exercise 18

Translate into Italian.

I prefer tea.
Translate To English Exercise 19

Translate into English.

Mario si sveglia prima di me.
Translate To English Exercise 20

Translate into English.

Si sposano a giugno.
Translate To English Exercise 21

Translate into English.

Non capisco la domanda.
Word Order Exercise 22

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: I wake up early.
Word Order Exercise 23

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: They get married in June.
Match Pairs Exercise 24

Tap a person, then tap its pronoun.

Match each person to its reflexive pronoun.
Match Pairs Exercise 25

Tap an item, then tap its form.

Match each person and verb to the correct -isc form.
Listen And Type Exercise 26

Play the audio, then type exactly what you hear.

Listen and write the Italian sentence.
True False Exercise 27

True or false?

In the present tense, reflexive pronouns come after the verb.
True False Exercise 28

True or false?

Noi capiamo takes -isc- just like io capisco.
Sentence Transform Exercise 29

Rewrite the sentence so that I wash myself, using lavarsi.

Lavo la macchina. (io)
Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 30

Say the sentence aloud, then show the meaning and rate yourself.

Di solito mi sveglio presto e faccio la doccia.

Speak now

Say each sentence aloud three times: once slowly, once at normal speed, once from memory. Then change the times and say the true version for your own day.

  • Mi sveglio alle sei e mi alzo subito. I wake up at six and I get up straight away.
  • La mattina mi lavo, mi vesto e faccio colazione. In the morning I wash, I get dressed and I have breakfast.
  • Di solito finisco di lavorare alle cinque. I usually finish work at five.
  • La sera mi riposo e vado a letto presto. In the evening I rest and go to bed early.
  • Alzati! Sbrigati! È tardi! Get up! Hurry up! It's late!

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

  1. Say all six reflexive pronouns from memory: mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si
  2. Conjugate svegliarsi and alzarsi in the present tense
  3. Describe your morning in at least three sentences with prima, poi, dopo
  4. Say when you wake up and when you go to bed
  5. Use capisco, finisco and preferisco correctly, including the noi forms
  6. Give the two commands Alzati! and Sbrigati! without looking

Remember this

  • Reflexive verbs put mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si before the verb: mi sveglio, ti alzi, si veste.
  • In the dictionary they end in -si: alzarsi. After another verb, the pronoun attaches to the infinitive: preferisco alzarmi presto.
  • In tu commands the pronoun joins the end: Alzati! Sbrigati! (voi: Alzatevi! Sbrigatevi!)
  • capire, finire, preferire and pulire insert -isc- everywhere except noi and voi: capisco but capiamo.
  • Sequence your day with prima, poi, dopo — and say how often with di solito and sempre.

Go deeper: Reflexive verbs · -isc verbs · -ire verbs · Present tense · Time and dates