sentir/sɑ̃.tiʁ/
verb · A2 · Frequency 230
verb
Meanings
to smell (to have a certain odor)
Indicates that something itself emits a smell.
to smell; to perceive (a smell or a taste)
Perceive by smell (also by taste).
to feel (physical or emotional perception)
Includes both physical sensations and emotional feelings.
to smell or taste of; to have the character or indication of
Commonly used in informal contexts to indicate something has a certain characteristic, smell, or implication.
Examples
Avant de servir la soupe, il faut sentir son parfum.
Before serving the soup, you have to smell its aroma.
Pour réussir cette recette, il faut sentir le goût du citron dans la tarte.
To get this recipe right, you have to taste the lemon in the tart.
Après l'effort, il est agréable de sentir ses muscles se détendre.
After exertion, it is pleasant to feel your muscles relax.
Dans ce discours, on peut sentir une certaine inquiétude.
In this speech, one can sense a certain concern.
Collocations
- sentir une odeurto smell an odor
- sentir le goûtto taste the flavor
- sentir la douleurto feel the pain
Common mistakes
Je sent bien la différence.
Je sens bien la différence.
The present indicative first-person singular of sentir is je sens; sent is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymflairerto smell, sniff, scent
Grammar note
Sentir is an essential pronominal verb and must be used with the corresponding reflexive pronoun (se sentir).
verb
Meanings
to smell (to have a certain odor)
Indicates that something itself emits a smell.
to smell; to perceive (a smell or a taste)
Perceive by smell (also by taste).
to feel (physical or emotional perception)
Includes both physical sensations and emotional feelings.
to smell or taste of; to have the character or indication of
Commonly used in informal contexts to indicate something has a certain characteristic, smell, or implication.
Examples
En sentant l'odeur de fumée, le chien s'est dirigé vers la porte.
Smelling smoke, the dog headed toward the door.
Sentant la sauce du bout de la langue, la cuisinière a ajouté du sel.
Tasting the sauce with the tip of her tongue, the cook added salt.
Sentant une douleur au genou, elle a interrompu sa course.
Feeling pain in her knee, she stopped running.
Le communiqué, sentant la menace, a inquiété les riverains.
The statement, which carried a threatening tone, worried local residents.
Grammar note
Sentir is an essential pronominal verb and must be used with the corresponding reflexive pronoun (se sentir).
verb
Meanings
to smell (to have a certain odor)
Indicates that something itself emits a smell.
to smell; to perceive (a smell or a taste)
Perceive by smell (also by taste).
to feel (physical or emotional perception)
Includes both physical sensations and emotional feelings.
to smell or taste of; to have the character or indication of
Commonly used in informal contexts to indicate something has a certain characteristic, smell, or implication.
Examples
La cave a senti l'humidité après la pluie.
The cellar smelled damp after the rain.
Il a senti une pointe de citron dans la sauce.
He tasted a hint of lemon in the sauce.
Elle a senti une grande fatigue en rentrant du travail.
She felt very tired when she came home from work.
Le plat a senti le brûlé dès qu'il est sorti du four.
The dish smelled burnt as soon as it came out of the oven.
Grammar note
Sentir is an essential pronominal verb and must be used with the corresponding reflexive pronoun (se sentir).
verb
Meanings
to smell (to have a certain odor)
Indicates that something itself emits a smell.
to smell; to perceive (a smell or a taste)
Perceive by smell (also by taste).
to feel (physical or emotional perception)
Includes both physical sensations and emotional feelings.
to smell or taste of; to have the character or indication of
Commonly used in informal contexts to indicate something has a certain characteristic, smell, or implication.
Examples
Je sens une odeur de pain chaud dans la cuisine.
I smell the aroma of warm bread in the kitchen.
Je sens le citron dans cette sauce.
I can taste the lemon in this sauce.
Je sens une légère douleur dans mon épaule.
I feel a slight pain in my shoulder.
Je sens dans son message une pointe d'ironie.
I sense a hint of irony in his message.
Collocations
- sentir une odeurto smell an odor
- sentir le goûtto taste the flavor
- sentir la douleurto feel the pain
Common mistakes
Je sent bien la différence.
Je sens bien la différence.
The present indicative first-person singular of sentir is je sens; sent is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymflairerto smell, sniff, scent
Grammar note
Sentir is an essential pronominal verb and must be used with the corresponding reflexive pronoun (se sentir).
verb
Meanings
to smell (to have a certain odor)
Indicates that something itself emits a smell.
to smell; to perceive (a smell or a taste)
Perceive by smell (also by taste).
to feel (physical or emotional perception)
Includes both physical sensations and emotional feelings.
to smell or taste of; to have the character or indication of
Commonly used in informal contexts to indicate something has a certain characteristic, smell, or implication.
Examples
La chambre sent le bois fraîchement verni.
The room smells of freshly varnished wood.
En goûtant la soupe, il sent une pointe de gingembre.
While tasting the soup, he detects a hint of ginger.
Après quelques minutes de marche, elle sent ses jambes se détendre.
After walking for a few minutes, she feels her legs relaxing.
Cette sauce sent l'ail et le poivre noir.
This sauce smells and tastes of garlic and black pepper.
Collocations
- sentir une odeurto smell an odor
- sentir le goûtto taste the flavor
- sentir la douleurto feel the pain
Common mistakes
Je sent bien la différence.
Je sens bien la différence.
The present indicative first-person singular of sentir is je sens; sent is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymflairerto smell, sniff, scent
Grammar note
Sentir is an essential pronominal verb and must be used with the corresponding reflexive pronoun (se sentir).