siente
/syen-teh/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ella siente frío cuando no hay sol.
A1She feels cold when there's no sun.
Mi abuelo siente una gran felicidad cuando nos ve.
A2My grandfather feels great happiness when he sees us.
Él lo siente mucho, pero no puede venir a la fiesta.
A2He's very sorry, but he can't come to the party.
Siente la arena bajo tus pies.
B1Feel the sand under your feet. (command)
💡 Grammar Points
A Verb with a Shape-Shifting Stem
The base form of this verb is 'sentir'. Notice how the 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in 'siente'. This happens in several common situations to keep the word's sound right. You'll see this pattern in other verbs too!
Sentir vs. Sentirse
Use 'sentir' when you feel something specific, like an object or a sensation ('siente frío' - he feels cold). Use 'sentirse' to describe a general state of being, like an emotion ('se siente feliz' - he feels happy).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Feeling States vs. Sensations
Mistake: "Él se siente frío."
Correction: Él siente frío. For direct physical sensations like hot, cold, or pain, you don't need the 'se'. You just 'feel the cold' directly.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Universal Apology
The phrase 'lo siento' literally means 'I feel it', but it's the most common way to say 'I'm sorry'. So, 'ella lo siente' means 'she is sorry'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: siente
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'siente' to talk about how a piece of clothing looks on someone?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two completely different meanings for 'siente'?
It's a cool linguistic coincidence! 'Siente' comes from two different base verbs: 'sentir' (to feel) and 'sentar' (to sit/suit). They come from different Latin words but ended up having some identical-looking forms in modern Spanish. The context of the sentence is your key to knowing which one is being used.
How do I know whether to use 'siente' or 'se siente'?
Great question! Use 'siente' for feeling a direct thing: 'él siente el calor' (he feels the heat). Use 'se siente' to describe a person's general condition or mood, usually followed by an adjective: 'él se siente cansado' (he feels tired).
Is 'siente' the same as 'siento'?
They are very close! Both come from the same verbs, but they are for different people. 'Siento' is for 'yo' (I), as in 'Yo siento frío' (I feel cold) or 'Lo siento' (I'm sorry). 'Siente' is for 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal).