contentéis

Contentéis is the second-person plural present subjunctive form of the Spanish verb contentar, meaning to satisfy or to please. It appears in clauses that require the subjunctive mood, typically after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, necessity, or possibility. In Spain, contentéis is used with the informal plural subject vosotros; in other dialects the corresponding form for ustedes is contenten. For example: Es posible que contentéis a todos los invitados. Espero que contentéis con el resultado.

Etymology and conjugation: Contentar derives from Latin contentāre, based on the root content- meaning “satisfied.” The present subjunctive forms of contentar are regular for -ar verbs: yo contente, tú contentes, él contente, nosotros contentemos, vosotros contentéis, ellos contenten. The form contentéis specifically marks the vosotros subject.

Regional usage: The vosotros forms, including contentéis, are standard in Spain and are common in formal or literary writing. In most of Latin America, where the ustedes form is standard for both subject and object pronouns, the present subjunctive corresponding to ustedes is contenten. As a result, contentéis is less frequent outside Spain and is often encountered in traditional texts or in discussions of regional grammar.

Notes on meaning and nuance: Contentar as a transitive verb means to satisfy or to please someone or something. The subjunctive mood expresses non-assertive or hypothetical situations, wishes, or uncertainty, rather than a factual action. When used with ustedes or vosotros, the nuance remains the same, governed by the surrounding subjunctive clause.

See also: contentar, subjuntivo, vosotros, usted/ustedes forms.