French Conversation · Level 16
89 words
French word
sentir
Pronunciation
IPA/sɑ̃tiʁ/
Meaning
- verbfeel
Example
Je sens le froid.
I feel the cold.
More examples
Je sens que quelque chose ne va pas.
I sense that something is wrong.
Core concept
A signal reaches awareness through the senses or intuition, whether it is cold, a smell, or a subtle clue.
Common phrases
sentir une odeur
smell an odor
se sentir mal
feel unwell
sentir la chaleur
feel the heat
Similar words
ressentir: To strongly feel an emotion or bodily change.
percevoir: To detect the presence or early signs of something.
remarquer: To notice something through sight or hearing.
humer: To sniff to identify a smell.
Definition in French
Être conscient d'une sensation physique, détecter une odeur ou percevoir une impression ou un indice.
Word origin
French sentir descends from Latin sentire, 'to feel', through Old French, and retains meanings involving physical sensation, smell, inner impression, and perceived signs.
Usage tips
- Sentir normally takes a direct object, as in sentir le froid or sentir une odeur, while se sentir describes a person's condition, as in se sentir bien.