sentimental en 30 secondes
- Describes things related to emotions and feelings.
- Commonly refers to one's love life (vida sentimental).
- Used for objects with emotional value (valor sentimental).
- Grammatically neutral: same for masculine and feminine.
The Spanish adjective sentimental is a versatile term that bridges the gap between pure emotion and formal relationship status. At its core, it describes anything related to feelings, especially those of tenderness, nostalgia, or sadness. However, in Spanish, it carries a heavy weight in the context of romantic life. When someone speaks of their vida sentimental, they are referring specifically to their dating or marital history. Unlike the English 'sentimental', which often implies a slight weakness or over-emotionality, the Spanish term is frequently used in clinical, journalistic, and everyday contexts without necessarily being pejorative.
- Emotional Attachment
- Refers to the deep connection one has with objects or memories, such as a 'valor sentimental'.
- Romantic Context
- Used to describe the state of one's heart or romantic partnerships.
- Personality Trait
- Describes a person who is easily moved by emotions or who prioritizes feelings over logic.
"No puedo tirar este reloj; tiene un gran valor sentimental porque era de mi abuelo."
In a broader sense, being sentimental in Spanish culture is often seen as a sign of humanity and depth. While being 'demasiado sentimental' (too sentimental) might be criticized in a professional setting, having 'sentimientos' is generally valued. The word is an 'esdrújula' (stressed on the last syllable as it ends in 'l'), and it remains the same for both masculine and feminine nouns, making it grammatically straightforward for learners.
"Su situación sentimental es complicada en este momento." (Their relationship status is complicated right now.)
Using sentimental correctly requires understanding its placement and the nouns it typically modifies. As an adjective, it follows the noun in 95% of cases. Because it ends in a consonant (-l), it does not change for gender: un hombre sentimental, una mujer sentimental. For the plural form, simply add '-es': asuntos sentimentales.
- With 'Ser': Use 'ser' to describe a permanent personality trait. "Ella es muy sentimental."
- With 'Estar': Use 'estar' to describe a temporary state of being moved by something. "Hoy estoy un poco sentimental por la película."
"Atravesamos una crisis sentimental que requiere mucha paciencia."
Common pairings include vínculo sentimental (emotional bond), educación sentimental (emotional upbringing/education), and apego sentimental (sentimental attachment). In legal or formal documents, you might see pareja sentimental to denote a domestic partner or significant other without specifying marital status.
You will encounter sentimental in various spheres of Spanish life. In the media, specifically in 'prensa del corazón' (gossip magazines), it is the standard word for discussing celebrity breakups and romances. Headlines often read: "La nueva pareja sentimental de la actriz...".
In literature and music, especially in Boleros or Latin Pop, the word is used to evoke nostalgia and the pain of lost love. It is a staple of romantic rhetoric. In psychology, it appears in discussions about emotional intelligence and how humans process attachments.
"El tango es un pensamiento sentimental que se baila." — Enrique Santos Discépolo.
The most frequent error for English speakers is the False Friend Trap. While 'sentimental' translates well, learners often confuse it with sensible. In Spanish, sensible means 'sensitive' (easily affected or perceptive), whereas sentimental specifically relates to feelings and nostalgia. If you want to say someone is sensitive to light, you use sensible; if they cry at weddings, they are sentimental.
- Mistake: "Es una persona muy sensible sobre sus ex-novios."
- Correction: Use 'sentimental' if referring to the emotional/nostalgic aspect of past relationships.
- Mistake: "Tengo un problema sentimental con mi ordenador."
- Correction: Unless you are in love with your computer, you likely mean 'técnico' or 'emocional' (if it's a gift).
Another mistake is gender agreement. Remember: El chico sentimental / La chica sentimental. Do not say 'sentimentala'.
To enrich your vocabulary, consider these alternatives depending on the nuance you wish to convey:
- Emotivo: Used for things that cause emotion (a speech, a movie). "Fue un discurso muy emotivo."
- Sensible: Sensitive. "Es muy sensible al tacto."
- Cariñoso: Affectionate. "Es un abuelo muy cariñoso."
- Nostálgico: Nostalgic. Specifically about the past.
- Romántico: Romantic. Focused on love and courtship.
"Aunque es un hombre duro, tiene un lado tierno y sentimental."
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Adjective agreement for words ending in consonants
Use of 'lo' + adjective to create abstract nouns
Placement of adjectives in Spanish
Ser vs Estar with personality/state adjectives
Formation of adverbs with -mente
Exemples par niveau
Yo soy una persona muy sentimental.
I am a very sentimental person.
Adjective follows the noun.
Mi abuela es sentimental.
My grandmother is sentimental.
No gender change for -al ending.
La película es muy sentimental.
The movie is very sentimental.
Describes a thing.
No llores, eres muy sentimental.
Don't cry, you are very sentimental.
Informal 'tú' form.
Él no es sentimental.
He is not sentimental.
Negative sentence structure.
