sientan
“sientan” means “they sit down” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they sit down, you all sit down
Also: they are sitting
📝 In Action
Ellos siempre se sientan en la primera fila.
A1They always sit down in the first row.
Ustedes se sientan aquí, por favor. La clase va a empezar.
A2You all sit down here, please. The class is going to start.
(that) they feel, (that) you all feel
Also: (that) they regret
📝 In Action
Me alegra que ellos se sientan motivados por el proyecto.
B1I'm happy that they feel motivated by the project.
Dudo que ustedes sientan lo mismo que yo.
B2I doubt that you all feel the same thing as me.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sientan
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sientan' to express an *internal state* or emotion?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *sentīre*, meaning 'to feel, perceive, or sense.' The reflexive form, *sentarse*, developed later to describe the physical act of being seated.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'sientan' have two very different meanings?
Because it comes from the same base root, 'sentir' (to feel/sense). When you add the reflexive pronoun 'se' (to make 'sentarse'), the meaning shifted from feeling something internally to physically feeling the need to place oneself down, which is 'to sit down.'
How do I know if 'sientan' means 'feel' or 'sit down'?
Look for the word 'se' (or 'me,' 'te,' 'nos') right before it. If you see 'se sientan,' it almost always means 'they sit down.' If you just see 'sientan' (without the reflexive pronoun), it means 'they feel' and is being used in a special context like a wish or doubt (Subjunctive).