Impersonal se: general statements (people say, one does)
Se + a verb in the 3rd person singular says what people do in general, without saying who: se vive bien aquí, people live well here.
The rule at a glance
se + verb in the 3rd person singular = "people / one / you" in general
Se vive bien aquí = people live well here
General statements
se cena
people have dinner
En España se cena muy tarde.
In Spain people have dinner very late.
Rules and signs
se puede
one can, you can
No se puede fumar aquí.
You can't smoke here.
Advice
se debe · se recomienda
one should · it is recommended
Se recomienda llegar temprano.
It's recommended to arrive early.
Not impersonal: passive se
se vende / se venden
is sold / are sold
Se venden pisos en esta calle.
Flats are for sale on this street.
How it works
Impersonal se (se impersonal) makes general statements about actions without saying who performs them. It's like "one does", "people do" or "you (in general) do" in English, but much more common and natural in Spanish.
The basic formula: se + verb (3rd person singular, always)
The verb stays singular, even with plural people after it, introduced by a (Se ayuda a los mayores). When the plural noun is the thing sold, rented and so on, that's passive se and the verb agrees: Se venden casas.
Se trabaja mucho en esta empresa. People work hard at this company.
Se come bien en Italia. People eat well in Italy / One eats well in Italy.
Se vive más tranquilo en el campo. One lives more peacefully in the countryside.
Common with intransitive verbs
Impersonal se is especially common with intransitive verbs: verbs that don't take a direct object.
| Verb | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| trabajar (to work) | Se trabaja duro aquí | People work hard here |
| vivir (to live) | Se vive mejor aquí | One lives better here |
| dormir (to sleep) | Se duerme bien aquí | One sleeps well here |
| llegar (to arrive) | Se llega temprano | One arrives early |
Impersonal se vs passive se
Impersonal se is always singular. Passive se agrees with the noun, because the verb (vender, alquilar) has an object. See the passive se section of the passive voice page for more.
| Type | Example | English | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impersonal | Se trabaja mucho aquí | People work hard here | Intransitive verb: always singular |
| Passive (singular) | Se vende casa | House for sale | Transitive verb: agrees with the singular noun |
| Passive (plural) | Se venden casas | Houses for sale | Transitive verb: agrees with the plural noun |
Transitive (takes an object)
vender (sell what?)
Use passive se: the verb agrees with the noun.
Intransitive (no object)
trabajar (work: no object)
Use impersonal se: always singular.
When to use it
1. General statements and cultural observations
What people do in general, in a place or a culture.
En España se cena muy tarde. In Spain people have dinner very late.
Mexico: En México se come mucho picante. In Mexico people eat a lot of spicy food.
Aquí se vive tranquilo. Here one lives peacefully.
En esta ciudad se trabaja demasiado. In this city people work too much.
2. How well or how much: se + verb + adverb
Se + verb + bien, mal, mucho or another adverb.
Se come bien aquí. People eat well here.
Se duerme mal en los aviones. One sleeps badly on planes.
Se vive bien en Suiza. People live well in Switzerland.
Se aprende rápido. One learns quickly.
3. Rules, advice and obligation: se puede, se debe, se tiene que
Se + poder, deber or tener que + infinitive.
Se debe estudiar todos los días. One should study every day.
Se tiene que trabajar duro. One has to work hard.
No se puede correr aquí. You can't run here.
Se aprende más practicando. One learns more by practising.
4. Signs and notices
Short, formal notices. With a noun after the verb these are really passive se, so the verb agrees with the noun: Se alquila piso, but Se alquilan pisos and Se prohíben las mascotas.
Prohibition: Se prohíbe el paso. No entry / Passage prohibited.
Request: Se ruega silencio. Silence requested / Please be quiet.
Advertisement: Se alquila piso. Flat for rent.
Common mistakes
Not this (incorrect): Se trabajan mucho aquí
But this (correct): Se trabaja mucho aquí – People work hard here. "People" sounds plural, but impersonal se with an intransitive verb (trabajar, vivir, dormir) is always singular.
Not this (incorrect): Se vende casas
But this (correct): Se venden casas – Houses for sale. This is passive se (transitive verb): the verb must agree with the plural noun.
Quick check
8 questions1. Complete: 'En España ___ tarde' (people have dinner late)
Impersonal se uses 3rd person singular: se cena (always singular with intransitive verbs).
2. Which is correct for 'People work hard here'?
Impersonal se + singular verb: Se trabaja mucho aquí (verb stays singular).
3. What's the difference? 'Se trabaja' vs 'Se venden coches'
'Se trabaja' is impersonal se (always singular). 'Se venden coches' is passive se (agrees with 'coches').
4. How do you say 'One lives well here'?
Impersonal se with intransitive verb: Se vive bien aquí (singular).
5. Complete the sign: 'No ___ fumar' (No smoking)
Impersonal se + poder: No se puede fumar (always singular).
6. Which verb form is correct? 'Se ___ mejor en el campo'
Impersonal se uses 3rd person singular: Se vive mejor (one lives better).
7. When should you NOT use impersonal se?
Don't use impersonal se for specific people. Say 'Trabajo aquí', not 'Se trabaja aquí'.
8. Which uses impersonal se correctly?
'Se come bien aquí' is correct: impersonal se with 'comer' used without an object in a general statement.
Practise using impersonal se for general statements.
Going further
More examples
More examples
Se cocina con aceite de oliva. People cook with olive oil.
Se puede fumar aquí. One can smoke here / Smoking allowed.
No se debe correr. One shouldn't run / Running not allowed.
Se está tranquilo aquí. It's peaceful here / One is peaceful here.
For unplanned events (se me cayó, se te olvidó), see accidental se.