كنت مرتاح

You use كنت (I was) followed by the adjective مرتاح (comfortable). If you are a woman, you must say كنت مرتاحة. It is very flexible and works for almost any past scenario. You can add جداً (very) to emphasize how relaxed you were. It is often used to compare a past situation to a current, more stressful one.

Use it when talking about a vacation that actually recharged your batteries. It is perfect for describing a previous apartment where you felt at home. Use it after a first date to tell your friend you felt no social pressure. In a professional sense, use it to describe a team where you felt supported. It is also great for physical things, like a pair of old shoes.

Do not use this if you mean something was 'convenient' in terms of timing. For that, use مناسب. Avoid using it to mean you were 'lazy' or 'doing nothing.' While مرتاح is relaxed, it doesn't mean you weren't productive. Also, be careful in very formal legal settings; it might sound too subjective. Stick to more objective terms for official reports.

In many Arabic-speaking cultures, the concept of 'comfort' is deeply tied to hospitality. A good host’s primary goal is to make sure the guest is مرتاح. There is also a common expression مرتاح البال, which means 'comfortable of mind' or 'peace of mind.' This is considered one of the greatest blessings in life. Being مرتاح is seen as a sign of a balanced and successful life.

The most common variation is the feminine form كنت مرتاحة. For a group, you would say كنا مرتاحين (We were comfortable). In some dialects, like Levantine or Egyptian, you might hear كنت مستريح. If you want to talk about someone else, you say كان مرتاح (He was comfortable). You can also use it as a question: كنت مرتاح؟ (Were you comfortable?).