Feliz vs Alegre

[SPX]

Are these synonyms or are the meanings subtly different?

I always learned "alegre" for happy. However, I've run it through a few translators and "happy" is coming up with "feliz."

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by SPX

Are these synonyms or are the meanings subtly different?

I always learned "alegre" for happy. However, I've run it through a few translators and "happy" is coming up with "feliz."

Besides "alegre" and "felíz", there is also a third possibility, "contento". They can all mean "happy", but they also have some subtle differences in usage. There may also be some regional variations.

I think that "alegre" often describes behavior or appearance; often it can be translated as "cheerful".

"Felíz" and "contento"often describes the emotion that one feels more than one's behavior or appearance, but "contento" can also suggest "satisfaction" along with or instead of "happy".

Some examples: a house, a party, and a painting can be "alegre", it would sound odd for them to be "felíz", and they can't be "contento".

[SPX]

Awesome. Thanks for the response.

It's interesting that the word I was taught for happy was alegre--i.e. Estoy alegre--when maybe feliz would be more appropriate.

As for "contento," I assume it would be appropriate after a long night of dealing with, uh, marital matters?

[Luna Azul]

"Alegre" normally describes the character of a person. When a person is "alegre", that's his/her usual state of mind, he/she's a person that enjoys life.

"Feliz" can also be that, but it can also describe a temporary situation: "Estoy feliz hoy" - "Ella es muy feliz en su matrimonio" (so far and may not be happy in other situations).

As wrholt said, there's a third word, "contento", that's very similar to "feliz" but the latter is a stronger word. When I say "Estoy contento" I mean I'm having fun or I'm having a good time. Whereas when I say "estoy feliz" I mean I'm very happy, extremelly happy.

Originally Posted by SPX

As for "contento," I assume it would be appropriate after a long night of dealing with, uh, marital matters?

No, no. You got that one wrong. I don't think that's what wrholt meant..

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by SPX

Awesome. Thanks for the response.

It's interesting that the word I was taught for happy was alegre--i.e. Estoy alegre--when maybe feliz would be more appropriate.

As for "contento," I assume it would be appropriate after a long night of dealing with, uh, marital matters?

As I said, there may be some regional variations, and often "estoy alegre" and "estoy felíz" are equally appropriate. I hope that some of our native speaker members offer some futher guidelines.

As for your example for "contento", that's one possibility. Other instances include when a waiter offers you more coffee at a restaurant, and you refuse by saying "estoy contento/a" = "I'm fine (I've had enough)".

[Rusty]

And you can be happy with/in your job. Estoy contento con/en el trabajo.

[SPX]

Originally Posted by wrholt

As I said, there may be some regional variations, and often "estoy alegre" and "estoy felíz" are equally appropriate. I hope that some of our native speaker members offer some futher guidelines.

As for your example for "contento", that's one possibility. Other instances include when a waiter offers you more coffee at a restaurant, and you refuse by saying "estoy contento/a" = "I'm fine (I've had enough)".

Ah, interesting.

Well I learned "alegre" in Guatemala so perhaps that's their predominant expression there.

And that makes sense regarding "contento." It sounds like contento basically means to have had your fill, regardless of what it is.

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by Rusty

And you can be happy with/in your job. Estoy contento con/en el trabajo.

And if you say "Estoy feliz en el trabajo" it means you're much more than "contento". "Feliz" is a much stronger word..

[SPX]

Originally Posted by Luna Azul

No, no. You got that one wrong. I don't think that's what wrholt meant..

Are you sure?

Originally Posted by Rusty

And you can be happy with/in your job. Estoy contento con/en el trabajo.

It sounds like contento is close to "content." There is a subtle difference from happy. I think of "content" as being close to "being fulfilled," if that makes sense.

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by wrholt
I hope that some of our native speaker members offer some futher guidelines.

I already did

Originally Posted by wrholt

As for your example for "contento", that's one possibility.

I wouldn't use "contento" in that context, my partner would be kind of disappointed. The word is not strong enough, there are other words that would fit there perfectly well ...

Maybe "happy" will make it.. but still, there are better words..

Originally Posted by SPX

Are you sure?

No, I said "I don't think...". But of course, I can be wrong. One thing I know, I wouldn't use that word in that context unless the .... experience wasn't as expected. And I'll leave it at that..

[SPX]

Originally Posted by Luna Azul

I wouldn't use "contento" in that context, my partner would be kind of disappointed. The word is not strong enough, there are other words that would fit there perfectly well ...

Maybe "happy" will make it.. but still, there are better words..



No, I said "I don't think...". But of course, I can be wrong. One thing I know, I wouldn't use that word in that context unless the .... experience wasn't as expected. And I'll leave it at that..

LOL

Well I guess I think of the word "content" as being a sort of "golden haze" where all is well with the world. Kind of like the way I feel after drinking a six pack.

[Elaina]

Y yo.......

¡Estoy feliz como una lombriz!

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by Elaina

Y yo.......

¡Estoy feliz como una lombriz!

Todos decimos eso. Me pregunto si las lombrices son felices, las pobres. Más ciegas que un topo y se pasan la vida comiendo y "descomiendo" tierra.