Somos amigos sentimentales.
We are sentimental friends (meaning deep emotional bond).
Plural form -es.
¿Eres sentimental?
Are you sentimental?
Interrogative.
Ella tiene un corazón sentimental.
She has a sentimental heart.
Adjective modifying 'corazón'.
Este anillo tiene un valor sentimental.
This ring has sentimental value.
Common collocation: valor sentimental.
Hoy estoy un poco sentimental.
Today I am a bit sentimental.
Use of 'estar' for temporary state.
Guardo estas cartas por razones sentimentales.
I keep these letters for sentimental reasons.
Plural agreement.
Es un regalo sentimental.
It is a sentimental gift.
Noun + Adjective.
Mi padre se puso sentimental en la boda.
My father got sentimental at the wedding.
Ponerse + adjective (to become).
No es un objeto caro, pero es sentimental.
It's not an expensive object, but it's sentimental.
Contrast using 'pero'.
Ella escribe canciones muy sentimentales.
She writes very sentimental songs.
Modifying plural feminine noun.
Él siempre recuerda el pasado de forma sentimental.
He always remembers the past in a sentimental way.
Adverbial phrase 'de forma sentimental'.
Quiero mejorar mi vida sentimental.
I want to improve my love life.
Vida sentimental = love life.
Su situación sentimental es estable.
Their relationship status is stable.
Formal way to say 'relationship status'.
No mezcles los negocios con lo sentimental.
Don't mix business with sentimental matters.
'Lo' + adjective used as a noun.
Tiene un fuerte vínculo sentimental con su ciudad.
He has a strong sentimental bond with his city.
Vínculo sentimental = emotional bond.
La noticia tuvo un gran impacto sentimental.
The news had a great sentimental impact.
Impacto sentimental.
Es una película que apela al lado sentimental.
It's a movie that appeals to the sentimental side.
Lado sentimental.
Buscamos una conexión sentimental, no solo física.
We are looking for a sentimental connection, not just physical.
Conexión sentimental.
Ella es menos sentimental que su hermano.
She is less sentimental than her brother.
Comparative 'menos... que'.
El autor describe su educación sentimental en la novela.
The author describes his sentimental education in the novel.
Literary term: educación sentimental.
No debemos tomar decisiones basadas solo en lo sentimental.
We shouldn't make decisions based only on the sentimental aspect.
Abstract noun use.
Su discurso evitó el sentimentalismo barato.
His speech avoided cheap sentimentality.
Related noun: sentimentalismo.
La prensa rosa analiza su ruptura sentimental.
The gossip press analyzes their sentimental breakup.
Ruptura sentimental.
Existe un vacío sentimental tras la pérdida.
There is a sentimental void after the loss.
Vacío sentimental.
El tango es la expresión sentimental de un pueblo.
Tango is the sentimental expression of a people.
Expresión sentimental.
Fue un reencuentro cargado de peso sentimental.
It was a reunion loaded with sentimental weight.
Peso sentimental.
Ella posee una gran inteligencia sentimental.
She possesses great sentimental intelligence.
Variation of emotional intelligence.
La obra carece de profundidad sentimental.
The work lacks sentimental depth.
Profundidad sentimental.
Se percibe una deriva sentimental en el discurso político.
A sentimental drift is perceived in the political discourse.
Deriva sentimental.
El protagonista sufre una alienación sentimental.
The protagonist suffers from sentimental alienation.
Alienación sentimental.
La arquitectura también puede tener una dimensión sentimental.
Architecture can also have a sentimental dimension.
Dimensión sentimental.
Es un análisis desprovisto de cualquier sesgo sentimental.
It is an analysis devoid of any sentimental bias.
Sesgo sentimental.
La memoria colectiva tiene un fuerte componente sentimental.
Collective memory has a strong sentimental component.
Componente sentimental.
Su apego sentimental a las tradiciones es evidente.
His sentimental attachment to traditions is evident.
Apego sentimental.
La novela explora los laberintos sentimentales de la burguesía.
The novel explores the sentimental labyrinths of the bourgeoisie.
Laberintos sentimentales.
La retórica sentimentalista empaña la objetividad del informe.
The sentimentalist rhetoric blurs the objectivity of the report.
Adjective 'sentimentalista'.
Asistimos a una mercantilización de lo sentimental en las redes sociales.
We are witnessing a commodification of the sentimental on social media.
Mercantilización de lo sentimental.
El sustrato sentimental de su poesía es innegable.
The sentimental substrate of his poetry is undeniable.
Sustrato sentimental.
Su prosa huye de la cursilería sentimental.
His prose flees from sentimental kitsch/cheesiness.
Cursilería sentimental.
La dialéctica entre lo racional y lo sentimental define su obra.
The dialectic between the rational and the sentimental defines his work.
Dialéctica... lo sentimental.
Se produjo una catarsis sentimental durante el concierto.
A sentimental catharsis occurred during the concert.
Catarsis sentimental.
