sentir
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Présent
Présent
Current actions, habits, and general truths.
| je | sens |
| tu | sens |
| il/elle | sent |
| nous | sentons |
| vous | sentez |
| ils/elles | sentent |
Je sens une odeur de pain frais.
I smell a scent of fresh bread.
Tu sens la chaleur du soleil.
You feel the warmth of the sun.
2.Passé Composé
Passé Composé
Completed past actions with present relevance.
| je | ai senti |
| tu | as senti |
| il/elle | a senti |
| nous | avons senti |
| vous | avez senti |
| ils/elles | ont senti |
J'ai senti une grande joie hier.
I felt great joy yesterday.
Elle a senti une odeur étrange dans la pièce.
She smelled a strange odor in the room.
3.Imparfait
Imparfait
Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.
| je | sentais |
| tu | sentais |
| il/elle | sentait |
| nous | sentions |
| vous | sentiez |
| ils/elles | sentaient |
Quand j'étais enfant, je sentais souvent les fleurs.
When I was a child, I often smelled the flowers.
Ils sentaient le vent frais sur leur visage.
They felt the cool wind on their faces.
4.Futur Simple
Futur Simple
Future events, promises, and formal predictions.
| je | sentirai |
| tu | sentiras |
| il/elle | sentira |
| nous | sentirons |
| vous | sentirez |
| ils/elles | sentiront |
Demain, je sentirai la liberté.
Tomorrow, I will feel freedom.
Tu sentiras la différence après l'entraînement.
You will feel the difference after the workout.
5.Conditionnel Présent
Conditionnel Présent
Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.
| je | sentirais |
| tu | sentirais |
| il/elle | sentirait |
| nous | sentirions |
| vous | sentiriez |
| ils/elles | sentiraient |
Je sentirais mieux si j'avais plus de sommeil.
I would feel better if I had more sleep.
Elle sentirait la pression avant l'examen.
She would feel the pressure before the exam.
6.Subjonctif Présent
Subjonctif Présent
Doubt, desire, necessity, and emotion in subordinate clauses.
| je | sente |
| tu | sentes |
| il/elle | sente |
| nous | sentions |
| vous | sentiez |
| ils/elles | sentent |
Il faut que je sente la mer avant de partir.
I need to feel the sea before leaving.
Il est important que tu sentes ton cœur.
It is important that you feel your heart.
7.Plus-que-parfait
Plus-que-parfait
Actions completed before another past action.
| je | avais senti |
| tu | avais senti |
| il/elle | avait senti |
| nous | avions senti |
| vous | aviez senti |
| ils/elles | avaient senti |
Avant de partir, j'avais senti le besoin de dire au revoir.
Before leaving, I had felt the need to say goodbye.
Elle avait senti une connexion spéciale avec lui.
She had felt a special connection with him.
"sentir" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "sentir" regular or irregular in French?
- "sentir" is an irregular French verb. It does not follow the standard 3rd conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
- How do you conjugate "sentir" in the present tense?
- In the Présent, "sentir" conjugates as: sens, sens, sentons, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "sentir" in French?
- In the Passé Composé, "sentir" conjugates as: ai senti, as senti, avons senti, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "sentir" in French?
- "sentir" (to feel, to smell) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.