Spanish · A2 · Family moment
Getting ready for swimming in Spanish
This guide focuses on managing the changing room routine at the swimming pool using reflexive verbs. In Spanish, many daily actions like getting changed or sitting down require reflexive pronouns to show who is performing the action on themselves.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of reflexive pronouns me, te, se, and nos
- Describe the process of getting ready for an activity
- Express anticipation and basic physical actions in a changing room setting
Spanish phrases for getting ready for swimming
Nos estamos cambiando aquí.
We are getting changed here.
Uses 'nos' for 'we' and 'cambiarse' for getting changed.
Me estoy cambiando a tu lado.
I am getting changed beside you.
'A tu lado' is a helpful phrase meaning 'beside you'.
¿Te cambias solo?
Are you getting changed by yourself?
'Solo' implies alone or by yourself; use 'sola' if speaking to a girl.
Papá se está cambiando allí.
Dad is getting changed over there.
'Se' is the reflexive pronoun for he/she.
Me siento en el banco.
I am sitting down on the bench.
The verb 'sentarse' (to sit) changes its stem from 'e' to 'ie' (siento).
Puedes sentarte a mi lado.
You can sit down beside me.
When using 'can' (poder), the reflexive pronoun 'te' attaches to the end of the infinitive.
¿Te alegras de ir a nadar?
Are you looking forward to swimming?
'Alegrarse' is used here to mean being happy about or looking forward to something.
Nos alegramos de estar en el agua.
We are looking forward to the water.
Literally: 'We are happy/glad to be in the water.'
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Cambiarse
To change (clothes)
A reflexive verb; without 'se' it just means 'to change' something else.
Sentarse
To sit down
An action you do to yourself.
Banco
Bench
Commonly used in changing rooms and parks.
Lado
Side
'A mi lado' means 'by my side'.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns indicate that the subject and the object of the verb are the same. They must match the person doing the action.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I (Myself) | me | Me siento (I sit down) |
| You (Yourself) | te | ¿Te cambias? (Are you changing?) |
| He/She (Himself/Herself) | se | Se alegra (He is happy) |
| We (Ourselves) | nos | Nos cambiamos (We change) |
More examples
Primero nos cambiamos, luego nadamos.
First we get changed, then we swim.
A simple way to explain the sequence of events.
Siéntate aquí, por favor.
Sit down here, please.
This uses the command form of 'sentarse'.