Sentir means "to feel" or "to perceive," and is a transitive verb (it takes a direct object). Sentirse is the reflexive form meaning "to feel oneself" and is used to talk about how someone feels internally or emotionally.
- Sentir is used when feeling something external or when perceiving a sensation.
- Sentirse is used to describe one's own internal or emotional state.
- Sentir can mean "to feel," "to sense," or "to regret."
- Sentirse is always about how someone experiences a state or condition.
Sentir
Sentir uses a direct object to indicate what is being felt or perceived. It can refer to physical sensations, emotions, or even regret.
- Example: Siento frío. (I feel cold.) — physical sensation
- Example: Siento tristeza. (I feel sadness.) — emotional perception
- Example: Siento que no puedo ir. (I’m sorry I can’t go.) — expressing regret
Sentir can also be followed by que + subjunctive to express regret or a polite apology.
Use with Emotions and Sensations
Describes perceiving an emotion or sensation.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Siento miedo. | I feel fear. |
| Siento dolor en la espalda. | I feel pain in my back. |
Use with Nouns
Can be followed directly by a noun describing the feeling.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Siento paciencia. | I feel patience. |
| Sienten alegría. | They feel joy. |
Use with Que + Subjunctive
Expresses regret or apology about a situation.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Siento que no puedas venir. | I’m sorry you can’t come. |
| Siento que haya problemas. | I regret that there are problems. |
Sentirse
Sentirse is always reflexive, focusing on how someone feels internally, often followed by adjectives or adverbs describing mood, health, or state.
- Example: Me siento cansado. (I feel tired.)
- Example: ¿Cómo te sientes? (How do you feel?)
- Example: Nos sentimos felices. (We feel happy.)
Use with Adjectives
Most common usage: describing mood, health, or condition.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me siento bien. | I feel well. |
| Se siente enfermo. | He feels sick. |
Use with Adverbs
Sometimes describes how someone feels.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me siento mal. | I feel bad. |
| Nos sentimos peor. | We feel worse. |
Use as a Question
Commonly used in questions about well-being.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo te sientes? | How do you feel? |
| ¿Se sienten cómodos? | Do you feel comfortable? |
Key Differences
- Sentir takes a direct object (noun or pronoun).
- Sentirse is reflexive and followed by adjectives or adverbs.
- Sentir = to perceive or experience something externally.
- Sentirse = to experience a feeling or state internally.
| Sentir | Sentirse |
|---|---|
| Siento alegría. | Me siento alegre. |
| Siento frío. | Me siento frío. |
| Siento que no puedes venir. | — (Not used reflexively here) |
Which sentence is NOT correct?
Me siento que no puedes venir.
'Siento que no puedes venir' is correct for expressing regret. The reflexive form 'me siento' cannot be used with 'que' in this way, so 'Me siento que no puedes venir' is incorrect.
Summary
Use sentir when directly stating what is felt (something/someone), including emotional or physical sensations, or when expressing regret. Use sentirse when describing one's own internal emotional or physical state, typically followed by an adjective or adverb.
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- English: I feel fear.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
