período
“período” means “period” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
period, term
Also: interval
📝 In Action
El período de exámenes es muy estresante.
A2The exam period is very stressful.
Estudió en el extranjero por un período de seis meses.
B1She studied abroad for a period of six months.
La crisis ocurrió durante el período de la posguerra.
B2The crisis occurred during the postwar period.
period
Also: menses
📝 In Action
Mi período empezó hoy y tengo cólicos.
B1My period started today and I have cramps.
¿Cuándo fue tu último período?
B1When was your last period?
cycle, oscillation
Also: revolution
📝 In Action
El período de rotación de la Tierra es de 24 horas.
C1The rotation period of the Earth is 24 hours.
Se calculó el período de vida media del isótopo.
C2The half-life period of the isotope was calculated.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: período
Question 1 of 2
¿Qué significado tiene 'período' en la frase 'El período de tres años'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *periodus*, which itself originated from the ancient Greek *periodos*, meaning 'a going around,' 'circuit,' or 'cycle.' The core idea has always been a defined, circular length of time.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'período' masculine or feminine?
It is always masculine. You must use 'el período' or 'un período'. This is often confusing because the related word 'la regla' (period/menstruation) is feminine.
Why does 'período' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'í' is there to tell you how to pronounce it correctly. It forces the stress to fall on the third syllable (pe-RÍ-o-do), preventing it from being pronounced as a two-syllable word.