contentar
“contentar” means “to please” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to please, to satisfy
Also: to appease
📝 In Action
Es imposible contentar a todo el mundo.
A2It is impossible to please everyone.
Le compré flores para contentarla después de nuestra discusión.
B1I bought her flowers to make her feel better after our argument.
Sus explicaciones no lograron contentar a los clientes.
B2His explanations failed to satisfy the clients.
to be satisfied with, to settle for
📝 In Action
No me contento con poco.
B1I don't settle for a little bit.
Tienes que contentarte con lo que tienes ahora.
B2You have to be satisfied with what you have now.
Ellos se contentaron con un empate.
B2They settled for a draw (in a game).
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: contentar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'I need to satisfy my boss'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'contentare,' which comes from 'contentus' (contained or satisfied). The idea is that if your desires are 'contained' within what you have, you are happy.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'contentar' the same as 'hacer feliz'?
Yes, they are very similar. 'Hacer feliz' is more common for deep, long-term happiness, while 'contentar' is often used for satisfying a specific request or making someone less annoyed in the moment.
When do I use 'contentarse con' instead of 'conformarse con'?
They are almost identical. 'Conformarse' is slightly more common for 'settling' when you aren't perfectly happy, whereas 'contentarse' sounds a bit more positive about accepting the situation.
Can I use 'contentar' for physical objects?
Not really. You content people or their desires/minds. You don't 'contentar' a car or a house.