Spanish reciprocal verbs and pronouns

Reciprocal verbs are used to show that two or more people are doing something or performing a reciprocal action while reciprocal pronouns indicate who is performing the reciprocal action. In this article, we will show you a list of reciprocal pronouns, common reciprocal verbs, and guide on how to use them.

Spanish reciprocal verbs

Reciprocal verbs are used to talk about actions that people do to each other.

For example:

¿Os conocéis? - Do you all know each other?

Nosotros nos escribimos todos los días -  We write to each other every day

¿Uds. se quieren? - Do you love each other?

Los estudiantes se ayudan - The students help each other

Note:

Sometimes, sentences with reciprocal actions seem to be similar to sentences with reflexive actions. Some expressions such as uno al otro, uno a otro, mutuamente, recíprocamente, entre sí, etc can be added to a phrase to differentiate a reflexive action from a reciprocal one by showing that people are doing the action on each other. These expressions can be translated as one another, each other, or mutually. In Spanish, reciprocal verbs are formed by the combination of a verb and a reciprocal pronoun.

For example:

Se aman mutuamente - They love one another

Se aman uno al otro - They love each other

No nos vemos uno a otro - We can’t see each other

Common Spanish reciprocal verbs

Below is a list of Spanish verbs that are often used to talk about reciprocal actions.

Spanish reciprocal pronouns

As reciprocal actions involve two or more people, reciprocal pronouns are always plural.  

List of Spanish reciprocal pronouns

For example:

Ella y yo nos queremos el uno al otro - She and I love each other

You may want to see: Spanish demonstrative adjectives and pronouns