What Are "Verbes Essentiellement Pronominaux" in French?

If you have been studying French grammar, you have likely learned that you can turn many standard verbs into pronominal verbs by adding a reflexive pronoun. You can take laver (to wash) and turn it into se laver (to wash oneself).

But did you know that there is a secret category of French verbs that only exist in the pronominal form?

These are called Les verbes essentiellement pronominaux (Essentially Pronominal Verbs). Understanding how they work is a major milestone in mastering advanced French and avoiding common mistakes on the TEF and TCF exams.

What is an Essentially Pronominal Verb?