The Present Tense of lavarse is used to describe actions of washing oneself that are happening right now or that occur habitually. For example, Me lavo las manos antes de comer. (I wash my hands before eating.)

Lavarse is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the present tense follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Lavarse (to wash oneself) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Lavarse generally means to wash oneself, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To wash oneself: for example, Yo me lavo las manos antes de comer. (I wash my hands before eating.)

To bathe: for example, Ellos se lavan todas las noches. (They bathe every night.)

To clean: for example, Nosotros nos lavamos los dientes después de cada comida. (We clean our teeth after every meal.)

To wash (clothes, dishes, etc.): for example, Tú te lavas la ropa los domingos. (You wash your clothes on Sundays.)

To clear one’s name (colloquial): for example, Ella se lava las manos de ese asunto. (She washes her hands of that matter.)

To make a quick profit (slang): for example, Ellos se lavan la cara con ese negocio. (They make a quick profit from that business.)

Examples

Examples of Lavarse in the Present Tense

Todos los días me lavo la cara por la mañana. (Every day I wash my face in the morning.)

¿Te lavas las manos antes de comer? (Do you wash your hands before eating?)

Mi hermana lava su ropa los domingos. (My sister washes her clothes on Sundays.)

En el hotel, me lavo los dientes antes de acostarme. (At the hotel, I brush my teeth before going to bed.)

¿Con qué frecuencia lavas tu auto? (How often do you wash your car?)

Después de jugar fútbol, los jugadores lavan sus uniformes. (After playing soccer, the players wash their uniforms.)

Antes de cocinar, me lavo muy bien las manos. (Before cooking, I wash my hands very well.)

¿Te lavas la cara con agua fría o tibia? (Do you wash your face with cold or warm water?)

Mi mamá lava los platos después de cada comida. (My mom washes the dishes after every meal.)

Cuando estoy sucio, me lavo en la regadera. (When I’m dirty, I shower.)

¿Lavas tu ropa a mano o usas la lavadora? (Do you wash your clothes by hand or use the washing machine?)

Después del trabajo, lavo mi uniforme de mesero. (After work, I wash my server uniform.)

Antes de salir, me lavo la cara y me peino. (Before going out, I wash my face and comb my hair.)

¿Con qué frecuencia lavas tus sábanas? (How often do you wash your sheets?)

Mi hijo lava su carro los sábados por la mañana. (My son washes his car on Saturday mornings.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Lavarse (to wash oneself) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.