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sentido

/sen-TEE-doh/

sense

A child's hand gently touching the soft, colorful petals of a large flower, illustrating the sense of touch.

Sentido (sense) refers to the five physical abilities, such as the sense of touch.

sentido(Noun)

mA2

sense

?

one of the five physical abilities: sight, hearing, etc.

📝 In Action

El ser humano tiene cinco sentidos: vista, oído, olfato, gusto y tacto.

A2

The human being has five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

Los perros tienen un sentido del olfato muy desarrollado.

B1

Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • el sentido de la vista – the sense of sight
  • el sentido del oído – the sense of hearing
  • agudizar los sentidos – to sharpen the senses

⭐ Usage Tips

Always Masculine

When talking about the five senses, 'sentido' is always a masculine noun. You'll always say 'el sentido' or 'los sentidos'.

A simple illustration showing a tangled string or puzzle piece resolving itself into a clear, single line, symbolizing clarity and meaning.

Sentido (meaning) refers to the logic or concept behind something, often used in the phrase 'tiene sentido' (it makes sense).

sentido(Noun)

mB1

meaning

?

the idea or concept of something

,

sense

?

as in 'it makes sense' or 'it doesn't make sense'

Also:

point

?

as in 'what's the point?'

📝 In Action

No entiendo el sentido de tu pregunta.

B1

I don't understand the meaning of your question.

Lo que dices no tiene ningún sentido.

B1

What you're saying makes no sense at all.

Ahora todo tiene sentido.

B1

Now everything makes sense.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • significado (meaning)
  • lógica (logic)

Common Collocations

  • en cierto sentido – in a certain sense / in a way
  • en el sentido más amplio – in the broadest sense

Idioms & Expressions

  • no tener sentido – to not make sense
  • buscarle tres pies al gato – to overcomplicate things, to look for a hidden meaning that isn't there

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Sentido' vs. 'Significado'

Mistake: "Using 'significado' in the phrase 'no tiene significado'."

Correction: Always say 'no tiene sentido' to mean 'it doesn't make sense'. While 'significado' also means 'meaning', it's used for the definition of a word, not for logic or reason.

⭐ Usage Tips

A Phrase You'll Use Daily

The phrase 'tiene sentido' (it makes sense) and 'no tiene sentido' (it doesn't make sense) are incredibly useful in everyday conversation. Practice them until they feel natural!

A simple illustration of a straight road with a large, clear painted arrow showing the single direction of travel for a tiny vehicle.

Sentido (direction) is used to describe the way traffic or movement is oriented, as in 'sentido único' (one-way).

sentido(Noun)

mB1

direction

?

of traffic or movement

Also:

way

?

e.g., a one-way street

📝 In Action

Esta calle es de sentido único.

B1

This is a one-way street.

Los coches vienen en sentido contrario.

B2

The cars are coming in the opposite direction.

Debes cambiar de sentido en la rotonda.

B2

You should change direction at the roundabout.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dirección (direction)

Common Collocations

  • sentido único – one way
  • doble sentido – two way
  • sentido contrario – opposite direction
  • cambiar de sentido – to turn around, to change direction

⭐ Usage Tips

Directions and Driving

This meaning is almost exclusively for movement. You'll see 'sentido único' on street signs and hear 'sentido contrario' as a warning when driving.

A cartoon character wisely wearing a heavy coat and hat while walking in the snow, illustrating common sense.

Sentido (judgment/sense) is often used in set phrases like 'sentido común' (common sense).

sentido(Noun)

mB2

consciousness

?

the state of being awake and aware

Also:

judgment

?

as in 'common sense'

,

awareness

?

as in 'a sense of duty'

📝 In Action

Por favor, usa el sentido común.

B1

Please, use common sense.

Tiene un gran sentido del humor.

B1

He has a great sense of humor.

El boxeador perdió el sentido tras el golpe.

B2

The boxer lost consciousness after the punch.

Actuó con un profundo sentido de la responsabilidad.

C1

She acted with a deep sense of responsibility.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • consciencia (consciousness)
  • juicio (judgment)

Common Collocations

  • sentido común – common sense
  • sentido del humor – sense of humor
  • sentido del deber – sense of duty
  • perder el sentido – to lose consciousness, to faint

⭐ Usage Tips

Learn the Phrases

This meaning is most often found inside fixed phrases like 'sentido común' or 'sentido del humor'. It's best to learn these as complete vocabulary chunks.

A person holding a letter close to their chest, where a glowing, symbolic heart is visible, representing deep, heartfelt emotion.

Sentido (heartfelt) is the past participle of the verb 'sentir' (to feel), used as an adjective to describe something sincere and deeply felt, like a heartfelt speech.

sentido(Adjective / Past Participle)

mB1

offended

?

feeling hurt by something someone said or did

,

heartfelt

?

deeply and strongly felt

Also:

sensitive

?

easily offended

,

resentful

?

feeling bitter

📝 In Action

Fue un discurso muy sentido y emocionante.

B2

It was a very heartfelt and emotional speech.

Ella está muy sentida contigo porque no la llamaste.

B1

She is very offended with you because you didn't call her.

Mis más sentidas condolencias.

C1

My most heartfelt condolences.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ofendido (offended)
  • dolido (hurt)
  • emotivo (emotional)

Idioms & Expressions

  • darse por sentido – to take offense

💡 Grammar Points

A Word That Describes

'Sentido' is the past participle of the verb 'sentir' (to feel). This means it can be used like an adjective to describe a noun. Because it's an adjective, it must change to match the noun it describes: 'un discurso sentido' (a heartfelt speech) but 'una carta sentida' (a heartfelt letter).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting to Change the Ending

Mistake: "Mi amiga está muy sentido."

Correction: Mi amiga está muy sentida. Because 'amiga' is feminine, the adjective 'sentida' must also be feminine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing People vs. Things

When describing a person ('estar sentido'), it usually means they are 'offended' or 'hurt'. When describing a thing like a speech or a letter, it usually means 'heartfelt'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sentido

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'sentido' to mean 'direction'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

sentir(to feel) - verb
sentimiento(feeling, sentiment) - noun
sensación(sensation, feeling) - noun
sensible(sensitive) - adjective
consentido(spoiled, pampered) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'sentido' and 'significado'?

They can both mean 'meaning', but there's a slight difference. 'Significado' is more like a dictionary definition—the specific meaning of a single word. 'Sentido' is broader and refers to the overall sense, logic, or implication of a phrase, action, or situation. That's why you say 'no tiene sentido' (it's not logical) and not 'no tiene significado'.

How do I know if 'sentido' means 'offended' or 'heartfelt'?

It depends on what it's describing. If it's describing a person's state ('estar sentido'), it almost always means they are offended or have hurt feelings. If it's describing a thing, like a speech ('un discurso sentido') or a letter ('una carta sentida'), it means it was sincere and full of emotion, or 'heartfelt'.