sentem

Sentem is a Portuguese verb form that functions as the third-person plural present indicative of sentir, meaning to feel or sense. It is used with subjects such as eles, elas, or vocês, and conveys physical sensation, emotional state, or perceptual awareness. For example: Eles sentem dor. Vocês sentem a diferença?

Etymology and morphology: Sentir derives from Latin sentire, and the present indicative forms in Portuguese follow regular patterns for -ir verbs. The ending -em marks the plural third person, with no gender distinction. Related forms include sinto (I feel), sente (he/she/you formal feel), sentimos (we feel), and sentem (they feel).

Usage and style: The form appears commonly in everyday speech, journalism, medicine, and literature when describing how people perceive sensations or emotions. It can be combined with adjectives or nouns to describe states, such as "sentem frio" (they feel cold) or "sentem alegria" (they feel joy). The reflexive form "sentem-se" can express states of well-being or mood, as in "Eles sentem-se bem" (They feel well).

Dialect and variation: While the core meaning is consistent across Brazilian and European Portuguese, dialects may exhibit slight pronunciation differences. The verb sentir, including its form sentem, is regular enough to be taught in standard courses and appears in everyday language as well as formal writing.

See also: sentir, sensação, sentimento, percepção.