siéntese
syen-teh-seh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Por favor, siéntese. La doctora lo atenderá en un minuto.
A1Please, sit down. The doctor will see you in a minute.
Siéntese aquí, señora, para que pueda ver mejor el escenario.
A2Sit here, ma'am, so you can see the stage better.
Siéntese cuando quiera. Estamos listos para empezar.
B1Sit down whenever you like. We are ready to start.
💡 Grammar Points
A Command for 'You' (Formal)
This word is the formal way (the 'usted' form) to tell someone to sit down. The informal way you use with friends is 'siéntate'.
Verb + Self
The word is built from the command 'siente' plus the word for 'yourself' ('se'). Because the verb requires the action to be done to oneself, the 'se' must be attached.
The Stress Mark
The little line over the 'é' (the accent mark) is essential. It tells you to keep the stress on that syllable, even though you added 'se' to the end.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'se'
Mistake: "Siente."
Correction: Siéntese. The verb *sentar* means 'to seat someone else,' but *sentarse* means 'to seat yourself,' so you must include the 'se' to sit down.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Pase'
A very common and polite phrase in Spanish is 'Pase y siéntese' (Come in and sit down), often used when inviting someone into an office or home.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: siéntese
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the formal command 'siéntese'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'siéntese' and 'siéntate'?
'Siéntese' is the formal and polite way to tell one person to sit down (using 'usted'). 'Siéntate' is the familiar and informal way, used with friends, family, or children (using 'tú').
Why does 'siéntese' have an accent mark on the 'e'?
The accent mark is needed to keep the natural pronunciation of the verb. If we didn't include it, the word would be stressed on the last syllable ('sien-te-SÉ'), but the original verb stress is on the 'sien' syllable, so the accent forces the stress back there.