sentirse
Lemma Details
Translation: to feel; to feel oneself; to consider oneself; to perceive oneself
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Sentirse is the reflexive form of 'sentir', which comes from Latin 'sentire' meaning 'to feel, perceive, or experience'. The Latin root is also the source of English words like 'sentiment', 'sensitive', and 'sensory'. The reflexive form 'sentirse' specifically refers to feelings directed toward oneself or one's own condition, adding the reflexive pronoun 'se' to the base verb.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Me siento cansado después de trabajar todo el día.
I feel tired after working all day.
Ella se siente orgullosa de sus logros.
She feels proud of her achievements.
¿Cómo te sientes hoy?
How do you feel today?
Nos sentimos felices de estar aquí.
We feel happy to be here.
Se sintió ofendido por el comentario.
He felt offended by the comment.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'sentirse' as 'to sense yourself' - both start with 'sen-'
- Connect it to English 'sentiment' - your feelings about yourself
- The reflexive '-se' reminds you that the feeling is directed back at yourself
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, expressing how one feels is an important part of communication. 'Sentirse' is frequently used to discuss emotional and physical states, and Spanish speakers often use this verb to check on others' wellbeing with phrases like '¿Cómo te sientes?'
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Sentirse' is reflexive and refers to one's own feelings or state, while 'sentir' is non-reflexive and can refer to feeling something external or expressing regret.
Confused word:
Siento tu dolor.
I feel your pain.
Notes: 'Sentir' can also mean 'to regret' or 'to be sorry' as in 'Siento mucho la confusión' (I'm very sorry about the confusion).
Mnemonic: 'Sentirse' has 'se' - it's about Self. 'Sentir' without 'se' can be about others.
Explanation: 'Sentirse' refers to feelings and perceptions, while 'asentirse' (though rare) would relate to assenting or agreeing.
Confused word:
Se asiente a la propuesta.
He assents to the proposal.
Notes: The non-reflexive form 'asentir' (to assent/agree) is much more common than the reflexive 'asentirse'.
Mnemonic: 'Asentirse' has 'a' for 'agree', while 'sentirse' is just about feelings.