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Verbs born with 'se'

When you first learn about Spanish reflexive verbs, you usually see them used for daily routines. You learn that adding a pronoun like me or se means the subject is doing the action to themselves. However, a special group of Spanish verbs breaks this logical rule. These verbs are permanently attached to a reflexive pronoun, and the pronoun does not mean "oneself".

These inherently reflexive verbs, sometimes called verbs that always use a pronoun, simply do not exist without their pronouns. Because English usually translates these concepts with plain, standard verbs, English speakers frequently make the mistake of dropping the essential Spanish pronoun.

Word list
quejarseB1 to complain quejarse de = to complain about arrepentirseB2 to regret arrepentirse de = to regret atreverseB2 to dare atreverse a = to dare jactarseC1 to brag jactarse de = to boast about percatarseC1 to notice percatarse de = to notice, to become aware of inmiscuirseC2 to interfere inmiscuirse en = to interfere in, to meddle in
The permanent pronoun

With inherently reflexive verbs, the pronoun acts as a fixed part of the word's DNA. For example, the verb quejarse means to complain. There is no standard verb quejar that you can use on its own. You must always include the matching pronoun for the person doing the action.

If you want to say that you complain, you have to use me. If he complains, you must use se.

Siempre me quejo del ruido en esta calle.
(I always complain about the noise on this street.)
Mi hermano se queja de todo.
(My brother complains about everything.)

Another common verb in this category is arrepentirse, which means to regret. Just like with complaining, you cannot regret something in Spanish without using the reflexive pronoun.

Ella se arrepintió de sus palabras.
(She regretted her words.)
Nosotros nos arrepentimos de no ir a la fiesta.
(We regret not going to the party.)
Hooking them up to other words

You will notice that these verbs often require a specific preposition to connect to the rest of the sentence. The verbs quejarse, arrepentirse, and jactarse all require the preposition de before the noun or action that follows.

El jefe se jacta de su riqueza.
(The boss boasts about his wealth.)
No me arrepiento de mi decisión.
(I do not regret my decision.)

On the other hand, the verb atreverse connects to following verbs with the preposition a. Notice how the pronoun is still mandatory, even though the English translation "to dare" has no reflexive feeling at all.

No me atrevo a decírselo.
(I don't dare tell him.)
¿Te atreves a saltar al agua fría?
(Do you dare to jump into the cold water?)
Watch out

When using these verbs in the infinitive form, you still have to make sure the pronoun matches the person you are talking about. It is a common mistake to leave the pronoun as se at the end of the word when talking about yourself. If you are the one complaining, the infinitive must end in me.

No quiero quejarme de la comida.
(I don't want to complain about the food.)
Tienes que atreverte a intentar cosas nuevas.
(You have to dare to try new things.)
Summary

Some Spanish verbs are born with a reflexive pronoun permanently attached to them. Words like quejarse and atreverse do not exist without their pronouns, and the pronoun does not mean you are doing the action to yourself. Always remember to include the pronoun and match it to the subject of your sentence.