Today we’ll explore the highly versatile verb sentir, which means to feel and to smell. We’ll also look at the verb in the reflexive form, se sentir as well as ressentir.
Sentir
to feel, to smell
Word origin
Sentir comes from the Latin verb sentire (to feel, perceive, experience). Sence, sensation and sentiment in English are related words.
Example sentences
For this first example sentence, the meaning of sentir is “to smell”.
Je sens les biscuits dans la cuisine.
I smell the cookies in the kitchen.
Sentir can also mean “to sense” or “to taste”.
Est-ce que tu sens l’ail dans la sauce ?
Can you taste garlic in the sauce?
Another usage is “to tolerate”. A French synonym for this example sentence is supporter (to stand, tolerate). The le in this sentence is a direct object pronoun meaning “him”.
Je ne peux pas le sentir.
I can’t stand him.
Sentir can also be followed by a feeling.
Je sens la fatigue.
I feel fatigue.
As a reflexive verb, se sentir + adjective means “to feel” within oneself.
Je me sens bien.
I feel well.
The expression se sentir de faire means “to feel like doing”.
Je me sens de faire une randonée aujourd’hui.
I feel like doing a hike today.
The verb ressentir means to experience a feeling or feel within oneself.
Je ressens le bonheur.
I feel happiness.
Related lessons
- Object pronouns
- Cuisine – kitchen, cooking, food
- Sentir conjugation tables
- Reflexive verb explanation
- Aujourd’hui – today
- Est-ce que – is, are, do, does
- Pouvoir – can, to be able
References
Word of the Day | Lessons by David Issokson
