mir or mich? German Reflexive Pronouns Explained
Mir or mich? This small choice makes many learners hesitate with reflexive verbs. In this lesson from YourGermanTeacher, Luzi shows when the reflexive pronoun is accusative and when it is dative, with clear rules and examples.
The Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns exist in the accusative and the dative. They only differ in the first and second person singular. All other persons use the same form in both cases.
| Person | Accusative | Dative |
|---|---|---|
| ich | mich | mir |
| du | dich | dir |
| er / sie / es | sich | sich |
| wir | uns | uns |
| ihr | euch | euch |
| sie / Sie | sich | sich |
The Default: Accusative
Most of the time the reflexive pronoun is accusative: Ich wasche mich. Ich freue mich. Du erinnerst dich. When there is no other object in the sentence, choose mich or dich.
The Exception: Dative with Another Accusative Object
If the sentence already has a direct object in the accusative, the reflexive pronoun is dative. A sentence can only have one accusative object, so the reflexive pronoun moves to the dative. Typical objects are body parts, clothes and things.
| Accusative (no other object) | Dative (with an accusative object) |
|---|---|
| Ich wasche mich. | Ich wasche mir die Hände. |
| Ich ziehe mich an. | Ich ziehe mir die Jacke an. |
| Du putzt dich. | Du putzt dir die Zähne. |
| Ich stelle mich vor. | Ich kann mir das gut vorstellen. |
A quick test: look for another object, like die Hände, die Jacke or das. If there is one, use mir or dir. If not, use mich or dich. In the third person, sich is always the same, so you never have to decide.
Summary
No second accusative object: mich / dich. With a second accusative object: mir / dir. For er/sie/es, wir, ihr and sie/Sie the form does not change.
Bonus Tip: Reflexive Verbs with Prepositions
When a reflexive verb has a fixed preposition, the reflexive pronoun does not change. It stays accusative, even if the preposition takes the dative. Look at Ich bedanke mich bei meinem Onkel. The preposition bei takes the dative (meinem Onkel), but the pronoun is still mich. The preposition and the reflexive pronoun are independent of each other.
What to Learn Next
Practise the reflexive verbs in German Reflexive Verbs with Accusative Explained, and learn the vocabulary in All A1 German Reflexive Verbs with Prepositions. For the two cases, review What Is Akkusativ? German Cases Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use mir and when mich with reflexive verbs?
Use mich (and dich) by default. Use mir (and dir) when the sentence already has another accusative object, such as die Hände or die Jacke.
Is it Ich wasche mich or Ich wasche mir?
Ich wasche mich has no other object. Ich wasche mir die Hände has an accusative object (die Hände), so the pronoun is dative.
Do reflexive pronouns change in the third person?
No. In the third person and in wir, ihr and sie/Sie the accusative and dative forms are the same: sich, uns, euch.
Which case do the pronouns take after a preposition in a reflexive verb?
The reflexive pronoun stays accusative, even when the preposition takes the dative: Ich bedanke mich bei meinem Onkel.
What is a quick test for mir or mich?
Check for another accusative object in the sentence. If it is there, use mir or dir. If not, use mich or dich.
Learn all the German cases and reflexive verbs step by step in the A2 German online course from YourGermanTeacher.
