Reflexive verbs
Verbs like alzarsi and svegliarsi carry a small pronoun that points the action back at the subject.
A reflexive verb describes an action the subject does to itself. In the infinitive it ends in -si: alzarsi (to get up), svegliarsi (to wake up), vestirsi (to get dressed), chiamarsi (to be called).
In the present tense the reflexive pronoun comes before the verb and changes with the subject: mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si. So alzarsi becomes mi alzo, ti alzi, si alza, ci alziamo, vi alzate, si alzano. Otherwise the verb conjugates normally.
Many Italian reflexives are not reflexive in English: Come ti chiami? (What is your name?, literally how do you call yourself), Mi sento bene (I feel well). In the passato prossimo all reflexive verbs take essere, and the participle agrees with the subject: Mi sono alzata alle sette (I got up at seven, said by a woman).
Examples
- Mi sveglio alle sei. I wake up at six.
- Come ti chiami? What is your name?
- Si alza tardi la domenica. He gets up late on Sundays.
- Ci vediamo domani! See you tomorrow!
- Mi sono vestita in fretta. I got dressed in a hurry. (female speaker)
Common mistake
Dropping the reflexive pronoun (io alzo alle sette) — without mi the verb means you raise something else. Getting up is mi alzo.