How to Say "Sit" in Portuguese

sentar

/sẽˈta(ʁ)/

The English verb 'sit' is translated into Portuguese as sentar.

sentar is used to describe a person being in a position where the upper body is upright and the legs are supported.

Meaning: of a person, be in a position in which the upper body is upright and the legs are supported (verb)

Is it said differently in some regions?

In many Brazilian dialects, it is common in casual speech to place the reflexive pronoun se before the verb (e.g., se sentar).

To express the act of a person sitting down, the verb is often used in its reflexive form sentar-se or with the pronoun se.

/sẽˈta(ʁ)/

In Brazil, if you say sentar without a reflexive pronoun, it can carry a heavy sexual connotation, implying the act of sitting on someone. To avoid being unintentionally provocative, it is much safer to use the reflexive form sentar-se or se sentar when referring to yourself.
The word assento meaning 'seat' shares the same root as sentar, but it is also the word used for 'accent' in grammar.
The word sentar is a distant relative of the English word 'sedentary', both stemming from the same Latin root *sedentare.

Tom quer se sentar.
Tom wants to sit down.
This sentence shows how to express the desire to sit down using sentar.
Tatoeba #6608139 by bill, translation #5009644 by CK
Você quer se sentar?
Do you want to sit down?
This sentence uses sentar to ask a question about wanting to sit down.
Tatoeba #972653 by alexmarcelo, translation #64486 by CK
Vou sentar lá atrás.
I'll sit in the back.
This sentence demonstrates the use of sentar to indicate where one will sit.
Tatoeba #8644962 by JGEN, translation #8596085 by CK
A senhora pode se sentar?
Can you sit down, madam?
Por favor, sente-se.
Please, sit down.
Acomode-se, por favor.
Please, have a seat.
Por favor, ponham-se / sentem-se confortavelmente.
Please, make yourselves comfortable.
O orador pôs-se à mesa.
The speaker sat at the table.
Senta aqui!
Sit here!
Quer sentar?
Do you want to sit?
220 more sentences on Tatoeba

A cafe where Juliana and Felipe are looking for a place to rest.

Sources

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