La película subvierte los tropos sentimentales del género.
The film subverts the sentimental tropes of the genre.
Tropos sentimentales.
El autor disecciona la anatomía sentimental de sus personajes.
The author dissects the sentimental anatomy of his characters.
Anatomía sentimental.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
Relates to physical sensitivity or being easily hurt/affected.
Relates to things that trigger emotions in others.
Relates to tenderness or being soft-hearted.
Relates to showing physical affection.
Specifically about longing for the past.
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
In Spanish, it is less likely to be used as an insult than in English.
High frequency in romantic and personal contexts.
- Using 'sensible' when you mean 'sentimental'.
- Changing the ending to 'sentimentala' for women.
- Putting the adjective before the noun (e.g., 'sentimental valor').
- Using it for physical sensitivity.
- Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.
Astuces
Pair with 'Valor'
Always use 'valor sentimental' for objects you care about.
Gender Neutral
Don't worry about gender; it's the same for everyone.
Love Life
Use 'vida sentimental' to sound more mature than 'novios'.
The Final L
Make sure to pronounce the 'L' clearly at the end.
Avoid Kitsch
In high-level writing, use it sparingly to avoid sounding 'cursi'.
Gossip Magazines
Read 'Hola' or 'Semana' to see this word in action.
Cognate Power
It's almost the same as English, so it's an easy win!
Not 'Sensible'
Remember: 'Sensible' is a false friend!
Adverb Form
Use 'sentimentalmente' to describe how you are doing.
Boleros
Listen to boleros to understand the 'sentimental' soul of Latin America.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a 'sent' (scent) that brings back a 'mental' memory of a feeling.
Origine du mot
From Latin 'sentire' (to feel).
Contexte culturel
Telenovelas are the ultimate example of sentimental storytelling.
Men are increasingly encouraged to show their sentimental side in modern Spanish society.
Día de San Valentín (Valentine's Day) is the peak of sentimental expression.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"¿Eres una persona sentimental?"
"¿Qué objeto tiene más valor sentimental para ti?"
"¿Crees que las películas de hoy son demasiado sentimentales?"
"¿Cómo está tu vida sentimental últimamente?"
"¿Te pones sentimental cuando escuchas música antigua?"
Sujets d'écriture
Describe un objeto que tenga valor sentimental para ti.
Escribe sobre un momento en el que te sentiste muy sentimental.
¿Es bueno o malo ser una persona sentimental en el trabajo?
Reflexiona sobre tu educación sentimental.
¿Cómo ha cambiado tu vida sentimental en el último año?
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsSentimental se refiere a las emociones y la nostalgia, mientras que sensible se refiere a la capacidad de percibir estímulos o ser fácilmente afectado.
Sí, es un adjetivo neutro. Se dice 'un hombre sentimental'.
Se refiere a la historia o estado de las relaciones amorosas de una persona.
No necesariamente, depende del contexto, pero generalmente es descriptiva.
Se dice 'valor sentimental'.
No, es una palabra aguda terminada en 'l'.
El plural es 'sentimentales'.
Se usa con ambos. 'Ser' para personalidad y 'estar' para estados temporales.
Sí, es muy común en todo el mundo hispanohablante.
No, 'sentimental' no cambia de género.
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Summary
In Spanish, 'sentimental' is the standard term for both personal emotional tendencies and the formal categorization of romantic relationships, making it more widely applicable than its English counterpart.
- Describes things related to emotions and feelings.
- Commonly refers to one's love life (vida sentimental).
- Used for objects with emotional value (valor sentimental).
- Grammatically neutral: same for masculine and feminine.
Pair with 'Valor'
Always use 'valor sentimental' for objects you care about.
Gender Neutral
Don't worry about gender; it's the same for everyone.
Love Life
Use 'vida sentimental' to sound more mature than 'novios'.
The Final L
Make sure to pronounce the 'L' clearly at the end.
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Plus de mots sur emotions
a diferencia de
B1À la différence de mon frère, je suis très calme.
abatido
B1Se sentant ou montrant une grande tristesse ou un grand découragement ; abattu.
abatimiento
B2L'abattement est un état de découragement profond et de fatigue physique.
abatir
B1Abattre : Décourager profondément quelqu'un ou renverser physiquement quelque chose. 'La nouvelle l'a abattu' (The news crushed him).
abierto/a de mente
B2Ouvert d'esprit; prêt à considérer de nouvelles idées.
aborrecer
B1Détester au plus haut point; abhorrer. 'Il abhorre la violence sous toutes ses formes.'
abrazar
A1Serrer dans ses bras. 'Elle a voulu embrasser son ami.' 'Il a fini par embrasser cette nouvelle idéologie.'
abrazo
A1Un acte consistant à serrer quelqu'un dans ses bras ; une accolade.
abrumador
B1Quelque chose d'accablant ou d'écrasant par sa force ou sa quantité.
abrumar
B1Accabler quelqu'un par un excès de travail ou d'émotions.
