Inklingo

How to Say "to experience" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to experience” is “vivir” — use 'vivir' when referring to having gone through or lived through significant events or periods in your life, often implying a personal, lived history..

vivir🔊B1

Use 'vivir' when referring to having gone through or lived through significant events or periods in your life, often implying a personal, lived history.

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experimentar🔊B1

Use 'experimentar' when you are going through a specific situation, feeling, or undergoing a process, similar to scientific experimentation but also for emotional or physical states.

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sentir🔊A1

Use 'sentir' when you are directly feeling a physical sensation or an emotion, focusing on the immediate subjective feeling.

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atravesar🔊C1

Use 'atravesar' when referring to enduring or going through a difficult phase, challenge, or ordeal, emphasizing the struggle or passage through hardship.

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encontrarme🔊B1

Use 'encontrarme' reflexively (often with an adjective) to describe how you find yourself feeling or being in a particular state or condition.

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English → Spanish

vivir

/bee-BEER//biˈβiɾ/

verbB1General
Use 'vivir' when referring to having gone through or lived through significant events or periods in your life, often implying a personal, lived history.
A child looking up with wide eyes at a beautiful, colorful rainbow arching over a landscape, symbolizing the act of experiencing something wonderful.

Examples

He vivido momentos muy felices aquí.

I have experienced very happy moments here.

Es una experiencia que todos deberían vivir.

It's an experience that everyone should have.

Nuestros abuelos vivieron una guerra.

Our grandparents lived through a war.

experimentar

/ex-peh-ree-men-TAR//ekspeɾimenˈtaɾ/

verbB1General
Use 'experimentar' when you are going through a specific situation, feeling, or undergoing a process, similar to scientific experimentation but also for emotional or physical states.
A person standing on a mountain peak with their arms wide open, looking at a beautiful sunset.

Examples

Ella experimentó una gran alegría al recibir la noticia.

She experienced great joy upon receiving the news.

La ciudad ha experimentado muchos cambios este año.

The city has undergone many changes this year.

A Regular Verb

This verb follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, meaning once you know the ending rules, you can conjugate it in any tense easily!

Experience vs. Experimentar

Mistake: “Using 'experiencia' as a verb.”

Correction: In Spanish, 'experiencia' is only a noun (the thing you have). To describe the action of having that experience, always use the verb 'experimentar'.

sentir

/sen-TEER//senˈtiɾ/

verbA1General
Use 'sentir' when you are directly feeling a physical sensation or an emotion, focusing on the immediate subjective feeling.
A small child bundled in a thick coat and scarf, hugging themselves and shivering dramatically in a cold, snowy setting.

Examples

Siento frío. ¿Puedes cerrar la ventana?

I feel cold. Can you close the window?

Hoy me siento muy feliz.

I feel very happy today.

Ella sintió un dolor fuerte en la espalda.

She felt a sharp pain in her back.

Sentir vs. Sentirse

Use 'sentir' for physical things you feel (like cold, pain). Use 'sentirse' to talk about your own emotional or physical state ('me siento feliz', 'I feel happy'). Think of it as 'sentir' for things outside you, 'sentirse' for feelings inside you.

Stem-Changing Verb

Notice the 'e' in 'sentir' changes to 'ie' (siento) or 'i' (sintió) in some forms. This happens a lot with verbs like this, but 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you all, Spain) usually keep the original 'e'.

Feeling an Emotion

Mistake: “Yo siento triste.”

Correction: Yo me siento triste. When describing your own emotional state, you need to use the reflexive form 'sentirse'.

atravesar

/ah-trah-veh-SAHR//a.tɾa.βeˈsaɾ/

verbC1Formal/General
Use 'atravesar' when referring to enduring or going through a difficult phase, challenge, or ordeal, emphasizing the struggle or passage through hardship.
A small figure emerging from the darkness of a low, narrow tunnel into bright daylight and green grass.

Examples

La compañía atraviesa una crisis financiera sin precedentes.

The company is going through an unprecedented financial crisis.

Después de la cirugía, tuvo que atravesar un largo proceso de rehabilitación.

After the surgery, he had to undergo a long rehabilitation process.

encontrarme

en-kon-TRAR-meh/enkonˈtɾaɾme/

verbB1General
Use 'encontrarme' reflexively (often with an adjective) to describe how you find yourself feeling or being in a particular state or condition.
A cheerful figure, drawn simply, skipping happily along a sunny, grassy path, illustrating a feeling of well-being.

Examples

Es difícil encontrarme motivado para ir al gimnasio.

It's difficult to find myself motivated to go to the gym (to feel motivated).

Después de la carrera, empecé a encontrarme exhausto.

After the race, I started to feel exhausted.

Necesito un momento para encontrarme tranquilo.

I need a moment to find myself calm (to feel calm).

Describing Feelings

When you use 'encontrarse' to talk about feelings, it works just like 'estar' (to be temporarily), usually followed by an adjective (e.g., bien, cansado, triste).

Confusing 'Encontrarse' and 'Buscar'

Mistake: “Quiero buscarme bien (I want to search myself well)”

Correction: Quiero encontrarme bien (I want to feel well). 'Buscar' means to search; 'encontrarse' means to find oneself/to feel.

Choosing Between 'Vivir' and 'Experimentar'

Learners often confuse 'vivir' and 'experimentar'. 'Vivir' implies a longer, more personal lived experience or period, while 'experimentar' is typically for a specific event, feeling, or undergoing a process.

Related Translations

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