sentiste
/sen-TEES-teh/
you felt
Sentiste: When you felt a physical sensation, like the warmth of a comfortable blanket.
sentiste(verb)
you felt
?physical sensation or emotion (informal 'tú')
did you feel
?in a question
📝 In Action
¿Cómo te sentiste después de correr la maratón?
A2How did you feel after running the marathon?
Sentiste mucho frío anoche, ¿verdad?
A1You felt very cold last night, right?
Cuando viste la película, ¿qué emoción sentiste?
B1When you saw the movie, what emotion did you feel?
💡 Grammar Points
Tú vs. Usted
'Sentiste' is only used when you are speaking to someone informally (tú). If you are speaking formally or to a group, you must use 'sintió' (usted) or 'sintieron' (ustedes).
Preterite Tense Function
The preterite tense (sentiste) is used for actions that started and finished completely in the past, like a single event or reaction ('You felt cold for a moment').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Usar 'Sentías' (Imperfect) for a single completed event."
Correction: Use 'Sentiste' (Preterite) when you mean 'You felt [something specific] at one time.' Use 'Sentías' only for ongoing or habitual feelings in the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive 'Sentirse'
To talk about your personal state, use the reflexive form 'sentirte.' Example: 'Te sentiste mejor?' (Did you feel better?)
Sentiste: When you regretted an action and felt sorrow or remorse.
sentiste(verb)
you regretted
?expressing sorrow or apology (informal 'tú')
you were sorry
?expressing sympathy
📝 In Action
Cuando viste el daño, ¿lo sentiste de inmediato?
B1When you saw the damage, did you regret it immediately?
Dijiste algo grosero, pero sé que sentiste remordimiento después.
B2You said something rude, but I know you felt regret afterwards.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Lo' Usage
When 'sentir' means 'to be sorry' or 'to regret an action,' it is often paired with the pronoun 'lo.' Example: 'Lo siento' (I'm sorry) or 'Lo sentiste' (You were sorry about it).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Apologies
While 'sentiste' is correct, for a direct apology, you usually use the present tense 'Lo siento' (I am sorry) or the formal past 'Lo sintió' (You were sorry).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
preterite
present
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sentiste
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'sentiste' to ask about a physical experience?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sentiste' and 'sentías'?
'Sentiste' is the simple past (preterite) and is used for a feeling that happened once and was finished (e.g., 'You felt a pain'). 'Sentías' is the continuous past (imperfect) and is used for ongoing feelings or habits in the past (e.g., 'You used to feel nervous every morning').
Is 'sentiste' an irregular verb?
Yes, 'sentir' is irregular. While 'sentiste' looks regular, other forms in the preterite (like 'sintió' and 'sintieron') have a stem change from 'e' to 'i,' which makes it irregular overall.