decente

Decente is an adjective used in several Romance languages, notably Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, to describe something or someone that conforms to accepted social standards, is morally proper, or is of adequate quality. The term often carries a positive but mild evaluative sense, indicating respectability rather than exceptional merit. In casual speech, it can also mean “good enough” or “satisfactory.”

Etymology and cognates trace decente to the Latin decēns, decentis, meaning becoming, fitting, or proper. This root underpins related terms in various languages that express appropriateness, propriety, or suitability in behavior, appearance, or conditions.

In Spanish, decente commonly means respectable or proper, applied to people, actions, or things: a decente conduct, un sueldo decente (a decent salary), or una casa decente (a decent house). In Portuguese, decente has a similar sense and, in Brazilian usage, can imply adequacy or tolerable quality as in ficar decente or um preço decente (a decent price). In Italian, decente denotes proper behavior or acceptable quality, as in un prezzo decente (a decent price) or una persona decente (a decent person). Across these languages, the term can appear in both formal and informal contexts.

The word can carry mild moral judgment, signaling that something meets accepted standards rather than excelling. Its opposite is indecente or indecente, depending on the language, meaning indecent or improper. Decente remains a standard, everyday descriptor with flexible nuance depending on context.