Reflexive verbs: se & si
Jmenuju se… Dám si kávu.
In short
Lots of Czech verbs come with a little se or si. Roughly, se means "myself" and si means "for myself". Often you just learn them together with the verb: učit se, dát si.
- Jmenuju se Pablo.My name is Pablo.
- Učím se česky.I'm learning Czech.
- Dám si kávu.I'll have a coffee.
- Myslím si, že…I think that…
Full explanation
se is like "myself / yourself" as an object (accusative). si is "to / for myself" (dative). In practice, the verb decides, so it's easiest to learn each one with its partner.
| with se | with si |
|---|---|
| jmenovat se (be called) | dát si (have, order) |
| učit se (learn) | myslet si (think) |
| dívat se (watch) | koupit si (buy yourself) |
| bát se (be afraid) | sednout si (sit down) |
| těšit se (look forward) | lehnout si (lie down) |
| ptát se (ask) | pamatovat si (remember) |
| vracet se (come back) | hrát si (play) |
| smát se (laugh) | odpočinout si (rest) |
- se / si like to sit in second place in the sentence: Jak se jmenuješ? Zítra si koupím auto.
- Some verbs can take both, with a different meaning: Myju se. (I'm washing myself.) · Myju si ruce. (I'm washing my hands.)
- In the past tense with ty, jsi + se becomes ses, and jsi + si becomes sis: Učil ses? Dal sis kávu?