sentar

to sit down

Regular -ar verb Gerund: sentando Past participle: sentado

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it.

Presente · now, habits and facts

Pretérito Perfeito · finished actions

Futuro com ir · plans: “going to”

Pretérito Imperfeito · “used to” and “was …ing”

Futuro do Pretérito · “would”

Presente do Subjuntivo · wishes and doubts

Imperfeito do Subjuntivo · imagined “if”

Futuro do Subjuntivo · “when” or “if” later on

Imperativo · commands and requests

PresentEu sempre sento perto da janela.I always sit by the window.
PastEla sentou do meu lado no ônibus.She sat down next to me on the bus.
FutureA gente vai sentar naquela mesa ali.We’re going to sit at that table over there.
ImperfectNa escola, eu sentava no fundo da sala.At school, I used to sit at the back of the classroom.
ConditionalEu sentaria no chão, mas está sujo.I would sit on the floor, but it’s dirty.
Present subjunctiveO professor quer que todo mundo sente em círculo.The teacher wants everybody to sit in a circle.
Past subjunctiveSe você sentasse direito, não teria dor nas costas.If you sat up straight, you wouldn’t have back pain.
Future subjunctiveQuando vocês sentarem, eu sirvo o café.When you sit down, I’ll serve the coffee.
ImperativeSente aqui, por favor.Sit here, please.

Sentar or sentar-se? The standard form has the pronoun (Eu me sento aqui.), but in everyday Brazilian speech people usually drop it: Eu sento aqui. The casual command is Senta aqui! (Sit here!)
Sentar or estar sentado? Sentar is the action of sitting down. To say someone is sitting, use estar sentado: Ela está sentada no sofá. (She is sitting on the couch.)
Don't mix it up with sentir (to feel): eu sento is "I sit" and eu sinto is "I feel".

Complete each sentence with the right form of sentar.

Meu gato ______ no sofá e não sai mais.My cat sits on the couch and won’t leave.
Ontem nós ______ na primeira fila do teatro.Yesterday we sat in the front row of the theater.
Quando eu era pequeno, eu ______ no colo do meu avô.When I was little, I used to sit on my grandfather’s lap.
No casamento de amanhã, vocês ______ ao lado da noiva.At tomorrow’s wedding, you’re going to sit next to the bride.
É melhor que ela ______ um pouco, ela está pálida.She’d better sit down for a bit, she looks pale.
Se eu ______ lá na frente, enxergaria melhor.If I sat up front, I would see better.
Eu ______ com vocês, mas estou com pressa.I would sit with you, but I’m in a hurry.
Assim que os convidados ______, a gente começa.As soon as the guests sit down, we’ll start.
Crianças, ______ e fiquem quietas!Kids, sit down and be quiet!
Eu ______ num banco da praça e esperei por uma hora.I sat down on a bench in the square and waited for an hour.

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