Inklingo

How to Say "i felt" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “i felt” is “sentí” — use 'sentí' to describe a specific emotional or physical sensation you experienced at a particular moment.

sentíA1

Use 'sentí' to describe a specific emotional or physical sensation you experienced at a particular moment.

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estuveA2

Use 'estuve' to describe a state of being or an emotion that lasted for a period of time in the past.

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English → Spanish

sentí

verbA1general
Use 'sentí' to describe a specific emotional or physical sensation you experienced at a particular moment.

Examples

Cuando me desperté, sentí mucha energía.

When I woke up, I felt a lot of energy.

estuve

es-TOO-vehesˈtu.βe

verbA2general
Use 'estuve' to describe a state of being or an emotion that lasted for a period of time in the past.
A figure wrapped in a blanket sitting on a sofa, holding a tissue and looking unwell, representing a temporary past state.

Examples

Estuve enfermo la semana pasada.

I was sick last week.

Estuve muy ocupado ayer con el proyecto.

I was very busy yesterday with the project.

Después de la película, estuve triste por dos horas.

After the movie, I was sad for two hours.

Temporary vs. Permanent States in the Past

Just like in the present, estuve is for temporary conditions. Estuve cansado means 'I was tired' (but I got better). To talk about a permanent quality someone had, you'd use a form of ser, like Él era alto (He was tall).

Sentí vs. Estuve for Past Feelings

Learners often confuse 'sentí' and 'estuve' when talking about past feelings. Remember, 'sentí' is for a specific sensation (I felt tired *when I woke up*), while 'estuve' is for a state or emotion over time (I was tired *all day*).

Related Translations

i was

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