sentí
/sen-TEE/
I felt
Depicting a physical or emotional 'I felt' (sentí), like feeling warm or happy.
sentí(verb)
I felt
?Emotional or physical sensation
I sensed
?Perceiving something through touch, smell, etc.
📝 In Action
Cuando me desperté, sentí mucha energía.
A1When I woke up, I felt a lot of energy.
Sentí un escalofrío al escuchar esa historia.
A2I felt a shiver/chill when I heard that story.
Sentí que algo no estaba bien en la habitación.
B1I sensed that something wasn't right in the room.
💡 Grammar Points
When to use Preterite (Sentí)
You use 'sentí' (preterite tense) to talk about a feeling or sensation that started and finished at a specific time in the past, like a sudden shock or a brief moment of happiness.
Vs. Imperfect (Sentía)
If you want to talk about a feeling that lasted for a long time or was part of the background description of a past moment, you should use 'sentía' (imperfect tense) instead.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Cuando lo vi, sentía pánico. (Using imperfect for a single, sudden event)"
Correction: Cuando lo vi, sentí pánico. (Use 'sentí' for the sudden feeling of panic.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Physical Reflexive Forms
To talk about how you feel in the reflexive sense (like 'I felt good/bad today'), use the infinitive sentirse (Me sentí bien hoy).
Illustrating 'I regretted' (sentí), showing sorrow or remorse.
sentí(verb)
I regretted
?Expressing remorse or sorrow
I was sorry for
?Feeling sympathy or pity for someone else
📝 In Action
Sentí no haber ido a visitarte antes.
B1I regretted not having gone to visit you sooner.
En ese momento, sentí de verdad su pérdida.
B2At that moment, I truly felt sorry for their loss.
💡 Grammar Points
Regret followed by an action
When 'sentí' means 'I regretted,' it is often followed by 'no' and a verb in the past participle form (e.g., 'no haber ido').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Sentí' Instead of 'Lo Siento'
Mistake: "Sentí la demora. (Literally: I felt the delay—sounds slightly formal or literal)"
Correction: Lo siento por la demora. (Use the common phrase 'Lo siento' (I am sorry) for apologies.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
Using 'Sentí...' to express regret (especially about having to leave or being unable to help) is considered polite and slightly formal.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sentí
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence correctly uses the meaning of 'sentí' in the context of physical sensation?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sentí' and 'me sentí'?
'Sentí' means 'I felt' something external (Sentí el frío - I felt the cold). 'Me sentí' (using the reflexive pronoun 'me') means 'I felt' internally, usually describing your own state or mood (Me sentí feliz - I felt happy about myself).
Is 'sentí' a regular or irregular conjugation?
The infinitive *sentir* is irregular because it has stem changes (e to ie) in the present tense. However, in the 'yo' form of the preterite ('sentí'), it follows the standard -IR verb ending pattern, making this specific conjugation regular in form, but part of an irregular verb overall. The third-person form ('sintió') is irregular.