sentar
/sen-TAR/
to sit down
Sentarse means 'to sit down'.
sentar(verb)
to sit down
?Used reflexively: sentarse
to take a seat
?Used reflexively
📝 In Action
Me siento en la silla porque estoy cansado.
A1I sit down in the chair because I am tired.
Por favor, siéntate aquí. No sientas miedo.
A1Please, sit down here. (Note: The command form is siéntate, using the stem change.)
¿Dónde se sientan los invitados?
A2Where are the guests sitting?
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive Rule
To say 'I sit down' (an action you do to yourself), you must use the reflexive form: 'sentarse'. Remember the pronoun must match the subject: 'Yo me siento', 'Tú te sientas'.
Stem Change E > IE
In the present tense, the 'e' changes to 'ie' in all forms except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. Think: 'sIEnto' but 'sentamos'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Yo siento en el sofá."
Correction: Yo me siento en el sofá. (If you forget 'me', you are saying 'I seat [someone else] on the sofa.')
Sentar can mean 'to seat' someone.
sentar(verb)
to seat
?To cause someone to sit
to place
?To arrange people
📝 In Action
El camarero nos sentó en una mesa cerca de la ventana.
A2The waiter seated us at a table near the window.
Mi trabajo es sentar a los invitados.
B1My job is to seat the guests.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Action
When you use 'sentar' without a reflexive pronoun, you are performing the action on someone else (the direct object).
When clothing looks good on someone, we say the style 'suits' them. (Sentar means 'to suit').
sentar(verb)
to suit
?Clothing or style looks good
,to agree with
?Food agrees with one's stomach
to feel right
?An action or decision
,to establish
?Figurative: sentar un precedente
📝 In Action
Ese color verde te sienta muy bien.
B1That green color suits you very well.
La comida picante no me sienta bien por la noche.
B1Spicy food doesn't agree with me at night.
El juez sentó un precedente con su decisión.
C1The judge established a precedent with his decision.
💡 Grammar Points
Used like 'Gustar'
When talking about suitability (food/clothing), 'sentar' often works backward, like 'gustar'. The thing (food, color) is the subject, and the person is the indirect object (me, te, le, etc.).
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about Health
If you want to say something made you sick, use 'sentar mal'. Example: 'El marisco me sentó mal' (The seafood made me feel ill).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sentar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the reflexive form of 'sentar'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sentar' and 'sentir'?
'Sentar' means 'to sit' or 'to seat someone' (or 'to suit'). 'Sentir' is a different stem-changing verb meaning 'to feel' (emotions or physical sensations). They are often confused because they look similar.
How do I give a command to sit down?
The most common command is the reflexive imperative: 'Siéntate' (informal 'tú') or 'Siéntese' (formal 'usted'). Remember to attach the reflexive pronoun ('te' or 'se') to the end of the verb.