Meaning and Use
The verb sentir means to feel in English and is used to express emotions, sensations, or physical feelings. It can also communicate regret or sympathy depending on the context. It is considered an irregular verb because of its stem change and spelling changes in certain forms.
Verb Type
Sentir is a stem-changing verb, specifically an e → ie stem changer in the present tense and present subjunctive. It is also a -ir verb, which means certain forms in the preterite and subjunctive moods change in characteristic ways.
Present Tense Conjugation
Here is how sentir is conjugated in the present indicative tense. The stem changes from sent- to sient- for all forms except the nosotros and vosotros:
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | siento | I feel | Yo siento frío hoy. | I feel cold today. |
| tú | sientes | you feel | ¿Tú sientes alegría? | Do you feel joy? |
| él/ella/usted | siente | he/she/you feel | Ella siente tristeza. | She feels sadness. |
| nosotros/as | sentimos | we feel | Nosotros sentimos el calor. | We feel the heat. |
| vosotros/as | sentís | you all feel | Vosotros sentís miedo. | You all feel fear. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | sienten | they/you all feel | Ellos sienten esperanza. | They feel hope. |
Past Tense Conjugation
In the preterite tense, sentir has a stem change from e to i in the third person singular and plural:
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | sentí | I felt | Yo sentí dolor ayer. | I felt pain yesterday. |
| tú | sentiste | you felt | Tú sentiste frío el invierno pasado. | You felt cold last winter. |
| él/ella/usted | sintió | he/she/you felt | Él sintió tristeza por la noticia. | He felt sadness from the news. |
| nosotros/as | sentimos | we felt | Nosotros sentimos felicidad. | We felt happiness. |
| vosotros/as | sentisteis | you all felt | Vosotros sentisteis frío también. | You all felt cold too. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | sintieron | they/you all felt | Ellos sintieron miedo durante la tormenta. | They felt fear during the storm. |
Subjunctive Mood
In the present subjunctive, the stem also changes from e to ie except in nosotros and vosotros:
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Equivalent | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | sienta | (that) I feel | Espero que yo sienta mejor. | I hope that I feel better. |
| tú | sientas | (that) you feel | Ojalá que tú sientas paz. | Hopefully you feel peace. |
| él/ella/usted | sienta | (that) he/she feels | Que ella sienta alegría. | May she feel happiness. |
| nosotros/as | sintamos | (that) we feel | Es bueno que sintamos amor. | It’s good that we feel love. |
| vosotros/as | sintáis | (that) you all feel | Quiero que sintáis respeto. | I want you all to feel respect. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | sientan | (that) they feel | Espero que ellos sientan tranquilidad. | I hope they feel tranquility. |
Common Expressions with Sentir
- Sentir mucho – to be very sorry or feel deep regret (e.g. Siento mucho lo ocurrido – I am very sorry about what happened).
- Sentir pena – to feel pity or sadness.
- Sentirse bien/mal – to feel good/bad about oneself (reflexive use).
- Sentir miedo – to feel fear.
Understanding how to conjugate and use sentir helps express a wide range of feelings and emotional states in Spanish.
