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contemporáneo

kon-tem-po-RAH-neh-ohkontempoˈɾaneo

“contemporáneo” means “contemporary” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

contemporary, modern

Also: current
Two different buildings, one historical and one modern, standing side-by-side in a city street.

📝 In Action

Me gusta mucho el arte contemporáneo.

A2

I like contemporary art a lot.

Estamos estudiando la historia contemporánea de México.

B1

We are studying the contemporary history of Mexico.

Es un mueble de estilo contemporáneo.

B2

It is a piece of furniture in a contemporary style.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • arte contemporáneo – contemporary art
  • época contemporánea – contemporary era
  • danza contemporánea – contemporary dance

contemporary

NounmC1formal
Two people from the same era sitting together on a park bench talking.

📝 In Action

Cervantes y Shakespeare fueron contemporáneos.

B2

Cervantes and Shakespeare were contemporaries.

Era muy respetado por todos sus contemporáneos.

C1

He was highly respected by all his contemporaries.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • coetáneo (person of the same age/time)

Common Collocations

  • sus contemporáneos – his/her contemporaries

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: contemporáneo

Question 1 of 3

If two famous painters lived and worked in the 1920s, they were...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
contemporaneidad(contemporaneity) — Noun
contemporizar(to temporarily adapt or comply) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
subterráneoespontáneomomentáneo
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'contemporaneus', combining 'con-' (together/with) and 'tempus' (time). It literally means 'together in time'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: contemporaryFrench: contemporainItalian: contemporaneo

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'moderno' and 'contemporáneo'?

While often used as synonyms, 'contemporáneo' specifically refers to things happening 'right now' or 'at the same time,' whereas 'moderno' can refer to a broader style that started in the late 19th century.

Can I use 'contemporáneo' to describe a person?

Yes! You can say 'Él es mi contemporáneo' if someone is roughly your age or living in your time period.

Does the word always end in -o?

No, it changes to 'contemporánea' for feminine nouns and 'contemporáneos/as' for plurals.