contenido
/kon-teh-NEE-doh/
content
As a noun, contenido (content) refers to the substance found inside media, like the stories and pictures in a book.
contenido(noun)
content
?digital media, books, substance of a message
contents
?what is inside a container or box
,substance
?the main idea or material
📝 In Action
El contenido de esta página web es excelente.
A2The content of this website is excellent.
Antes de viajar, revisa el contenido de tu maleta.
B1Before traveling, check the contents of your suitcase.
Hay que crear más contenido original para el canal.
B2We need to create more original content for the channel.
💡 Grammar Points
Singular vs. Plural
In Spanish, 'contenido' (content/contents) is usually singular, even when referring to many items (e.g., the contents of a box). English often uses the plural 'contents.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Contenidos' for Media
Mistake: "Los contenidos digitales son importantes."
Correction: El contenido digital es importante. (While 'contenidos' is sometimes used, 'contenido' singular is much more common for general media/information.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Digital Focus
When talking about blogs, videos, or social media, 'contenido' is the standard, most modern term.
When someone is contenido (restrained), they are holding back their feelings or reactions.
contenido(adjective)
restrained
?holding back emotion or reaction
moderate
?kept within limits
,contained
?kept under control
📝 In Action
Su alegría era contenida, no quería celebrarlo demasiado pronto.
B2His joy was restrained; he didn't want to celebrate too soon.
La respuesta del gobierno fue contenida ante la crisis.
C1The government's response was moderate (or contained) given the crisis.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement
Like all Spanish adjectives, 'contenido' must match the thing it describes in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): 'una reacción contenida,' 'unos límites contenidos.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Use
This adjective is most often used to describe feelings or physical reactions that are being held back, like a cry, a laugh, or anger.
As a verb, contenido means 'contained', referring to something that has been securely held within limits.
contenido(verb)
contained
?used in perfect tenses, e.g., 'has contained'
held
?used in perfect tenses, e.g., 'has held'
📝 In Action
El tanque ha contenido el agua durante meses.
A2The tank has contained the water for months.
La policía había contenido la multitud antes de que llegáramos.
B1The police had contained the crowd before we arrived.
Una gran lección está contenida en este relato.
B2A great lesson is contained in this story.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
'Contenido' is used with the verb 'haber' (to have) to create perfect tenses: 'He contenido' (I have contained), 'Habíamos contenido' (We had contained).
Irregularity of Contener
The base verb 'contener' (to contain) is irregular, following the pattern of 'tener' (to have). Notice the change in the 'yo' present tense: 'yo contengo' instead of 'yo conteno'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Participle and Adjective
Mistake: "El tanque está contenido el agua. (Mixing verb and adjective uses)"
Correction: El tanque ha contenido el agua. (Use 'haber' for the verb action.) OR El agua está contenida. (Use 'estar' for the state/adjective.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: contenido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'contenido' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'contenido' mean 'happy'?
No, 'contenido' means 'content' (the material) or 'restrained.' The word you are looking for is likely 'contento/contenta,' which means 'happy' or 'satisfied.'
How do I know if 'contenido' is a noun or an adjective?
If it is preceded by 'el' or 'un' (el contenido), it is the noun meaning 'content.' If it follows the verb 'estar' (está contenido) or describes a person/thing (una respuesta contenida), it is acting as the adjective or past participle.