Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Feel in Spanish
Sentir · verb · sehn-TEER
The Spanish verb for 'feel' is 'sentir,' an irregular stem-changing verb (e→ie). When expressing how you feel emotionally or physically, use the reflexive form 'sentirse' (me siento, te sientes, se siente). For feeling something external by touch or perceiving it, use the non-reflexive 'sentir.'
Pronounce the infinitive as sehn-TEER. In conjugated forms with stem change, like 'siento,' say see-EHN-toh. The 'ie' diphthong replaces the 'e' in stressed syllables.
Me siento feliz cuando estoy con mi familia.
I feel happy when I'm with my family.
Feel in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for feel, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sentir | feel | sehn-TEER | Default, widely understood |
| sentirse | feel | reflexive: to feel (an emotion/state) | |
| palpar | feel | to feel by touch |
How Native Speakers Use Sentir
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Emotional state
¿Cómo te sientes hoy después de la noticia?
How do you feel today after the news?
Reflexive form asking about someone's emotional wellbeing.
Physical sensation
Siento un dolor fuerte en el pecho.
I feel a strong pain in my chest.
Non-reflexive form for perceiving a physical sensation, no 'me' needed.
Expressing regret
Lo siento mucho, no fue mi intención lastimarte.
I'm very sorry, it wasn't my intention to hurt you.
The expression 'lo siento' (I feel it/I'm sorry) is one of the most common uses of this verb.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sentir
Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
Incorrect: Siento bien hoy.
Correct: Me siento bien hoy.
When describing your own state or condition, the reflexive form 'sentirse' is required. Without 'me,' the sentence means 'I feel (something) well' which is incomplete.
Incorrect stem change
Incorrect: Yo sento mucha alegría.
Correct: Yo siento mucha alegría.
Sentir is a stem-changing verb (e→ie) in the present tense for all forms except nosotros and vosotros. The first person singular is 'siento,' not 'sento.'
Lock in Feel Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Sentir used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Feel in Spanish
- What's the difference between 'sentir' and 'sentirse'?
- The non-reflexive 'sentir' takes a direct object and means to feel/perceive something external (siento frío, siento dolor), while the reflexive 'sentirse' describes your internal state without a direct object (me siento triste, me siento mejor), making the distinction similar to 'I feel cold' versus 'I feel sad.'
- How do you conjugate 'sentir' in present tense?
- As a stem-changing verb (e→ie), the present tense conjugation is: yo siento, tú sientes, él/ella siente, nosotros sentimos, vosotros sentís, ellos sienten—note that nosotros and vosotros keep the regular 'e' without the diphthong change.
- Does 'lo siento' literally mean 'I feel it'?
- The literal translation is indeed 'I feel it,' where 'lo' refers to the other person's pain or misfortune that you empathize with, which evolved into the standard apology expression equivalent to 'I'm sorry' used across all registers from casual to formal.