Forum Rocket Italian Italian Grammar qual è la differenza fra contenta e felice?

qual è la differenza fra contenta e felice?

rigoletto

rigoletto

Both words mean happy.

Examples:

Tu sei felice
Tu sei contenta/o

Io sono felice
Io sono contenta/o

Which one is more adequate when applied to myself and others, and where can I use both, as well as in which situations, conditions should I avoid the use either felice and contenta.

Or can they both be used and applied irrespective of their subjects and references.

I do understand and recall that in earlier lessons contenta/o is used for each other.


Thanks
Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor

Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor

Hi rigoletto,

In everyday use, felice and contento are completely interchangeable. There is a subtle difference at a deeper level, but they're essentially used as synonyms.

The difference is:
Felice is somebody who's generally happy.
Contento is somebody who's happy for something.

You can be felice when everything in your life goes as planned, and you can be contento when you've just passed that Italian exam you've been studying for for a long time.

This is irrespective of the subject. You can say:
Sono felice della mia vita. Lui è felice della sua vita.
Sono contento di aver superato l'esame. Lei è contenta di aver superato l'esame.


Of course, you can also say:
Sono contento della mia vita. Sono felice di aver superato l'esame.

Hope this helps! :)
rigoletto

rigoletto

sì,  ho capito adesso! grazie tante :)

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