Reciprocal nos, os, se: each other

Explanation

With a plural subject, the reflexive pronouns nos, os, se can express a mutual action — 'each other': se conocen ('they know each other'), nos ayudamos ('we help each other'), se quieren mucho. The form is identical to the reflexive; the plural subject and the meaning make it reciprocal.

Because se abrazaron could in theory mean 'they hugged themselves' or 'they hugged each other', Spanish disambiguates the reciprocal reading with el uno al otro / la una a la otra (or los unos a los otros) or the adverb mutuamente: se miraron el uno al otro.

Many common verbs are naturally reciprocal in the plural: conocerse, verse, escribirse, llevarse (bien/mal), entenderse, pelearse. Context almost always makes the 'each other' reading obvious without extra words.

Examples

Related rules

• Reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, os, se