Inklingo
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sentado

/sen-TAH-doh/

seated

A friendly cartoon character, a small bear, sitting calmly on a simple wooden stool in a bright, cozy room.

When referring to a physical position, 'sentado' means 'seated'.

sentado(Adjective)

mA1

seated

?

physical position

,

sitting

?

in the state of resting on a seat

Also:

sat

?

describing someone who is already down

📝 In Action

El hombre estaba sentado en el banco del parque.

A1

The man was sitting on the park bench.

¿Estás cómodo sentado en esa silla?

A2

Are you comfortable sitting in that chair?

Necesitas mantenerte sentado durante todo el vuelo.

B1

You need to remain seated throughout the whole flight.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • posado (perched)
  • acomodado (settled)

Antonyms

  • de pie (standing)
  • levantado (up/risen)

Common Collocations

  • quedarse sentado – to stay seated
  • estar sentado – to be sitting

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'sentado' must match the person's gender and number: 'sentada' (feminine singular), 'sentados' (masculine plural), 'sentadas' (feminine plural).

State vs. Action

You nearly always use 'estar' with 'sentado' because it describes the temporary state or position of a person ('Estoy sentado' = I am sitting).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Action vs. State

Mistake: "Me siento en la silla (when describing the current state of sitting)."

Correction: Estoy sentado en la silla. 'Me siento' means 'I sit down' (the action of getting into the seat).

⭐ Usage Tips

Quick command

A simple way to tell a dog 'Sit!' is '¡Siéntate!' (using the verb form), but you describe the state with 'Está sentado' (He is sitting).

A massive, ancient stone pillar standing firmly on solid ground, symbolizing stability and establishment.

'Sentado' can also mean 'established' or 'firmly set,' often used when discussing rules or ideas.

sentado(Adjective)

mB2

established

?

referring to rules or ideas

,

sound

?

referring to arguments or decisions

Also:

well-founded

?

referring to arguments or theories

,

sensible

?

referring to decisions or actions

📝 In Action

Nuestra política se basa en principios bien sentados.

B2

Our policy is based on well-established principles.

Era una decisión sentada y muy lógica.

C1

It was a sound and very logical decision.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • firme (firm)
  • sólido (solid)

Antonyms

  • débil (weak)
  • superficial (superficial)

Common Collocations

  • principios sentados – established principles
  • criterio sentado – sound judgment

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Usage

When used figuratively, 'sentado' means the idea or concept is 'solid' or 'well-rooted,' just like a person firmly seated and stable.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Context

Save this figurative meaning for serious discussions, academic writing, or business contexts.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sentado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'sentado' in the figurative sense of 'established' or 'sound'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

sentar(to seat; to feel well/ill) - verb
asiento(seat, chair) - noun
sentada(sit-in (protest)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'sentado' a verb or an adjective?

'Sentado' is the past participle of the verb *sentar* (to seat/to sit down). This means it is used primarily as an adjective to describe the state of being 'seated' (like 'closed' or 'tired').

If 'sentado' means 'seated,' how do I say the action 'I sat down'?

You use the reflexive verb *sentarse*. The action 'I sat down' is 'Me senté' (in the past) or 'Me siento' (I am sitting down right now/I sit down).