Siéntate

Siéntate is the informal imperative form of the Spanish verb sentarse, used to tell someone familiar to sit down. It translates as “sit down” or “have a seat.” The pronoun te attaches to the verb, producing siéntate, and the accent on é helps preserve the correct stress after the reflexive pronoun is added.

Grammatically, siéntate comes from the verb sentarse in the tú (informal) imperative. Other persons use siéntese (usted) and siéntense (ustedes). The negative tú form is no te sientes; for ustedes it is no se sienten; for usted it is no se siente. In the affirmative, the pronoun remains attached to the end of the verb, as in siéntate; in the negative, the pronoun precedes the verb, as in no te sientes.

Usage: It is commonly used in casual conversations, at meals, in meetings, or whenever inviting someone to take a seat. The tone can range from neutral to courteous or urgent, and speakers often soften it with por favor. In formal settings, the corresponding forms are siéntese (usted) and siéntense (ustedes).

Notes: Like other pronominal verbs, sentarse changes form across persons and moods, and reflexive pronouns influence spelling and pronunciation. The phrase is widely understood across Spanish-speaking regions, though regional preferences may yield alternative informal commands or politeness levels.

Cross-linguistic equivalents include English “sit down,” French “Assieds-toi,” and Italian “Siediti.” In context, siéntate remains a concise, direct way to request that someone sit.