Quick answer
Sentir takes the thing felt. Sentir-se describes the person's state.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
sentir
to feel or sense
Use sentir for feeling a sensation, emotion, smell, pain, or effect.
sentir-se
to feel oneself
Use sentir-se for describing your overall condition or emotional state.
How to choose
- sentir: Choose sentir if the sentence points to feeling a sensation, emotion, smell, pain, or effect.
- sentir-se: Choose sentir-se if the sentence points to describing your overall condition or emotional state.
Examples
Senti dor de cabeca.
I felt a headache.
Estou me sentindo melhor.
I am feeling better.
Common trap
If the subject and the felt state are the same person, the reflexive form often sounds more natural.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with sentir, then once with sentir-se. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
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