contentado

Contentado is a Spanish adjective meaning contented or satisfied with a result. It derives from the verb contentar, to please, through the past participle-form -ado, yielding masculine contentado and feminine contentada. In standard modern Spanish, contentado is found in formal writing or regional speech and conveys a settled sense of satisfaction rather than a momentary feeling of happiness; contento is more common in everyday usage for general happiness.

Usage and nuance: contentado emphasizes a concluded approval or agreement, a state that follows evaluation or negotiation. Examples include: Estoy contentado con los resultados. El comité quedó contentado con el acuerdo. The term can appear in historical texts, legal or ceremonial registers, or literary contexts, where a more formal or archaic tone is desired. Frequency and perception vary by country, with some dialects treating contentado as slightly more formal or old-fashioned compared with contento.

Etymology and related terms: contentado comes from contentar, to please, and shares root meaning with other forms related to satisfaction. Related terms include contento (happy, glad) and satisfecho (satisfied). While not as common in everyday speech as contento, contentado remains understood across Spanish-speaking regions and appears in both contemporary and traditional language registers.