Sentir vs. sentirse

Question

What is the difference between "sentir" and "sentirse" ? I've looked it up in the dictionary but I'm still unsure when to use which over the other.

Answer 1

I found this description that seems quite helpful

HOW do you feel (sentirse)

No me siento bien.

WHAT do you feel (sentir)

Siento mucho dolor en el estómago.

No me siento alegre. How do you feel? No siento alegría. What do you feel?

Personally:

I remember the difference by rhyming 'what' with 'not' - I just say to myself:

"how you feel is reflexive - what is not' :)

• very helpful and easy to remember! - maleine Jul 14, 2010
• Excellent, thanks a bunch! - MattM Jul 14, 2010
• Terrific - thanks a lot Maria - patch Jul 14, 2010

Answer 2

Difficult isn´t it. I sometimes have the same problem. In general I would say that sentir is dealing with emotion, sensation or pain, such as,

De repente he sentido frío - I suddenly felt cold

No siento la pierna - I can´t feel my leg

Empezó a sentir los efectos del alcohol - He began to feel the effects of the alcohol

Sentirse is a pronominal verb and can be used to indicate a state you are in or a situation,

¿cómo te sientes? - How do you feel?

No me siento con ánimos para eso - I don´t feel up to it.

These examples obviously do not cover all situations but I trust they make it a little clearer.

• De repente sentí frío - JulianChivi Mar 23, 2010
• I am talking about an instant after having a cold wind hit you. Sentí appears to be talking about the distant past. - Eddy Mar 24, 2010
• but you've used the present perfect - I have felt cold - Kiwi_Girl Jul 14, 2010