Reflejar vs. reflexionar

In Spanish, 'reflejar' and 'reflexionar' both translate to 'to reflect' in English but have different meanings and uses.

Reflejar

The word 'reflejar' means 'to reflect' in the sense of mirroring or showing an image.
El lago refleja las montañas.
(The lake reflects the mountains.)
Sus ojos reflejaban la alegría del momento.
(Her eyes reflected the joy of the moment.)
El espejo refleja mi cara.
(The mirror reflects my face.)

Reflexionar

The word 'reflexionar' means 'to reflect' in the sense of thinking deeply or pondering.
Nos tomamos un momento para reflexionar sobre lo que ocurrió.
(We took a moment to reflect on what happened.)
Es importante reflexionar antes de tomar decisiones importantes.
(It is important to reflect before making important decisions.)
Después del viaje, tuve tiempo para reflexionar sobre mis experiencias.
(After the trip, I had time to reflect on my experiences.)

Summary

While both 'reflejar' and 'reflexionar' can be translated as 'to reflect', they are used differently: 'reflejar' refers to reflecting an image, while 'reflexionar' refers to deep thought or contemplation.