Spanish word

se

Pronunciation

IPA/se/

Meaning

  • pronounpassive marker

Example

Aquí se habla español.

Spanish is spoken here.

Illustration for se (passive marker)

More examples

En el parque se prohíbe fumar.

In the park smoking is prohibited.

Core concept

Action affecting the subject.

Common phrases

  • se llama

    is called

  • se prohíbe

    is prohibited

  • se ofrece

    is offered

Similar words

me: Marks the speaker as the verb's object ('me').
te: Marks the listener as the verb's object ('you' singular).
nos: Marks a group including the speaker as the verb's object ('us').
os: Marks the addressed group as the verb's object ('you' plural, informal).

Definition in Spanish

Funciona como marca de que el sujeto recibe la acción o de que no hay agente explícito, y también forma verbos pronominales con cambios de significado.

Word origin

From Latin se, originally a reflexive pronoun that became a clitic in Spanish and now signals that the subject receives the action or that no agent is specified.

Usage tips

  • Many verbs change meaning when combined with se (quejarse, equivocarse, arrepentirse), so each verb is best remembered together with its se form rather than assumed to match an English reflexive.

Other meanings

  • each otheradverb
  • oneselfpronoun

Word lists with this word