If you want to say: “I am satisfied with my pay” (as in salary) and “I am satisfied after a steak dinner” in Spanish you will use different words for ’satisfied’. Contento and satisfecho mean literally in English content and satisfied but carry with them additional connotations and have specific usage.

As you can see from our initial example, the two words are used in different situations where the English word satisfied is used. Here’s why:

Satisfacer, Satisfecho (first person), is used in the sense of fulfill or fill, meet certain requirements. So in the case of being or feeling full with food, then satisfecho would be used “estoy satisfecho.”  It also is correct to use the word in the context of meeting something with approval: “Ella esta satisfecha con su ropa”, she is happy with her clothes. It is more than just satisfied, it is satisfied and being happy about it.

Contentar, Contento (first person), is more used in the sense of feeling pleasure or being happy. It sounds like content in English, but, unlike the English word, contentar means much more than just content. It means being happy, more than satisfied. It is synanomous with feliz, alegre. “Estoy contento con mi esposo” is like saying “Estoy feliz con mi esposo” (both mean I am happy with my husband.)

In English, if you say “I am content with…” or “I am satisfied with…” can be taken as “I’m ok with…”. In other words, you’re not necessarily happy with something but you go along with it. In Spanish, if you say “Estoy contento con…” or “Estoy satisfecho con…” means you are happy or pleased with something.

Labels: Current Feature, Level: Intermediate, Spanish Vocabulary

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