Doler and sentirse

Foreign Languages

Definition

'Doler' (to hurt/ache) and 'sentirse' (to feel) are Spanish verbs used to express physical pain and emotional states. 'Doler' works like 'gustar,' with the body part as the subject, while 'sentirse' is a reflexive verb describing how someone feels.

Examples

  • 'Me duele la cabeza' (My head hurts) — 'la cabeza' is the subject, 'me' is the indirect object.
  • 'Me duelen los pies' (My feet hurt) — plural body part requires 'duelen.'
  • 'Me siento cansado' (I feel tired) — reflexive verb 'sentirse' + adjective.
Key Fact

Doler conjugation pattern: Me duele + singular body part / Me duelen + plural body part. It follows the same structure as 'gustar.'

Related Terms

Avoir mal à Health expressions Gustar verbs Reflexive verbs

Study This Concept

Practice doler and sentirse with free review games in these units:

Spanish 1-2 Unit 7: Health and Body