me siento triste
/me sjento tɾiste/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I feel sad" is translated as me siento triste.
The phrase me siento triste is used to express that you are experiencing a feeling of sorrow or unhappiness.
Which one should you use?
While me siento triste emphasizes the internal sensation or the process of feeling, you can also say estoy triste to more directly state your current state of being.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the phrase Estoy achicopalado/achicopalada is used to express feeling sad or down. In Argentina, the popular phrase Estoy re mal is used to mean "I feel really bad/sad".
How does it change in a sentence?
Because sentirse is a reflexive verb in this context, you must include the reflexive pronoun me to indicate that you are the one experiencing the feeling.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly omit the reflexive pronoun and say siento triste. Instead, you must include me to say me siento triste.
Did you know?
- In Mexico, the word achicopalado is used to describe feeling sad. It is derived from the word copal, a resin used as incense in traditional ceremonies to soothe the spirit.
- The word triste shares a common ancestor with the English word 'tristful', an archaic term for melancholy. While 'tristful' has faded from English, the Latin root remains perfectly preserved in Spanish.
- Spanish has a concept called tristeza that is often linked to melancolía, a deep sadness that historically was viewed as a physical ailment of the bile.
Examples in context
- A veces me siento triste.I feel sad sometimes.This sentence shows how to say the phrase is sometimes felt.Tatoeba #995842 by Shishir, translation #9288966 by DJ_Saidez
- Me siento triste todo el tiempo.I feel sad all the time.This sentence shows how to say the phrase is felt all the time.Tatoeba #7972087 by Seael, translation #4450317 by Will
- Me siento triste de vez en cuando.I feel sad every now and then.This sentence shows how to say the phrase is felt every now and then.Tatoeba #447048 by catakaoe, translation #255203 by CK
- Hoy me siento triste porque no pude ver a mis padres.Today I feel sad because I couldn't see my parents.
- Estoy apenado por no poder asistir a tu fiesta de cumpleaños.I feel sad for not being able to attend your birthday party.
- Últimamente me encuentro desanimada debido al estrés del trabajo.Lately, I feel sad due to work-related stress.
- Hoy estoy triste porque me peleé con mi mejor amigo.Today I feel sad because I had a fight with my best friend.
- Me pongo depre cuando llueve y no puedo salir a pasear.I feel sad when it rains and I can't go for a walk.
- Después de la ruptura, estoy hecho polvo.After the breakup, I feel crushed.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking in a living room.
- SofíaHoy me siento triste.Today I feel sad.
- Mateo¿Por qué te sientes así, Sofía?Why do you feel that way, Sofía?
- SofíaExtraño mucho a mi familia.I miss my family a lot.
- MateoLo siento, yo te acompaño.I'm sorry, I'm here with you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
