sientan
/see-EHN-tahn/
they sit down
The action of two people taking a seat or sitting down.
sientan(Verb)
they sit down
?Present action or routine (Reflexive)
,you all sit down
?Formal plural present action (Reflexive)
they are sitting
?Continuous action
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive 'Se'
When using 'sentarse' (to sit down), you must include the reflexive pronoun 'se' (or 'me,' 'te,' 'nos,' etc.) because the action affects the person doing it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Ellos sientan en las sillas."
Correction: Ellos se sientan en las sillas. (The 'se' is necessary for 'to sit down.')
⭐ Usage Tips
Indicative vs. Subjunctive
This 'sientan' is used for facts or routines (Indicative). If you want to talk about feelings or wishes, you need the next definition!
Showing that multiple people are experiencing or feeling an emotion, such as joy.
sientan(Verb)
(that) they feel
?Subjunctive use (e.g., expressing emotion or doubt)
,(that) you all feel
?Formal plural subjunctive
(that) they regret
?Figurative use of 'sentir'
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Subjunctive Trigger
This form ('sientan') is often used after words that express emotion, doubt, desire, or influence, like 'espero que' (I hope that) or 'es triste que' (it is sad that).
E to I Stem Change
Notice that when conjugating 'sentir,' the 'e' changes to 'i' in the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms of the present subjunctive (sintamos, sintáis), which is unusual for stem-changing verbs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Indicative and Subjunctive
Mistake: "Creo que ellos sientan algo malo. (I think they feel something bad.)"
Correction: Creo que ellos sienten algo malo. (Use the Indicative 'sienten' for statements of belief or fact.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive
If you are talking about internal feelings (like happiness or sadness), use 'sentir.' If you are talking about sitting down, use 'sentarse' (Definition 1).
🔄 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
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).